FEED COST OF EGG PRODUCTION. 21 



ing) laid 40 per cent less their second than during their first year, 

 while Pens 5 and 6 (late maturing) laid only 20 per cent less. Dur- 

 ing their third year the egg production decreased 20 per cent in the 

 early-maturing against 13 per cent in the late maturing pens. The 

 fowls in this experiment, which matured late laid later in the season 

 in both their first and second laying years, and while the value of 

 their eggs was less the first year than that of the early maturing 

 fowls, it was greater in their second year, largely because they laid 

 a larger percentage of their eggs later in the season when the value 

 per dozen is greater. The average yearly egg production (110.2 

 eggs) for two years of the general-purpose pens (Nos. 1, 2, and 3), 

 which started to lay in November exceeds the average yearly produc- 

 tion (107.7) of Pens 5 and 6 by only 2.5 eggs. (See Table 2.) The 

 average three-year production for the early maturing pens (Nos. 1, 

 2, and 3) was 94.7 eggs against 99.5 in the late maturing pens (Nos. 

 5 and 6). 



The average yearly value per hen of the eggs in Pens 1,2, and 3, 

 for two years was $3.06 against $2.97 in Pens 5 and 6; for three years 

 the averages were $2.55 and $2.69, respectively. In other words, the 

 value of the eggs for two years from the hens which started to lay 

 early slightly exceeded the value of those which started to lay late, 

 while for three years the value of eggs from the late-hatched pent', 

 exceeded that of the early hatched pens by 14 cents per hen. Com- 

 paring the yearly average for two years of Pen 4 (Leghorns) with 

 Pens 5 and 6 (general purpose) all of which were late-maturing pens, 

 the former averaged 126.8 while the latter averaged 107.7, or 19.1 

 eggs less. For three years the Leghorns averaged 121.9 eggs against 

 99.5 eggs in Pens 5 and 6. The yearly average value for two years 

 of the eggs from Pen 4 was $3.25 against $2.92 from Pens 5 and 6. 

 The average for three years was $3.09 in Pen 4 against $2.65 in Pens 

 5 and 6. The yearly average yield of all the general-purpose breeds 

 was 109.3 eggs for two years and 71.4 for three years. 



WEIGHT OF EGGS. 



The average weight of eggs during each 4- week period throughout 

 the year is shown in Tables 5, 5a, and 5b, with the pens arranged so 

 that the dates of the periods correspond as nearly as possible. 



