CHAPTER I. 



The Two Hundred Egg Hen. 



We hear a good deal said in these days about the 200 egg 

 hen. Some are disposed to deny her existence, and to class her 

 with such fabulous or semi-fabulous birds as the phoenix and 

 dodo. Others admit that she has appeared in isolated instances, 

 but is by no means common. Others contend that if she should 

 appear in large numbers it would be a misfortune rather than 

 otherwise, for such excessive egg production would weaken her 

 system so that her eggs would not hatch healthy and vigorous 

 chicks ; and the 200 egg hen would be in constant danger of 

 extinction from her own success. 



One thing is certain, however, the 200 egg hen is no myth. 

 There are many of them scattered about, and the tribe is on the 

 increase. My reputation for truth and veracity is reasonably 

 good ; yet I am willing to make oath that I had a flock of four- 

 teen White Wyandottes that from October to October gave me 

 a total of 2,999 eggs, an average of a little better than 214 eggs 

 apiece. There are others who can beat this. Men are already 

 talking of the 250 egg hen, and before we realize it she will be 

 here. 



I do not see how a man can draw an arbitrary line, and say 

 how many eggs a hen may or may not lay in a year. The hen 

 in her wild state lays from six to ten ; the average farmer's hen 

 not over 100; while on egg farms the average is raised to 150. 

 But why stop here? There are 365 days in a year; and I do not 

 see why a pullet that is fully matured, that conies from an egg- 

 producing strain, that is properly fed and cared for and kept 

 steadily at work, may not lay at least 200 eggs in that time. 



I am prepared to admit that a hen will not lay 200 eggs a 

 year without constant and intelligent care. I am also prepared 

 to admit that in some cases the number of eggs extra a hen will 

 lay where she has this constant and intelligent care will not 

 pay for the time consumed, and that it may be more profitable 

 to get an average of say 150 eggs a year than a larger number. 

 But I believe that in the poultry business, as in every other, it 

 is well to have a high ideal. The man who inscribes on his 

 banner, "Two Hundred Eggs a Year Per Hen," and then comes 

 as near it as he can, will make more money and have more fun 

 than will the man v^b^is^^eifrterit to take what comes along. 



