Urbanite Past Egg Production

Front 1

Define: PERSISTENCY

Back 1

Pigment loss + Molt The persistency factors of pigment loss and molt tell you which hen has the longest period of continuous production and are the best indicators of the number of eggs each hen has laid.

Front 2

Define: INTENSITY

Back 2

Handling Qualities The hens current rate of production. Intensity is determined by the handling quality of the pubic bones and abdominal skin and vent and lack of fat under the shank scales.

Front 3

Define: HEALTH & VIGOR

Back 3

Indicated by the shape and brightness of the eye, proportional shape of the head, and the condition of the comb and wattles.

Front 4

What is the Order of Bleaching?

Back 4

Vent, Eye, Ear Lobe, Beak, Bottom of feet, Shank, Hock

Front 5

How is ABDOMINAL CAPACITY (AC) measured?

Back 5

Measured with your fingers first between the pubic bones and then between pubic bones and keel bones.

Front 6

What is a MOLT?

Back 6

Annual feather loss. A good producer should not molt until she has completed 12-14 months of production.

Front 7

What is the AXIAL FEATHER?

Back 7

The short feather between the primary and secondary feathers on the wing

Front 8

Order for Ranking of Production Hens

Back 8

First on Pigment Loss, then Handling Quality followed by abdominal capacity and finally molt

Front 9

What does PIGMENT LOSS indicate?

Back 9

indicates the number of eggs laid

Front 10

Characteristics of Good HANDLING QUALITY (Intensity)

Back 10

is characterized by the hen's leanness and trimness

Front 11

Characteristics of Poor HANDLING QUALITY (Intensity)

Back 11

Fat, thick, hard pubic bones and abdomen

Front 12

How is ABDOMINAL CAPACITY (AC) written in your notes?

Back 12

Written as numbers (# fingers between Pubic bones) X (# fingers between Pubic and Keel) Example 2 X 4.

Front 13

Does Large ABDOMINAL CAPACITY (AC) indicate GOOD or POOR producer?

Back 13

GOOD. Goes with high egg production

Front 14

What do signs of MOLT indicate?

Back 14

signs of molt mean the hen stopped or slowed the production and did not lay as many eggs as she should have.

Front 15

What about PRIMARY FEATHERS?

Back 15

10 Total They molt from the Axial to the tip

Front 16

Characteristics of new feathers

Back 16

Smooth ends, appear clean, shorter than they should be

Front 17

The more feathers molted….

Back 17

The longer the hen has been out of production

Front 18

What is REGIMENTATION?

Back 18

When a bird stops laying the pigment will RETURN in the same order VIEBFSH.

Front 19

Thin Pubic Bones HQ G/P?

Back 19

Good HQ (Intensity)

Front 20

Lean Skin HQ G/P

Back 20

Good HQ (Intensity)

Front 21

Soft Abdomen HQ G/P

Back 21

Good HQ (Intensity)

Front 22

Pliable Abdomen HQ G/P

Back 22

Good HQ (Intensity)

Front 23

Lean and Trim Abdomen HQ G/P

Back 23

Good HQ (Intensity)

Front 24

Thick Pubic Bones HQ G/P

Back 24

Poor HQ (Intensity)

Front 25

Thick Skin - HQ G/P?

Back 25

Poor HQ (Intensity)

Front 26

Hard Abdomen HQ G/P?

Back 26

Poor HQ (Intensity)

Front 27

Words describing GOOD handling qualities

Back 27

Thin pubic bones, Lean/trim skin, Soft/pliable abdomen

Front 28

Words describing POOR Handling Qualities

Back 28

Thick pubic bones, Thick skin, Hard abdomen

Front 29

Words describing Molting

Back 29

#of Feathers missing, New feathers visible/growing in, neat smooth ends, short new feathers

Front 30

Words describing bird that has not molted.

Back 30

Old feathers, Feathers worn on the ends, Broken or dirty feathers

Front 31

Words describing GOOD Pigment Loss (Persistency)

Back 31

Bleaching throughout (name the last part bleached VIEBFSH), Less pigment, Less yellow, More bleached

Front 32

Words describing BAD Pigment Loss (Persistency)

Back 32

Very yellow (name the part), Less bleached, More pigment, More yellow

Front 33

Words describing GOOD Health & Vigor

Back 33

Glossy comb, Bright eyes, Lively

Front 34

Words describing POOR Health & Vigor

Back 34

Dull shrunken comb and wattles, Dull sleepy eyes, Shallow heads

Front 35

When taking notes on Bleaching…

Back 35

Write down on your notes the last area the hen shows pigment loss VIEBFSH

Front 36

Characteristics of VENT of good producer

Back 36

Moist, Large and oblong in shape

Front 37

Should you consider yellow on TOP OF FOOT?

