Show IMPROVING HEN FLOCK great deal depends on selection of setting eggs should we be those from year old birds as chicks will be larger and stronger than those from pullets by A J WILDER care should be taken to savo save for settings Bet tings only the eggs from the best beat hens A very great difference c can an be made in a flock in a few seasons by the selection of the eggs tor for hatching by choosing the largest eggs the fowls will be much larger in size but there is a great probability that they will not be good layers tho the hen that lays an unusually large egg is quite likely to lay only every other day dy by setting her eggs and again the next nest season seabon setting the largest eggs you will develop a strain of large fowls that will lay very large eggs but will lay only every other day or even less on the other hand if you set the eggs from the hens that as pullets laid during their first firs t fall and win tor ter and continue to set eggs from such hens you will develop a strain of early winter layers the eggs for setti settings should be from year old hens as the chicks will be larger and stronger than those from pullet eggs it is best to mate ol 01 17 I 1 if i J 11 11 ar every poultry home should have some convenience for confining broody hens cockerels cockerell cocker els instead of old cocks with these hens as the eggs are more apt to be fertile and there will be a larger percentage of pullets choose the medium sized well shaped eggs and be sure tho the shell is firm and strong A weak shell is sure to be broken and besides the loss of the egg itself will likely ruin several of the other eggs in the nest and may even teach the hen ben to break and eat cat them peed filed the hens a little air slacked limn in the mash to give the eggs a gool strong shell be sure the lime is well slacked and give two tablespoonfuls to hens every day da not force the breeding stock for egg production feed them mostly whole grain wheat oats corn and barley let the mash be a light feed and give them fresh sweet meat scraps twice a week plenty of green food unless the fowls havo have range where they can find i 4 for themselves keep them supplied with pure clean drinking water and have charcoal grit oyster shell had dry bone always before befaro them dont forget a little salt in the mask mash it should al always Nays be salted as much as the same quantity of food would be for the table tho the hens must be made to exercise by scratching for their grain in the litter they must be healthy and in good condition if you are to raise strong healthy chicks A diseased condition of the hen is transmitted to the egg and will appear in the chick when hatched |