20 BULLETIN 561, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Leghorns increased about one-fifth of a pound in weight during their 

 third year while the general-purpose pens increased one- third of a 

 pound. In comparing the market value of the fowls this extra 

 weight should be credited to the general-purpose fowls. The Leg- 

 horns do not tend to become overfat during their second and third 

 laying years as do most of the general-purpose breeds. 



The value per dozen of the eggs produced by the Leghorns (Pens 

 4, 7, and 8) was from 1 to 3 cents less each year than that of the 

 general-purpose pens. (See Table 9.) This difference in value is 

 due to the fact that the general-purpose breeds are better winter 

 layers than the Leghorns, while the latter give a higher production 

 in the spring and summer. This difference is more marked in the 

 second than in the first or third years, as shown in Table 6, where 

 Pens 7 and 8 (Leghorns) laid nearly as well during their first winter 

 as the general-purpose pens (Nos. 1, 2 and 3), although the average 

 value of the eggs per dozen for the year was slightly less in the Leg- 

 horn pens. Very few Leghorns become broody, which probably 

 materially affects their egg yield as compared with the general- 

 purpose breeds (see page 35). Better fertility in the eggs, especially 

 with stock confined to yards, is more often secured from Leghorns 

 than from the general-purpose or from any of the heavier breeds- 

 No experiments have been conducted on the fertility and hatchability 

 of the eggs from any of these feeding pens, but eggs have been hatched 

 from several of them and no marked differences due to the feeding 

 or method of management have been noted. Summing up these com- 

 parisons, the Leghorns are undoubtedly more profitable fowls to keep 

 for the production of eggs only than are the general-purpose breeds, 

 which confirms the belief and experience of commercial poultry 

 farmers producing eggs for market. 



EGG YIELD AS AFFECTED BY TIME OF MATURITY AND AGE OF FOWLS. 



The average decrease in egg production of all the general-purpose 

 breeds during their second year was 42.4 eggs, or about 32 per cent, 

 while the decrease in the Leghorns (Pen 4) was only 21.9 eggs, or 

 about 16 per cent. The decrease in all general-purpose pens from the 

 second to third year production was about 16 per cent. The de- 

 crease in Pen 4 (Leghorns) was only 4 per cent. However, the 

 decrease in Pens 5 and 6, which were started at the same time as 

 Pen 4, was only 20 per cent during their second year and 13 per 

 cent during their third year, as discussed later in this paragraph. 

 The time of maturity affects this question materially, as the fowls 

 which began to lay in November (Pens 1, 2, and 3) laid 17.8 more 

 eggs per hen during their first year than Pens 5 and 6, which began 

 to lay in January. On the other hand, Pens 1, 2, and 3 (early matur- 



