T YltNG HKN I MEMORIAL POULTRY LIBRARY Date Due Library Bureau Cat, No. 1137 Cornell University Library SF 487.P869 1909 Don't kill the laying hen.A book describ 3 1924 003 689 076 DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN A BOOK DESCRIBING AND EXPLAINING THE POTTER SYSTEM OF SELECTING LAYING AND NON - LAYING HENS, ALSO RECORDING AND ILLUSTRATING HIS IN- VESTIGATIONS AND DISCOVERIES CON- CERNING THE DISEASES OF THE EGG-PRODUCING ORGANS BY T. F. POTTER THIRTEENTH EDITION COPYRIGHT 1909 BY T. F. POTTER PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN POULTRY JOURNAL PUB. CO. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS E 7605 ^^m^^i^ TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN The original reading matter and illustrations in this book are fully covered by United States copyright, and the same has been registered in the United States copyright office, Washington, D. C. Anyone infringing this copyright is liable to prosecution to the full extent of the law covering this subject. T. F. POTTER. The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924003689076 DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN CONTENTS TRRI^'ACE 7 Till': (ir..irocT m- s1':('I!i:('Y o ( 'iiAPTKR I— now THE E(!(; ruiows n How nature rdiilruls tlir laying- oi-saiis- -Tlu' sn-n't i>f tlif I'ottrr sys'- tem — Plow to pick out the non-laying lien — The "Lay Knne" test- test Xo. 1, method of measuremeut : test No. U, (.!■ (he liowel lest. ClI.vrTP.l! II— HOW TO DETERMINE THE FIRST STAHIOS OE EGG DI^ XKLOI'.MENT -20 Test No. 1, to know how far the hen is toward tile lavinu point' ■ tile "bowel" (est or test No. li— llow to pick out the hen tliat is laving — To know Ihi' hens that are the most prolitio layers. CH.vrTER III_T(^ KNOW HOW AND WHEN TO CT'LI, THE NON AND r( )( )i: LAYERS ( lITT OF THE FLOCK 2tl To know the' ones to sell and the ones to keep — Why i4 Ten ways to suspect hens that are not la.^-ing : three ways to prove their laying condition. Chapter VII—A HISTORY OF EIGHT NON-LAYING "BOBBED" TAILED HENS AND ONE THAT WAS NOT "BOBBED." INCLUDIXCi V.VHTABLE SCIENTIFIC FA("rS RE(;ARD1X(; MOFLTIXG 7:1 Tile story of (he one hen that was not "bobbed" — First four non-la.\-- ing bob-tailed hens — The odier four non-laying bob-tails. CiTAl'Tl-R VIIT— HOW HENS H.WIXG RED CO:\IBS ARE DECEIVING SP. P'orced moulting bad business. Chapter IX— HOW THE LAYING SEASON CAN BE EXTi:XDED AND ILKNY MORE E(;GS OBTAINED, OR WHY HENS ILV\TXG STRONG ORGANS STOP LAY1N(4 EARLY IN THE SEASON ,SS Why the flock' should he properly caret! for in ordt^r to make a rorre> nutwavd ApptArance, ^^'ould Ha\ e Been Ju withered and died. The large and light-colored dead egg marked D very likely died first by taking on some unnatural growth, as it was deformed and DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN G7 oversized, and from the disordered condition other eggs trying to develop were affected from the unnatural condition, and not making further development had to wither and die, thus leaving no chance for the hen to produce any eggs. O shows oviduct trying to develop. This young hen was detected by tests given in the preceding chap- Fig. 26 — Showing a Fully Developed Organ. ters, but by outward appearance would have been taken for a good laying hen, proving that looks are deceiving. Specimen No. 26 shows a fully developed organ. On left side of organ can be seen a large and deformed dead yolk marked D. Other eggs above and to the right, marked L, are in different stages of development, but were apparently in a healthy state when the hen 68 DON'T KIJ.L THE LAYING HEN was killed, which was done the next morning after she had become broody and had sat on the nest all night. She was killed to ascer- tain if any disorder was the cause of some hens laying small batches and becoming broody at short intervals. By turning to cut Xo. 1!. which shows a perfectly healthy and natural state ot an organ that has Just delivered the last egg of the batch and the hen had become broody, it can be seen by these comparisons that specimen No. 26 was not able to fully develop and lay out the full batch of eggs or the last four or five that had started to develop. A reasonable explanation is that the organ had taken on a diseased or weakened condition in the winter from some cause, and as the disorder grew worse and when the latter end of this batch was reached the eggs ceased to develop and the broody condition came on. It the hen had not been killed and had been allowed to set, the live eggs seen would soon have withered and died; or even if the spell had been broken in the usual way, they undoubtedly would have withered and died. Thus another cause of the accumulation of dead eggs has been discovered. Also when hens have a disordered organ when the moulting season comes on and the last batch of the season is being laid, their condition being weakened and the growtli of feathers drawing on the system for substance, heips to check egg growth, and consequently the last eggs of the batch cannot com- plete the