WHY HENS DON'T LAY 



137 



welfare as the different foods and the water. Just 

 as important, and more so, than the variety of fowls 

 kept, and just as important as the grits, charcoal, 

 etc. Notwithstanding the fact that the hens are 

 getting the foods necessary to make eggs and 

 plenty of exercise in deep litter to prevent laziness, 

 it may still be possible for the hens to be in 

 such a condition that the production of eggs is 

 impossible. 



The question then is what has put the hens in 

 such a condition. 



Poorly constructed or damp houses may be the 

 cause for such nonlaying condition of the hens, 

 improper ventilation or overcrowding of the laying 

 houses, or perhaps unclean, insanitary surroundings. 

 At certain seasons of the year vermin may also 

 cause such a condition of the laying stock, or in 

 the fall and early winter months molting of feathers 

 will cause the hens to stop laying. 



The changing of the birds from one quarter to 

 the other will stop the hens laying for a short time. 

 Beginners buying a flock of hens or pullets and mov- 

 ing them into their new home should not expect 

 them to do their duty until they are accustomed to 

 their surroundings, which ofttimes takes about 

 three weeks. 



In the majority of cases it is not the hens' fault 

 for not laying, it is the keeper's. 



