328 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



1-2 EDWARD VII., A. 1902 



When mash is not fed on remaining three days it is replaced by 10 pounds cut 

 green bone at 1 cent per pound, 10 cents. 



To the price of the cut bone is to be added the cost of cutting it, which would be 

 the time of a man for an hour three times per week. 



WHEN THE PULLETS BEGAN TO LAY. i 



The pullets hatched in incubator on 26th February, laid as follows : — ■ 



1 Brown Leghorn pullet (4 months 20 days old), July 17, 1901. 



2 White P. Eock pullets (5 months of age), July 28, 1901. 

 1 Cross-bred pullet (5 months of age), July 28, 1901. 



1 White P. Rock pullet (5 months 3 days old), August 1, 1901. 



Other pullets laid at the following dates :— 



Buff Leghorn, hatched 23rd June; 21st November. 

 Khode Island Red, hatched in May; 25th November. 

 Langshan, hatched in April; 1st December. 

 White Wyandotte, hatched in May; 2nd December. 

 B. P. Rock, hatched in May ; 3rd December. 

 White Leghorn, hatched 4th June; 7th December. 



In August last, 4 Buff Orpington and 4 Faverolle pullets were imported from Eng- 

 land. On September 2, the month following one of the Buff Orpington pullets, laid 

 and continued to do so until the 13th of the same month when she became broody, but 

 was broken up. The pullets were evidently early hatched, and it is quite possible that 

 she may have been laying before leaving England. 



On the 9th September, a Faverolle pullet laid apparently her first egg. 



DID THE EARLY HATCHED PULLETS MOULT ? 



The early incubator farm hatched chickens (26th February) did moult in the fall, 

 and while doing so ceased laying. The cross-bred pullet laid but a few eggs when it 

 became broody, but was put in a pen by herself and broken up. The imported Orping- 

 ton pullets, although apparently early hatched, did not moult. The Faverolle pullets 

 began to moult on going into winter quarters. Further experience is required before a 

 decision can be arrived at as to whether the early incubator-hatched pullets are better 

 for fall layers, when the majority of hens are moulting, than late April or early May- 

 hatched birds. If the early incubator-hatehed pullet begins to lay in July or August, 

 when eggs are cheap, and commences to moult in October or November, when the price 

 of eggs is becoming higher, the later May-hatched chicken, which usually begins to 

 lay in November and continues to do so without stoppage, is the more valuable bird of 

 the two. But this remains yet to be decidedly proved. On this point the experience 

 of those who have had early hatched-incubator chickens would be very acceptable and 

 useful. It is a matter of no little importance. 



GOOD LAYING BY THE BUFF ORPINGTON PULLETS. 



During the fall months the Orpington pullets, with one exception, laid from time 

 to time and were not pushed to do so. The exception was a pullet which had evidently 

 become sick on the voyage out, for she had incipient roup on her arrival at our poultry 

 department. She was at once separated from the rest, and with care and treatment 

 was brought to comparatively good condition. She was put with the others in the sec- 

 ond week of December, and soon after began to lay. 