development and they have to wither and die, leaving the organs in much worse condition than before. This explanation will help poultry raisers to understand why hens that have laid one or more seasons do not prove to be as good layers as the younger hens or pullets. It also helps the poultry raiser to more fully realize the importance of knowing how to detect hens having some disordered condition of the egg organs so as to be able to cull them from the flock. Specimen No. 27 was killed under the same condition as hen shown in No. 2K. Notice the two live eggs shown marked L and the two eggs above marked L D. It can be seen that these two eggs are rough and full of blisters, caused by some disorder or disease of the organ, and were dying when the hen was killed. F Shows heavy layers of fat, proving that the hen had not been laying prolifically, and the substance that would have gone into eggs was deposited in fat. This gives further proof that over-tat hens and hens that want to set often may be expected to have disabled organs and should be examined and discarded. During the last season I killed and dissected a large number of hens that became broody often, and found a large percent of these hens with org:ans in various defective conditions, I found several that had a partially developed yolk ruptured and the DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN 69 substance leaking out and running around the others that were in a healthy state. No doubt hens having organs in this condition could not produce any more eggs. Specimen No. 2S shows the organs of a hen that was killed the last of August and was about a year and a half old. and had never laid an egg. She was kept under trap-nest system for two or three Showing Diseased Organs. months and would often be found trapped in the nest, but never leaving an egg. The hen was shipped to me about the middle of July and kept where she had a favorable chance to lay if she could. During this whole time the hen showed by tests Nos. 1 and 2 to be in a fairly good laying state, as she had become very fat. This fat 70 DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN and the egg-developing condition made the tests very deceiving, but whenever the crop test was made it gave full proof that she was not laying, as the small amount of feed that her crop would contain at roosting time was not a sufficient amount for any hen to be able to produce eggs. I believe this explanation will be valuable to the reader in many ways. Fig. 28 — Shnwiny C)igaiis uf a Hen Tliat Had Never T.aiil an Egg. In Fig. 28, L points to eggs that were found when killed. D points to what apparently was a dead ovary; no more germs could be found on the organ, only those which are shown, two of them having developed to nearly full size. O points to oviduct, which was found to be in an unnatural condition. Specimen No. 29 shows a dead organ of a hen that was culled out DON'T KILL THE LAYINCx HEN 71 of a flock, marks showing dead eggs and dead oviduct. Tliis was a hen that was supposed to have laid two or three seasons and may have laid the first season. She was discovered by the tests, which indicated her non-laying condition. Fig. 29 — Showing- Dead Organ of a Hen That Was Supposed to Ha\'e Laid Two Seasons^. Ten Ways to Suspect Hens That Are Not Laying; Three Ways to Prove Their Laying Condition 1. The non-laying hen is the lazy hen. 2. She is usually the last to leave the roost in the morning. 3. She is always found in dry quarters on a rainy day. 4. She has a poor appetite, and is the first to leave the morning feed. 72 DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN 5 She seeks the shady spot in summer, and seldom leaves it. 6. She usually has an abundance of fat. 7. The comb may be off color, but this is not a safe sign. Suspect the hen that is narrow behind. She usually is the first to go to roost. The exception is the hen who has harvested a good crop of feed. 10. The first to leave when the last feed of the day is given. Scatter feed in a long, narrow row to make this observation. The successful poultryman will be as sharp as a detective and always on the lookout for suspects. When caught he will apply tests Nos. 1, 2 and 3, and hens failing to pass should be decapitated. DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN 73 CHAPTER VII. A HISTORY OF EIGHT NON-LAYING "BOBBED" TAILED HENS AND ONE THAT WAS NOT "BOBBED," INCLUDING VALUABLE SCIENTIFIC FACTS REGARDING MOULTING TAKE it for granted that the reader has carefully read the foregoing pages and become familiar with the laws of nature that control the laying organs; if not, an- other reading should be made and the knowledge gained put into practice, which practice will give a very much better understanding of the laws. The Story of the One Hen That Was Not "Bobbed" In taking up this subject, let me first explain about one hen that was not "bobbed." Some five years ago I had a hen that revealed to me two very important laws of nature that proved to be the two missing links that were necessary to make up an