=^^ 



19 



Of course, the feeding of a special laying ration will greatly stimulate 

 production, but the small breeder should understand that this is not abso- 

 lutely necessary, though its omission will undoubtedly cut down profits. 

 When breeding is done on a large scale, the ration is essential. At all 

 events, give plenty of green food, lettuce being excellent. In feeding 

 lettuce it is well to let it go to seed before placing it in the pen. 



EGGS AND EGG EATING.— Eggs should be gathered twice daily. 

 This greatly stimulates egg production and tends to prevent egg eating. 

 Nests do not have to be provided. Most of the eggs will be laid under 

 the evergreens provided for cover, but birds will drop eggs at times any- 

 where about the pen. Egg eating is a not uncommon vice among pheas- 

 ants, the cocks being principally addicted to it. Bone meal supplied with 

 the laying ration will tend to obviate this. Frequent gathering of eggs is 

 the best safeguard. Imitation glass eggs made to look as much like the 

 real egg as possible will help break cocks of the habit. Poultry dealers 

 carry a glass egg designed for bantams which may be used for this purpose, 

 though it is not a very good imitation and lacks weight. Tegetmeier, 

 (p. 103, fifth edition) commends the eggs made by Mr. Fairfax Muckley, 

 Audnam, Stourbridge, England. Iron eggs painted as near the color of 

 pheasant eggs as possible are good. Imitation eggs are supplied by Spratt's, 

 Limited, Newark, New Jersey, at five cents each. Some breeders pen the 

 egg-eating cocks each day until the hens have laid, but this involves en- 

 tirely too much trouble. The upper mandible of the bird may be pared 

 with a sharp knife so that when it strikes the egg, it will cause pain. This 

 is said to be effective. 



CARING FOR EGGS.— Eggs when gathered should be placed in a 

 cool, well ventilated place of even temperature and care should be taken 

 that the sun does not have access to them. A semi-dark room is excellent 

 for this purpose. Lippincott says (Poultry Production, p. 157) tempera- 

 ture limits of 55° and 65° F. give best results. Place the egg with the 

 small end down in a tray filled with oats or oat husks and turn twice 

 daily. By placing all eggs in the same position at the beginning, it is easy 

 to ascertain whether they have been turned. Another method is to bore 

 several rows of holes in a %-inch board with a brace and bit and place 

 the eggs on this. On many large farms the egg turner manufactured by 

 the Houghton Egg Carrier Company of 13 Burlington Street, Woburn, 

 Mass., is used successfully. This is made in several sizes and permits the 

 turning of hundreds of eggs within two or three seconds. The smallest 

 size holds fifteen dozen eggs and sells for $3.25 while the largest has a 

 capacity of 84 dozen and is priced at $8.50. There are two sizes in between. 

 The larger poultry supply houses carry this article. Do not place unwrapped 



