208 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



April M'hen the fowls got out, the egg eating ceased and the seven pullets laid 133 

 eggs during the month. In April the seven pullets laid 7 eggs j^er <i2em 5 times; 

 six eggs per diem 10 times, five eggs 5 times and the remainder at the rate of 4, 3 

 and 2 per day. This is excellent laying even for that time of year. 



Mixed or Common Fowls. 



There were twenty-nine fowls of all ages and size. They were of no particular 

 breed and were kept for sitters only. They were fairly representative of the barn 

 yard fowl of the ordinary farm yard. These fowls were placed in two pens in a 

 cold part of the building but no colder than the fowl house so common in the 

 country. They were fed the same rations as the Plymouth Eocks, Minorcas and 

 Eed Caps but they laid few eggs until the month of April when they laid 312 eggs. 

 The record is 32 eggs for January, 37 for February and 18 for March. In April eggs 

 were down to 15 and 17 cents per dozen so that they began to lay when eggs where 

 cheap. It may be said that the mixed fowls were no worse than the Brahma 

 thoroughbreds. But in the case of the latter breed the explanation is given that the 

 pullets were of too late hatch and when they did begin to lay their eggs were worth 

 one dollar per setting to the farm as thoroughbred eggs sold for hatching from. 



The total number of eggs laid during the eight months of the year was 6,228. 

 Of this number the months show as follows : January, 434; February, 442 ; March, 

 384; April, 1,278; May, 1,563; June, 758; July, 788; August, 581. It will be seen 

 that more than half the total number of eggs were laid — most of them by the pure 

 bred fowls — during the months of April, May and June when they were readily 

 purchased at one dollar per setting for hatching. 



The Experience Gained. 



The experience of last and previous winters confirms what has been written in 

 previous reports, viz. : 



1. Pullets should be hatched out as early as possible. 



2. The laying stock should be young and birds of the same age should be in the 

 one pen. 



3. A warm or comfortable house is more economical in the long run than a 

 cold one. 



4. What will go into eggs in the pullets will make the hens of the heavy breeds 

 too fat to lay. 



5. The laying stock require ample room. See instructions on a previous page. 



breeding pens made up. 



After a very cold winter the weather moderated about the beginning of March, 

 and the breeding pens were made up as follows: — 



Breed. 



Brahmas 



Plymouth Rocks 



Brahmas (2nd pen) 



White Leghorns 



do (2nd pen) 



Crosses. 



Langshan- Black Minorca. 

 White Leghorn-Brahma.. 



When 

 mated. 



March 3. 

 do 3. 

 do 3. 

 do 27 

 do 25. 



do 30. 

 April 2. 



No. in Pen. 



1 cockerel, 9 hens. 

 1 cock, 11 hens . . 

 1 do 11 pullets. 

 1 do 9 do . 

 1 cockerel, 7 hens. 



do 

 do 



5 do 

 5 do 



Remarks. 



