Egg Type in Hens 



Many poultrymen claim there is an egg type in fowls, 

 and that they can pick out the good layers as well as the 

 poor ones in a flock. This claim is based on the theory 

 that certain peculiarities of form or shape, such as long 

 body, wedge shape, broad rear, small head, etc., indicate 

 good laying qualities. 



A statement in the last United States census report of 

 1900 reads : "It has been discovered that there are 600 

 embryo eggs in the ovary of a hen. It has been further 

 ascertained that two-thirds of this number can be secured 

 in the first two years of the hen's life, provided suitable 

 measures are employed." Concerning these statements, 

 Prof. James Dry den writes : 



"One of our hens has already exceeded this limit, hav- 

 ing laid 568 eggs the first three years, and to July 31 of 

 the fourth year she had laid a total of 670 eggs, and was 

 still laying, having till November 1 to complete that year. 

 A Brown Leghorn hen has also exceeded the 600 limit, 

 having laid up to the same date 628 eggs, with prospects 

 of many more. 



"As to the other statement, that two-thirds of 600 eggs 

 may be secured in the first two years, or 400 eggs, in our 

 experience only one hen has reached it, having laid 442 

 eggs in the first two years. Furthermore, no records have 

 been reported from other stations of 400 eggs in two 

 years. Three Barred Plymouth Rock hens of like age, 

 and fed in the same pen, laid 145, 144 and 212 eggs, 

 respectively, the same year, and 40, 116 and 181 the 

 second year, one lacking seven eggs of making 400 the 



252 



