6o BIGGI^R POULTRY BOOK. 



that tlie sale of cockerels yields enough profit to pay 

 for the raising of the pullets to the laying age, so that 

 they cost practically nothing. This may be a rosy 

 view, true only in certain favorable conditions. It is 

 undoubtedly true that those who grow their own stock 

 can have the kind they want, and are not compelled 

 to take a motley collection such as can be gathered by 

 promiscuous purchase. 



The managers of some of the large egg farms fur- 

 nish eggs for hatching, from such stock as tliev choose, 

 to farmers in the surrounding country to hatch for 

 them, and buy the pullets at a certain age and price 

 agreed upon between the contracting parties. This 

 plan works well, as it leaves the operator free to give 

 his entire time to the care of the layers, and also per- 

 mits him to conduct his business on a smaller area and 

 with less capital. For without the rearing attachment 

 less land, fewer buildings, and less labor are required. 



The most successful hen farms consist mainly of 

 houses with yards of only moderate size. Free range 

 is not a necessity for hens kept chiefly for eggs. It is 

 stoutly affirmed by those who have had experience 

 with both methods that with proper care a flock will 

 produce a fifth more eggs in confinement than when 

 at liberty. Greater care is required with shut-in hens, 

 but there are compensating advantages : tlic}' are 

 under the attendant's e^-e at ;dl times, are easily con- 

 trolled, fed and tended, and out of danger from en- 

 emies, and cannot commit depredations on the field or 

 garden crops of their owner or his neighbors. 



Except in sections where land is low in price and 

 deep snow does not fall, the plan of colonizing hens in 



