EARLY FERTILITY 43 



cured, short cut alfalfa, which has been scalded the 

 night before and left to soak until morning, when 

 the water should be squeezed out before it is fed to 

 the hens. Mangel roots, turnips, raw potatoes, cab- 

 bage, etc., are also used quite extensively for the 

 same purpose, with good results. 



Hens which have been forced to the limit for egg 

 production during the winter months are not in con- 

 dition to lay eggs that are strong in fertility. Many 

 condiments and so-called " laying foods " have made 

 many flocks worthless as breeders. It is only 

 natural that fowls which have been overworked by 

 artificial methods for three or four months lose a 

 large percentage of their vitality, and a loss of 

 vitality will surely have its effect upon the spring 

 crop of eggs which are to be used for hatching. 

 Even if they should hatch, one cannot expect 

 healthy, robust chicks from parents which are in a 

 weakened condition. 



Many an inexperienced poultry keeper will now 

 pay the penalty for trying to force the eggs from 

 the hens when the prices for such a commodity 

 were high and the demand lively. My advice to 

 such is buy eggs for hatching instead of using 

 your own. 



The fertility will run low if the hens are too fat. 

 To get the best results from the hatches the hens, 

 must be in the pink of condition, which means 



