40 ^09^ ^^^ ^^'^ ^<^"^ Round. 



CHAPTER V. 



EGGS. 



During the natural process of moulting, hens cease 

 laying because all the superabundant nutriment is required 

 for the production of the new feathers. Powls moult later 

 each time ; the moulting occupies a longer period, and is 

 more severe as it becomes later, and if the weather should 

 be cold at its termination they seldom recommence laying 

 for some time. But young fowls moult in spring. There- 

 fore, by having pullets and hens of different ages, and 

 moulting at different times, a healthy laying stock may be 

 kept up. Pullets hatched in March, and constantly fed 

 highly, not only lay eggs abundantly in the autumn, but 

 when killed in the following February or March, are as fat 

 as any one could or need desire them to be, and open more 

 like Michaelmas geese than chickens. When eggs alone 

 are wanted, you can commence by buying in the spring as 

 many hens as you require, and your run will accommodate, 

 not more than a year or eighteen months old. If in good 

 health and condition, they will be already laying, or will 

 begin almost immediately ; and, if well housed and fed, 

 will give a constant su])ply of eggs until they moult in the 

 autumn. When these hens have ceased laying, and before 

 they lose their good condition by moulting, they should be 

 either killed or sold, unless they are Hamburgs, Brah- 

 mas, or Cochins, and replaced by pullets hatched in March 

 or April, which will have moulted early, and, if properly 

 housed and fed, will begin to lay by November at the 

 latest, and continue laying until Fel)ruary or March, when 

 they may be sold or killed, being then in prime condition, 

 and replaced as before ; or, as they will not stop laying for 

 any length of time, the best may be kept until the autumn, 

 when, if profit is the chief consideration, they must be dis- 



