The Poultry-Yard

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 41, 24 December 1920, Page 11

The Poultry-Yard

(By S.Q.M.),

HOW TO SELECT THE LAYERS. The times are changed since those days wheq poultry brceders were content to produce f owls of undeniabie high quality, as shown in type, markir^s in the feather, and other fancy distinctions, but had an utter d^regard and a cool contempt for economical egg production. The fact is to-day pippable, whatever may b.e the reason, thaA, poultry breeders, whether their object is for exhibition birds or whether their idea is to produce fowls with inordinate power of egg production, work on a more business-like basis. They must have a reason for their existence oBier than type, "feather," and those other etceteras that go towards making up the poultry exhibitor's ideal of beauty. In the past I have heard breeders say — and say it with a certain amount of pride —that several of their blue-blooded hens would not lay more eggs than sufficient for a conple of hatches in the 12 months ; but they added that half of the hatched birds would turn out winners at the next season s shows. But now he would be a v.enturesome man who would advertise the fact that his hens would be, from an economic point of view, practically a burden to their owner. Such a class of stock, whether the strain be exhibition" or "utility," is unwanted at the present time. For it may be taken for granted that every breeder of poultry, unless he carries his head in the clouds, insists that his hens be a profitable proposition. Having these matters in mind, and desiring to keep in toucb with the times, it is essential that some means be devised by which the selection of profitable stock may be ens-ured. These means are very necessary in 1establi.shme.nt3 where peciigree is non-existent, and where there is little or no a-ccommodation for the individual testmg of the breeding hens. But,- in all cases, no matter what the device is or methods for gaining accurate knowledge of a hen's productive capacity may be, there is always the unsolva-ble present. For we may have pedigree, appearance, measurements, and other methods which are ap- ■ plied for the selection of bountiful e.ggproducers, and yet the individual hen may as a producer, turn out to be a rank failure. This uncertainty is markedly noticeable in the lists issued by various egg-laying competition establishments, where a number of hens from the one breeder is competing. A couple of those hens may he in a good position in the published list, while three, four, or more, may be near the bottom. Yet these hens are probably of the one strain, have been as well cared for as the leaders, and, without doubt, have been submitted to the particular methods adopted for the better selection of egg-producers. All systems break down before the unsolvable. ,And the un. solvable is secreted in the breast of Nature. In seekin.g for the b,est layers, do not pin your faith in the tests of pullets, for the simple reason that in the first year's laying results the pullet is at its best, and may give good to excellent results — results that may prove in the end "too sweet to be substantial." And whether you judge for production by ped'gree or appearance, let soundness of constitution be the first essential. There are many points to be conside-red when culling for the best layers. The cbief of these points are the age of the bird, the time of the year, the quality of skin and bone, the condition of the bird, and its general apeparance. The ag,e of the bird is important, for after the first laying season the production of eggs varies considerably, and if, as it should be, a second, third, or even a fourth season hen is required for fhe breed ing pen, this variation must be fully allowed for. The variation 0? productioil is invariably on the lower grade, according to the age of the bird. A fall of 15 per cent. in egg production between the output of the pulle\ and the second season hen may be taken as a groundwork in estimating the likely production of the latter, a further decline of 10 per cent. has to be eonsidered per annum as the age increases. If such a hen gives fair returns and continues in bodily vigour, she is not to be despised, and may be bred from in the firm belief that her progeny will be able to earn their oats. It is not the hen with an abnormal capacity for egg production that ensures success ; so having fair results from a sound constitution hen, be content, for such a hen properly mated may, with advantage, be relegated to the breeding pen. The time of the year is a factor that is inseparable in any system of selection. In the .early autumn, and during the moulting time especially a hen is weakened in its power for egg production.