Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-07
EGG PRODUCTION
IN RELATION To
VITALITY
Unusual ProIifiCaCy Does Not
Necessarily Cause Impair
ment of Breeding Quality.
BY J. r. scHUREMAN.

We can see tendency on the part of
some writer's to set up the claim-by
t,ti,,ation at Ieast-that the poultry
men of the country are sacrificing vi
,s1itv and yigor for fecundity, and that
unless a check is put upon the prac-
ice Of breeding and feeding for heavy
egg production solely, dire results will
follow and strains of birds that are now
famous as prolific layers will go
hump" or words to that effect. Our
rrlyste opinion. publicly expressed, is
that this argument is the far-fetChed,
negstmfstic cry of wouid-be poultry
men" who either have been unsuccess-
mi in developing strains of heavy lay
ers or else who do not know what they
are talking about. and while those eX
rerienced in the breeding of poultry will
pass it by as unworthy Of notice, there
are thousands of amateur breeders who
might be influenced by such argument
unless its utter righteousness is shown.
That there has been wonderful i'm
proyement in the egg producing pro-
cEvities Of the domestic hen during the
last quarter of a century we all know.
Every one who has given the subject
any attention and study also knows that
the vitality and vigor of the hen--where
properly housed and cared for-have not
been impaired in the least, although she
today is producing several times as
many eggs in a year as did her remote
ancestors.
2o0-Egg Hen No Curiosity
Instead of sacrificing vigor for fe
cundity, the two qualities have been so
nicely and uniformly developed-each
keeping pace with the other-that the
natural result has been eggs, and then
more eggs, and vigor and more vigor,
until today the 200-egg hen is no longer
curiosity The fact of the matter is,
vigor and fecundity are twin qualities,
and if vigor IS lacking. fecundity also
will be lacking. The very foundation
upon which a flock of heavy egg pro-
1ucers is builded is vigor and stamina,
and without these heavy egg produce
ion is out Of the question. The very
fact that a flock of hens are heavy
layers is indisputable proof that they
possess plenty Of vigor. On the other
hand, however. 1t does not necessarily
follow that because hens are vigorous
and healthy they are extraordinary lay
ors. Not every vigorous hen possesses
the qualities of fecundity. but, without
an reception, every hen possessing the
quality Of fecundity is vigorous and
healthy.
We must admit that it takes more
physical yigor for a hen to lay 200 eggs
IN twelve months than for the same hen
to lay couple Of dozen eggs in a like
period, but while it almost seems re-
pudiation Of her own DEGREES. Nature
comes to the assistance Of man in his
Efforts to develop a heavy laying strain
Of fowls and makes it possible by sup
plying the necessary additional vigor
and vitality We all know that the
loW in natural state lays only a
clutch or two of eggs during an entire
FeaI-iust enough to perpetuate her
Species-and these are laid at breeding
time in the spring. There is a reason
Tor this The maternal instinct pos
>essed by the female fowl of whatever
Nhu prompts within her a desire to
o1ns into the world young of her own
Mnd-to perpetuate her species. This
IS why our domestic hens become
ofoody at a certain season of the year.
at which time they will guard their
eggs as eagerly and carefully as they
90 the chicks after they are Matched
''lnough at other times they pay prac.
IlaiIy no attention to the eggs they
"s or that may be in the nest
Coercing Nature.
BIZ a Wild state the fUwIs-most of
winch are migratory lay enough
.ssS Tor hatch or two and then quit
because this is true, the argument is
'"'ahced that it is unnatural for fowls
'. any kind to lay more than one OF
.N' clutches Of eggs a year, and that
man has worked contrary to Nature in
''opihS our domestic heavy laying
'N.. IN sense this may be true. and
." another sense it is not true Ii is
l7'J That Nature will not be coerced
''E'hps not, but it is either possible to
o-I'e her or else she is more than
..".1E to cooperate with man in his
morris TO change her plans and meth
Look at Luther Burbank. the
F..". wizard. who during the last few
mas astounded the world with his
a,% ID changing the very nature Of
.a'. HE Of various kinds. Has it been
.''h on the part of Burbank or
o's,1jon on the part Of Nature
''oledIy the latter. and if she will
D''ale with Burbank in his work
may reasonably expect her to co..
,r.''e with the poultryman IN his ef
'.'s though the work that he is try-
c'.. o accomplish is not exactly in line
~" her plans and methods
general rule. the hen that lays
."'t eggs is the most robust look
non no the nock. the most active