42 



for winter eggs is as follows : Get out your chicks early and 

 keep them coming from the day they break the shell down 

 to the day they go into the laying pens in the fall. 



AMERICAN BREEDS BEST. 



The breed has something to do with it. As a rule the 

 American breeds are the best winter layers. I know that this 

 statement will be challenged, and that instances will be given 

 where the Mediterraneans or Asiatics have equaled or sur- 

 passed the Americans in egg production; but the statement 

 will stand. The Mediterraneans are thin-feathered and are 

 very susceptible to climatic conditions. A sudden cold snap 

 will often cause the egg product to drop to zero. The Asi- 

 atics, on the other hand, are thick-feathered, but slow in 

 maturing they do not get ready to lay until well on toward 

 spring. The man who wants winter eggs will make no mis- 

 take if he fills his pens with well matured pullets of the 

 American class. 



A WARM HOUSE ESSENTIAL. 



In olden times hens were not expected to lay in winter. 

 No wonder they did not! They were not hatched out until 

 June, and were expected to pick up their living in the fields. 

 After it became too cold for them to roost in trees they were 

 allowed to stay in the barn nights, roosting on the big beams, 

 or were thrust down into the noisome barn cellar. A few 

 handfuls of corn were thrown down to them from time to 

 time, and if they wanted to quench their thirst they could 

 eat snow or break the ice in the horse trough. It is a marvel 

 they ever lived through the winter, to say nothing of laying 

 eggs. Even to-day, when poultry keeping is so much better 

 understood, the importance of a warm house is not half enough 

 appreciated. 



The West Virginia Experiment Station a few years ago 

 scientifically demonstrated the importance of a warm house 

 in the production of winter eggs. "Two houses situated side 

 by side and similar in all respects were selected for the ex- 

 periment. The houses had been constructed with matched 

 siding and shingle roofs. Before the experiment began, one 

 house was sheathed on the inside with boards and then 

 thoroughly papered so as to cover all the cracks. The experi- 

 ment began November 24th, and continued for five periods 

 of 30 days each. The two flocks were fed the same kind 

 and amount of food. The total number of eggs produced per 



