I909-] 



Egg-laying Competitions. 



i 1 1 



As stated above, the yields from the La Bresse and 

 Partridge Wyandotte pens were much affected by broodiness. 



The results are a good deal affected by the poor results 

 obtained from individual hens in some pens, together with 

 the number of small eggs laid by some of the breeds. If 

 the three best hens in each pen are selected the order of 

 merit is a good deal changed. On this basis the number of 

 saleable eggs laid by the different breeds is as follows : — 

 White Wyandottes, average of 24 birds, 170 eggs; Buff 

 Rocks, average of 9 birds, 161 eggs; White Leghorns, 

 average of 12 birds, 136 eggs; Black Wyandottes, 156 eggs; 

 Barred Rocks, 147 eggs; La Bresse, 143 eggs; Houdans, 134 

 eggs; and Partridge Wyandottes, 103 eggs (average of three 

 birds in each case). 



The great disparity in the performance of the birds in the 

 same pen demonstrates the advantage of the trap nest, and 

 the impossibility of building up a good laying strain without 

 it. In the absence of trap nests, one bad layer in a pen may 

 not be noticed, while there is every probability of the greater 

 number of her eggs being laid in the breeding season, when 

 the eggs are being reserved for incubation. 



Average Number of Eggs Laid. — Leaving on one side the 

 question of breed or strain and looking at the competition as 

 a whole, it appears that the 120 birds laid 16,100 eggs in 

 the 12 months, or an average of 134 eggs each. Of the total 

 number 188 were below' the standard size and were not valued. 

 The market value of the saleable eggs was ^75 135. 8 a 1 ., or 

 an average of 12s. 8d. per bird. 



An explanation of the low yields in certain cases may 

 perhaps be found in the conditions as regards confinement, 

 soil, lack of insect food, and other factors, which may have 

 operated more unfavourably in some cases than others. 



Monthly Averages. — The smallest number of eggs was 

 laid in October and the largest number in April, but owing 

 to the variation in price there was little difference in the 

 average value of the produce taking each three months from 

 October to June, but in July-September the yield, in addition 

 to being small in number, fetched a lower price, so that 

 this proved to be by far the least profitable period of the 

 year. 



