Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-27

Contrary to the opinion of many poui-
try keepers, egg production is not a Sc
quence of so much nourishment taken in
to the body daily, digested, assimilated,
and then converted into the materials for
nous operation. unbroken. as 1t were. pro
viding the care and feeding of the hen
are as they should be. The egg cells
technically known as the iowa" of which
there arc many hundred in the well bred,
vigorous fowl are formed, or rather de-
veloped in series or clusters, sometimes
called "litters'' or "cutches" each clus-
ter being developed or retarded in accord
ance with the hens physical condition,
and her ability to consume sufficient
quantities OF the proper nutrients. Be-
tween these clusters there is an interva.
of non production a sort OF rest period
which varies quite considerably with diff
ferent breeds and with specimens, and
which may be a week or a month and
not infreGuently 1t is three months. as in
the case OF Impoverished fowls or where
they have not been bred along biological
lines for heavy egg production
Furthermore, the number of eggs in
each cluster varies with each breed and
specimen as much as the variation in the
duration of the rest periods. There may
be but dozen eggs to litter or so,
and in rare cases a hen will continue to
lay almost without cessa lion. and con
tinue to do so for couple of years. Csu-
ally hens that lay short litters take but
a few days to the intervals between them
whereas the hen that lays "A series OF 40
to 60 eggs in almost daily succession will
require a rest period of couple of
weeks. With specimens of like breeding
and vigor there is usually an averag
struck.
DISPOSITION TO BECOME BROODY.
Between the laying of each litter. espe-
cially at certain seasons of the year and
notably the spring months. there is a
| tendency for the hen to indulge in her
maternal instincts, in the shape OF de-
sire to sit and hatch brood Of chicks.
She has completed the first step In the
operation-the laying of the eggs. and
quite naturally feels that she cannot ac.
quit herself of the responsibility until she
has transformed them into flock of
| chicks. Hens of the heavier varieties
such as the Plymouth Rocks, WyandOttes,
O1'pingtons and Brahmas are especially
prone to this form of domestcity: yet
the desire is also found among the lighter
breeds, even to the sO-called non-sitting
breeds. the Leghorns. Campines and Ham.
burgs. In the latter, how .ver, the tend
ency Is not so habitual. nor so likely &c
be difficult to break up.
| 1t Is not definitely known whether a
hen can control the development OF ar
egg once the yolk is we'll formed and ha;
left the ovisac, but it Is quite certain thai
she can influence or check the develop
ment of the yolks at the beginning %
the process. and she also has the powel
to hold the finished egg for considerable
time. When hen becomes hroody ant
shows n determination to sit on the mes
day after day, for in many cases the de
sire is but a passing fancy, the succeed
ing cluster of egg cells is held in a dor
mant state for two or three months. o
until she has Matched, reared and weanet
her brood of chicks. and subsequent.
reinvigoratcd herself for further produc
tiveness
On farms devoted to egg production
where the incubation and broodins is don