32 



X. II. Age. Experiment Station [Bclletin - 265 



Flocks 3 and 2 had a record of very low production behind them at 

 the beginning of tin* spring laying season. For the period September 1 

 to February 1, Flock 2 had averaged a total of 32.4 eggs per hen and 

 Flock 3 had averaged 2 s eggs per hen. This contrasts with 57.6 eggs 

 per hen for Flock 6 and 57 eggs per hen for Flock 4. It is needless to 

 say that these differences in production, especially at a season when 

 eggs are high in price, reflect no small difference in gross returns per 

 hen. 



During the period of this study, the Boston quotations of top-grade, 

 fresh hennery eggs averaged 47.4 cents per dozen. In the twenty-five 

 weeks when the market was above this average. Farm 6 produced 

 55.5% of its yearly total eggs, while Farm 2 produced 35.1%. 



The actual weekly production of eggs on the group of 23 farms, if 

 plotted, would show a curve slightly different from the per cent pro- 

 duction curve in Figure 8. It would not fall as low during the fall nor 

 rise quite as high in the spring, due to the fact that per cent production 

 figures merely show relationship between number of eggs and number 

 of birds and do not indicate the actual amount of eggs laid. With the 

 same per cent production, the larger number of birds in the fall pro- 

 duce more eggs than the depleted flock in spring and summer. August, 

 September and October seem to be the low months in numbers of eggs 

 produced. March and April are the peak months. August. September 

 and October are the months of low total production, and fresh egg 

 price quotations are high; February, March and April are the months 

 of high total production and prices are low. 



In Figure 11, the disposition of the eggs is shown by four-week peri- 

 ods. Since eight of the farms sold a considerable number of hatching 

 eggs or chicks, the average supply of eggs going to the market was 

 actually low in January. February and March. In February, over half 



/Eggs used tor 



llNCUBATION ON FARM 

 [E&&5 SOLO AS 



(Hatching Eggs 

 {eggs sold a3 

 IMarket Eggs 



^ 



Q- 



>- 



<; 



I'n. i re ii Disposal of eggs by 4-week periods on 2:i farms. 



