PO UL TR r- CRAFT. 139 



lays, it pays to keep her. The first choice of hens to be kept over should be 

 from those which began laying earliest, and were kept in laying condition 

 with the least trouble, and for the longest time. If there are not as many of 

 these as are needed, some of the hens that under special treatment laid through 

 the summer should be reserved. * 



185. Old Hens as Layers. In connection with the question of how 

 many and which old hens to keep over for laying, comes up the moot question, 

 whether hens or pullets are better for egg production. Some authorities 

 advise selling off all old hens, claiming that pullets are better layers, and 

 therefore more profitable. Others say they get as good results in number of 

 eggs from hens as from pullets, and the eggs of the hens are more uniformly 

 of good size. There is much reason to think that these diverse results are 

 not due entirely or primarily to age, but are according to treatment and 

 selection for long lived layers. In truth, there is not much reason for think- 

 ing anything else. The fact that many poultry keepers do regularly get as 

 good egg yields from hens in the second, third, and sometimes fourth years, 

 as in the first, and as good as from good laying pullets kept beside them, is 

 proof positive that old hens are not necessarily poorer layers than pullets, and 

 that their capacity for producing eggs need not be impaired by the work of 

 their first season. It is a general truth that old hens have a greater tendency 

 to fatten. (A poultryman who understands his business can easily regulate 

 that) . In most cases where those who get good results from pullets do not 

 get good results from hens, the trouble seem to be in such things as : breeding 

 largely from immature stock, starting pullets to laying too early, allowing 

 them to lay themselves out of condition, and not feeding heavily enough 

 while moulting. Many poultry keepers are very careless about the old hens 

 while moulting, though careful enough at other times ; and some are too care- 

 ful to feed nothing over and above what is needed to grow feathers. A better 

 way than to make a low age limit when selecting laying stock, is, to make it 

 a rule to keep through the moult all hens that began laying early, and after 

 laying for eight or nine months are still in good condition, and to keep in 

 addition to these, as many of the next best (according to the same standard of 

 value) hens as are needed to keep the plant stocked to its full capacity with 

 productive hens. A hen which lays an egg a week while moulting pays for 

 her food, and most people find it easier to care for, say, a hundred moulting 

 hens than to rear a hundred good pullets. A good layer that continues in good 

 condition, is worth taking chances on until she is three or four years old. 

 Time enough to dispose of her when she is known to be unprofitable. 



* NOTE. Many amateur poultry keepers whose hens stop laying in early summer, sell 

 them off for whatever they will bring. This is poor policy. Four times out of five the 

 hens are in poor condition, and the price obtained is the lowest going. Were the hens 

 put in market condition before being offered for sale, those sold would bring a much 

 better price ; while those which resumed laying would give a profit in eggs while being 

 kept in condition to market when they ceased laying. 



