The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1911-11-30
PRODUCING W|NTER EGbs
OF THE STOCK KEPT Is
IMPORTANT FACTOR.


BY Prof. n. L. Kempster, PouItr,
Husbandry, University Of
Missouri.
As winter approaches and the price
Of eggs becomes attractive, the farm
er turns his attention to the farm
hen with the idea of SO handling hel
as to produce winter eggs. Usually
the farm flock is neglected during the
summer and now especial care is ex
ercised to make up this neglect. The
illustration is given to point out the
causes for failure to secure best re-
suits. Too many fail to appreciate
the importance of foresight in the
handling OF the flock, for winter
care" is only one of the factors in.
fuencing winter egg production"
Egg production depends upon the
nature of the stock kept, whether it
is laying breed and strain, upon the
quality and vigor Of the breeding
stock from which 1t came and also
upon the care which 1t is given. Win
ter egg production depends not only
upon these factors, but the time of
Matching. manner OF handling the
stock during the summer and winter
care play important parts in the Sc
curing Of satisfactory results.
Bearing this in mind one can read.
fly see that now Is the time to pre-
pare not only for this years winter
egg production, but also for the fol.
lowing winter.
The nature Of the stock kept is
largely important in the production
OF eggs There is no question but
that the smaller active breeds such as
Leghorns will produce greater num-
Der of eggs. They have been select.
ed with that one purpose In view and
their disposition is favorable to abun-
dant egg production. the tendency Of
the bird to become fat being absent
and less effort required to induce
them to exercise. II egg production
is the object to be attained. one would
make a mistake not to keep breeds
Of this nature. but where meat pro.
duction Is also consideration the
breeds such as Rocks, Wyandottes,
Reds and Orpingtons are especially
desirable. The question OF what
breed" depends upon individual re-
quirements, but one must not stop
with breed alone, for there is as great
difference between individuals Of
the same breed as between breeds,
and the careful selection of breeding
stock can not be overemphasized. In
the selection of breeding stock one
should get some idea of what they
desire chicken to be and what they
expect it to do, and then select their
stock with this purpose in view,
using not only individual perform
ance as a factor but constitutional
vigor as well. for fat, lazy hens make
poor breeders and birds with strong,
active characteristics give the best
results.
Winter egg production can not be
expected from old hens. 1t is difficult
" NoASAo VI IAO oOocOAdDlC
Of eggs, for the old stock does not
complete its melting before winter sets
in and rarely begin to lay before
February and March. Commercial
poultry farms, where a continuous
egg supply is especially desirable,
generally depend upon pullets for
their winter eggs. This is. also an
uncertain and difficult task. A bird
If properly raised will begin laying
when five or six months old, depend
ing upon the breed and the care given
during the growing period. II the
bird lays in August or September
there is tendency for her to lay
few eggs and when climatic changes
occur, go into the mott, thus checking
egg production and rendering her
useless as an egg producer until the
mott is completed.
Usually. however, II a bird does not
come into laying before winter sets
in. 1t is difficult to secure eggs until
February or March. To raise the
birds to maturity and avoid the fall
mott is task involving not only time
Of Matching, but subsequent care, for
a pullet must arrive at the proper
stage for her development at the ex.
act time.
In addition to these factors, win
ter egg production depends upon the
housing, feed and care given. The
poultry house should be dry, well
ventilated, free from drafts and album
dainty lighted. Dryness is secured
by having the floor higher than the
surrounding ground. drains where
necessary and efficient ventilation.
The popular style Of ventilation is
the use Of muslin frames in part or
as the entire window, a combination
Of the two preferable, and when used
In the proportion of one square foot
Of glass and an equal amount Of mus
lin. to every sixteen square feet Of
lioor space. it will afford we'll lighted