Layer Utility Standard

Standard for Layer Fowls

The scoring system set out below is designed to apply to hens as well as to pullets. First we offer a Quick Reference for Judges, followed by more details of points allocations and expanded descriptions of each section of the standard below. 

UTILITY SCORING OUT OF 100 POINTS

• 25  -  Body type (size-type-in coop) 

• 15  - Head, beak and adjuncts (shape of)

• 30  - Body conformation (by handling)

• 10  - Handling Qualities

•   5  - Legs and toes (color and shape)

• 15  - Condition (molting condition)

More Detailed Standard Information

BODY TYPE - 25 POINTS

A bird of good body is usually well balanced in that the body itself must be deep, showing a nearly rectangular form, well developed in breast and abdomen. Great depth of body is especially desirable, but apparent depth must not be due to loose feathering, which is generally known by the evidence of loose thigh feathers. Large capacity is essential if a hen is to lay long and heavily. Such capacity is designated by a body that is deeper at the rear end of the keel than at the front end. The underline should be fairly straight, and the back should be comparatively horizontal. Prominent breast development, with evidence of a long keel, are desirable qualities in a high-producing hen. The general body conformation of a heavy producer conforms very closely to a rectangle with pronounced angles rather than smooth curves. A male shows the same general characteristics as a female, except that the abdomen is not so deep. A small-capacity hen generally stands erect. The body is either very shallow and cut away at the breast and abdomen, or, in the case of beefy individuals, the abdomen shows a pro-nounced sagging at the rear of the keel due to large accumulations of fat. Extremely poor producers frequently show a hump on the back.

HEAD, BEAK AND ADJUNCTS - 15 POINTS

One of the best indications in picking high layers is the fineness of the head. The head of the heavy producer is fine, showing a lean face, free from wrinkles and overhanging eyebrows. The wattles and ear lobes fit close to the head and are not loose and floppy. The face is clean cut, the eye is full, round and prominent, especially when seen from the front. An eye which gives a clean-cut wide-open appearance is desirable. The eye-ball of the heavy producer is generally set in the rear of a large oval socket, showing considerable of the white eye membrane in front of the eyeball. The head of a heavy producer should be well balanced, being moderately deep and broad. The extremely fat, full head of the beefy bird, and the long, thin-pointed head of the low-vitality bird are both undesirable, and

should call for heavy cuts in this section. The low-producing bird generally shows a depressed eye with overhanging eyebrows and wrinkled skin at the back of the eye. The extremely long, sharp beak is usually possessed by the low producer, while the medium-stout, well curved beak is characteristic of the high producer.

BODY CONFORMATION - 30 POINTS

When taken in the hands, a heavy producer will show, by the sense of touch, great depth of body, especially at the front and rear of the keel bone. Depth may be measured by placing the thumbs on the middle of the back, the little fingers on the front end of the keel bone and the middle fingers on the rear end of the keel bone. Press in with the palms of the hands and do not squeeze the bird up with the fingers. The deeper the bird feels, the better. It is relative depth that is desired and not actual depth. A big hen may be actually deep and yet relatively shallow, and hence be a poor layer. Relative depth of front to rear of body may be measured by spanning the body with the thumb and middle fingers from back to breast and sliding the fingers and thumb along the keel and back. The keel must be moderately straight, relatively long and carried well back. The space between the pelvic bones and the keel must be free from excessive accumulation of fat. (In the smaller breeds, such as the Leghorns, the distance between the keel and pelvic bones should be three or more fingers, which indicates that the hen is in a laying condition. In the larger breeds, such as the Plymouth Rocks, a hen in laying condition should have a spread of four or more fingers. In either case a spread of less than these indicates that the hen is not in a laying condition).

Birds which are laying heavily can be readily detected by the development of the abdomen. Such birds will show pelvic arches which are widespread and a keel which is forced down away from the pelvic arches so as to give large capacity. The pelvic bones will be thin and free from fat, straight and widely spread in heavily laying hens. (When the spread between the pelvic bones is two fingers or less, it is very probable that the hen is not laying, while if the spread is more than two fingers, it indicates that she is in a laying condition).

The vent becomes large, soft and moist and free from yellow color soon after a bird begins to lay. A non-laying bird has a puckered, hard, dry, yellow vent. The condition of the vent gives information as to the present laying condition. The poor producer generally shows a shallow body, especially at the front of the keel, a small shrunken abdomen, together with all evidences of small capacity.

The skin of the heavy-producing hen is thin, soft and pliable, especially the skin on the abdomen must be thin and loose. The skin of the poor producer is generally thick, hard and rather coarse to the touch. The thin, velvety skin is almost always associated with heavy egg production.

LEGS AND TOES - 5 POINTS

The shanks of a heavy producer should be smooth-scaled, and in breeds having yellow shanks the color will bleach out after the bird starts laying. In other words, pale colored shanks in yellow shank birds indicate production. The toes should be straight and the claws or toenails short and worn. The shortness of the toenails indicates activity on the part of the hen.

CONDITION - 15 POINTS

A bird to be capable of high production must be, first of all, healthy. She must show vigor and activity, and be well fleshed. Late molting in hens is desirable. Early molting and slow maturing, as shown by the primary feathers, should be cut severely. Late developing and late maturing usually indicate low production. In applying this section to hens, health and molting conditions should be given primary consideration. In applying this section to pullets, health and maturity should be given primary consideration.

Sources:

Lamon, Harry M. (1931) Judging poultry, by Harry M. Lamon and Jos. Wm. Kinghorne. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/coo.31924003196163