almost perfect system of selecting non-laying hens. About the middle of August in that year my attention was attracted to one of the hens in the floclv because of the completed shedding of feathers and the growth of new ones, which caused surprise because the others did not show any signs of shedding so early. IMy first thought was that this hen would be ready to start laying early in the fall and would make a good winter layer. Weeks passed, and as no signs of development were apparent, my curiosity became aroused and I watched her closer and began to think there must be something wrong with her laying organs. Not having had any previous experience of the kind or given the subject any particular study, I concluded that there was something to be learned and a reason for the hen shedding so early. As time passed, I fully con- cluded that her organs had no life in them. However, after I had given the time necessary for development, and there was no oppor- tunity to learn more while she was alive, I concluded to kill her and see if I had drawn correct conclusions. Close examination of the organs showed them to be very defective, black and yellow dead ova germs and the organ in a dry state, very small and contracted; and as the dormant ovas in a healthy state are clear and light in color, 74 DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN Tliis niusti'ation sliows a laying or^an of a hen (not one of the "bobtails") in perfect con- dition, witli tlie last fi\e egrgs of a batcti not yet fully developed. Oviduct (O) cut open shows fully developed egg:. (C) shows ova- sacs in a state of absorption. DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN 75 it was plain that tlie organ never could have developed another egg. This led to two important conclusions: 1. That a hen having a dead or defective laying organ did not use up her energy in the production of eggs, and not having anything to hold back the moulting that draws upon her system, it follows that as a natural sequence moulting took place earlier than it otherwise would have done. 2. That a non-laying hen did not consume much feed. Previous to this I had not given any thought to the feed question in any way, especially as to the difference in the amount consumed by a laying or a non-laying hen; but this opened up a new field for study and investigation, which I have recorded in the last edition of my book. While I was quite certain as to the correctness of these two the- ories, I decided to take it up the next season as it was then too late to carry on any further experiments. For the following two years I kept over two or three non-laying hens in order to further prove these facts. Invariably the non-layers shed far in advance of the rest of the flock. Other points had been closely watched, such as following up the crop test, etc. During these two years of experiments I learned many important facts. Then the last revised edition of the book was printed, being three years ago, and the experiments that have been carried on since that time will be told in the story of the First Four Non-Laying Bob-Tailed Hens The following year, 1909, I had thirty-five hens that had laid one season. No culling had been made during the winter as it is not the time to do it, though if the major part of the hens have started to lay late in the winter sonre culling could have been done. In the early spring the majority of the hens had begun to lay. Some time passed between examinations of the flocks as to their laying conditions. One morning as we were having a warm rain, and in taking out some extra feed, I noticed four hens in the shed, while all the others were out, soaking wet, pulling out fat angle worms and hunting for more with great interest. These four hens were unconcerned about the favorable opportunity for securing worms. The contrast was so marked as to demand investigation. I closed the door on the four hens and went to the house after the shears, caught them and made an examination, found that in the way of egg development there was "nothing doing," and no feed in their crops. It was decided very quickly that their tail feathers should be cut close — "bobbed." 76 DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN ,^-3 iPjF FiB. 30 Showing several dead eggs just above two live eggs, marked L. DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN 77 After this "bloodless surgical operation" they were allowed their liberty. With their tails "bobbed" they could be seen and all their acts and habits easily watched, at the same time making it con- venient to pick them out for examination. These hens were allowed to remain in the flock nearly all summer, and were very instructive and interesting in proving the theory that the non-layer ate very little food; and will be so to you, if you will do the same thing, so as to become personally familiar with these facts. I have often asked visiting friends and neighbors if they could see any difference between the actions of the bob-tails and the others. Invariably the ansv/er was "No." Then