The Washington times., 1917-07-03
FIVE EGGS EQUAL
ONLY ONE PULLET
IN BREEDING PEN

81 want a flock OF nifty pullets for
next winters layers; how many eggs
should hatch to secure this
amount"
A great many persons ask this
question. and a great many more
think OF it. II IL a very natural
query. There IL no specific answer to
II, of course. but II can be estimated
close enough for practical purposes
by a few general averages. To disre-
gard facts in the poultry business,
as in any industry. Is to invite dis
couragement. probably failure. Ger
tain losses are almost certain TO
occur. The experienced breeder con-
siders these losses from the begin
ming, with the result that he esti-
mates the need OF Matching Ave eggs
for each pullet contemplated.
To claim that five eggs equal one
pullet may sound discouragingly low
to the beginner. and there are many
exceptions to the rule; nevertheless,
on large commercial farms this aver
age prevails: furthermore, IL IL con-
sidered highly successful
what Are the casuaItIesf
We star; with Ave eggs. from
which we obtain one pullet: What
happened to the other four eggs? Let
US see: we must start with the incu-
bHtor. Two eggs failed IN the process
OF Matching from one cause or an
other-infertility. death in the shell.
and so on. which represents a 90 per
cent hatch, and this Is considered a
very fair average for the seasons
work. or the three chicks Matched.
one died in the brooder, amounting
to the customary 80 per cent NOR
tality on farms where chicks are
raised in large numbers. OF the two
chicks reared to maturity one de-
veloped into a cockerel, which 10 the
customary so per cent run Of males,
leaving a single pullet for the laying
house.
1t Is we'll to hitch our wagon to a
star" in this business, and to hope
that we may hatch e5 per cent OF the
eggs set, rear 30 per cent OF the
chicks Matched. and pray that so per
cent OF those chicks will matur" into
bullets: but Il Is a poor plan TO de-
pend upon such glowing averages. On
the other hand. to assume that
mortality OF 80 per cent IL about nor
NAL. makes II appear as though
young chickens were heir to. and
prone to contract. every disease I'M
der the solar system.
Chicks are frail, II IL true, because
they are q very intensively construct
ed organism. yet II IL the writer's
experience that q greater mortality
Is due to accidents rather than dis
ease. and by causes which should
come within the attendants control
In fact, the ways in which chick
may meet its death are so numerous
IL would almost seem that they are
born with suicidal Intentions.
Beware Of Rats and other Animals.
II Is unwise to brood chicks within
atty yards Of old outbuildings. lest
rats abound. or in a coop that offers
n refuge for the pests. Thousands
OF chicks are killed annually by
rodents. They are counted among
the poultryman's greatest foes. once
let a rat get q taste Of chick flesh
and he will rob the brood OF two or
three members q day, in broad day
light, II necessary, and frequently
under the very eyes OF the attendant
Crows. hawks, cats. and other ami
mails take their toll, and must De
guarded against in some way. As q
rule. pet cats and dogs will not steal
little CHICKS u theSe P1Ns 49,
the farmhouse, put II . =. I'll
for themselves the eipII'' -
hkely prove 700 slrUns, A".
not conselenIousIy oi :,
slogan Is sometimes ~. - t.I..d
hawks ana crows; thousn .at.n,
the re-erSN' 49,. w....I.
way 70 COHloat Wv -,a. -.
ana other no o,- W ~, ..o,,..a - ~
pest ueat win W t -
caution IN 'he " g., ~ !.
wire hettihs over al ,1..I s,a-.
eoops. ~ may -. - ~,
tent ana Touoieso
the ouiloihss a. uusN en-. en- - ~. a..
al dawn out us pIettS soON iiie ~
suranee poiicy' heNertheS
Peculiar Arr nifty for Water.
Eor ,or,s ohsrure reason water has
.,, ,..t-,,. D. .,t.L. and
=. a.
10 those uhoer hohtn as
strangely tatsl' Immediately loiiU ,,
ing thunder shower, espeoia lI,;,
toward evening orood OF chleHs W
scamper outdoors ana commences WAa
Ing IN the puddles, or trudse thrCusn
the long grass ana weeds. IN hnoI
time they are wet ana oedrasgleo'
chilled TO the bone ana utterly miser'
able. The strongest VIII nnd thelr
way back 10 the orooder ana ory on
out the weak ones become COM useu