PLYMOUTH ROCK STANDARD AXD BREED BOOK 429 



CHAPTER II. 



PLYMOUTH ROCKS IN LAYING CONTESTS. 



The egg laying competitions which have been held in 

 America have proven not only that Plymouth Rocks lay a 

 sufficient number of eggs to make them profitable as egg 

 producers, but in every instance that Plymouth Rocks are 

 among the best as layers. They have also demonstrated the 

 facts that Plymouth Rocks are good layers in winter when 

 eggs are highest in price; that they begin to lay when from 

 five to seven months of age; and that they lay well in the fall 

 months or during what is generally recognized as the moult- 

 ing season. 



Plymouth Rocks, as a rule, make a good yearly average 

 and an especially even distribution of their eggs throughout 

 the year. There is no season of the year that they do not pro- 

 duce a reasonable number of eggs. In one contest the Plym- 

 outh Rocks distributed their eggs throughout the year as 

 follows : 



30.2 eggs per pullet in December, January and February. 

 62.4 eggs in March, April and May. 



45.3 eggs in June, July and August. f 

 27.1 eggs in September, October and November. 



All varieties of Plymouth Rocks collectively, have ayer- 

 aged from one hundred and forty to one hundred and ninety 

 eggs per hen each year in practically every contest which has 

 been held in this country. 



In one contest the pullets which averaged five pounds in 

 weight, averaged one hundred and seventy-six eggs each ; 

 those weighing six pounds averaged one hundred and fifty- 

 eight eggs each; those weighing seven pounds averaged one 

 hundred and forty-two eggs; and those weighing eight pounds 

 averaged one hundred and twenty-two eggs. This would indi- 

 cate that the females slightly under standard weight were the 

 best layers, but nevertheless, it is best to adhere to standard 

 weight in breeding as much as possible, otherwise, in time, the 

 breed might become too small to be classed as a general pur- 

 pose fowl. 



The highest record ever made by a pen of any variety in 

 the National Contest at the Missouri State Poultry Experi- 

 ment Station was made by a pen of Barred Plymouth Rocks, 