giving" them a demonstration by scattering some feed, again calling attention to the bob-tails and asking if any difference could be distinguished. The only difference was that they made no effort to get feed and did not seem to care about anything to eat. By driving them out in an attempt to force them to eat resulted in a very evident lack of appetite; they leisurely picked up a few pieces of grain and then left, while the balance of the flock continued to eat until their crops were well filled to supply the necessary food for egg production. Generally, at roosting time, I found one or two on the roost, in- variably the bobtails were on the roost first. Waiting until dark and desiring to make further tests, after the hens were all settled down, I made an examination, comparing the condition of the bobtails with the others, and found the crops of the bobtails contained but little feed while the crops of the majority of the others were well filled, and still others that were not laying so heavy more or less filled. As the laying season advanced, they were found by tests Nos. 1 and 2, as given in the book, to be in fairly good laying condition, bones spread, intestines down, indicating a developed laying condition, but the abdomen having in most cases an abnormal amount of fat stored in it between and around the points of the lay bones. This condition alone would be deceiving, but when the crop test was applied — very little food was found in them. This again proved their unproductive condition. Now, to complete the story of the four bob-tails, they were all killed and dissected during the latter part of August and their organs found in different states of disorder, some having a few yolks hang- ing to the ovary surrounded with more or less dead ones. (See Fig. 30.) A very important point to know is that these four bob-tailed non- 7S DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN laying hens were the first hens to shed their feathers and come out with a new coat. These experiments were very satisfactory to me and gave addi- tional proof that I had formed the right ideas. However, the season passed and the flock had been culled down to twenty-two hens; several of them laid right up to the first week in December and a few laid up till the second week in December before moulting. These long laying-season hens moulted so rapidly, were quite bare of feathers, and the weather being quite cold I put them in warmer quarters to keep them comfortable so that the new coat of feathers would grow rapidly. In less than seven weeks these late moulters were laying again, keeping it up until the following December. Shortly after the four bobtails were killed, others started to moult and completed the process far in advance of the strong laying hens. Some of these I killed, dissected, and found their organs in a low, dormant condition, more or less defective, many of the small ovaries being yellow and some black, proving them to have been in a weak laying condition, hence ceasing to lay early in the season, proving that the demand for substance to produce the new crop of feathers overcomes the weak laying requirements. This experiment convinced me that hens having defective or weak laying organs would follow the non-layers in the shedding of their feathers, which would be a very good guide to determine the hens having weak organs and short season layers. Such hens would not be profitable to winter over for another year's laying. I was convinced long before this experience that the hens that did not start to lay until late in the season, or the last ones to start in the spriiig (if they were of equal ages), would be the first to stop laying for the season, and, of course, would not be profitable to winter over. This fact, with the time when a hen starts laying, and when she stops, makes it an easy matter to select poor layers. The first hens that start laying in the spring or winter and continue laying late in the season must have very strong and healthy laying organs; and of course would be the proper ones to keep over for another season's laying. As a rule, most poultry raisers are largely guided by the hens' ages in making their selections. I have proven among ray own flock that some old hens will lay more eggs in a season than some young hens. These aie facts and will have to be admitted. They prove that it is folly to dispose of hens just because they have laid one or two sea- sons and keep younger hens that would, or could, not produce half as many eggs as the older, strong producing hens. This is a large subject and too long to take more space at this DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN 79 Fig. 31 — Showing- very unnatural growth of the ovary. Many ovas trying to grow out in a solid body. 80 DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN point, but with tlie explanations tiiat liave been made, there should not be much trouble in making selections of the proper hens to keep over for another year's laying as well as the proper ones to dispose of. The Other Four Non-Laying Bobtails