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 wjlling to make oath that I had a flock of 14 

 White Wyandottes that from October to October gave me a total 

 of 2999 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 v/ill 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 TOO; 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 comes from an egg pro- 

 ducing 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 aver- 

 age 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 Hun- 

 dred 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 

 who is content to take what comes along. 



