310 ' EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 

 MARCH AND APRIL EGGS. 



The eggs of early March did not show much improvement. At end of the month 

 the layers had opportunity to enjoy a run out, although to a limited extent. The effect 

 on the vitality of the germ seemed beneficial, as is shown in the following results: — 



On March 26, 18 White Plymouth Rock eggs were put under a broody Dorking 

 hen. Result, 6 chickens ; 3 clear or unfertile eggs ; 1 addled egg, or one in which 

 germ had started and then died ; 3 fully developed chicks dead at pipping stage. 



On the day following, 27th instant, 13 White Wyandotte eggs were placed under 

 a White Indian Game hen, and 13 B. P. R. eggs under a pullet of the same breed. The 

 result in the first case was 9 chickens; 1 clear egg; 1 egg broken in nest by hen; 2 

 chicks, dead at pipping stage. In the second, 8 chickens were hatched; 2 chicks dead 

 in shell ; 2 addled eggs. April eggs gave equally good results. 



AN ASSUMPTION AND A WANT IN CONNECTION THEREWITH. 



At the advent of spring the egg yield increased, and it was reasonable to assume 

 that the hens which had not been laying in previous winter months were doing so then; 

 also that the germs contained in their eggs were much stronger than in the eggs of the 

 mid-winter layers. Was this actually the case ? 



A want that made itself felt in this connection was a means of detecting the non- 

 productive hens from those which were regular layers. Close observation has led to the 

 conclusion that only a small percentage of the fowls, noticeably so in the case of cer- 

 tain breeds, lay as frequently as is desired during the winter. On the arrival of spring 

 a number of hens of the sitting varieties become broody, some earlier than others, and 

 they are given eggs to hatch out. Yet the egg yield notably increases. The hens 

 which have become broody are likely those which have been among the steady winter 

 layers. If so their places have been undoubtedly taken by others. It is important to 

 find out the tardy layers. Of course, no reference is made to the late hatched pullets of 

 the previous year and which would not likely become productive until maturity at this 

 6eason. A partial response to this exigency has been made in the shape of trap nests, 

 of more or less merit, which in recent years have been placed on the market. In our 

 department trial has been made of several patterns. Their use has led to the conclu- 

 sion that they are certainly effective and valuable in the case of small flocks, but where 

 there are many hundreds of hens, and labour saving is an object, they are likely to be a 

 Bource of expense. And in this way: In the earlier half of the day the hens usually 

 lay. During that period it would require, in a large establishment, so much attention 

 on the part of one man to register the number of each layer, release her from and reset 

 the trap as to fully occupy his time. To be reliable the work must carefully be at- 

 tended to. It may be said that the value of discovering the non-productive hens, par- 

 ticularly during the season of high prices cannot be overestimated. Especially is this 

 eo in the case of the skilled breeder (as already mentioned) with his limited number of 

 breeding pens of high class birds and who receives an unsually high price for his 

 eggs which he sells for hatching exhibition birds. There is no intention to question 

 the value of the trap nest to him. What is desirable is the extension of the trap nest 

 principle, so that the proprietors or managers of the large establishments, who sell eggs 

 for eating purposes, or for conversion into early broilers, may be enabled with little 

 cost, certainty and despatch to detect the prolific layers from the non-productive ones. 



DIFFICULTIES IN EARLY HATCHING FELT BY MANY PERSONS. 



That the difficulties, as related in report of 1900 (last year), in connection with 

 the -early hatching of chickens were experienced by many others, was shown by the 

 number o£ letters received during the early part of last summer on the subject. The 