The following year, after the first four bobtails had been disposed of, I wintered over 22 hens left out of the flock of 35 wintered over the previous year. A portion of these hens started to lay in January and all but four of the others started laying a little later. The four gave no signs of egg development. They were followed up for a few weeks with occasional examinations to see if any signs of egg growth h'ere taking place, and as these signs did not develop, I soon con- cluded that they had defective laying organs and their tails were bobbed also. I saw that I had another opportunity to further prove that the non- laying and weakly laying hen would be the first to shed their feathers and come out with their new coat. This moulting question had be- come very interesting, and as I had the opportunity to carry out another experiment along the same line, I concluded to allow the four bobtails to remain in the flock during the laying season. After a time, all four of the bobtails showed signs of egg development, the same as the other four bobtails did, their combs being red, intestines dropping down, filling up the abdomen pocket, the lay-bones spreading. I had been looking for these conditions to take place, as I have stated in the book that nearly every hen, sooner or later, would take on some stage of laying condition, even though the laying organs were so defective that it would be impossible for them to develop a perfect egg. (See Figs. 31 and 32.) This is why hens are so de- ceiving to the poultryman who has not become familiar with these laws and conditions that take place, and it also makes it somewhat complicated to the beginner or to the one just starting to learn the system of selecting such hens and keeping them out of the flock. These hens naturally become very heavy and fat. This is very good proof of their laying organs' condition, although some hens will la\ quite well for a while when they are over fat. These bens with the defective organs that only take on what seem to be a laying condi- tion, can be detected even though they have developed into a laying state. It would be quite a difficult matter were it not tor the crop test, as this is the most reliable in such cases, and especially in the laying season or in warm weather. I might say here that such hens will often continue in this, what seems to be a laying condition, for several months and not be able to produce an egg, others may be able to produce a small number in accordance with the defectiveness DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN 81 i £ i^a^.7 ««^!^^| fiUiji^Mt.r ini^jiiril , ^> ^^Hl^ ^1 k^m ^J WKr^m « r^ i^Jr mm ' V "1'^ ?"^ii ^S^Br -**• Jl 1^" % '# !^ ^ ^^B r^^^si&tw./ fv^^' '"-1 Plj^i |fc 2 ' .F \ -Vj • Jl |H[Pr Et.-i,-i'.-.\ ■ . ^BfeJ^^^^^k^ "^1 ■ T , Jl 1H ^Pf' / • "' '-' *« k- -''V' "-i* J IqA. '" "' J| Ki',».. -->NH ^r -0"'' JS^^I Hk^^^-j^^ Fig. 34 — Dead organs showing- a very peculiar and unnatural growth of an ova. DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN CHAPTER IX. HOW THE LAYING SEASON CAN BE EXTENDED AND MANY MORE EGGS OBTAINED, OR WHY HENS HAVING STRONG ORGANS STOP LAYING EARLY IN THE SEASON S spring is the natural time tor hens to lay and late summer or early fall the natural time for them to stop, it can be seen that in the fall every discomfort the hen has to stand tends to interfere with the natural egg production. Consequently the hen should be given feed and every comfort that is possible, as this will tend to greatly lengthen the laying season. Hens lay their eggs in batches and when a batch is laid out the hen may either become broody and the laying organs go into the dormant state, or they start and develop another batch of eggs. The question is, What is desired? If -it is more eggs, we work to that end. It is quite a critical period when a batch of eggs have been laid out, for a change has to be made; the organ must either start and develop another batch of eggs and continue the work or become dormant. When the batch of eggs are developing, there is something to be accomplished, and it is perfectly natural for the organ to con- tinue in the work of development. However, it is an easy matter for it to dry up at this point and will do it if conditions are not most favorable. Any thing that tends to reduce the hen's vitality, hinders production, and particularly so at such times. On the contrary any- thing that tends to strengthen the vitality will help the organ to develop another batch of eggs. We now have the two conditions; one to be worked for and the other to be avoided, .