druing the season when tlie prices are usually highest, for from 

 two to three months will be occupied by the molt and during this 

 period the fowls seldom lay. Cornell Experiment Station reports* 

 in presenting the results of different methods of feeding pullets that 

 " in nearly every case the hens beginning earliest to lay were molting 

 during December and January when eggs were at a high figure." 



It has been thought that in cases when early hatched pullets seemed 

 likely to come to laying maturity too early, their development might 

 be retarded by putting them on a grass range and feeding whole 

 grain with a limited amount of beef scraps and that if so managed, 

 the fowls would not be likely to produce eggs early nor to molt. 

 The Cornell Expertment Station** has tested this method and reports 

 that it was a failure in so far as preventing the molt is concerned. 

 Although the pullets fed with a view to retarding development laid 

 less eggs early in the season than those which were fed a forcing 

 ration, they molted at about the same time and to about an equal 

 degree. 



It seems best in view of the facts which have been stated to time 

 the hatches so that the pullets will naturally reach laying maturity 

 during the latter half of October or very early in November With 

 hatches so timed, there is usually no tendency to molt during the 

 first fall. No attempt will be here made to give the exact date best 

 for hatching the different breeds. The v/riter's experience with an 

 early maturing strain of the Barred Plymouth Rock bred for egg pro- 

 duction inclines him to prefer chicks hatched during the first of May, 

 though such birds hatched any time during that month can usually 

 be brought to laying previous to the middle of November. 



When fowls are kept in relatively small num- 



Natural Hatching bers, hatching the eggs under hens will be the 



Best for Small most satisfactory method, provided the breed 



Numbers. kept is one likely to furnish quiet sitters and 



good mothers. The American breeds satisfy 



these conditions. To secure good results, it is necessary to isolate 



the sitting hens. A considerable number of these may be placed 



in the same room, though under this condition, it will be advisable 



to confine the sitters to their nests, to remove them daily that they 



•Bulletin 249, p. 251. 

 **BiilIetin 249. 



