Show FEWER BIRDS BUT THEY LAY BETTER increased egg production la Is being maintained prepared ly by the tha united states department ot of service ilene hens and pullets are fewer ewer but ess egg production Is being maintained bo be cause the fowls are laying more eggs per bird on october 1 1031 there were 02 per cent fewer hens an and d pullets for layers in farm flocks of the crop reporters as compared with october 1 a year ago and there were 52 62 per cent fewer young chickens an increase ot of I 1 per cent la is reported report dd for young chickens other than pullets for layers egg production has been maintained says the department despite the decrease in layers the number or of eggs laid per farm flock was reported as eggs on CD october 1 compared with eggs on october 1030 and 18 eggs for the october byear C year average the aggregate of 10 reported ted lakings on the first of each month from january to october Is 2011 eggs per farm flock in 1031 1131 compared with eggs in 1030 and 2852 eggs in the five years 1025 1925 1029 1929 converting the statistics into eggs laid per hen the department says saya that the october I 1 average tor for 1031 1931 was eggs per hens and pullets of laying age compared with in IWO 1030 with in 1029 and a byear average of 2 ia for that date ten reported layl lay ilary to october aggregated i per birds last year ng ciui eggs in 1030 1930 and tor for the 1925 1029 average proper regulation of light in laying house pullets that are fully matured and in good condition should have lights as soon as they are placed in the laying house the tha increased feeding day will enable them to eat enough to maintain their condition and stimulate egg laying it if however the pullets are ara immature when placed in the house bouse it Is not advisable to give them more than a 12 to 13 hour day this amount of light will enable them to eat more feed which in turn will help them to complete their growth but will not stimulate high production if the birds are not fully grown before heavy production begins they will become somewhat stunted and likely lay smaller eggs the better the quality of the birds the less to Is the amount of illumination required to got get a satisfactory egg pro of around 60 50 to CO 60 per cent some flocks of high producing pullets will eat enough food to maintain their weight and production without the increased length of day but even with these flocks a winter egg laying slump may often be avoided it if a medium amount of light Is used dont pasture alfalfa alfalfa fields which have been revived by late rains should not be pastured this fall unless there Is in a foot fool or more growth advises south dakota state college pasturing may cause causa severe damage to the root systems of alfalfa plants the plants should be allowed to go into the winter with a good top growth so as to stora plant food in the roots tor for a vigorous growth next nest spring in addition to the plant food trana translocation location a heavy growth holds snow and modifies ground temperature enough to prevent severe heaving and also increases moisture content of the soil prairie farmer alfalfa for hens most blest corn belt flock owners have available too the best beat green feed tuto that has baa been found even it if one on has no leafy fine stemmed green alfalfa liny hay on ones own farm there la Is generally some come available in the community it if necessary one can pay the price of twos two or three pounds of corn for FL a pound of this sort of hay for the amount needed to give the layl laying ng flock floch what want they need in order to carry rry on heavy havy winter egg brodu production atlo n wallaces farmer |