216 



POULTRY PRODUCTION 



group, 66 per cent, of all eggs set that were turned twice 

 hatched, while but 59.8 per cent, of the unturned eggs gave 

 living chicks. 



In practice the eggs should be turned as frequently as 

 possible. In most cases this will be three times daily — 

 morning, noon, and night. 



Date of Hatching. — ^The proper date for hatching chicks 

 depends upon local climatic conditions and the breed being 

 hatched. The Mediterranean breeds may be hatched 

 thirty to forty-five days later than the American and English 

 breeds, and still mature early enough to begin laying by fall. 



For the north central states, American pullets that are 

 expected to lay the following winter should be out between 

 the middle of March and the middle of April, while the 

 Mediterraneans should be hatched late in April or early in 

 May. The Asiatics should be hatched as early as possible. 



Table XXVI. — Comparative Gains of Eakly and Late 

 * Hatched Chicks. 



Lewis,^ in comparing the rate of growth of Leghorn chicks 

 hatched April 1 and June 1, found, as shown in Table 

 XXVI, that the April-hatched chicks averaged 1.70 pounds 

 heavier in November than the June-hatched chicks, although 



New Jersey Experiment Station Annual Report. 



