Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1879-09-11
THE POULTRY YARD.
PRODUCTION AND KEEPING OF EGGS.

/ Ottentimes 1t is a matter of importance to
keep eggs tor time. When prices rule
low, they may be preserved in comparative
freshness for several weeks, even in July
and August, if care be 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 torn no idea of the short
ness OF time required for the yelk Of all egg
to settle on one side, where it adheres to
the shell and quickly spoils in warm wealth
er. Always place the egg on the big end.
have tried both ends, and have decided in
favor of the former position. Eggs should
be gathered from the nest every day, and
| where there are many hens kept, twice in
| day. 1t matters not tor what purpose we
desire eggs, the hens that produce them
should always be young and healthy. Eggs
that are to be kept for any length OF time
should always be those from young hens,
or if two years old, only from those in per-
feet health. If this rule is closely observed
by breeders who export eggs for Matching,
from one locality to another, there will be
better satisfaction given. It is of much inn
portance that the eggs have perfect shells,
and hen not in perfect health may drop
her eggs regularly, yet the shells may pos
sess imperfections that render them unfit
either for keeping or Matching.
A hen in perfect health will not drop an
egg daily for more than three days in sue
cession. Fowls that are confined in narrow
enclosures for any length of time cannot be
in perfect health. They are forced out of
their natural habits, and the restraining Of
saature tells on the system, sooner or later.
For immediate use, their eggs, perhaps, are
as good as any. With increasing age the
egg-shells grow thinner, and some drop
them with no shells at all. Strength and
stamina Of the system, supported by good
wholesome food, produce the she'll. 1t is a
calcareous substance that forms around the
egg after it is perfected in the oviduct. The
completed egg consists of several compo-
nent parts, each one of which draws ON the
vital energy and stamina of the bird, which
is SO formed that its body performs its natll-
raj 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 great egg production. Did any one
ever heareof wild bird that dropped soft
egg, or ever see shelless egg that was
dropped by wild bird? We have pro-
duced poultry that do not sit. Nature in
tended the hen to sit on her eggs for three
weeks, and afterwards to nurse and run
with her chicks tor four or five weeks long
er. In this interval the system gains tone
and strength. It is an entire change; a d-
vision of labor, and the fowl gathers
strength and tone for future reproduction.
The regular sitters seldom drop more than
sixteen eggs ina clutch, and then comes
broodiness.
Our non-sitters are the result of success
full breeding from fowls which had mani
tested little desire to sit. 1t was a great
achievement. They are manufactured
race, and must be cared for differently from
the old common breeds much given to sit
ting and little laying. Many years back
perpetual layers were unknown, as well as
the production of eggs in winter. Among
the birds of the air there is one species |
known as sscow blackbird,' that never sits,
but perpetuates its kind by dropping its
eggs into the nests OF other birds, by which |
the young are brought up. Generally the
nest of a smaller bird is chosen, and in rear
ing the smaller birds are frequently robbed
of their food and perish, the overgrown
birds beak getting the larger share Of food.
The cow blackbird cannot be any great lay
er or their eggs are discarded by the other
birds thus imposed upon, for the species is
not very plentiful.