148 



POULTRY PRODUCTION 



slowly, and more of them died from chick diseases than was 

 the case with chicks hatched from eggs laid by the mature 

 fowls." 



A record of the age of a fowl may easily be kept by toe- 

 marking each generation as it comes along. By punching 

 a different combination of holes in the webs of the feet each 

 year a convenient and permanent means of establishing the 

 age of any individual in the flock is furnished. 



Individual Variation "in Annual Production. — Opperman^ 

 reports the following individual yearly records of production. 

 The birds were March and April hatched Single Comb 

 White Leghorns. 



It will be noticed that while the first year's production 

 is usually the best, there are numerous cases in which the 

 second year gives the greater production, as with hens Nos. 

 54, 125, 239, and 253. 



In the grand totals, however, the second year's production 

 shows a decrease as compared with that of the first year 

 of 13 per cent. And the third year shows a shrinkage of 

 32.2 per cent, as compared with the production of the first 

 year, or a decrease of 56.2 eggs per hen. 



Early Maturity. — Quick growth means a less cost of pro- 

 duction of both meat and eggs. The cost per pound of the 

 slow-growing sorts is very much greater than with those 

 that mature early. Quickly made gains are usually eco- 



' West Virginia Bulletin, No. 124. 

 ' Maryland Bulletin No. 157. 



