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Show NOT PROFITABLE fO KEEP OLD HENS Yearling Fowls Considered Superior Supe-rior to the Pullets for Breeding Breed-ing Purposes. (Br R. Q. WEATHEnflTONE.) As a breeder I consider tho yearling hen superior to tho pullets, as the eggs are usually larger and wl!l produce pro-duce better developed chicks. In tact, the vigor of tho offspring Is not decreased de-creased It the hen la kept throo or four yean. Considered aa a breeder alono her value doea not depreciate aa long aa aha produces good chicks. But we must Judge her value also by the total amount ot her egg yield and we know that the older she grows the fewer egga she will produce. Experiment station results and practical prac-tical experience go to show that It seldom paya to keep hens after they are two years old, except for breeding usee. Notwithstanding the fact that pullets pul-lets will lay more eggs .than yearling hens, I bellevo It pays to keep aa many yearling hens In tho flock aa pullets. Many who keep a farm flock dq not consider tho cost of raising tha pullots io an egg-producing ago whllo the yoar-old hens are making a profit for thom. Keeping' about the same number ot yearlings aa pullets enables mo to market about ono-half of' tho older birds during the summer when they aro In good' condition and will bring tho highest price. In this way I havo plenty of room for tho young pullcta early In tho fall and get them Into their houses and ready to begin laying boforo cold weather comes on. ny plnnnlng my egg-producing flock In this way I nm ablo to supply regular customers and maintain a falriy uniform egg production during tho entlro year. After the oldor birds nro marketed the yearlings alono must bo depended upon to supply egg customers until tho pullets begin to lay In tho fall. I have found It unsatisfactory to depend upon pullets alono to maintain main-tain a uniform production during the whole of a year. |
