No. 7. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 651 



ors who breed for points inbreed to get fine points in shape and color, 

 the more fine points the bigger the price; but the stock he comes 

 from may be never averaged over 100 eggs a year. Such a bird would 

 not be desirable, liy taking a little pains each year it is easy to im- 

 prove your stock. 



If it is eggs you want, then get an egg-laying breed, one that will 

 lay the most eggs on the least feed, such as the Leghorns, Minorcas, 

 Hamburgs, Ehode Island Reds or Games. I do not think it pays to 

 keep the larger breeds in this locality, hoping to raise market fowls 

 and eggs from the same breed simply because we have no good mar- 

 ket. 



A good market fowl is one that grows rapidly and fattens easily 

 and should not be a very active fowl. This kind of fowl is not a 

 good layer, because when you feed them heavy for eggs they get 

 very fat, too fat to lay; so if the market is not right to sell them, 

 then you must keep them at a loss until it is. A good egg-producer 

 must be an active, energetic bird, one that makes eggs instead of 

 fat of its food. That is why the smaller breeds are the best. 



In order to make it more exact, I will give a few figures: The 

 annual cost of keeping and the average egg yield of the six most 

 popular breeds. The annual cost of keeping the three popular heavy 

 breeds or market fowls, viz: Plymouth Rock, Light Brown and Butf 

 Cochin is 90 cents a year. Their average egg yield is from 150 to 175. 

 The cost of the three popular light breeds or egg fowls, viz: The 

 Leghorn, Minorca and Game is 75 cents a year, while their average 

 egg yield is 190. These figures are given by Myers Brothers, of 

 Quincy, 111. They are extensive breeders of both kinds of fowls. 

 My experience has been that there is at least that much difference, 

 if not more. The little extra that a large breed brings when you 

 sell them does not any more than offset what the extra cost was to 

 raise them, while the light breed layed from 15 to 40 the most eggs 

 that year, according to these figures. 



Now I am not booming any breed or running down any, but my 

 subject as given me was egg-production. I am satisfied there is 

 clearly that much difference between the light and heavy breeds. 

 Considering the prices paid for eggs and fowls for meat here so far 

 from the big cities, I think there is more money in keeping the eighi 

 breeds for eggs. One reason is, eggs can be shipped with less loss 

 and less expense than poultry. 



To have a good flock for winter layers, the chicks should be hatched 

 in the latter part of April or first of May. I like best to hatch them 

 all out as close together as possible so they will be the same age and 

 size and have enough so you can afford to make a business of it and 

 care for them well. While very young, this is the critical time. 

 After they are five or six weeks old then you can let them take care 

 of themselves a little more. As soon as the cockerals will go for 

 broilers, or you can sell them for anything that is a fair price, let 

 them go so the pullets can have the room. When the cockerels are 

 gone it pays to feed the pullets a little extra to get them developed 

 before cold weather comes. 



I like wheat for growing chicks. I give them a little at three 

 weeks old, but not too much, for it will swell and pack in the craw. 

 Milk't is an excellent feed for young chicks. I make this part of 



