OCR Text |
Show Egg Production Profits Governed I By Four Factors i Egg production depends on four essential factors (1) good feeding, (2) good housing, (3) good management and (4) good breeding. Starting in April and May the average egg production in most flocks begins dropping off even though the feeding, housing and management has not changed, says Dr. Lawrence Morris, Utah State Extension poultryman. In every farm flock there are some hens that lack the ability to lay through the late spring and summer months. These hens should be culled from the laying lay-ing flock. From now until early fall culling should be done every three or four weeks. It is not necessary to handle the whole flock to pick out the non-producers, the extension specialist said. Most hens can be readily picked out when they stop laying. lay-ing. When a hen stops laying her comb and wattles shrink and become be-come hard and dry with a white, scaley dandruff. That is" the easiest and best way to tell the non-producers without handling each hen. A wire hook four or five feet long is a big help in, catching these hens. Some folks prefer picking them out at night with the aid of a flashlight. Whatever method is used loafers should be removed regularly. In addition to the comb change, the loafer usually starts molting or shedding her feathers. Hens that molt this time of the year are short-term layers and should be culled. Persistently broody hens are also usually unprofitable, un-profitable, so should be culled. To make a profit under present pre-sent conditions, egg production should be kept above 50 per cent, Dr. Morris advised. |