Poultry Meeting at Columbia. 437 



Some of the eggs had been held for four weeks.* The 

 farmer, of course, is responsible for only a portion of the loss, 

 yet he can do much to improve the quality. 



What the Farmer can Do to Prevent Loss. — First, market 

 only eggs of standard size, twenty-four ounces or more to the 

 dozen. 



Second, sort out exceedingly large or small eggs. 



Third, avoid dirty eggs by using clean quarters. Eggs 

 should be naturally clean, not washed. A washed egg loses 

 its bloom and appears stale. The washing also causes the eggs 

 to decay more rapidly. The moisture not only favors the 

 growth of molds, but also makes the membranes more pervious 

 to bacteria and assists in their development. 



Fourth, remove male birds as soon as breeding season is 

 over. Fertile eggs do not keep well. Five per cent of all 

 eggs marketed are a total loss because of chick development. 

 Besides, a large proportion of rots are due directly to chick 

 development being retarded. The object of a hen in pro- 

 ducing eggs is to reproduce herself. If mates are present and 

 the egg is fertilized, the embryo starts to develop within the 

 body of the hen. When a proper temperature is again main- 

 tained this development continues. There will be slow growth 

 at any temperature above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. A tem- 

 perature of 84 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit maintained for three 

 days will produce as great a development as one day at a tem- 

 perature of 103 degrees. A temperature of 104 to 110 degrees 

 for one day will produce an embryo as far developed as three 

 days at a temperature of 103 degrees. When one appreciates 

 this fact he can see the necessity of removing male birds from 

 the flock as soon as the breeding season is over. 



The production of infertile eggs is especially advantageous 

 during the summer. They do not develop germs, stand ship- 

 ment well, withstand heat, are easily preserved, slow to decay, 

 and cost less, and it costs money to feed surplus males. The 

 highest price on the market for old male birds is at the end of 

 the breeding season, and the hens will lay as well or better with 

 no males present in the flock. An infertile egg can thus be 

 produced, and, if unwashed, will keep indefinitely. A large 

 percentage will dry up before they will rot. 



♦Yearbook, United States Department of Agriculture, 1910. 



