1904.] 



Winter Egg Production. 



529 



WINTER EGG PRODUCTION. 



The production of eggs is an easy matter in spring and 

 summer, when the hen lays naturally, like other birds, but to 

 raise a summer product in the depth of winter is less easy of 

 attainment. There are, however, two reasons why the " egg 

 farmer " should make every effort to secure the production of as 

 great a number of eggs in winter as at other seasons of the year :: 

 (1) Because eggs are very much dearer in winter than in summer, 

 and, therefore, the profits for the year will largely depend on the 

 proportion of eggs which the hens can be induced to lay at that 

 season, and (2) because in order to work up a sound business 

 connection with consumers the producer must be in a position 

 to supply his customers' wants all the year round. 



To secure a good winter supply of eggs, the following points 

 must be observed: (1) A good winter laying breed must be 

 kept ; (2) the hens must be of a highly productive strain and 

 bred, if possible, from several generations of good winter layers ; 

 (3) the pullets which are to be kept for winter layers must be 

 hatched neither too early nor too late ; (4) the hens must be not 

 more than two years old ; (5) the houses, yards, and other 

 appliances must be so laid out and constructed as to ensure 

 comfort ; and (6) the food must contain a sufficiently large 

 proportion of those elements which are necessary not only 

 for the formation of eggs, but also to repair waste tissue and 

 to generate the heat of which the cold season tends to deprive 

 the body. Although it is not absolutely necessary that hens 

 which are expected to lay in winter should have a period of 

 rest in summer, yet it may be taken as a general rule that it is 

 a good plan to allow hens to hatch and raise one, two, or three 

 broods of chickens during the season when eggs are cheap. 

 . Time lost in this way, if it can be said to be lost, is made up 

 for by the greater, number of eggs produced when they are 

 dearest and in greatest demand. 



Breed. — There is no single breed which can be said to be the 

 best winter layer, for a breed which will do best in certain cir- 

 -cumstances may not be suitable in others. If, however, the 

 different breeds are divided broadly into classes, the weight of 



