UEPORT or THE POVLTRY MiyiGER 287 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



July, August or September. And in this connection tliere is another striking in- 

 stance of rapid development in improved methods. Hardly had summer moulting 

 been shown to be possible and comparatively easy — in the months named — than wc had 

 BiTorts more or less successfully made to shorten the i>eriod. The moulting season is one 

 of non-production, during which motJting hens do not lay. It is advisable then to have 

 the season of non-production at a period at which eggs, heretofore, have been at their 

 lowest value, viz., summer. It is also necessary to have hens moult in summer in 

 order to have eggs in winter. It has been a common practice in past years among 

 farmer>. and the practice is yet too frequent, to have their hens lay well in spring 

 time, summer and fall, and moult during winter, the period of high prices. With the 

 adoption of the method of having their hens moult in summer may, possibly, come a 

 reduce! production of eggs at that season and likely an increased output in win- 

 ter. In report of last year, while referring to the subject, it was remarked ' that an 

 inereaied winter supply of eggs and a less number in summer might result in the 

 evening up of prices.' The trend of the markets to-day is towards a much higher 

 sumni'-r value. The effect on the winter market of the past two years was not notice- 

 able. Prices were rather higher last winter than ever before. 



EFFORTS TO SIIORTEX THE MOULTIXG PERIOD, 



The moulting period usually occupies a period of 10 to 12 weeks, extending from 

 end of July to end of September. The proprietor of a largs poultry plant in the 

 United States, and who was among the first to practice early moulting, claims to 

 secure satisfactory results in 8 to 10 weeks. His method is to. put his fowls at the 

 beginning of July on quarter rations for ten or twelve days, meanwhile, keeping 

 them in limited runs. At the end of this time the fov.ds are allowed full range and 

 their rations increased to usual quantity. Cut bone, or, boiled livers, (tc, &c., are fed, 

 in liberal quantity two or three times per week. 



A correspondent, in ISTova Scotia, thought that with a diet of boiled and crushed 

 bcefheads, grain, grit, a free run, and access to grass, or, vegetables, 6 weeks should 

 be the outside limit of the moulting period. 



But developments take place quickly and we now have Mr. James Shackleton in 

 his book on ' System in Poultry Keeping,' making the statement that it is unnecessary 

 that hens should stop laying in order to moult. He says : ' Control of season and 

 duration of moult are possible * * * * Perfect health and condition of fowls, 

 freedom from damp and dirt in houses and absence of lice arc essential to any control 

 of moulting,' In a following page will be foimd full information as to care and treat- 

 ment of the birds so as to bring on and expedite the moulting period. 



DELAY IX RESUMPTION OF WINTER LAYING AFTER MOULTING. 



Another interesting phase of poultry keeping which, in connection with summer 

 moulting, has maxle itself apparent in recent years is delay in the resumption of egg 

 laying after moulting. There seems to be an unnecessary and certainly unprofitable 

 delay in the resumption of laying after the hens have moulted and are seemingly in 

 the very best condition. This delay has also been noticed in early pullets, which 

 show every indication of laying, but do not. A cause for this state of affairs is now 

 engaging the attention of the best authorities on winter egg laying. In relation to 

 the subject, the following quotation from an editorial in 'Farm Poultry' of Novem- 

 ber 1 last, will be read with interest: — 'Soon after November 1 letters will begin to 

 come to us from all quarters and the burden of the refrain of all will be. " Wliy don't 

 my hens lay ? " Each writer will tell how well developed his pullets arc, how they 

 have for some time looked as if they ought to lay, how well they are housed, fed and 

 eared for, and how perversely, in spite of all the conditions being right, nature re- 

 fuses to compel the pullets to produce the proofs of that fact.' Perhaps this delay in 



