30 COMMERCIAL EGG FARMING 



from commercial egg production alone is 

 concerned, using only the remaining one- 

 fourth for breeding stock. But I have been 

 fortunate enough to secure a market for eggs 

 for hatching, which takes during two months 

 of the year all the eggs which are not required 

 for my own hatching purposes. I therefore 

 find it necessary to keep over a large num- 

 ber of hens. 



There are many who argue that the cost 

 of raising so many pullets yearly is too great, 

 and therefore they keep the hens another 

 season and raise only one-third of the total 

 stock each year. In my opinion this is not 

 sound business. If I were short of stock be- 

 cause my hatching and brooding season had 

 not gone well I would without hesitation keep 

 hens on for another season, which in ordinary 

 good breeding seasons I would sell in August 

 and September. But I know from many 

 years' accounts that my net income would not 

 be as good as if I had my usual supply of 

 pullets. For one thing, it is very unusual to 

 get eggs before January, from even one-year- 

 old hens after the molt, and then not in pay- 

 ing quantities. But pullets will be laying 



