656 Agricultural Journal of Victoria. 



EGG PRODUCTION FOR PROFIT. 



By A. Hart. 



Egg production is a branch of the poultry industry which can be 

 practised either by the breeder who has an extensive poultry run or 

 the suburban resident who has only a limited space at his disposal. 

 Special inducements for poultry keeping are to be found this season 

 in the very low prices of grain, pollard, and other foods, and the fairly 

 remunerative price of eggs. 



In starting a yard of fowls for eg^ production it is wise to select 

 stock from the best laying breeds or strains, and Leghorns are a breed 

 that can be specially recommended for the purpose. There are 

 several varieties of them including brown, white, black, buff and pile. 

 The two first-named are by far the most plentiful and may be purchased 

 at a reasonable figure. During the past two years a number of 

 rose-combed specimens have been introduced from America as an 

 addition to our single-combed birds. The excellent records of these 

 birds in the laying competition at the Hawkesbury College, N.S.W., 

 have brought them prominently before Australian poultry keepers. 

 Both whites and browns have scored premier honors in these com- 

 petitions and their average of 190 eggs per bird for 12 months is 

 certainly a strong argument in favor of the rose-combs. These 

 results were, no doubt, accelerated by the suitable conditions under 

 which the birds were kept, as correct feeding, housing, and attention 

 have much to do with success in poultry keeping. 



In starting a yard of, say, 50 fowls for egg production, the 

 months of May or June can be recommended as a suitable time to 

 begin. A run 120 feet by 30 feet will be a handy size, and it 

 should be broken up and sown with prairie or rye grass, allowing 

 the growth to be fairly strong before letting the fowls on it. In 

 choosing the ground let the fall be to the east if possible, and see 

 .that it is well drained. The run should be enclosed with wire 

 nettmg, and if palings 2 feet 6 inches high are used for the 

 bottom it will make the run much more sheltered. Trees should be 

 planted for shade and protected until they are a fair size. 



The fowl-house should be at one end of the run and can be 

 constructed on the lines shown in the illustrations, and must be 

 facing the east. Slope the roof towards the front and allow it to 

 project a foot over the wall plate. Spouting should be fixed to 

 carry off the water. The walls should be closed on both ends and 

 back and the top portion of the front may be covered with wire 

 netting 2 feet wide, the remaining portion being closed. Perches 

 should be placed. about 18 or 20 inches from the ground, fixed on a 

 vermin proof frame according to model. A row of nest boxes 

 should be constructed along the front of the house on the outside, 

 allowing the hens to enter them from the fowl-house. The top of 