{^o produce more eggs, the hen must have an abundance of fresh air; it will stimulate the appetite and thus build up the system. " Lots of scratching mate- rial for the teed to be thrown into to make them work, creating and stimulating circulation, which will start egg development. On the other hand the lack of fresh air, causing loss of appetite, with unsani- tary quarters and vermin, no necessity to work to get food, will stop egg development and cause the organ to become dormant, possibly in a diseased condition, and no more eggs for the season. DON'T KTT.T. THE T.AYING HEN 89 Fig. 35 — Slinwing a mass of dead yolks hanging to ON'arj', two live o\-as shown in center, marked L. 90 DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN Why the Flock Should Be Properly Cared For in Order to Make a Correct Selection of the Poor and Non-Layers I am sometimes asked to select the noii and poor layers out of a flock. Only a few hens are necessary to show that the flock has not been well cared for and no one would be able to make a proper selection. The hens in a full dormant state could be easily known, or the hen that had made some egg development, but the hen that has lost the power of egg production and the hen that has organs so detective that only a few eggs could be produced in a season could not lie selected under such conditions. 1 have stated before that the flock must be properly cared for in order to make these selections, but some have the idea that if they gave them good care a few days previous to making the selections that it could be cor- rectly done. That will not do, and I think I can make explanations so that anyone can see why the flock must be well cared for at least tor several weeks previous to the time of making the selection. If a flock of hens have not been well fed the flock is of course in poor condition and egg development could not take place, or if in some cases it should start it would not be a normal or natural development. Egg development will only take place when a hen is in a thriving condition. There is no very marked difference between a hen that had a defective organ in a dormant state and the hen with an organ in a healthy dormant condition as long as they were both in poor flesh. The body demands all the nourishment until well built up, which takes several weeks, aiul then egg development can be ex- pected. Then the one having good organs would start egg develop- ment. This would continue the demand for teed and the crop test would prove the condition. While the hen with the dead or defective organ would not start egg development and would lose her appetite, then the contrast is easily noted. When culling is to be done any time during the laying season, this good care must be taken into consideration. If vermin and the un- sanitary quarters are allowed, or overcrowded houses, the hens with good laying organs will soon lose their appetites; consequently egg development stops and conditions change. It often happens that a flock of hens are carelessly fed, having all the shelled corn and other grain they can eat without working" for it: consequently their entire time spent in idleness, and this in the time of year that their laying organs are in the dormant state, as is the case during or after the latter part of the moult. Under such condi- tions, after the new coat is fully developed and the organ in a dor- mant state, the hens will become fat very rapidly, the entire flock DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN 91 soon becoming over fat. It is suppoKed that such hens have laid one or more seasons. Egg development woiUd begin slowly and the tlock at no time would be in a normal condition; this again makes the culling more difficult. These explanations, with what has been given before regarding tliis question, will make the conditions better understood which are neces- sary for a successful and proper culling from the flock the non and weak layers. A Good Way to Mark Suspects When a hen is found to be in a backward or poor egg developins; state it is sometimes necessary or safer to give more time to see if a better development can or will take place so as to better determine the condition of the hen's laying organs. In order to save the time and trouble necessary to go over the whole flock the second time I have found no better way to mark the "suspects" than to cut one-half of the tail feathers far enough down to be readily seen. If a majority of the flock are laying, a week or two is usually suffi- cient time to give these "suspects" to develop into normal laying condition. At the end of this time the "suspects" only can be exam- ined and, if found to be in an undeveloped or non-laying condition, the remainder of the tail can be clipped oft, thus indicating that the hen has been entirely condemned as a proper hen to keep for laying purposes. Proof That No Mistake Has Been Made in the Selection of a Non- Layer, Even Though Found to Have a Few Live Yolks on the Ovary I believe that I should not close my book until I have made further explanations on this important subject. I have explained that there would be but a small per cent of non- laying hens with more or less defective laying organs that would not at some time during the laying season take on conditions of egg development and still not be able to produce a single egg, while others less defective could develop a few eggs and lay them at some time during the laying season, but these yolks might be carried for weeks and even months in a semi-dormant state, the