Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-10-27
EGG PRODUCTION.
RECORDS at Maine Agricultural Experiment
Station.l

In 1905 there was undertaken q new ex-
pertinent in breeding for egg production
at the Maize Agricultural experiment
station. The old experiment, which has
been going on for ten years, was brought
to u close, and a new method OF breeding
breeding during these ten years, the egg
production had steadily declined, until in
l907-s the production had reached q very
low figure. In that year the birds aver
aged to lay only approximately 100 eggs
each during the year. II was felt that a
new method OF breeding should be taken.
This was done with results which have
been steadily and increasingly gratifying
during the seven years since that time.
The average flock production has in
creased steadily year by year. The birds
made the highest record which has ever
been obtained in the history OF the station
in the laying year 1913 II, that IS, the lay
ing year which ended last fall.
Ii is OF interest to those interested in
poultry to examine the records in detail
for that year. n
In the first place, the average production
for the twelve months from November
to November 1 of the 1872 birds which
made up the flock, was 1858 eggs per
bird. This amounts to trifie under
fourteen dozen eggs per bird during the
year. Reckoning these at an average
price OF thirty-two cents per dozen, which
is approximately what the station realized,
this means a return in eggs alone Of $s.4s
per bird per year.
I Besides this, one had, OF course, the
bird at the end Of the year to be sold for
meat, or rs breeder, or to be kept in the
flock for further breeding purposes. 1t
10 certainly fair to reckon that at the end
OF the laying year, the birds would be
worth IS cents on the average. They were
disposed OF, as Q matter OF fact, at y
higher average price than this, but any
poultrymaD ought to get that much out
OF his birds At the end OF the laying sea-
son. This means then gross income for
each hen Of s6.z3, which would give
reasonable net profit per bird sitter de-
Quoting cost Of feed and care.
The most striking thing about the pro-
duction was the high laying during the
winter months when the best prices for
eggs are realized. This /, shown in the
following detailed returns for the winter
months. The average production per
bird for the month of November was
1916; for December, 1A.1s; for January,
1888; for February, 1887; for March, 1921
These figures are perhaps more striking il
arranged in another way, as follows: The
production OF the birds was such that s.
per cent. OF the flock laid q dozen and q
half or more eggs during the month OF
November; 47.4 per cent. of the flock laid
dozen and half or more eggs each in
the month OF December; 1922 per cent. Of
the flock laid eighteen or mere eggs each
in January: and BIS per cent. OF the flock
laid eighteen or more eggs in February. II
anyone will recall the prevailing prices OF
eggs during the months OF Novemb Der,
December, January and February the
significance Of these figures will be more
readily recognized.
The methods OF breeding and feeding
by which these results have been obtained
at the Maine agricultural experiment
station are fully described in its publi-
cationswhich are distributed free to all
residents OF Maine. The methods Of
breeding used are described in bulletin
81, while the general methods of feeding
and management are contained in circu-
lar entitled Methods OF Poultry Manage
ment ct the Maine Agricultural Expert
ment Station. Anyone who will follow
with care and persistence the methods
outlined in these publications may expect
good results.