The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-07-15
INCREASING THE EGG YIELD.
1t Can Only Be Done by Careful Breed
ing.

i ufally much interested IN all details per-
n tanning to any increase in the egg yield
h Thus the New York state agricultural
G department has laid down the following
/. rules for the benefit Of those who are
$ eager to succeed in breeding for egg pro.
G duction: keep only pure-bred birds /;
breed from heavy producers and persist
ent layers; breed form mature birds /;
practice line-b reeding breed from early
J laying pullets; breed from late moult.
3 ers; breed from heavy eaters; breed from
early risers and late retirers; practice
proper management"
In selecting breeders be sure to pick
| out only heavy producers, namely, birds
that begin laying early in the autumn
and continue pcrsistently, we'll into the
summer, hardly stopping to moult before
beginning again in the autumn. To
make sure that the breeders picked out
are the best layers, install trap nests,
leg band the birds, and keep accurate
records. The selection should also in
clude only mature birds, for these are
more sure to produce offspring with vigor
and vitality than pullets. The breeding
stock once picked, let all increase in
the flock be through line breeding to
avoid the dangers attendant upon out
crossing, and for the benefit of those
never having practiced line breeding,
this subject will be taken up soon.
7 Breeding Good Habits.
If once habit can be fixed in breed
it will, as a rule become so firmly root
ed as to be transmitted to the offspring
Thus, if early.laying pullets are invari-
ably selected for breeding stock, this
characteristic will become intensified in
each succeeding generation. The same
| is true of moulting. 1t has been proved
by repeated experiments that the late
mouters are the heaviest layers FIRE. |
quently, the hen that mouths in July or |
August, donning her new gown early, is |
not the heavy layer. Observe, on the |
other hand, the Industrious hen that |
continues Smelling out eggs generously |
until cool weather in the autumn. She |
will doubtless have a somewhat shabby |
appearance, but ignore her looks, for
when she does start TO moult she viii
be found to make complete and rapid
job of it and be in good condition again
TO sing her little egg song early in the
winter. When the composition of eggs
is considered, and also that Leghorn
hen weighing about three pounds will, if
she lays 200 eggs a year, produce over
eight timer her weight in what is con-
sidered to be one of the most complete
of human foods, it is easy to understand
why hens with large appetites should be
preferred whep selecting breeders. The
hen with a vigorous appetite is the one
that hops down from the roost very ear
ly in the morning and is among the last
TO retire at night.
A bird may have all the characteristics
described, but if she be lacking in vital
ity, activity. and health, never breed
from her Much of the low fertility in
eggs used for Matching, the early dis.
eases of chicks, etc, is due to constitu-
tional weakness in the breeding stock.
Lack of vigor may be due to any one
Of the following causes: Increased pro.
iuction; overlooking; overcoming !
lack of exercise; bad judgment in the !;
selection of breeding stock; and lack :
Of knowledge in Matching and raising
little chicks. In her natural state, far
pack in the dim past, the hen laid a
lew eggs in the spring, incubated them !.
Ind raised her brood, afterwards enjoy
NC life in leisurely fashion until the
season. To-day a well-be-
laved domesticated fowl is expected to
ay from 1870 to $50 eggs per annum, and b
moreover we expect some of these eggs b
when set will produce fine healthy chick b
ms, which, when grown, will in turn h
ay large number Of eggs Such being a
he case, every effort must be made to II
upply Madame Hen with such acces. :,
Dries as tend TO build up and keep her 9,
n fine physical condition, or her offspring m
viii be found to degenerate rapidly. D,
Overlooking and crowding Dangerous. n
Overlooking produces all sorts OF trou. :. =
lie, such as Indigestion, li.er disorders. y :,
xcessive fat, etc, and II eggs are used =
rom breeders out of condition they are ~
ure 10 produce chicks lacking in vigor. =
reduces the vitality Of =
en- surprisingly, for she IS deprived Of =
he proper amount Of fresh, air, lack Of ~
pace in which 20 exercise and her sup. % e
w of green foods and insects. so very IS. GU
initial 90 her well-being. is also cut -
own. The breeders should be provided Z,
18th ample room both night and day il ny
leir offspring are 90 be strong and Wig 70
rous. Unless well-shaped, fresh eggs ~
ON healthy hens are selected for hatch ~
g and all the rules for the proper incu.
,tion Of eggs carefully followed, the ~
suit viii be an uneven. indispensable gu
EEK Of chicks The same holds true Of 81
airing chicks. Unless properly housed, -
q and protected, they become stunted y
"a lacking in al that which constitutes -
tood future breeder. 60
The following signs Of high vitality
I've been listed BY the Cornell agricul.
raj college The actions and move.
ents Of fowls probably best Indicate
cir physical condition. The physically
TAX are inactive and dull. and more a.
,ely 20 81 than 20 stand. They do aei
4 range % any extent IN search Of ~
rage, nor do they scratch IN search Of iei
tl They are longest on the perch. ~
ssiblv spending the entire day There fhs
r l0udness and frequency II the crow vs.
the male. and the cackle II the f. eN
,le. are Indications Of strength and su-
riofitv. The weak fowls seldom cr.v We
sing. There are certain body signs -
iieh Indicate lack of vigor in a fowl
for instance. bong neck. thin heak,
rrOu bead. = lauF, slender buiv bong
= and Thighs. ~ q siited appearances.
Ifle the reverse is true u vigorous