The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1918-07-16
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.

The difference between early-laying
pullets and late-laylng 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 large or Il 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
serious concern. Individuals. OF what
ever breed. may fail to begin laying
ut 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.
Early Laying Puliet.
Almost without exception the pullet
whose growth from Matching to ma
turity has been regular. not subject to
checks and Interruptions. is an early
layer. A check TO growth at any stage.
according 10 poultry experts Of the
United States department of agricul-
ture, is likely to rctard laying. In
support of this statement, the fact Is
pointed out that ii Is not unusual to
find May-hatched pullets laying earlier
than their sisters that were Matched
In April and We're retarded ia 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 pullet and defer the
beginning of her usefulness rs pro-
ductive fowl
Egg production depends upon actlv-
ity Of the reproductive organs. which
should begin at or before the cessation
of physical growth. Apparently. lnflu-
ences unfavorable TO the development
of the body are still more unfavorable
10 the development of the reproductive
organs. and it Is not Uncommon to find
pullets of apparently perfect outward
body development in which egg pro-
ductlou Is deferred fer several months.
Disturbances Retard Laying.
Any disturbance affecting the habits.
nutrition err comfort Of a nullct, at any
previous stage Of life may rotarti lay.
Ing at maturity and therefore. is TO be
assidmensls guarded against. Shifting
from place 70 place or changes IN diet
may constitute a sufficient disturbance
to retard laying. In fact, these are
common methods in use among poul-
try fanciers TO retard The LAYING az
pullets that they desire to keep in con
diti0n for exhibition as pullets. It
follows. Therefore, that the disturb
ances encouraged by fanciers for ex-
hilsition puiIets are among the things
that must he avoided ny poultry keep
ers whose object Is to develop pullet'
info early egg-producng hens.
The fact 10 be borne constantly IN
mind Is that the main factor IN erg
PRODUCTION Ii activity Of the reproduc-
i've organs and that the development
of these organs is continuous from the
earliest stages Of the growth of tle
bird instead of beginning, as was once
supposed, at or near maturity. Pull
lets about to begin laying are more
sensitive to Disturbances than at
earlier stages of their growth, and
snereiufc require greater care IN
handling, but disturbances retarding