280 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
Take pains to get your chickens hatched in good time for winter 
laying. It isa fact that this fundamental rule for success is syste- 
matically neglected by nine poultry-farmers out of ten. Few egg- 
farmers get anything like a decent number of eggs in October, 
November and December, when prices are at the top. The reason 
is always the same—late hatching. If you do not hatch your 
pullets in good time you cannot expect them to lay. Light breeds 
need six to seven months to mature ; heavy breeds eight to nine 
months. Therefore all heavy breeds should be hatched in 
February and early March. All light breeds should be hatched 
in March or early April. Even then the light breeds in many 
instances will lay first. If you farm light and heavy breeds begin 
early in February, and do not raise a chick (for yourself) after the 
first week in May. Cross breeds for table purposes may be hatched 
at any season of the year, but the early months are the most pro- 
fitable. Chickens grow better in February, March and April than 
in any other months of the year. Take pains to have them 
hatched in time. 
