Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-05


let's and cockerels to be exhibited at
the following experiments regarding
the period of time required to produce
fertile eggs after the male has been
put into the breeding pen and also
the period of time that must elapse
before the effects of the mating have
entirely passed off will be of interest
to many poultry keepers. Some OF
the tests were repeated several times
with different breeds in order that the
results might have fairly broad APP.
plication.
Observation concerning the period
of time required for the eggs to be
fortified after the male was placed
in the pen were carried on with one
pen of White Leghorn and three pens
of Rhode Island Red females. Two
different tests were made with the pen
of Leghorns and only one with the
three pens of Reds.
In both tests with the Leghorns all
eggs were sterile on the first and sec
ond days. On the third day of the
first test 80 per cent of the eggs were
fertile. though in the second test only 50
per cent were fertile at this period.
On the fourth day seven out of thir-
teen eggs were fertile in the first test
and ten out of thirteen for the same
day in the second test.
In all three pens of the Rhode Island
Reds no fertile eggs were produced
during the first three days. On the
fourth day A per cent were fertile IN
pen /. . per cent in pen and 10 per
cent in pen 3. In pen ! all eggs pro-
duced on the seventh day were fertile,
in pen all the eggs laid on the elghth
day were fertile. while in pen ; four
out of Ave eggs laid on the eighth day
were fertile.
In determining the period of time
that must elapse before the poultryman
can be certain that the effects Of a pre-
vious mating have passed on Whlte
Leghorn and White Plymouth Rock
females were employed.
In the first test with the White Leg
horns more than so per cent of the eggs
laid on the eleventh day after the male
had been removed were found to be FER
tile On the tenth day of the test with
the Plymouth Rocks more than 81 per
cent of the eggs were fertile. The last
fertile eggs in the Leghorn pen were
found on the twentieth day, while no
fertile eggs were produced in the pen
of Plymouth Rocks after the sixteenth
day.
These tests show, first. that as gen.
eral rule the poultryman can figure TO
save eggs for Matching on the third or
fourth day after the male is put into
the pen; second, that eggs may be
saved for incubating purposes for at
least ten days after the male has been
removed, and, third, that at least three
weeks elapse before the breeder can be
reasonab bly, sure that the effects of a
| previous mating have been eliminated.
Green cut bone varies in protein con-
% =
tains a large amount of moisture. 1t
carries fairly large percentage OF
mineral matter and protein. The min
eral matter it carries Is very benefclal.
supplying the same minerals as oyster
shell. 1t renews waste tissues and
builds bones and muscles as well as
feathers On account of it's expense
in some localities it is better practice
to buy the same composition in beef
scrap, bone and oyster shell. When
green cut bone can be had for less than
2 cents pound it is a profitable food
to feed The feeding of about one
half ounce daily per fowl is sufficient
Overlooking Of green cut bone causes
serious digestive troubles and may
cause death.
In the feeding and handling of green
cut bone it is of prime Importance to
feed none but when fresh and untaint-
ed. Green cut bone spoils very easily.
1t is hard to keep The only way of
keeping it at any time is by spreading
it out thin in a cold place. Green cut
is too expensive. Where a regular
supply of fresh bone is to be had and
can be cut by power every other day
it is profitable and advisable to feed it.
Green cut bone is very much relished
by the fowls
A correspondent signing the initials
"a. B. c. writes:
w hor Hats
April hatch have not laid yet. What is
the trouble? l feed them we'll VIII
April Matched pullets set this spring.
that is, the ones that have not yet laid?
have one that laid just three eggs and
stopped. Will she start to set soon, and
is it too early for hens to set?'
Without knowing more of the feeding
method it is impossible to say why April
Matched pullets have not laid. The cor
respondent says he feeds well, which may
be true as far as he knows. and still the
| ration may be all wrong. Provided the
bullets grew right along without set
backs or disease, and were fed a proper
1y balanced ration. they should have been
laying since December. Are the pullets
free from vermin? How are they housed
and what grain and mash ration do they
get? Pullets that have not laid will not
set; neither will one that has laid only
three eggs. 1t is not too early for hens
to set, provided they are set in a shelter
ed place where cold wind and possible
snow or rain cannot reach them while on
the nest.
Do not overfeed. Bear in mind that
if a hen is to be kept in laying condi-
ton she must have exercise. When
you feed grain. do not put it in a
trough where the hens can stand and
eat their fill. but scatter 1t far and
wide. as the hens will find every grain,
If the snow is on the ground after the
cold sea on sets in. throw the grain in
leaves or cut straw, SO as to keep them
busy Do not feed grain exclusively,
but give variety. Allow ground meat
or meat and bone fresh from the
butcher. three times a week. Vary the
grain, feeding corn, wheat and oats,
and give cabbage, cooked turnips
clover leaves any other food that
the hens will eat.
The big Toulouse goose should pro-
duce something over dollars worth
of feathers year even where the
feather market is known to be cheap,
as in the far-out country places. Add
this to it's other profit and you have a
valuable asset for profit in such a
goose.
1t is urge,l that all farmers and
poultrymen adhere strictly to the fol-
lowing rules in handling their poultry
and eggs:
I. Keep the nests clean; provide one
nest for every four hens.
9 Gather the eggs twice daily.
3. Keep the eggs in a cool, dry room