Chickens' Toenails, Grit Studied by Experts, Jan. 3, 1923

Laying Chickens Have the Shortest Toe Nails. . . This and Other interesting Facts Have Been Established by Experts

By the Associated Press

Raleigh, Jan. 3—“How long does a hen’s toe nails grow in 365 days?”

This momentous question had the capitol inhabitants all up in excitement today and shared almost equal interest with he convening of the general assembly as officials and legislators endeavored to give a correct answer.

But the delay was not long, for in the annual report of Dr. B.F. Knapp, poultry investigator of the North Carolina Experiment Station, was found the following:

“This question was answered by measuring the toe nails of two Barred Plymouth Rock hens at the end of 365 days. They had grown 19 centimeters.”

And, on the heels of this disclosure to the world came the following:

“The Fate of Grit in the Gizzard: It was found that a fowl may go 365 days without replenishing its supply of grit. At the end of this time, there was enough grit in the gizzard of the two hens to grind the food as shown by the fact that the hens were in perfect health and in good flesh.”

These facts were revealed in a series of experiments conducted at the station during the past year, said Dr. Knapp, to solve various problems in connection with the raising of poultry. The two hens were kept in a 14-inch coop to prevent them from taking exercise. It was learned that heavy layers of eggs wear their toe nails rapidly, while poor layers do little scratching for food and grit, he asserted.

Some wag offered the opinion that the poultry investigation department, in the course of its important experiments, can solve such problems as these, an answer to this question should be given: “How long is a rooster’s crow?”

From the front page of The Concord Daily Tribune, Wednesday, Jan. 3, 1923.