ORAL
REASONS
FOR
PAST PRODUCTION HENS
At the state contest, oral reasons
are given for one class of past production White Leghorn hens.
Contestants are given two minutes
to explain WHY they placed the class of hens the way the did.
The factors used in scoring include:
Appearance
and delivery
Proper
use of terms
Accuracy
of statements
Completeness
of coverage
Contestants
are given one rotation (15 minutes) to examine the class of birds and a second
rotation to prepare their reasons.
Oral
reasons are then given during the next rotation.
Juniors
may use notes while giving their oral reasons, but seniors may not.
Note: The judge(s) may ask the
contestant questions or request them to define terms.
Example of oral reasons:
The following make-believe notes
are used to demonstrate how oral reasons are given.
|
BIRD # |
OTHER OBSERVATIONS |
||||
|
1 |
Bleached through
bottom of foot Yellow shanks |
Thick, fat pubic
bones Hard abdomen |
2 x 2 |
None |
Narrow head Shrunken comb
& wattles |
|
2 |
Bleached through
hocks and tops of toes |
Soft, pliable
abdomen Sharp, flexible
pubic bones |
3 x 4 |
None |
|
|
3 |
Bleached through
shanks Yellow in hocks
and tops of toes |
Soft, pliable
abdomen Pubic bones sharp |
3 x 4 |
None |
Bright, alert eyes Red, waxy combs |
|
4 |
Bleached throughout
but some pigment on toes, back of shanks |
Pubic bones sharp Abdomen hard |
3 x 4 |
None |
Bright, alert eyes Red, waxy combs |
|
Final
rank: 2-4-3-1 |
|||||
|
Good Morning: I am contestant #10 I place the class of White Leghorn Production hens 2-4-3-1. I had an easy top pair, close middle pair and an easy bottom pair. I placed Bird 2 at the top of the class over Bird 4 because of pigment loss and handling qualities. Bird number 2 is totally bleached through the hock and top of the toes. This indicates that she is a persistent layer and has laid for a long time without stopping. Bird number 2 is also a more intense layer as evidenced by her superior handling qualities. Her abdomen is soft and pliable and her pubic bones are sharp and flexible. Bird number 4 has a hard abdomen showing signs of fatty deposits. Both hens had an abdominal capacity of a 3x4 finger spread. The Bird number 2 was also larger and wider than the Bird number 4. I placed Bird number 4 second and over Bird number 3 because of pigment loss. I found that Bird 4 has slightly less pigment on her shanks than Bird 3, particularly on the hock joints and tops of the toes. I grant that Bird 3 has a slightly softer and more pliable abdomen than Bird 4. However, I still placed 4 over 3 because Bird 4 has been a more persistent layer as shown by the greater bleaching. Both hens had an abdominal capacity of a 3x4 spread. Both hens also had bright and alert eyes, red and waxy combs which demonstrates their health and vigor. In the easy bottom pair, I placed Bird 3 over Bird 1 because of pigment loss, handling qualities and body capacity. Bird 3 shows pigment loss in the shanks while bird number 1 has only bleached through the bottom of the foot and shows intense pigment over the entire shank. Bird 3 has a soft abdomen and sharper more flexible pubic bones, whereas Bird 1 has thick, fat pubic bones. Bird number 3 had a better abdominal capacity with a greater spread between the pubic bones and between the pubic and keel bones than Bird 1. I placed Bird 1 last because she lacks persistency as shown by the intense pigment in her shanks. She also lacks intensity as well, because of her fatty abdomen and pubic bones. She also had a narrow head and shrunken comb and wattles. Molt was not a factor in placing this class. For these reasons, I placed this class of White Leghorn hens 2-4-3-1. |