CULING THE LAYING FLOCK INTRO HOME TURKEY CHICKEN BREEDER STORY ARTICLE LINK BREEDS OF CHICKENS

Linden Reid sent this article to me. Lindon resides in Australia and I became acquainted with him through the Rare Poultry2 List at Yahoo-Groups. With the high cost of feed today culling your stock is essential, even in purebred poultry. Profits secured from the laying stock are directly related to egg production. As egg production in the flock increases, the income over feed costs rises much more rapidly than total cost of production. Since the cost of feed amounts to about one half of the total cost of producing eggs it is necessary to cull poor layers from the flock as soon as they can be detected. One advantage in culling poor layers early in the laying year is that their eggs are not saved for hatching to produce more layers. Also birds that have laid well for a short period but stopped laying for some reason or other should be culled promptly. In order to effect production as little as possible, culling the whole flock by using catching crates should be done after 2pm, by which time most eggs for the day have been laid. The amount of culling that should be done from time to time throughout the year depends on the amount of feed fed and the amount of eggs collected. CULLING NON LAYERS: It is a simple matter to tell whether a pullet or hen is in production. Examine the condition of the comb, the wattles, the pubic bones, vent and abdomen to distinguish a layer from a non-layer and cull accordingly. COMB: When a bird is laying the comb and wattles are warm, fully developed, bright red and waxy in appearance. In a non-layer they are cold, dull in colour and shrunken.

PUBIC BONES: When a bird is in laying condition the pubic bones, two small bones extending along the side of the body towards the vent, are apart. Usually from two to three fingers can be placed between the pubic bones. After a bird has been laying for some time.the pubic bones become thin and pliable. In a non layer the pubic bones are so close together that only one finger can be placed between theme finger can be placed between them. VENT: The vent of a laying bird is oval in shape and moist, while the vent of the non-layer is small and round and dry. ABDOMEN. The abdomen of a laying hen is soft and expanded to allow for the activity of the digestion and laying organs. The skin covering the abdomen is soft and pliable. Usuall y three or four fingers may be placed between the end of the keel and pubic bones. In a non-layer the abdomen is usually contracted and the skin is relatively thick and course. Frequently only one or two fingers can be placed between the keel and pubic bones. CULLING POOR LAYERS: There are three characteristics that should be considered in distinguishing poor layers to good layers. These include; 1. The type of breed 2.The amount of bleaching of the yellow pigment from the beak, shanks and other parts of the body. 3. The time and duration of the first annual moult. Lindon and I both hope this has been a help to everyone. Remember only keep the best producers and only breed the best of the best.

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INTRO	HOME	TURKEY	CHICKEN
BREEDER	STORY	ARTICLE	LINK
BREEDS OF CHICKENS

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