FUNDAMENTALS OF FEEDING 215 



Food Affects the Size of Eggs. Food and feeding in- 

 fluence the size of eggs. Do not always blame the hens or 

 the breed for small eggs. An experiment has shown that 

 the size of egg is influenced by factors under the control of 

 the poultryman. 



The size of egg, of course is influenced by other factors. 

 The'size varies to some extent as the vigor of the fowl does, 

 and vigor is very largely dependent upon the food and 

 method of feeding. This fact was brought out in an ex- 

 periment by the writer at the Utah Station. Fifty Leghorn 

 pullets were divided into four lots, as follows : 



Pen 2, 10 fowls. In a continuous house, closed front, slightly 



artificially heated. 



Pen 14, 10 fowls. In a continuous house, closed front. 

 Pen 26, 10 fowls. In a continuous house, open front. 

 Colony house, 18 fowls. On free range. 



The average weight of eggs for the six months beginning 

 December 1, was as follows: 



Colony house 25.3 ounces per dozen 



Pen 2 23.4 " " 



Pen 14 23.5 " 



Pen 26 22.5 " 



Eleven eggs from the colony house, it is seen, weighed 

 as much as 12 from the other pen. The increased size of 

 the eggs from the colony house flock was due to one or two 

 factors, or to both, namely, to greater exercise and natural 

 foods secured on the range. It was not a question of fresh 

 air or type of house, because in the open-front house the 

 eggs were no larger than those from the closed-front house. 

 That there is a relation between the size of egg and vigor of 

 the fowl is evident from the fact that the fowls in the colony 

 house and on free range weighed heavier than those in the 