laying organs being too weak to develop them. So, do not be alarmed if, in killing a hen you have selected as a non-layer, you should find a few yolks; that is no indication that she would be a profitable hen to keep. Later on in the season these yolks that have developed will die and the watery substance be absorbed back into the system and a 92 DON'T KILL THE LAYING HEN dead substance remain hanging to the ovary in a preserved state, and no doubt could be kept in this condition tor years if the hen were allowed to live. With this point understood, it can be readily seen that it would not be an uncommon thing in the laying season and under favorable conditions, to select a non-laying hen by the tests given and, after being killed, to find live eggs or yolks upon the laying organ. But. as stated, this does not prove that she is a laying hen. She might be seen to go on the nest every day for weeks and still not lay an egg during the whole season; she is simply carrying out her nature or desire to lay, but the condition of her laying organs prevents any- thing more than a partial development of the eggs. All these condi- tions are very deceiving. She is quite likely to have a red comb until the eggs have died, when the comb will fade. O"*^-, American Poultry Journal Year Book PUBLISHED ANNUALLY The Authoritative Poultry Encyclopaedia The 1913 edition contains 379 pages; eleven four-color illustrations of single birds and pairs from life, mounted on heavy paper suitable for framing, and 35 other illustrations, breeding charts, poultry house de- signs, etc. The Year Book is not only an almanac of happenings in the poultry world during the season, but the condensed information on every subject relating to the poultry industry renders it invaluable for reference. PRICES— EXPRESS PREPAID Paper Bound Edition ... $ .50 Cloth Bound de luxe Edition 1.00 Remember — This book contains complete Show Reports and List of Winners American Poultry Journal, the one great poultry paper of America, con- tains as high as 252 pages per issue with beautifully colored supplements. Published monthly. Send 10 cents for sample copy and special offers. 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Besides lieing a good story, it also contii ins complete feeding form- Tiliis and a chapter on diseases. Price 500. Why Poultry Pays and How to Make It Pay A liook for the beginner. Contains sound advice about stinting in. Tells how to line bre^d, how to care for fowls during the moulting period, how to leed fowls for best results, etc. Price 00<'. Diseases of Poultry By Dr. D. E. Salmon, D. V. M. CHTEF U. S. liUK. OF ANIM\L InDUSTHY Kvery poultryman should h;ive this book in his library wliether his chick- ens are sickly or in perfecthealth . You can't tell at what moment you may need this hook. It will save you many dollars if you know just what to do when disease strikes your flock. Con- tains 250 pages, 72 illustrations. Ab- solutely the best hook on the n\arket on poultry diseases. Trice 50f. $4,223 in One Year on a Town Lot By H. Cecil Sheppard Hpiiig a sworn statement of the actuiil business I'Uiltup with poultry on avery small capital. Not theories, but act ual results obtained from experience. 70 pages, 17 illustrations. Price $1. Don't Kill the Laying Hen By T. F. Potter Tells how to distinguish the laying hens from the nonlaying. By following the directions in this book, you can save the layers and kill only the drones ; in other words, keep your money-mak- ers ;ind kill the nonproducers. 92 pp.. 38 illus., bound in cloth. Price $1. How^ to Build Poultry Houses Contains plans of diftt-rent poultry houses, roosts, dropping boards, brood coops, breeding houses, fattening coops and many others. Indispensable for beginners. J'rice 50c. Successful Poultry Culture Tf'lls linw ti> s;ive tlnve-fnurths your fepil liill. Treats on all subjects ppr- taining to jioultry business, feeding, doctoring, bousing, inculcating, etc, Cont;iiiis ll^b pages, 'SO illustrations. Pi'ice 50':'. Practical Poultry Pointers A small l:)Ook designed for pocket use. Contains valuable recipes for liquid lice killer, lice powder. Johnny cake for young chicks, the Douglas mixture, etc. Also cures for the most common poul- try diseases. Price 15c. Am. Standard of Perfection LatHSt edition pul>lished by the Amer- ican Poultry Association." It is the onlyauthorityin the United Siirtes and Canada on the required characteristics of all breed:: and varieties of poultry. All requirements as to shape, color and markings of the standard breeds are clearly descr i bed and illustrated. IM-ice cloth bound ^'Z : leather bound *a.50. Origin and History of All Breeds of Poultry Including colored illustrations o. lyy birds painted from life. Tells w. re the different breeds originated, how to mate In order to get the best results, what to avoid and what to breed for. etc. Price $1 . American Poultry Journal Publishing Co., 542 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago, V ^ Of, t- >, H Wy * '' ' 4t„ V ■"if •, ''J J J, A? "" 1'''*&A ^^/ '.''i, 3s ".;>