Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-08

eggs may be produced though every
other factor is inadequate. II may be
checked by failure of secondary fac
tors, but as long as it continues, eggs
are produced even to exhaustion of the
body and vitality. II the condition of
the reproductive organs of the bird
could be determined by observation,
the poultry keeper might judge, with
some approach to accuracy, the time
that must elapse before a non-laying
bird would begin to lay, but these or
'gans are concealed within the body,
and the only outward indications of
their conditions are the development
and color of the comb, and sometimes
the increased activity of the hen and q
singing as she bustles about. None
of these signs, however. are infall-
ible. The proof of activity of the re-
productive organs is given only in
eggs.
An illnourished bird may produce
some eggs, but can not continue pro-
ducing regularly for long periods. To
lay well the bird must be mature, well
nourished at the outset, physically
sound, able to digest much more food
than required for its own mainten-
ance, and must be fully supplied with
food. With. activity of the reproduc-
tive organs and these conditions of
nourishment a bird may continue to
lay, though other conditions are faulty;
but no advantage in other conditions
can long compensate for deficiency in
the more essential. a common fallacy,
now generally discarded by students of
the subject, makes activity of the re-
productive organs dependent for its
beginning as well for continuance up
on a surplus of food of proper COM
position. That this view IS erroneous
is evident when, with opportunity to
eat all that they wish, hens that are
not laying eat lightly and keep fat on
a light ration, and when, as the hens
begin to lay, the amount of food con- |
sumed is greatly increased. This is |
most apparent with old hens that have |
failed. for a while, to lay under most !
favorable conditions, though stimuiat-
ed in every possible way.
These are so closely associated that
hey are not readily separated for
The general physical
condition of a creature is affected by
he regularity or irregularity of its
ife. Efforts of Irregularities on par
ocular functions may be still more
marked. The reproductive organs
eem especially susceptible to such in
luences.
A bird that is chilled can not keep
warm in a temperature comfortable for
bird in perfect health. Heat which
nay not PROSTATE a bird may be
effect digestion and egg
Cold which a bird with
lands without marked physical dis
omfort may check laying. Moving a
ird from.one pen to another identical
With it, shd with all other conditions
emaining the same, often checks lay
ng for days and may stop it for long
eriod. Disturbances in fiocks on ac-
cunt of the presence of strange ami
pals or persons, or unusual move
lents of attendants, often have an i'm
lediate and marker effect of decreaS- Il
lg egg production. Individual birds
airy greatly in susceptibility to such
lfluences, and the difference between
mall nervous hens like the Leghorns I
nd Hambergs, and large phlegmatic
ems, like the Asiaties, is pronounced.
hese facts are accessible to anyone
.ho will keep a record of egg pro-
uction and of conditions which may
fleet It'll. A. McKeene, secretary
linois Farmers Institute.