The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-07-13
RETARDED laying
GUARDED AGAINST
One of Most important Things to
Prevent in Keeping Flock
of Chickens.
EARLY PULLETS BEST LAYERS
Young Fowls Whose Growth Has Been
Continuous From Matching to Ma
turity Are Almost Invariably
Largest Producers.


pullets and late-laying pullets may be
the difference between profit and loss
In poultry keeping. Retarded laying,
therefore, is one Of the things to be
guarded against by all poultry keep
ers, whether on a large or q small
scale.
Normally, laying begins when growth
ceases. Individuals Of the small, pre-
cocious breeds may begin laying be-
fore they cease growing. That, though
likely to be of some permanent dis
advantage, need not give the grower
yerious concern. Individuals, Of what
ever breed, may fail to begin laying
at maturity, and that is matter of
serious concern to every poultry
keeper. The pullet that fails to be-
come an egg producer at maturity, In
stead Of being an asset, becomes a
dead expense, absorbing large part
Of the profit that she may make In
later life.
a. Early Laying PulIet-
Almost without exception the pullet
turity has been regular, not subject to
checks and Interruptions, is an early
layer. A check to growth at any stage,
according to poultry experts Of the
United States department of agricul-
ture. is likely to retard laying. In
support of this statement. the fact is
pointed out that 1t Is not unusual to
find May-hatched pullets laying earlier
than their sisters that were Matched
in April and were retarded In the
early stage of their growth by unfa-
vorable weather. Retardation by wealth
er conditions. however, is only one of
many things that may check the nor
NAL growth Of a pullet and defer the
beginning of her usefulness as a pro-
ductive fowl.
Egg production depends upon activ-
ity Of the reproductive organs, which
should begin at or before the cessation
Of physical growth. Apparently, infiu-
ences unfavorable to the development
Of the body are still more unfavorable
to the development Of the reproductive
organs, and 1t Is not uncommon to find
pullets Of apparently perfect outward
body development In which egg pro-
duction is deferred for several months.
Disturbances Retard Laying
Any disturbance affecting the habits,
nutrition or comfort Of pullet, ut any
previous stage Of life may retard lay
ing at maturity and therefore, Is to be
assiduously guarded against. Shifting
from place to place or changes In diet
may constitute sufficient disturbance
to retard laying. In fact, these are
common methods In use among poul-
try fancieis to retard the laying Of
pullets that they desire to keep in con-
dition for exhibition as pullets. It
follows, therefore, that the disturb
ances encouraged by fanciers for ex-
hibition pullets are among the things
that must be avoided by poultry keep
ers whose object IL to develop pullets
into early reproducing hens.
The fact to be borne constantly In
mind 10 that the main factor in egg
production II activity Of the reproduce
tive organs. and that the development
Of these organs IL continuous from tho
earliest stages Of tie growth Of the
bird instead Of beginning. as was oLce
supposed. at or near maturity. Pull
lets about to begin laying are more
sensitive to disturbances than ct
earlier stages Of their growth, and
therefore require greater care In
handling. but Disturbances retarding