50 BIOGLK POULTRY BOOK. 



such as are to be reserved for breeding, must all be in 

 market soon after the last of June. 



During the first half of this hatching period it is 

 difficult to secure eggs of any kind, and especially 

 such as are fertile and will produce strong chicks. 

 The difficulty is the greatest just when the need for 

 eggs is most imperative. 



Provision must l^e made for overcoming this diffi- 

 ciilty or the whole l)usiness will fail. To buy eggs in 

 the general market is a very unsatisfactory method of 

 ol^taining them. They are apt to be stale or infertile, 

 or from undesirable stock. 



The only safe way to get good eggs is to own and 

 feed the breeding stock, or to buy of those who know 

 how to produce eggs for this purpose. 



As the hens are to lay in winter they must be sur- 

 rounded to some extent with summer conditions. 

 This means that they must have comfortable houses, 

 food suitable for producing eggs and plenty of exercise. 



Whatever treatment hens may receive they will 

 not lay well if moulting, nor if they have been put 

 through a forcing process during the summer. The 

 first eggs laid by pullets are of little value for hatch- 

 ing. The hens selected for making up the breeding 

 stock should be well over their moult, not too fat and 

 in good health. If pullets are chosen they should be 

 from the earl}' broods. 



The hens most likely to meet the requirements 

 of the case during November and December will be 

 found among those hatched late in the previous sum- 

 mer and fall. By the time these are exhausted the 

 older hens and earl}^ pullets will be ready to continue 

 the egg supph'. " 