Back 37

Some good layers may never bleach this part of the foot.

Front 38

Noting Pigment Loss on Shank

Back 38

Be sure to consider pigment loss on front and back sides before making your placing.

Front 39

Noting pigment loss on Tops of Hocks

Back 39

Pull feathers back to examine last scales in this area.

Front 40

Where are the Pubic Bones?

Back 40

Do I really need to tell you where these are?

Front 41

Where is the Keel bone?

Back 41

Measure the (AC) from top of keel to bottom of pubic bones

Front 42

What is Xanthophyl?

Back 42

Pigment that birds are born with that passes from the bird to the egg.

Front 43

Cumulative total of eggs when bleached thru Vent

Back 43

0-10 eggs laid Elapsed time 0-2 weeks of production

Front 44

Cumulative total of eggs when bleached thru Eye Ring

Back 44

8-12 eggs laid Elapsed time 2 - 2.5 weeks of production

Front 45

Cumulative total of eggs when bleached thru Ear Lobe

Back 45

10-15 eggs laid Elapsed time 2.5 - 3 weeks of production

Front 46

Cumulative total of eggs when bleached thru Beak

Back 46

35 eggs laid Elapsed time 5-8 weeks of production

Front 47

Cumulative total of eggs when bleached thru Bottom of Foot

Back 47

68 eggs laid Elapsed

Front 48

Cumulative total of eggs when bleached thru Entire Shank

Back 48

159 eggs laid

Front 49

Cumulative total of eggs when bleached thru Top of toes & Hocks

Back 49

175-180 eggs laid Elapsed time 20-30 weeks of production

Front 50

Before you start to examine any individual birds…

Back 50

Stand back and look overall at the four birds in the class and sort them into top and bottom individuals or pairs, based on VISIBLE pigment loss.

Front 51

The bird with the most pigment loss…

Back 51

Has laid the most eggs , regardless of her intensity or state of health.

Front 52

T/F You may bend or move hens pubic bones.

Back 52

FALSE. Don't bend or squeeze. You can feel the skin around them just don't bend them.

Front 53

T/F You may hand a hen to another contestant.

Back 53

False. You must put the bird back into the cage.

Front 54

T/F You may compare hens with others in your group.

Back 54

FALSE - Big False.

Front 55

T/F You may use your notes when presenting reasons

Back 55

NOPE - Can't happen. You have to memorize the info and present without notes.

Front 56

Amount of time allowed for you to judge and place a class of hens

Back 56

10 minutes

Front 57

T/F You may leave your assigned group and visit with your friends

Back 57

FALSE - Christian and Christian this means you. Stay in your group. No chatting or goofing.

Front 58

Which hen is placed first…best or worst producer?

Back 58

Best Producer. Hens are placed best to worst.

Front 59

How much time is allowed to PRESENT your oral reasons?

Back 59

2 minutes

Front 60

In Oral Reasons - Points are awarded for Appearance….

Back 60

Standing still on both feet facing judges, speaking loud and clear, appropriate opening and closing, no long pauses, confident and convincing

Front 61

Good Opening statement for Oral Reasons

Back 61

Good Morning/Afternoon. I am contestant #?. I placed the class of White Leghorn Production Hens # # # #.

Front 62

Good Closing statement for Oral Reasons

Back 62

For these reasons I placed this class of White Leghorns hens # # # #. Thank you.

Front 63

Terms to include in Oral Reasons

Back 63

Pigment, Handling Quality, Abdominal Capacity, Molt, Persistency, Intensity, Health & Vigor

Front 64

BAD Opening statement for Oral Reasons

Back 64

Howdy, I'm Christian Shank and I'm from Dallas County 4-H. BAD. BAD. BAD…No names... nothing to identify where you are from.

Front 65

Where is the SHANK on the hen?

Back 65

The part of the leg between the hock and the top of the foot.

Front 66

Where is the HOCK on the hen?

Back 66

The very top of the SHANK. Often covered by feathers.