WITH 4200 HENS 137 



the soil most thoroughly. The edges and corners of the 

 yards are turned over with a spade so that no unclean por- 

 tions remain. 



When several compartments of birds are opened into 

 one, by opening the partition doors, one section of the 

 yard is closed off. This is sowed to barley and the birds 

 are turned into that yard as soon as the barley is 6 or 8 

 inches high, the other section being sowed. This is con- 

 tinued throughout the year, excepting during July ana 

 August when hot weather makes barley-growing im- 

 possible. 



Young stock is never put into a yard without growing 

 barley in it. This is an invariable rule. 



Breeding Plan 



We use nothing but January hatched male birds for 

 breeding purposes, the sons of December layers. Cock- 

 erels are mated with yearling hens and yearling cocks 

 with January hatched pullets. We prefer not using eggs 

 from the January hatched pullets for the January hatches 

 of the following year — they are used for the March 

 hatches. 



We mate at the rate of 20 to 1, with not less than 500 

 birds in one yard and house ; as a rule we have from 1,000 

 to 1,500 in one flock. The cockerel-hen mating is made 

 early, usually in August; the pullet-cock mating is de- 

 ferred until November. 



The birds should be mated at least two weeks before 

 the eggs are used. 



Our experience has been that the male birds are much 

 better off if they are not taken out and segregated from 



