298 POULTRY CULTURE 



though the rate of production may vary. Ordinarily a nonbroody 

 hen, having commenced to lay regularly, continues while the com- 

 bination of factors (most of which are imperfect) is sufficient to 

 maintain production, then stops, and after a period of recuperation, 

 begins again, to continue as long as the factors are able to give 

 the results. 



Molting and egg production. In all kinds of poultry except fowls, 

 and in a large proportion of hens, no eggs are laid during the an- 

 nual molt. Normally the molt begins in early summer and requires 

 about four months for its completion. Most hens will lay more or 

 less during the early stages of the molt, while feathers are dropping 

 fast and new ones are growing slowly, but nearly all stop entirely 

 when the new coat is growing rapidly. As molting checks laying, 

 so laying prolonged into the molting season tends to postpone it. 

 This may be an advantage when the birds are not to be used a 

 second season, but the advantage is not generally so clear in regard 

 to those that are to be kept over. It is a question whether, on the 

 whole, anything is gained by hens laying through the entire molt. 

 In the case of very heavy layers there is no doubt that in many 

 instances the high totals could not be reached if egg production 

 were not almost continuous. In many cases of moderate laying, 

 results indicate that the total output might be greater if the bird 

 did one thing at a time. While always speculating on the phases 

 of this problem, the poultry keeper working for egg production 

 habitually exerts himself to get eggs in the present, and lets the 

 molt and the future laying period come accordingly. Various 

 methods of forcing molting are sometimes recommended. Some 

 of these, notably the plan of starving for a period and then feeding 

 heavily, tend to hasten the shedding of the old coat and the start- 

 ing of the new, but there is little evidence to show that anything 

 is gained in egg production. Such interference with the course of 

 nature would be expected to unfavorably affect the sensitive organs 

 of reproduction. The usual experience of those who try the experi- 

 ment is that egg production is stopped, but begins again no sooner 

 than in birds which perhaps lay several months longer and pass 

 through the first stages of the molt more slowly. 



Variability of egg yields. Egg yields are variable both in indi- 

 vidtial birds and in flocks. The yields of individuals range from o 



