SELECTING LAVERS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17077, 28 January 1916, Page 10

SELECTING LAVERS.

A Melbourne exchange says:—Mr Alfred Hart, the Victoria Government poultry expert, who is doing fine work in developing the industry, has >ne natural gift of a poultryman. He knows how to pick out good layers, and relies largely on handling the pelvic bones, but he is also guided by texture of the skin over the oviduct, and goes on the appearance of the head and eye in a layer. Texture of tho comb is also an indication, which he often describes as "smooth and lovely." I have recently read the ideas of Mr 0. B. Kent, the instructor at tho Cornell University, in America, on the problem of picking out good layers, and ho says:—"There are four physical indications of a hon's laying condition. These are the time of moulting, colour of shanks, texture of comb and colour of ear lobe. The first and third points apply to all breeds, the others only to those having yellow shanks and yellow in the ear lobes. Good layers 'moult late and quickly. If you go through, the flock and pick out the hens that are just beginning to moult, or have not started, you will get most of those which, are laying. In yellow skin breeds the paleness of the shanks after a period of laying is a good indication of a hen's capacity. Any bird with bright yellow shanks after a year of laying may be picked out as a poor producer. Soft, pliable combs are also an indication of good laying condition. When a hen stops laying her comb dries up and becomes smaller and harder., while, those which are laying well have soft and pliable combs; not necessarily large combs, however. In breeds like White Leghorns, which show a yellow cast in the ear lobe, the colour fades the pullets or hens start laying, and after two weeks or a month one can quickly pick out the layers by this change of colour. It is important to observe tho colour and shade during the year. No one of these tests alone is infallible, and may be. not all of them when taken together, but when carefully applied by an observing poultry-keeper, they should prove of great help in sorting out the flock and picking the good and poor producers."