CULLING HENS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1938, Page 3

CULLING HENS

HINTS FOR THE NOVICE. The novice poultryman who reads any poultry literature and meets with recommendations to cull and keep on culling will no doubt welcome some information on the subject. The idea of culling is not to find the birds worth keeping, but to discover the birds which will be unprofitable as layers so that they may be disposed of. Let it be understood, then, that culling is a most important part of the breeder’s art.

You must set a standard—that standard is merely compartive. Granted that you have studied the breed—the average quality of your flock will give you an idea of the grade. If of high class, then you would cull out 15 to 20 per cent.

If the type, size, etc., showed a very mediocre lot, you should cull out half or even more.

In Orpingtons discard small specimens—just above medium size—avoiding the over-large show type. See they are characteristic.

In White Leghorns insist on good, fully-red eggs, discard light eggs especially.

There are many points—desirable and undesirable —-and not every poultryman knows.

First of all, discard all cripples and other obviously unfit specimens. Include deformities and blemishes.

Then see to the standard you aim at. Remember that due regard to breed characters is important. In the case of Leghorns and Mi norcas do not countenance undersized specimens.

A fine head, strong beak, and bright, full eye are generally seen in a good specimen.

Constitution is a most important point, more especially in a commercial fowl.

Egg production is a great strain on the constitution.

Birds lacking constitution lay moderately for a short time.

Then they break down. Colloquially, they “go to the pack.”