HO BUILDING UP A LAYING STRAIN 



The utility side of the hen is still open to much im- 

 provement, notwithstanding the rapid strides we 

 have made along this line. 



The census reports show that the American hen 

 only averages 85 eggs per year, but as this report 

 takes in many hens which are too old to lay, or else 

 receive such poor treatment and feed that they can- 

 not do much for the egg basket, it is hardly fair to 

 take this figure as the basis of the average egg pro- 

 duction of our domestic fowls. There are many 

 flocks of good hens that go far above the 150 mark, 

 and some that average 180 and 200 in one year. Of 

 course these are well bred and selected stock, which 

 receive the proper feed and every other attention to 

 make them prolific. 



It is often asked whether it is possible to produce 

 a flock of hens that will average 200 eggs per year. 

 I say, yes. Do not expect to accomplish this in a 

 year's breeding, that would be impossible. To ac- 

 complish this end, great care must be exercised in 

 the selection of the breeding stock to start with, and 

 then most diligent culling thereafter. Not alone 

 must you have the proper foundation stock to work- 

 on, but you must also do the right kind of feeding 

 with foods of the correct balanced rations. Then 

 again you must have cheerful and healthful sur- 

 roundings in the houses and runs, plenty of exercise, 

 sunshine and shelter, good systematic care and every 

 attention must be paid to their welfare. 



