..,; T(rE THAI' NKST TI-'.XT I'.oolv 



should adopt :. system that is best adapted to his particular require- 

 ments and the time at his disposal. 



The method that [ am using at present is very simple and takes but 

 little time. Ill beginning, I hang up a quantity of leg bands in each 

 pen and band each bird that lays, when she is taken from the nest; the 

 non-layers are not numbered. By this plan I am able to distinguish 

 the lavers from those that have not begun to lay at a glance. A block 

 of blank paper and a pencil is hung up in each pen. When the eggs 

 are collected the hens' numbers are marked on the paper and such 

 remarks as to their condition, etc, as may seem desirable, are added. 

 At night these slips are torn off and the record copied on the record 

 sheet at any convenient time. The daily memorandum concerns the 

 laying hens only; it is unnecessary to make a cipher when no egg is 

 laid: the square being blank indicates that plainly enough. The addi- 

 tions are made as the eggs are put down; the last day in the month 

 that a given hen lays gives hev total for the month. If a hen lays two 

 eggs in one day (which does not happen as often as some suppose) they 

 may be put down in one square. 



In the breeding season a list of the liens that we want to breed 

 from is tacked up beside the record blanks and their eggs are marked 

 and dated when collected. When the eggs are tested it is noted if all 

 or nearly all of the eggs laid by any one hen are infertile. Breeders 

 who sell eggs for hatching may thus, to a certain extent, avoid sending 

 infertile eggs to their customers. A saving of time is an important 

 consideration with us and this system permits of the eggs being col- 

 lected more quickly and the book-keeping is done '-after hours.*' 



By using the various letters noted on -the sample record-blank that 

 accompanies each set of Ideal Plans and Permit a permanent record of 

 the condition and disposition of each bird is made. A space is left for 

 remarks of any kind. Record can be made of the date of the first egg 

 of the pullet and also of the current market prices of eggs each month. 

 The back of each sheet is blank and any data relating to rations and the 

 expense of same can be noted there. I recommend that everything of 

 importance be noted down on these blanks each night. The blanks 

 when filled can be filed away by pens or by months as preferred; suit- 

 able clips for holding them together are easily obtained. Almost any 

 information that one could desire in regard to the past history or pres- 

 ent condition of his flocks can be obtained from these individual records. 

 By adopting a regular and convenient system for doing this work the 

 record keeper will soon acquire skill, not only in keeping the records 

 but in reading them. 



Proof of totals can be obtained by adding the perpendicular month- 

 ly-total column and the horizontal daily-total column separately ; the 



