2^44 POULTRY CULTURE 



Early Maturing.-The best period of egg Production as in- 

 dicated before, is the first three years. In many cases the 

 lareest vield is during the first year. 



QuTck growth means less cost of production of eggs as well 



''in Tapfd-maturing birds egg production comes earlier and 

 is likely to be more persistent. The early layers are usuaUy 

 the heavy layers. As an egg machine the Mediterranean 

 breeds, as the Leghorns and Minorcas, come closer to fitting 



^- A A ^ A A 



^- A A - A A 



^- A A '^- A A 



<'. A A /^- A A 



^. A A ^^- A A 



^- A A '^ A A 



^ A A ^^ A A 



fi A A ^^ A A 



Fig. 62.— How to toe-punch baby chicks tor the purpose of identifying 

 them later. Sixteen different lots can be marked without duphcation. 



the requirements, owing to the fact that they mature early 

 and lay a white egg of good size. Leghorns hatched the first 

 week in April, and properly cared for as to feed and housing 

 as well as to sanitation, begin laying early in the fall, usually 

 when they are about five to five and one-half months old. They 

 will probably not molt till the following fall, whereas if hatched 

 two months earlier they may begin laying in the summer while 

 eggs are cheap and later go into a molt and cease laying for a 

 while. 



