106 BUILDING UP A LAYING STRAIN 



to supply plenty of ventilation, so as to add to the 

 bird's comfort while confined therein. 



Another factor which should enter into the laying 

 quality of a hen is the time when she lays the most 

 eggs. Winter eggs are, of course, most desirable, 

 owing to the prices obtained at that time. It will 

 thus be seen that it is not only advisable to pick the 

 hen that lays the most eggs but the one that lays 

 most during the cold weather. 



If you want good, substantial profits from your 

 poultry you must either buy your stock from a good 

 laying strain of birds or else build up a good laying 

 strain of your own. The extra time and money put 

 into the business for that purpose will soon come 

 back to you in the returns from the flock. A good 

 paying utility flock is one that contains a good egg 

 yield from every individual hen. Such a flock is 

 possible if the trap nest is used and the selection is 

 carefully carried out. 



The poultry department of the New York State 

 College of Agriculture at Ithaca has been doing some 

 remarkable work in breeding for egg production. 

 Among its flock fifteen hens averaged 236 eggs per 

 year each, and twelve others averaged 182 eggs dur- 

 ing their first laying year. In the former lot are two 

 hens which have made astonishing records. Mme. 

 Cornell, one of these hens, laid in her first year 245 

 eggs, w r hich weighed 30.6 pounds, and Lady Cornell, 

 the other hen, 257 eggs, which weighed 29^ pounds. 



