REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER. 



239 



AN EARLY HATCH. 



At the beginning of February a vigorous male of the same breed, which had 

 been kept in a separate compartment, was mated with a certain number of Barred 

 Plymouth Rock hens. The object was to test the fertility of the eggs from hens which 

 had been laying all winter. On the 20th of the month named, 13 eggs were given to a 

 hen which had become broody. Three weeks after 11 lively chicks hatched out. The 

 twelfth egg contained a dead chick, fully developed. The thirteenth egg was unfertile. 

 Such a result from Plymouth Rock hens which had laid from the previous November 

 was most gratifying. It went to show that it was quite possible to have hens lay all 

 winter and to have early fertile eggs from them. The subsequent care and trouble 

 experienced in rearing the chicks, went to show that it would not be profitable for a 

 farmer to hatch out and rear chickens at that early period, unless he had a brooder or 

 brooding room. 



That the farmers in the neighbourhood of city markets, or within easy reach, by 

 rail, of the same, are giving greater attention to the artificial rearing and hatching of 

 chickens, is shown by the numerous inquiries by correspondents for information on the 

 subject. Early chickens command a high price, and the demand for them increases 

 year by year. 



Further experiments in the way of testing the early fertility of eggs, from hens 

 which have laid steadily all winter, will be important and interesting. 



Certain poultrymen keep hens to lay eggs in the latter part of December, January, 

 February and March, for incubator use only. These men live where climatic conditions 

 make it comparatively easy so to do. But where the laying stock are confined to limited 

 quarters from November to the following April, artificially housed and treated mean- 

 while, skDl and experience are necessary to ensure early fertile eggs. 



EGGS SET AND CHICKENS HATCHED. 



When Set 



Feb. 20 

 April 12. 



.. 12. 



., 14. 



M 14 



•• 14. 



M 14 



,. 14. 



,. 14. 



M 15 



„ 17 



„ 21. 



., 23 



M 30 



., 30. 



.. 30. 



May 5. 



5. 



7. 



8. 



.. 10. 



.. 12. 



n 13. 



I. 13. 



.. 22. 



.. 23. 



.. 23. 



.. 27 



.. 27. 

 June 3 



Description of Eggs. 



13 

 11 

 11 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 12 

 12 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 

 13 



B. P. Rock 



Light Brahma. 



Andaluaian 



B. P. Rock (from a farmer) 



Langshan 



White Minorca. 



R. C. B. Minorca (from Nova Scotia) 



W. Wyandotte 



W. P. Rock (from Hazeldean) 



R. C. B. Minorca (from Nova Scotia) 

 B. P. Rock (from a farmer) 



Brown Leghorn 



Coloured Dorking 



White Leghorn 



White Java 



Andalusian 



W. Leghorn 



Light Brahma 



Andalusian 



B. P. Rock 



Andalusian 



Coloured Dorking 



White Java 



Bufif Leghorn (from Toronto). 



S. L. Wyandotte 



Coloured Dorking 



W. Leghorn 



B. Minorcas 



When 

 Hatched, 



Mar. 11. 

 May 3. 



3.. 



3.. 



5.. 



5.. 



5.. 



5.. 

 II 5 . 



6.. 



8.. 

 ,. 12 . 

 .1 14 . 

 ,. 21 . 

 I. 21.. 

 .. 21.. 

 ,. 26.. 

 M 26.. 

 ., 28.. 

 „ 28.. 

 „ 31 . 

 June «2. , 



3. 



3 . 

 .. 12.. 



n 13.. 



.. 13. . 



M 17.. 



.- 17.. 



„ 24 . 



Chickens 

 Hatched, 



11 

 3 

 4 



10 

 2 

 9 

 5 

 5 

 5 

 3 

 9 



13 



10 

 7 

 4 

 4 

 4 

 7 

 6 

 2 



10 

 8 

 5 

 8 

 1 



10 

 2 

 9 



11 

 9 



196 



