CHAPTER III 



THE EGG BREEDS 



THE group of birds which come under the general title of 

 egg breeds are a widely distributed and popular group, and 

 are found in great numbers near the large centers of pop- 

 ulation. They seem to be more popular along both the 

 Atlantic and Pacific coasts than in the central part of our 

 country. The term "egg breed" is used because their chief 

 characteristic is their ability to produce at a profit a great 

 number of eggs. In addition to the number of eggs produced 

 it is necessary that they be produced at the season of high 

 prices, that is, during the winter months. In the Spring, 

 the natural egg production from the farm flocks greatly 

 increases the market supply and lowers the selling price. 

 The object of commercial egg farms, where egg breeds pre- 

 dominate, is to produce eggs out of the natural laying season. 

 These egg breeds are usually kept in large flocks, ranging 

 from one hundred to one thousand birds to a plant. The care 

 and management necessitates but a minimum amount of 

 labor, owing to the fact that they can be herded together. 

 Their bodies are small, hence they consume a relatively 

 small amount of feed in proportion to the yield of eggs. 

 The Petaluma District on the Pacific coast and the Vine- 

 land District in New Jersey are two centers where the White 

 Leghorn of this type is kept in large numbers and through- 

 out extensive areas, and these districts have attained a 

 world-wide reputation (Fig. 34). 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EGG BREEDS 



Size and External Appearance. The egg breeds, as a 

 group, are small and of light weight, an adult bird weighing 

 from three to five and one-half pounds, three and one-half 

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