CHAPTER VI 



LARGE AND SMALL PLANTS FOR EGGS 



This branch of the poultry business is generally conducted along 

 special lines. That is eggs are the main object in view. Very often the 

 proprietor does not keep any breeders, but buys his chicks from a 

 hatdher, who, in turn, makes a specialty of hatching; and the hatcher 

 buys his eggs from a man who makes a specialty of keeping hens as 

 breeders. These eggs are contracted for at certain prices above the 

 market quotations. The hatcher, before contracting, goes to see the 

 stock and bargains for the method of feeding, so as to insure himself 

 and patrons good stock. If the hens do not appeal to the hatcher he 

 will not contract, but will seek other breeders, as he does the very best 

 he possibly can to safeguard himself and those who trust their orders 

 to him. But we all know that "the best laid plans of mice and men 

 gang aft aglee," and so sometimes a hatcher does not get what he 

 bargains for. 



The egg farm that is to make good and run at a profit all the year 

 round, must know not only w'hat kind of eggs are put in the incubator 

 to hatch, but must know how the hatching is done. The best success 

 comes from keeping your own breeders, feeding them as outlined in 

 another chapter, and knowing the history of the parents. 



The commercial hens for an egg farm are first the Leghorns, and 

 it matters little what color, so that you get a strain of healthy birds 

 that will liay a good sized white egg. In localities where hawks are 

 troublesome the dark chick will be left and the white one taken every 

 time, and this counts in the end. 



Second to the Leghorns come the Minorcas, and here I make the 

 statement without fear of contradiction, that the Black Minorca is the 

 best egg laying machine in the whole list. 



Breeders say, "they eat more than Leghorns." I agree with that. 

 If they did not eat more than Leghorns they could not !lay the number 

 of eggs they do, and Minorca eggs are of the largest size. I don't say 

 they are the largest, but they belong among layers of the largest white 

 eggs. If I were just running an egg farm, Black Minorcas would be 

 first choice. 



The large white egg brings top prices and if a special trade is 

 worked up for private families, or among soda fountain men, the 

 Minorca eggs bring more than any other. 



