WITH 4200 HENS 133 



Selling Hatching Eggs and Baby Chicks 



We contract our surplus hatching eggs to a commercial 

 hatchery on the same general plan that is followed in 

 marketing eggs for table use ; we make a contract for the 

 whole supply by the year. And as has already been said, 

 we do no hatching whatever. This course was adopted 

 after a number of years' experience doing our own hatch- 

 ing and selling such odd lots of hatching eggs as we could 

 find a market for. We do not obtain as high a price for 

 the eggs in this way but we sell them all. We prefer a 

 certain small premium to a possible larger one. 



To those who prefer making the experiment for them- 

 selves or to those who have time to spare for such activi- 

 ties we have one bit of advice to offer : Do not make the 

 common mistake of booking in advance orders for eggs 

 or chicks that may, by any possible chance, interfere with 

 your own hatching dates. Set your own dates and stick 

 to them. Should there be any doubt of your having 

 enough eggs from your own flock arrange for the possible 

 deficit elsewhere. Let nothing interfere with getting 

 your chicks and all of them at the time or times you de- 

 cide to have them. 



The writer has seen a number of ventures founder on 

 this rock. The demand for hatching eggs and baby 

 chicks is extremely heavy during the choice hatching 

 months. To grab off the few pennies that might lie in 

 selling the eggs at hatching prices the thoughtless poul- 

 tryman engages and sells the eggs at that time and 

 hatches for himself when the demand slackens. This is 

 suicide. It is akin to selling all your good apples and 

 keeping the rotten ones for yourself. 



