The leghorn of the past and present by Ayres Frederick H

Author:Ayres, Frederick H
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Leghorn chicken
Publisher: Hartford, Mercantile Printing House
Published: 1878-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

fection were truly marvelous. I have known of a hen of the last importation, laying' 159 days in succession, and have the assertion of a friend, that one laid 275 eggs in, one }'ear; but the largest number of which I know personally, and which I deem very extraordinary, was 250. An average, in my experience has been from 175 to 200 eggs. With good care, 200 eggs need not be despaired of."

In 1872, Mr. Lynde, of Marlboro, Ohio, gave the results of a series of experiments instituted for the purpose of ascertaining the cost of keeping and the fecundity of different varieties as follows :

" The fowls embraced in the following experiment were hatched between the 25tii of February and the 1st of March. When they were six months old, I put ten pullets of each breed in yards forty feet square, each yard containing a small warm house. These fowls were fed corn the lirst day, oats the second, and wheat screenings the third, then corn, then oats and then screenings, and so on for the entire time. The feed was put in boxes, always putting in enough so there would be some left at the end of the day. They were also given a little fiesh meat as often as three times a week, plenty of water, and burnt bones. The first month (September), the

In the entire time (six months), the

Corn Oats Screenings Eggs Qts. Qts. Qts. Laid.

Brahmas, ate 142 108 119J^ 605

Cochins. ' 160 132 114 591

Dorkings, •• 118i< 100 91 524

Houdans, " 93 61 60^^ 783

Leghorns " 74}^ 77 80 807

Mr, Lynde also states the cost of the food supplied each variety:

Brahmas |4 90

Cochins 5 86

Dorkings 4 45

Houdans 3 34

Leghorns 2 97

From this we see that the Leghorns not only laid a greater number of eggs, but did so at less cost to their owner. It has become so universally acknowledged that Leghorns are the most prolific of all fowls, that it hardly needs this detailed statement of their recorded excellence to enable them to hold their enviable reputation. Still the figures are valuable as a proof against the aspersions of cavilers of any sort.

In singular contrast to the details given above is the item which has travelled the rounds of the country press and breaks ont from time to time with renewed vigor. We quote it entire as a gem worth preserving in the annals of Y>o\\\trj-j>8eudo-science.

" It has been ascertained that the ovarium of a fowl is composed of 600 ovules or eggs; therefore a hen, during

the whole of her life, cannot possibly lay more than 600 eggs, which in natural course, are distributed over nine years, in the following proportioTi:

First year after birth 16 to 20

Second " " 100 to 120

Third " " 120 to 135

Fourth '• " 100 to 115

Fifth " ■' 60 to 80

Sixth " '• 50 to 60

Seventh " " 35 to 40

Eighth " " 15 to 20

Ninth " •' 1 to 10

It follows that would not be profitable

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