Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1885-11-13
POULTRY AND FARM.
Hens VS.. Pullets.

Pullets viii generally lay more eggs
Il an hens. Hence the advice to kill
of all the old hens each year and keep
over only the pulle,s is frequently CIV
en- and generally followed. This ad-
vice is valuable to those who raise
eggs to sell by the dozen to market
men at market prices. But it is en-.
,irely unsuited to the needs of the or
binary poultry breeder, and strict
adherence to it is simply suicidal.
Pullets for eggs, hens for breeders,
would be better. A two year old or a
three year old hen will probably lay a
smaller number of eggs, but it is very
doubtful If she produces less weight
OF eggs. Each egg will be larger than
those laid by her in her first season,
b ut the smallness of the number will
be offset by the greater size. These
larger eggs are more suitable tor
Matching. The hen is fully matured,
she is in robust health. she has her
full strength, and the chicks from her
eggs will inherit from her these char
acteristics, There being in the egg a
greater quantity OF white out of which
the chick is formed, and larger
amount of yolk upon which its life in
the shell is supported, the chick will
be larger when Matched and possess
more vitality, and its chances of sur
wing the ills of chickenhood will be
coIs-spondingly brighter. To insure
agood growth there is nothing like
having good start. This increased
vigor and size at the start will follow
the chick all through its course, ane
the matured fowl will be larger anc
stronger therefor.
1t Is the practice of well know
breeder of Light Brahmas to keel
over year after year his strong robus
hens. So long as they lay enough
eggs to produce good brood of chick
they are considered worthy of preser
walton. This breeders strain
Light Brahmas is noted for its grea
size, and while it may be well doubted
if it would be generally profitable t
keep hens until they are five or ST
years old, it would be profitable II
follow his example to the extent
only breeding from matured hens.
The experiments of the late Dr.
Ssonebraker, of Waco, Texas, will no
be forgotten in this connection. HI
set number OF eggs from pullets. ant
from hens, repeating the experiment
several times. and arrived at this re
suit, from the eggs of the hens h
Matched, to-wit: larger percentag
of chicks from the eggs of tn
hens lived and grew to maturity tha
of those from the eggs of the pullet:
and, at the end of the season, tn
chicks from the eggs of the hens wer
larger, stronger and finer in every re
spect than those from the eggs of tn
pullets.
1t is not to be denied that pullet
often prove fine breeders, especial
where they were Matched early in tn
previous year, but probably these sam
pullets would prove still better breed
ers if used for that purpose The follow
ing year. 1t is reasonable to expec
that such should be the fact, and tn
observation and experience of poultr
breeders generally will tend to prov
that such is the fact. The wise breeds
will not kill off all his old hens, bl
will retain the best OF them for h
choicest breeding pens, using his fine
pullets for laying stock and reservin
them for breeders when they are tw
and three years old. He will practit
what he breaches and his text will b
"Pullets for layers, old hens for bree'
ers, and strong chicks as the natur
outcome"