The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-10-03
SIDE TRACKING
THE LOAFER


We have heard much about the
loafer COW eating up the profits of
the dairyman. Many hens have the
same trick.
It's the melting loafer hen that
gives the profit account black eye.
Let me contrast the swo types OF
hens in order to make my meaning
Gear.
The loafer type knocks off her egg
laying job in early midsummer, then
leisurely loafs and molts till Thanks,
giving before her feathery dress is
fully up to hen fashion requirements.
AS rule her vacation is by no
means over when she Is full feath-,
cred. The same breeding inheritance
that caused her to stop laying in July
prevents her resuming egg production
before midwinter or later.
About March this loafer type of hen
is literally overlooking with eggs.
For few weeks, and perhaps months
every day is laying day with her.
1t is the melting loafer hen and
her progeny that are largely respon.
sible for. the spring egg glut.
Her bombardment of the market in
April and May forces down prices to
the cost Of production or below. Her
entire production for the year is
probably not over six or eight dozen
eggs. but b hundred million or so of
this loafer class are concentrating
their years laying effort into three
or four months period.
Naturally the big, fine looking eggs
laid so profusely in the Matching sea.
son by this class Of hens are selected
by the unthinking poultryman with
which to perpetuate his stock, and
the melting loafer type thus survives
and predominates.
In contrast to the loafer hen the
straightaway worker develops early,
and at six months old or under is in
laying form.
Nearly every flock has few of this
type even though no systematic at
tempt has been made to breed them.
Birds of the worker class continue
to lay steadily without interruption
when given good care through win.
ter. spring, summer and autumn.
| s,, lat nntNhAr
tinuous layers literally shake their
feathers off in weeks time and a
month later the winter coat is don.
ned-almost rs soon as the loafer
hens are feathered that quit laying
in July.
This laying type of hen with prop
er care and feeding will resume her
second years laying by Christmas or
New Years, and can be depended on
to lay twenty or thirty dozen eggs
during her first and second years Of
production.
The few hens OF this worker type
found in flocks Of the loafing type
are scientifically known as sports
where they develop without system
attic attempts to produce them.
1t is from such sports Of breeding
that many of the most valuable
strains of plant and animal life have
been originated. The owner Of even
one or two hens having this unusual
laying capacity can well take pains
to perpetuate their blood.
We must not wait for the scientists
and expert poultrymen to do all the
work of replacing one hundred million
loafer hens with others that will lay
two or three eggs to the loafer's one.
All can attack this problem by
careful watching, and those who are
able can use the trap nest as a surer
means OF selecting the best layers.
At any rate make a start. Separ-
ate q dozen or two Of the best lay.
ers during the Matching season, mate
these with rooster (pure bred II
possible) that Is the son of heavy
layer. Allow none in the breeding
pen, hens or ROSTERS, except the most
vigorous.
This simple plan followed out will
furnish start toward outlawing the
loafer hen. The plan means more
eggs B, F. w. Thorps in Farm and
Fireside.