662 Selection of Fowls for Egg Production, [nov., 



winter months from November ist to March ist. In this 

 third of the year, therefore, only about two-sevenths of the 

 total number of eggs were laid. Between November ist and 

 July ist 73 '29 per cent, was produced, i.e., in the first two- 

 thirds of the laying year nearly three-fourths of the year's 

 eggs were laid. From March ist to June ist 35'6o per cent, 

 of the total number of eggs was produced ; in this particular 



Month. 



Production 

 per Hen 

 per Month. 



Production from 

 November ist to 

 end of Month. 



Percentage of 

 Annual Production 

 during Month. 



Percentage of 

 Annual Production 

 between N"ov. ist 

 and end of Month. 





No. 



No. 



Per cent. 



Per cent. 



November . 



4*63 



4*63 



3-59 



3 '59 



December . 



8-91 



13-54 



6-91 



10*50 



January 



1171 



25-25 



9-08 



I9-58 



February . 



10-87 



36-12 



8-44 



28-02 



March . . 



1 6 - i 1 



52-23 



12-50 



40-52 



April . . 



1585 



68-o8 



12-30 



52-82 



May . . . 



13-92 



82-00 



10*80 



63-62 



June . . 



12-46 



94-46 



9-67 



73-29 



July. . . 



10-87 



io5'33 



8-44 



8i73 



August . 



9-84 



ii5'i7 



7-64 



89-37 



September . 



8-19 



123-36 



6-36 



9573 



October . . 



5-5o 



128-86 



4-27 



ioo-oo 



Total . 



128-86 





ioo-oo 





quarter of the year, therefore, a little more than a third of the 

 eggs were laid. 



The average monthly production is lowest in November, 

 and increases in December and January at a relatively very 

 rapid rate. There is a slackening in the rate of increase in 

 February probably due to the end of the winter cycle of egg 

 production being reached. This February slackening amounts 

 in many cases to an actual decrease in productiveness com- 

 pared with January. The average monthly production reaches 

 its maximum in March, this production being maintained 

 throughout April, but there is a steady decline after April 

 to the end of the laying year in October. There is a tendency 

 towards a slightly larger decrease in May, this month being 

 the period of natural broodiness. 



The laying year may be divided into four natural periods 

 or cycles. The first (November ist to March ist) is the winter 

 period in which egg production is essentially a forced process. 



