1036 



Profitable Egg Production. 



[Feb., 



while rearing chicks, but no deduction has been made on this 

 account. The aggregate number of hen -days (including pullets 

 in lay) was 2,470. Including the pullets, therefore, the average 

 number of eggs laid per bird per day was 0.6, equivalent 

 to 18 per month. Again, the cost of food for each laying 

 hen for the year was £1 10s. 6d. .By writing off at the end 

 of the year the sum of 5s. for depreciation in the value of 

 the bird, 5s. for depreciation in the value of the equipment, and 

 3s. for part cost of the cock, the total cost of keeping each laying 

 hen was £2 3s. 6d. As each hen of the original stock laid 232 

 eggs during the year, realising the sum of £4 10s. 10d., the 

 net profit per laying hen may be estimated as £2 7s. 4d. 



A profit could not be shown, however, unless the hens were of 

 high laying capacity. For instance, if, instead of each hen 

 laying 232 eggs during the year, it had laid only 110 eggs the 

 profit of £2 7s. 4d. per hen would have disappeared. 



This enforces the point that it is the object of this note to 

 bring out, namely, that high productivity is essential to profitable 

 egg production, and high productivity can onlv be obtained by 

 keeping stock of high laying capacity. 



