Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-25
Production and Keeping of Eggs.
rom illo County Gcntlculan


Oftcntimcs it is matter of impor.
tance To keep eggs for time. When
prices rule low, they may be preserv-
ed in comparative freshness for sew
eral weeks, even in July and August,
if care is taken TO place them on end
as soon as brought in from the nest.
One not accustomed to the handling
and care of eggs can form no idea Of
the shortncss of time required for the
yolk Of an egg TO settle on one side,
where it adheres TO the shell and
quickl Y spoils in warm weather. Al
ways place the egg on the big end.
have tried both ends, and have decid-
cd in favor of that position. Eggs
should be gathered from the nest
every day, and where there are many
hens kept, twice in day. 1t matters
not for what purpose We desire eggs,
the hens that produce them should
always be young and healthy. Eggs
that are kept for any length of time
should always be those from young
hens, or if two years old only from
those in perfect health. If this rule
is closely observed by breeders who
export eggs for Matching, from one
locality 10 another, there will be bet
ter satisfaction given. 1t is Of much
importance that the eggs have per
feet shells, and a hen not in perfect
health may drop her eggs regularly,
yet the shells may possess imperfcc.
tiong that render them unit either
for keeping or Matching.
A hen in perfect health will not
drop an egg daily for more than three
days in succession. Fowls that are
confined in narrow Enclosures Tor any
length Of time cannot be in perfect
health. They are forced out Of their
natural habits, and the restraining of
nature tells on the system. sooner or
later. For immediate use, their eggs.
perhaps, are as good rs any. With
increasing age the egg shells grow
thinner, aud some drop with no shells
at all. Strength and stamina of
the system, supported by good
wholesome food, produce the shell.
1t is a calcarcous substance that
forms around the cgg after II is
perfected in the oyiduct. The com.
plctcd egg consists Of several com
ponent parts. each one of which
draws on the vital energy and stam,
ina of the bird, which is 80 formed
that its body performs its natural
functions in regular order when In
health. We must consider that
they are forced out OF their natural
order when We feed them up for grca,
'gg production. DID any one ever
hear Of Wild bird that dropped
soft egg, or ever see -hcllc-- cgg
that was dropped by a Wild bird :
We have produced poultry that DO
not sit Nature intended the hens to
-it on hc' eggs for three weeks, and
afterwards Ia nurse and run with her
chicks for four or FIVE week, longer
Ia this interval the system gains tone
aud strength. It i. an entire change
"A division Of labor, and the fowl
gathers strength and tone for future
egg production. The regular sitter.
seldom drop more than sixteen cgc.
in q clutch aud then come, broodines-,
Eggs dropped IN May aud June
keep much better than those dropped
later in the season. The reason j. that
the fowls are in better condition. AZ.
ter the middle Of July the close sum.
mcr heats aud .ultry nights come on.
and the birds are more or les. exhaust
cd. The moulting season is close at
hand, and the whole system is prcpar.
ing for change. the recovery from
which Is a question of time and care.
BY this time, if left unhecdcd, their
roasting places have become foul and
infested with vcrmin. From this
time out stimulant. and mild tonics
should be given to the perpetual layers
a. required. To be thoroughly profit.
able, these fowls should not be kept
over the second winter, unless it is in
exceptional cases. There is no breed
of fowls that accepts management as
readily as the Brahmas. They yield TO
confinement, in time, place and food,
without rcpiuing, vet they are tender
and require more care and forcthought
in feeding than any of the other races
of sitters. Perfect eggs, after once
obtained, should be set up on end in
good, sweet, c can oats, and kept in n
cool place, and there will be found lit
tie difficulty in saving them to obtain
fair price at the fall markets. They
must possess good, thick, perfect shells,
or they will not keep.