1905.] DISCUSSION. 165 



to pick up, had plenty of skimmed milk ; I have a good warm 

 henhouse and everything to keep them comfortable. Neigh- 

 bors of mine that have Barred Plymouth Rocks say they can't 

 get pullets to lay in November and December. I would like to 

 know how to do it. 



Mr. Delano. Perhaps they are too large. I have found 

 that the medium-sized birds are always the best layers. A big 

 bird is not usually as good a layer as perhaps an undersized 

 bird of the same breed. The barred Plymouth Rock will put 

 on fat very easily and the egg production is always spoiled by 

 fat. They are a very easy bird to fatten. 



Question. Is there any large bird like the Plymouth Rocks 

 that you can get to lay in November and December ? 



Mr. Delano. Yes, there are. I don't consider the Barred 

 Plymouth Rocks impossible, although perhaps not quite as good 

 a layer as other varieties. Personally I have found some of the 

 other birds a little better layers. The White Wyandotte will 

 lay in November, the Buff Wyandotte, and also the White 

 Plymouth Rock. 



Question. Would the difference in climate make a differ- 

 ence? 



Mr. Delano. Yes, it would make a difference, but birds 

 all over the country didn't do well last year. 



Question. What do you think of artificial heat? 



Mr. Delano. Better not let the birds out doors at all if 

 you give them artificial heat. I don't believe in artificial heat 

 for laying stock. 



Question. One man told me today that they kick the hens 

 out in the snow and let them run, and they lay 100 per cent, 

 better than hens confined in houses. It is contrary to what I 

 have been taught. 



Mr. Delano. You know whether you consider the man 

 truthful or not. 



Question. There is an old farmer lives next door to us 

 that has a flock of perhaps 30 or 40 mongrel hens, and he has 



