EGG PRODUCTION. 351 



April, not later than the first week in May. These birds, if 

 hurried along to early maturity, should arrive at that stage 

 not later than six to seven months and should start laying 

 about the first of November. You cannot expect good re- 

 turns from stock that is weak in constitution or lacking in 

 vigor. Select strong, matured pullets Gy 2 to 7 months of age 

 from a laying strain for the production of winter eggs. Keep 

 a record of these pullets and mark them in some way so that 

 the best ones may be kept the next winter as breeders from 

 which to raise the future flock. We believe that "like pro- 

 duces like," so that by breeding from these good layers we 

 shall obtain others of their kind. During the second winter, 

 these that are being retained as breeders should not be fed 

 on a laying ration until near spring, when we want eggs to 

 set. When this time comes, have them shut up with a cock 

 from a good laying strain and feed all on a laying ration. Eggs 

 set from these hens should give us the winter layers we are 

 seeking. To breed this kind of birds will require the patience 

 and perseverance that are so necessary to make any of our 

 live stock operations a success. 



Yearling hens that moult early will usually give a good 

 account of themselves in the winter. Some poultry men man- 

 age their yearling winter layers somewhat as follows: In 

 July they turn them into a grassy enclosure, where they re- 

 ceive very little feed except grass and water and a half hand- 

 ful of grain per day. These hens when taken in and fed on 

 a laying ration will usually commence laying in a short time. 

 Hens over two years old are not profitable layers except in 

 rare cases found in the lighter breeds. Proper housing is 

 necessary. The house for winter laying should be dry, light, 

 well ventilated and comfortably warm, from 40 to 50 degrees. 

 Fowls are better to be in cooler quarters that are dry, light 

 and well ventilated than in warmer quarters lacking these. 

 The housing has already been taken up quite fully in the 

 lecture on "poultry houses," so that nothing further is neces- 

 sary here except to add that every precaution be taken to 

 add to the comfort of the fowls in the way of nests and roosts. 

 These should be so arranged that they can be taken out easily 

 to be cleaned and rid of vermin. 



Best results are obtained in summer by keeping the hens 

 enclosed in a large run where they can have grass and ex 

 ercise. Each hen should have at least 125 to 150 square feet 

 of grass to pick over. 



