CHAPTER VII 



Practical Application of Proven Theories 



Production Possibilities 



What are the possibilities in egg production? This is £ 

 very interesting question, and one which is hard to answer. 



The records given herein for 1914 show an average pro- 

 duction of 138.33 eggs from each member of the flock, based 

 on an actual number of single hen days. These records show 

 this as a possibility without question — that whole flocks can 

 average 138.33 eggs a year. This average also counts in all 

 the pullets as being mature at five months from hatching. 



The conditions for producing in this flock are far from 

 being the best or ideal. First, the limited quarters on a city 

 lot preclude the possibility of raising enough young chicks, 

 each year, to enable the owner to cull out the pullets as closely 

 as would be advisable. 



Few flocks of chickens develop evenly, under identical 

 conditions, for all the individuals in the flock. Some seem to 

 thrive out of all proportion to the others ; others thrive fairly 

 well, and still others only half as well as the condition of the 

 best members of the flock would lead one to expect. Some 

 few in the flock may seem to be continually far behind, in the 

 race for development. 



After the pullets have developed, and get near to laying- 

 age, and get their complete plumage, these differences are not 

 so noticeable, except for the few really inferior birds. 



First. If enough chickens could be raised to cull so close- 

 ly as to leave in the flock only the birds showing exceptional 

 vigor, at say three months from hatching, one could reason- 

 ably expect greater health and vigor in the flock, and, as a 

 consequence, far greater returns in eggs. 



Second. The condition of soil in the yards, which soil 

 is a heavy clay loam, makes this soil pack very easily, inter- 

 fering to a great extent with the opportunities for the birds 

 to wallow, and exercise outdoors in the open season ; also, in 



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