Year: 1879

THE PRODUCTION OF EGGS.


Hens, to lay well, must be well fed. A


stimulating food is necessary to keep up {


constant flow of eggs. After the necessar,


support which the body requires, the extr;


stimulus goes to develop the production o


eggs, one of which is usually detached from


the ovary each day, and slips into the owl


duct or egg-sack, where it becomes full


sized, and the shell is formed and hardened


The hen does not carry the egg long alter il


is once perfected.


Hens that are out Of condition or adj


vanced in age are apt to drop soft-shelled
eggs. This is. unnatural, and the bird often
suffer much before she can rid herself of Che
load. Injuries often produce bad results
with laying hens, causing them frequently
to drop misshapen eggs or corrugated shells,
from the effect Of which they seldom recoy-
er. 1t is serious mistake to allow hens
that are laying to become badly frightened
from the effects OF which they seldom re.
cover.


Since hens are machines for laying eggs
why allow them to waste time i'll idleness
Apply the feed and gather the eggs, for il
the embryo egg be not ted and stimulated
It goes to waste, and with it the little feed
that has already been expended. A steady
flow oteggs will surely follow a jndicious
system OF feeding, if only patience be exer-
cised and the fowls be right. If poorly fed
birds be non-sitters, they will only nope
aboutand doze and dream away their lives,
dropping an egg now and then. A pul]et,
alter she is fully matured and settled down
to business, should drop an egg every day
for at least four days in succession, and then
miss day, after which she will 90 on for
four days more. 10 do this, the bird ought
to have the best feed from the shell. and
quiet, peaceful resorts. Whole corn is not
the best feed for reproduction. Almost
any other grain is better, except rye. A
certain amount of corn, however, should be
allowed as staple, but not a whole feed of
it. 10 keep hens constantly in laying re-
quires perhaps more feed than many are
aware OF, besides some expenditure of time.
For this purpose we should select fowls
with small bodies and pay no attention to
fancy points. No amount of profit to the
common farmer is ever gained by breeding
for fancy alone. 1t is well enough, if one
likes to indulge in few choice birds to
crafty the eye OF taste and pleasure and
breed them up to point that suits their
owners, but it is better not to expend too
mnchstime or money to this effect, thinking
to retrieveit by the sale of choice birds a:
fancy prices, for sooner or later disappoint-
ment will result, and bring with it a dis
gust for the business, which should not ex-
ist.


Where small profits and quick returns
are the aims Of the business better satisfac-
ton is maintained, and many mortifying re-
suits are escaped. Market poultry and eggs
should be the base Of production. In this
there is seldom disappointment, if entered
INTO with that zest which is prophetic OF
success. When we can train our ambition
and curb it to the idea of small profits, we
nave attained happy compass in every
transaction of our lives. We are naturally
selfish; we expect too much and give too
little. Out of our business we must obtain
our enJoymenfs as we go along see the
beauties and pleasure spread before us and
teach our grasping propensities to be quiet,
and in the poultry business as well as all
Country Gentleman.