240 



EXPERIMEXTAL FARMS 



5-6 EDVyARD VII., A. 1906 



to lay again. To still further j^revent any risk of becoming over-fat the hens were not 

 kept in the same pens with pullets. Experience has shown that pullets will lay well 

 and keep in good condition on rations which are likely to make older hens too fat. 



COMMEXCEME>NT OF WINTER LAYING. 



The fowls were well over their moult and in good condition when they went into 

 winter quarters, towards the end of November. Winter laying commenced at the 

 beginning of December. The first hens to lay were Barred Plymouth Eocks, Bufi 

 Orpingtons, Silver Grey Dorkings, Bufi Leghorns and Silver Laced Wyandottes. Egg 

 laying was fairly general by the third week of the month. As at a similar period dur- 

 ing the previous year the weather was extremely cold, and new laid eggs were in 

 limited supply and high in price, especially during the Christmas season. 



BUILDING UP PROLIFIC EGG LAYING STRAINS OF FOWLS BY MEANS OF TRAP NESTS* 



FIRST year's RESULTS. 



DETAILS OF 



In January, 1904, the work of building up prolific egg laying strains of fowls was 

 commenced. There are two methods by which this purpose may be accomplished. 

 One is by ' observation ' of the birds, and the other by ' trap nests.' The latter method 

 was adopted as likely to prove most correct. The manner of operating the trap nests, 

 may be described as follows : Each fowl, in the different laying pens, bears a number 

 affixed to one of its legs. On entering a nest to lay the hen involuntarily releases a 

 hinged door which falls and closes the exit and also prevents another fowl from making 

 her way into the nest. After the hen in the nest has laid she is released by the atten- 

 dant, who notes her number and marks it on a card conveniently situated in each 

 pen. A complete history of each individual hen is so secured. The following tables 

 show the results from the use of the trap nests for the first year and their value in 

 making plain the good and bad qualities of the individual members of the laying pens. 

 Additional information shows the composition and cost of the rations used, the value of 

 the eggs sold and the profits made by each group of fowls. 



Table 1. — Individual hen records shown by trap nests. 12 Barred Plymouth Kock 



hens, 3 years old. Pen 1. 



FROM DECEMBER 1, 1904, TO NOVEMBER 1, 1905. 



