270 MANAGEMENT OF LAYING STOCK 



changing circumstances, when they are in their quarters than when 

 they are scattered about over the range. (For types of houses see 

 Chapter VII.) 



Before putting pullets into winter quarters it is advisable to 

 plan the arrangement of the birds in their permanent pens for 

 the ensuing year, so as to insure permanence and avoid the labor 

 of transferring them. 



Practise Rigid Selection at Maturity. — Only strong, vigorous 

 birds should be put in the laying pen, and to secure the best results 

 selection should be made from hatching time to maturity, care- 

 fully weeding out all sick or crippled birds and those which show 

 lack of stamina or vitality. This selection should be especially 

 rigid when the final choice is made in the fall ; only those of good 

 size, healthy, mature, and vigorous should be chosen, as these char- 

 acteristics are usually combined with prolific laying of large eggs. 



Size of Flock. — The nimiber of birds to be placed in each flock 

 will depend upon the type of farm and upon the extent of the 

 business. Of the two extremes, it has been demonstrated that the 

 highest individual production can be secured where a small number 

 of birds (from 10 to 20) are kept as the unit. But increased indi- 

 vidual production means increased labor; therefore it follows 

 that large flocks, of two hundred to five hundred birds, can be 

 expected to produce a large number of eggs more economically. 

 In the latter case the yield per bird will usually be slightly lower, 

 but the cost of labor will be so much reduced that the advantage 

 will be on the side of the large flock (Fig. 137). 



Winter Management of the Layers. — The problem of winter 

 management is to create, in so far as possible, ideal artificial con- 

 ditions, by making or producing an environment which approaches 

 in a great measure the natural conditions of spring, which is the 

 natural laying season of the hen. The creation of this artificial 

 environment necessitates careful and continuous study of the birds 

 and their needs. 



Proper Feeding. — The first requisite in the winter management 

 of the laying flock is that the birds be provided with sufficient 

 feed containing nutrients in the right proportion to supply all 

 their requirements for maintenance and production, also that they 

 be given an abundance of succulent material, which is an incentive 

 to egg production, especially during the winter. The proper feed 

 will vary with the breed, the season of the year, and the weather. 

 During extremely cold weather an increase in corn will enable the 



