Evening star., 1916-11-26

The egg-laying contests are to the
breeder of utility stock what the poui-
try shows are TO the fancier. 1t gives
him an opportunity to study the re-
suits of his labors when his fowls are
placed under uniform conditions and
in competition with those of other
breeders.
The methods of the various contests
vary slightly in different states. but
they are mostly uniform in general
management. A house large enough to
accommodate ten birds is arranged for
each pen. and it is fitted with run in
which the birds may exercise and have
access to growing green food. In some
contests there are only Ave or six birds
to pen, and these are conducted along
the same lines as where ten birds are
used.
The contests usually open on the lst
of November and continue for twelve
months. The pullets intended to COM
pete in the contest are shipped so as to
arrive at the contest grounds on the
evening before, or on the 1st day of
November. An extra pullet is sent
along to be held in reserve in case of
accident to any Of the regular contest
ants. when she may be used as sub
stitute In order to keep the number of
the pen intact. No male birds are
used In the pens and it has been found
that their absence does not affect the
production of eggs On the arrival of
the birds at the contest grounds each
bird Is banded with an official leg
band and the birds are then placed in
their respective permanent quarters.
All OF the houses are fitted alike. each
contains trap nests and the same kind
of feeding equipment.
All competing pens are fed alike in
every respect with rations that have
been prepared and mixed according to
regular formulas. The birds are not
disturbed by any one except the regu-
them and gathers the eggs. 1t often
occurs that eggs are laid on the floor
or outside of the trap nest. in which
case the egg is credited to the pen but
to no particular bird
Since the establishment of egg-Iaying e
contests in this country many valua Die
lessons have been learned which have
been of inestmable value to breeders
and those interested il the poultry in
dustry. Feeding problems have been
satisfactorily solved and methods OF
h~"''T N"'"'s 50 - TO insure the
greatest production of eggs.
that there is no one best breed or vari-
erty of fowls. 1t has also been proven
that American breeds. varieties and
strains can lead the world 1t forever
removes the doubt that general pur-
pose fowls tso-calledJ, such Plymouth
Rocks. Wyandottes and Rhode Island
Reds. do not lay many eggs in q
year as the lighter or tso-called) egg
producing breeds. such Leghorns
Minorcas. Hamburgs and Anconast
From the records it has been shown
that a pen of Rhode Island Reds had
an average of 2es eggs. pen ofBar-
red Rocks average of 2l0 eggs. a
pen of White Rocks 206 eggs and pen
of White Wyandottes ain average of 21t
eggs These records are indisputa bic
evidence that there are great possibili-
ties with the heavier breeds is egg pro-
ducers.
Perhaps the most important feature
brought out by the egg-laying contests
is the indisputable fact that it is pos
sible to maintain flock OF hens and
make reasonable profit.
II has been shown that hens will lay
an average OF twelve dozen eggs
each during the year, which. if sold al
25 cents per dozen. equals So. The
hens ate food which cost approximate
ly s1.42, thus leaving balance of s1.5'
per hen TO pay for labor and expenses
Early Layers Are Best.
Another practical lesson learned is