EGG PRODUCTION I5I 



Stop, should also be sold. Only the ones that 

 show a willingness to continue laying should be 

 kept. It may be taken as a general rule that it is 

 not desirable to part with a hen so long as she will 

 lay a profitable number of eggs. She will pay for 

 her keep as long as she lays. 



AUTUMN CARE OF LAYERS 



When making up the flock in the fall, the hens 

 that began laying earliest and laid best with the 

 least fussing should be chosen first. Next to this 

 should come the hens that did best during the sum- 

 mer. It is a much disputed question whether 

 pullets or hens do best as layers. Many poultry- 

 men claim that pullets are superior and, therefore, 

 the more profitable, but there is nothing decided 

 on this subject. Many egg farmers get excellent 

 egg yields from hens two to four years old — fully 

 as good as from pullets. Because of this fact, it is 

 evident there is much in the method of management 

 and in the breeding. For this reason the statement 

 may be repeated — not to part with a hen so long 

 as she lays well. A hen on the nest is worth two 

 pullets in the field. 



GENTLENESS AFFECTS EGG YIELD 



Probably few things work so much against the 

 well being of the fowls as excitement, due to rough 

 handling or to fear from any cause. At no time 

 should the fowls be unnecessarily excited. Often 

 the entrance of a dog or a cat or visitors in the 

 pens will disturb the fowls, so these should be kept 

 out as much as possible. Fowls on free range are 

 not so likely to be disturbed because they get 



