EGGS 



121 



egg laying and fail, sometimes almost completely, in 

 other months. 



When the average egg production of a large number 

 of fowls is taken, it will be seen that there is a certain 

 similarity between their rates of monthly production, but 

 if the record of the 80 White Leghorn hens in America 

 is compared with that of the 28 American Wyandottes 

 and the 6,771 hens of assorted varieties in America, it 

 will be seen that the egg production in the cold months 

 was fully as large as in the spring months, and that the 

 production declined only in the fall when the fowls were 

 molting. Some hens that are 

 prolific egg producers in 

 their first year prove very 

 unsatisfactory in their sub- 

 sequent years, as for in- 

 stance, the Australian Silver 

 Wyandotte shown in the 

 table. To be sure that no 

 such hens are selected for 

 breeders, it is necessary 

 that careful egg records be 

 kept. 



In all localities the fewest 

 eggs are produced during 

 the season of molt and the 

 period immediately following 

 that season. In the United States, the molt occurs during 

 the months that intervene between July and Jan. Natur- 

 ally, eggs will sell for the highest prices at this time. 

 Hens should be encouraged to lay during these months. 

 The greater profit will be made when a prolific yield 

 of eggs during the winter months has been secured. 



Pullets that are hatched in the early spring lay at an 

 earliei age than do late-hatched pullets. March-hatched 

 pullets frequently lay in July, while those hatched in 

 July seldom lay before the following March. 



BLACK ORPINGTON 



