CHAPTER XXVI 



WHY HENS don't LAY 



" Why don't my hens lay ?" This by itself is a hard 

 question to answer, in fact, it is unanswerable unless 

 the seeker of information goes into details as to the 

 general care, housing, and condition of the flock. 

 Even when all these details are given the desired 

 advice is not easily supplied. 



For instance, one beginner writes as follows: 



" My hens are yearlings of the White Leghorn 

 variety. They are fed on the best scratching food 

 obtainable, deep litter feeding, with a well balanced 

 mash at noon. A hopper placed before them con- 

 tains a supply of grit, oyster shells, charcoal, and 

 dry beef scraps. Every day they get green food, and 

 plenty of fresh water, also raw meat twice a week. 

 And still no eggs." 



This is only one of the many. Surely he is not 

 far wrong on his feeding, provided, of course, he 

 does not overfeed. Presuming that he does give 

 them about the right amount, what is the trouble 

 with his flock? It might be the housing or perhaps 

 the condition of the house. 



There are other things besides wrong feeding and 

 old age which will produce a non-laying flock. There 

 are things which are just as important to the hen's 



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