POULTRY KEEPING

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21391, 6 February 1935, Page 8

POULTRY KEEPING

* PIGEONS, CANARIES, AND CAGE BIRDS

NOTES [By "BARRED ROCK"] The usual method of measuring the distance between the pubic bones is by means of the fingers, the terms "one ringer," "two finger," "three finger," etc.. referring to the number of fingers that can be accommodated in space between the bones. A "two-finger" fowl is classed as an inferior layer, at best only a medium layer, whereas the "three-finger" hen is a good layer, though not necessarily one of the best, in which a spread of "four fingers" is expected. The significance of this character as a means of judging the past or prospective production of a fowl is in the fact that it indicates abdominal capacity. The thickness of the pubic bones means their thickness as observed in the live fowl when the end of the bone is felt between the fingers. This thickness varies widely, ranging anywhere from an eighth of an inch up to about one inch. Pubic bones do not actually vary in thickness, at least to any noticeable extent, but are always quite thin, their apparent thickness being due to the skin and fat overlaying them. In nonlayers there usually will be found a thick layer of fat which, with the stiff, unpliable skin itself, makes, the pubic bones appear quite thick when felt with the fingers. In the laying hen, however, any fat that may have accumulated in this section of the body is quickly absorbed, while the skin itself becomes much more pliable, thus greatly reducing the apparent thickness of the pubic bones and so affording an important clue to the laying ability of the fowl. Along with the spread of the pubic bones and their thickness should be noted their pliability, which is quite marked in good layers. This greater pliability is due in part to freedom from the thick blanket of fat that usually covers them in a poor layer, but without doubt the bones themselves arc more pliable, because of some modification in their texture. Bone Tests Pubic bone tests are quite helpful in determining present laying condition, but have little value as a measure of actual laying ability. The position of the keel has even more significance than the pubic bones, as a measure of capacity. This bone is not attached to the skeleton at the rear but swings from the shoulders. As a pullet develops and comes into laying, or as an adult hen after passing through a rest period resumes production, the egg organs increase in size and weight, and Ihe rear end of the keel is pushed downward and outward to give more room. The distance between the end of the keel bone and the ends of the pubic bones is usually spoken of as the span, and is measured by the fingers. For this test to be of value in judging for egg production, it is important to note that the measurement of the distance between keel and pubic bones must be vertical rather than horizontal. Obviously, a fowl the end of whose keel bone is practically on a level with the end of the pubic bone has much less abdominal capacity. Value of Pigmentation , The application of pigmentation tests to difTcicnt sections of the fowl's body is. in the case of all yellow-skinned fowls, a valuable aid in determining present productiveness, and also in estimating the probable length of time dining which the fowl lias been laying, (jy pigmentation, as the term is "used here, is meant the yellow colour naUually present in skin, eye ring, beak, and shanks in fowls of such breeds as Leghorns. Plymouth Rocks. Wyandottes, and Rhode Island Reds. ,'n the case of Leghorns colour is observable also in ihe ear lobes. This yellow colour, wherever found, is due to the presence of xanthophyll. a pigment that is always present in certain feeds, such as yellow corn, lucerne, clover, and other plants, and that is taken up by the fowl's digestive organs and distributed to practically all sections of the outer surface of the body. Several observers, working independently, have definitely established the fact that egg production has a distinct influence upon the colour of the parts mentioned, the effect being to reduce the natural yellow colour until, in the ease of long-con-tinued production, the loss of pigment, commonly described as "fading.""leaves the fowl's beak and shanks practically white, or pinkish white, which condition continues as long as the fowl is productive. This change takes place regardless of the amount of pigment present in the rations. In all yellow-skinned breeds yeilow pigment is present in face, comb, and wattles, just as in eye ring and beak, and it fades out with production and returns when laying ceases, in precisely the same way. The pigmentation of these parts has receivo/I little attention, because not distinctly visible, though close observers will note a decided difference in the shade of red in comparing these parts in layers and non-layers. The comb and wattles of non-layers have a yellowish cast. An apparent exception to this rule is often encountered in hens whose combs appear white rather than yellowish red, owing to the presence of a fine scale. Yellow pigment when present can readily be detected in combs and wattles simply by pinching them with the fingers and noting the colour before the blood comes back.