18 POULTRY 
time of natural heavy production, when prac- 
tically all of the flock are laying—good, bad, 
and indifferent—and, therefore, we are get- 
ting a large percentage of our eggs from the 
average and poor producers. This is espe- 
cially apt to be true because the heavy-laying 
hens are likely to be going through their first 
broody period at that time. Under these 
conditions the later-hatched pullets are not 
as good and never will be as good as the early- 
hatched chicks. They will not make as 
rapid growth because they are not inherently 
as good chicks. 
Advantages of Early Chicks. If they 
are hatched early they will become well 
feathered before hot weather arrives and 
will be protected from the heat by feathers. 
They will make a rapid, normal growth. 
Whereas, if they are hatched later they will 
not be as completely feathered, will not have 
protection from the extreme heat and will not 
make the same growth. 
If the operator will compare a flock of 
chickens hatched the 20th of March and 
another flock hatched six weeks later, he will 
find that there will be considerably more than 
