230 



THE AMEBIC AX NATURALIST 



[Vol.LII 



that have not been broody for from one to three laying 

 years. 5 



The number of broody periods per year, then, depends 

 upon the date of the first period and in the second place 

 upon the cessation of production in the fall. Egg pro- 

 duction usually, but not always, ceases with a broody 

 period. 



A broody period has two phases. First, the period of 

 manifestations of broodiness such as clucking, ruffling 

 of feathers and cessation of production. This period is 

 variable, some hens being easy to " break up" while 

 others are very difficult. Manifestations of broodiness 

 sometimes begin several days before egg production 

 ceases, and may rarely continue without cessation of egg 

 production or without hanging to the nest. I do not re- 

 call a case when egg production began before the cessa- 

 tion of the manifestations of broodiness. 



The second phase begins with the disappearance of the 

 manifestations of broodiness, and extends up to the time 

 egg laying recommences. Its chief characteristic is non- 

 productiveness and its length varies considerably. 



Broody periods coming during the height of produc- 

 tion, March and April, are usually of short duration, but 

 gradually lengthen as the summer advances, until they 

 sometimes last for a month or more. During the winter 

 months, the periods are longer than those occurring 

 during the spring and often lead to the cessation of egg 

 production for several months. 



Egg production is affected by broodiness chiefly 

 through the number of broody periods. Hens that go 

 broody many times during the year have a much lower 

 production than others that go broody only two or three 

 times, other things being equal. It is of particular in- 

 terest to note the abrupt way in which the monthly egg 

 production usually decreases with the onset of brood- 

 iness, regardless of the time of the year. Thus, a hen 



s The statements in this section are based on an intensive study of broodi- 

 ness, the data on which will be published in due course of time. 



