FARM ANIMALS 323 



if properly handled, does not injure the vitality of 

 the eggs. The fertility of eggs is always increased 

 by giving the hens considerable freedom, exercise, 

 fresh air. A long series of observations made on 

 the causes of infertility in eggs in Canada show that 

 in spring the egg germs become strong within 

 twelve to fifteen days after the hens are allowed to 

 run outside. In one series of incubation tests in 

 which eight thousand, six hundred and seventy- 

 seven eggs were used, seven thousand, two hundred 

 and five or eighty-three per cent, were fertile. 

 This may be considered a satisfactory percentage 

 of fertility. 



Moulting. The moulting period which occurs 

 in late summer, beginning usually in July is a dull 

 time in the poultry yard. The hens do not lay 

 during this period and make the most unfavorable 

 appearance to be seen at any time of the year. In 

 some cases the process of moulting seems to drag 

 on unnecessarily long and some attention has been 

 given by poultrymen to hastening this matter and 

 getting it finished as soon as possible. Perhaps 

 the most successful means of accomplishing this 

 is known as the Van Dreser method and has been 

 tested in various parts of Canada and the United 

 States. Tkis consists simply in reducing the ration 

 decidedly during the first part of July. The hens 

 stop laying and the reduced amount of nutriment 

 seems to further the shedding of the feathers. As 

 soon as the feathers are fairly well shed, that is 

 after a period of two or three weeks, a heavy ration 

 is resumed. The theory upon which this is based 

 is that the reduction of the ration causes a shedding 

 of the feathers while the increased ration is re- 

 quired later to furnish material for the rapid 

 growth of new feathers. The ordinary moulting 



