Milford chronicle., 1915-01-08


| for profit, or vet for the building of {
fancy strain noted for its excellence a
layers.it is necessary that some methoC
be adopted whereby the producers o.
I LAYERS may be distinguished from tht
non producers.
| The poultTymsn has been aided for {
number of years in his efforts to make
| the distinction among bis fowls for the
purpose Of breeding, by use of the traT
nest. Trap nests are used on poultry
plants as a rule from January l to June
], and again from October / to the close
of the year. Some breeders, however,
use them during the entire year, But
this method is rarely practiced. and is
only done where some special test is made
of a new selection or in the establish
ment of new breed.
The great aim of poultry breeders is not
Just how many eggs a hen will lay dur
ing the year, but rather how many she
will lay during the fall and winter, when
they command high prices. Thus the
trap nest is used to ascertain the qualities
of hens before they are utilized as breed
ers, Poutrymen aiming to build up q
laying strain will use only those birds in
their breeding pens which have shown
qualities as winter layers.
BY the selection Of fowls which show
the greatest quality as cold weather birds
or winter producers, and breeding from
them, each year the winter egg supply is
increased. In producing birds that are
known as winter layers, it is most nat
ural that their summer yield will be
greatly reduced. But what of that? 1t
is the winter eggs that we are after. This
is the period when feed is usually high
est and when eggs sell at far greater
price.
Summer eggs command a low price, and
it is most natural that hens should lay
during that season of the year. Many
persons single out one or more breeds of
poultry as best adapted to egg producing
during certain seasons of the year, but by
the use of the trap nest and careful Sc
lection of the breeding stock, any breed
can be brought to the point where it may
be termed a winter egg breed.
Many poultrymen are today aiming to
produce birds which will yield 200 eggs
per year, and indeed many advertise that
they have accomplished the feat, but one
should steer clear of such persons. There
is indeed great danger in attemting to
produce such bird. In order to do this,
it is necessary to force the birds by the
use of condiments meat and other foods
of equal stimulating value. This may
or may not produce the desired result,
but there is one thing that it will dO,and
that is to bring about an early decline in
the stock Be satisfied in working for
strain that will produce a strong winter
yield, in which incident, you will get the
bulk of your eggs at time when they
will bring the biggest returns. AT the
same time, the hen will have the sum-
mer season in which to rest from her
labors and recuperate. In their ambi.
tion to obtain the 200 a year egg hen,
many breeders get into the habit of in
breeding and thus deteriorate the stock.
This inbreeding is often the result of
persons Matching the eggs from phenom
,nal layers and mating up the offspring,
brothers to sisters, and keeping this up
or several years. Be careful to avoid
rather practice line breeding, |
md your results in the end will be greater. |
may show results for the first |
-ear or so, but will not last; so don't be !
Ieceived.
In the use of the trap nest it is neces-
ary that every hen be provided with a
eg band bearing a number Regular
rips are made to the laying house to re-
ease the bird and record an egg laid to
be credit of the ben. according to the
umber on her leg band. In this way,
ne is enabled to tell just how each in
ividual bird is performing, Don't adopt
he trap nest unless You intend to watch
le flock closely and liberate the birds
! least once every hour. Hens should
OF be compelled to sit upon the nest
ON early morning until late in the even.
70,