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The writer's experience is that there is a difference between families of the 

 same breed or variety as far as egg production is concerned. Some families appear 

 to lay much more readily than, others, and a few families that have come under 

 my observation require very careful attention and feeding in order to get a reason- 

 able egg production. 



The question naturally arises as to what number of eggs should be expected 

 from a hen. The average over the Province is probably under 100 eggs per hen 

 per year, and many of the good flocks do not average above 120 eggs per hen. Much, 

 of course, depends upon the season of the year in which the eggs are laid. There 

 is an over production of eggs during March, April and May, and an under produc- 

 tion during October, November, December, January and February. The writer be- 

 lieves it is within the possibilities of most farmers to produce from 108 to 120 eggs 

 per year from each hen kept, and it is also his opinion that large flocks may be 

 expected to yield 150 eggs per year if well bred, and proper care and attention be 

 given. Many small flocks will probably average much higher, but not in flocks of 

 from 600 to 1,000. A dozen hens might be selected that would lay from 180 to 

 200 eggs each for one year, but with 500 or 600 similar hens or pullets it would 

 be a very difficult task. 



Good, strong, vigorous birds are essential for egg production. The simple 

 fact that a hen has laid 200 or more eggs in her pullet year is not sufficient to war- 

 rant her being used as a breeder. The writer has seen a number of 200-egg hens with 

 long narrow heads and sunken eyes, which indicate low vitality, and, moreover, 

 has tested a number of them as breeders, and has yet to see one that was worth 

 while breeding from, judging from the performance and living powers of her 

 offspring. 



The selection of breeding stock for the production of good laying pullets, is 

 one of the many problems in poultry keeping of which we are not absolutely sure 

 of the results. We have been pedigreeing chicks from known performers for a 

 number of years. Our work has been mostly with Barred Plymouth Eocks, although 

 other breeds are being used. The results so far indicate much the same as those 

 found at Maine Experiment Station, namely, that the sire has more to do with 

 the laying pullet than has the dam. We select males of strong, vigorous, appear- 

 ance who grow quickly and whose mother was a good layer, especially of winter 

 eggs. The total year's production is better than 180 eggs, and in nearly all 

 instances over 200 eggs. Not only should the individual be of excellent appearance 

 and pedigree but his brothers and sisters should all be good birds. The females 

 mated with such a male may be hens or pullets, but all should be good winter 

 layers. By this we mean, they should produce three or more dozens of eggs during 

 the period from November first to February twenty-eighth. It naturally follows 

 that long-lived, known breeders of performers are highly prized. 



The actual number of eggs laid is but one factor in breeding. We have plenty 

 of evidence that the hatching power and size of the eggs is inherited; also that 

 slow and rapid feathering are inherited characters. Some hens lay a large number 

 of fertile eggs that hatch poorly and the chicks are weak and unthrifty, such, of 

 course, are undesirable and the same may be said of the offspring of certain males. 

 The breeder's problem, besides securing females of high egg production, is to 

 secure an egg of two ounces weight or better and of high hatching power. These 

 are some of the characters we are endeavoring to fix in the birds we are breeding. 

 It is almost impossible for the farmer to keep as careful records as we are doing, 

 but to the breeders of exhibition or high class utility stock I would recommend 

 the practice as one worth while. 



