Four Methods of Feeding Early Hatched Pullets. 



293 



f 





Fig. 121. — Pullet moliing after first laying period. Pullet No. 144, from pen 4 

 (hopper-fed grain), in heavy molt. Note, in wings and on back, the colored 

 feathers which have not been shed. The ragged appearance of the neck is due to 

 pin-feathers. This pullet commenced to lay July 28, laid 29 eggs, ceased laying 

 Sept. 25, molted 89 days, began again to lay Feb. 23, and laid 108 eggs during 

 the year. 



Relation betiveen prolificacy and early egg production. 



Of the sixteen best layers from the four pens laying an average of 

 118 eggs (Table 17 and Table 18), eight began to lay before September 

 first. These early layers were mostly in the retarded pens. Of the six 

 pullets laying above 120 eggs each, all in the forced pens, only two began 

 laying before September ist, and one of these gave her first egg August 

 29th. Some few of the sixteen least prolific hens, averaging 52 eggs each, 

 began to lay early, but most of them began at least two months later. 



