Four Leading Breeds 27 



The pens at laying contests are airy, and the birds 

 are free from Hce and mites. In stuffy, cramped 

 quarters where fowls suffer mdre or less from insect 

 pests, the spring record might be encouraging, but 

 that in August would be low. 



Weight and Value of Birds. — It is customary at 

 laying contests to weigh contesting fowl frequently 

 during the year, and the facts learned are of value. 

 The Rocks are the heaviest, followed in order by 

 the Reds, Wyandottes, and Leghorns. All birds 

 gain steadily in weight until March first, when 

 they are nearly a year old. After March first they 

 lose slightly in weight during the warm months. 



The difference in value for the meat of the Rocks, 

 the heaviest, and the Leghorns, the lightest, has 

 averaged about fifty cents. Remember, however, 

 that feed for the Leghorns costs about fifty cents a 

 year less for each bird. 



Monthly Egg Production. — ^It is of great im- 

 portance to know, if we" can, the months when 

 certain breeds will produce their heaviest egg yield, 

 for if we decide to handle more than one breed, as 

 many people do, we must arrange the flocks, if 

 possible, to keep the egg supply steady. It is 

 always most profitable to supply a few customers 



