Show WARNS WA NS FORCING FORE N PULLETS TO LAY it la is not uncommon at this season 1 of the year to see the combs on in some settle pullets in the lock flock shrivel up the birds stop atop laying and even go through a colu complete pleta body molt before resuming production this la Is an expensive experience per peri lence ence because it la Is the period of high prices for eggs and tile tho older birds normally molt tind ind are out of production during the late tu fall and early winter months of 0 the year carl utah ex cx tensions poultry inan points out just why some soine should stop laying and start to molt while 1 1 e others other in the flock continue in production Is not too well known usually it la Is the pullets that start to 0 lay first or those handicapped in some way by parasites that go out of production while the rest of the flock continue to lay frequently this condi has been observed in ill pullets that were forced into heavy production soon after they corn com laying says mr air kne knecht clit I 1 very little study lina has been made of fill tills problem to date but poultry men are inclined to believe that it Is due largely to the cond llon lion and body weight of the bird it Is a mistake to force young pullets into heavy production when they first start to lay because all the nutrients they consume are required for egg production and the bird may actually lose body weight pullets that have been cared tor for property properly should weigh about 3 pounds when they come into production and continue to gain size and weight until they average a about bi out 4 pounds at one year of age every should invest a little money in a good pair of sea scales les with which to weigh his chickens pullets should bo be weighed when they first start to lay and it is a good plan to make regular of a certain number of designated layers in each pen se selected at random six to 10 as a guide to correct feeding practices it Is often difficult to keep keel january and early february hatched pullets from molting bolting at this time of the year but with proper teed feed and care those hatched later during the months of march and april should now be increasing not only in size and weight but in their egg production |