270 MANAGEMENT OF LAYING STOCK 
changing circumstances, when they are in their quarters than when 
they are scattered about over the range. (For types of houses see 
Chapter VII.) 
Before putting pullets into winter quarters it is advisable to 
plan the arrangement of the birds in their permanent pens for 
the ensuing year, so as to insure permanence and avoid the labor 
of transferring them. 
Practise Rigid Selection at Maturity —Only strong, vigorous 
birds should be put in the laying pen, and to secure the best results 
selection should be made from hatching time to maturity, care- 
fully weeding out all sick or crippled birds and thosé which show 
lack of stamina or vitality. This selection should be especially 
rigid when the final choice is made in the fall; only those of good 
size, healthy, mature, and vigorous should be chosen, as these char- 
acteristics are usually combined with prolific laying of large eggs. 
Size of Flock.—The number of birds to be placed in each flock 
will depend upon the type of farm and upon the extent of the 
business. Of the two extremes, it has been demonstrated that the 
highest individual production can be secured where a small number 
of birds (from 10 to 20) are kept as the unit. But increased indi- 
vidual production means increased labor; therefore it follows 
that large flocks, of two hundred to five hundred birds, can be 
expected to produce a large number of eggs more economically. 
In the latter case the yield per bird will usually be slightly lower, 
but the cost of labor will be so much reduced that the advantage 
will be on the side of the large flock (Fig. 137). 
Winter Management of the Layers.—The problem of winter 
management is to create, in so far as possible, ideal artificial con- 
ditions, by making or producing an environment which approaches 
in a great measure the natural conditions of spring, which is the 
natural laying season of the hen. The creation of this artificial 
environment necessitates careful and continuous study of the birds 
and their needs. 
Proper Feeding.—The first requisite in the winter management 
of the laying flock is that the birds be provided with sufficient 
feed containing nutrients in the right proportion to supply all 
their requirements for maintenance and production, also that they 
be given an abundance of succulent material, which is an incentive 
to egg production, especially during the winter. The proper feed 
will vary with the breed, the season of the year, and the weather. 
During extremely cold weather an increase in corn will enable the 
