The Delta independent., 1924-08-15
TAKES FIRST 90 EGGS
TO PAY HENS OVERHEAD

1t has been estimated that the av-
erage production of hens in farm
| flocks of Colorado is only rs eggs per
year. 1t has also been estimated that
it takes the first 90 eggs a hen pro
| duces to pay for her feed for a year.
II these figures are right then the
average hen is kept at loss and the
hen that is below average is making
her owner poorer for every day she
lives. What Is the answer? We know
that it is possible to increase pro-
duction through better feeding. better
breeding and culling until the average
production OF flock is well above the
cost of production, and the answer
then is to Gull out the poor layers, feed
better those that remain and breed
from only the best hens of the flock.
Good Feeding Should Precede culling
1t is difficult to do the best job OF
culling a flock OF hens IL they have not
been well fed for which reason all
hens should be given a chance to do
their best by being fed a balanced
ration before culling. Even then mis-
takes will be made and some hens may
be culled that would pay a small profit
and others may be left that should be
taken out, but 1t is easy TO tell the
really poor hen from the really good
one and it is not so important which
way the medium hen that barely pays
her way is thrown. The important
thing is to locate the loafers and dis.
pose of them, and spot the best hens
and mark them for the breeding pens.
Now Is the Time
The later summer and early fall Is
conceded to be the best time Of the
year for the general culling. While a
hen that is known to be poor should
be culled whenever she is found Il is
easier to pick them at this time on ac.
count of the moult, the condition of
the plumage, etc Also most OF the
two-year-old hens will have reached
the end OF their usefulness by this
time and those that have should be
disposed of along with any other culIs
to make room for the pullets.
Assistance Given upon Request
! The Project Agriculturist will be
glad to be OF any assistance possible
in this work, and will call on anyone
making request for such assistance az
far as his time will permit II is
hoped that a number OF flocks can be
culled in each community for the pur.
pose of demonstration. A number of
requests have already been received
and others are invited. When we
consider that It is not particularly
difficult to bring the average pro-
duction of the flock up to $50 eggs per
hen or more per year and that this
Will leave at least five dozen eggs per
hen above the cost OF her feed It is
hard to find an excuse for keeping the
75-egg hen. Five dozen eggs at only
15c n dozen viii bring 75c which is not
bad profit for an investment Of only
n dollar. Let's clean out the Gull hens
during the last half OF this month and
September.
How about good house for the
pullets this winter? They win Law
better If they are kept under reason.
ably good conditions than they can II
they have to roost in the trees or n
cold, draughty house. new bulletin
on poultry house construction Is Just
out by the State Agricultural college
and can be had upon request to the
Project Agricultural or to the Ex-
tension office Of the college A good
house need not be an expensive one.
1t will give good returns. on the in
vestment If the pullets you put in II
are the right kind and properly fed
d. A. Ireland, u. s. Department OF Ag-
riculture.