GENERAL INFORMATION 



it is difficult to state general rules with any degree 

 of accuracy. All females lay more eggs during 

 The their first and second seasons than 



Profitable they will any year after that time, but 

 Age for some hens lay enough eggs after their 



aymgHens secon j vear to ma k e their further 



retention profitable. Few hens pay a profit above 

 expenses after their third season, and the excep- 

 tions to this rule are so scarce that it is always 

 best for the beginner to keep his flock under three 

 years of age. This is true, of course, only where 

 the hens are kept for the eggs they produce 

 alone ; an exhibition hen that has proven her worth 

 as a show bird and breeder may often be profitably 

 retained as long as she will lay at all, as a dozen 

 of her eggs are often worth several dollars. Gen- 

 erally speaking, however, it is best to keep the 

 flock young and vigorous. Young fowls are almost 

 always more active, more thrifty, more hardy, and 

 more attractive than old ones. 



The egg production of different flocks varies 

 greatly. The most common egg yield is probably 

 What is a ' tne one which averages from five to 

 Good Egg ten dozen eggs per year from each 

 Yield? he^ although the ordinary American 



farm flock, or the flock in the hands of a beginner 

 or a careless attendant, often does even poorer 

 work than that mentioned. A very excellent egg 

 yield is from ten to fourteen dozen eggs per year 



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