Dames E Rice MEMORIAL POULTRY LIBRARY CORNELL UNIVERSITY ALAimane 7 "350 THE GIFT OF ALBERT R. MANN LIBRARY New York STATE COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE AND HomE EcCONoMICcs AT CORNELL UNIvERsITy init 4 =F a. 2 oo sad tI | 5 is) $ eS 0 === = Ih ——_— My en ; o 2 | COPYRIGHT 1916 BY GEORGE G. NEWELL All Rights Reserved ‘ATQayQ pue yySry st Ulu — Areaiq: pue yIeq st yoy MH WSIN 38 Alopeg 33q Jo mai, apisino Foreword It is the author’s intention, in this work, not only to sup- ply detail knowledge of how to care for poultry, but also to offer the reader something on the order of a post-graduate study. Details will be gone into because they play a part, and have a bearing, on the new viewpoints presented. “Coming events cast their shadows before them,” and the observant poultryman can often visualize conditions in such a manner as to sense the necessity of changing diet, or sur- roundings, before the cause of such a necessity has worked to his detriment. Heredity and environment are two big factors in egg pro- duction; but environment has, in the author’s opinion, fully as much influence on production as heredity. A third factor exists, which heretofore has not been recog- nized as essential, which is under our control, this factor be- ing the length of the hen’s business day. The wild jungle fowl, through changed conditions, and the accumulation of the results of these conditions as trans- mitted by heredity, has been bred and fed to lay a greatly increased average number oi eggs annually; and in the same manner, and for the same reasons, we can, by providing still better environments, further materially increase production— thereby adding to the pleasure and profit of poultry keeping as a business proposition. THE AUTHOR. PART I An Outline of Present Conditions CHAPTER I—FEEDING AND CARE Page Gare and. Heed, in-- General’, a: hi02 nic cudit coasapladeed cous agitate eek avant 9 Balanemig: the- Ratontse <2 acces oo ecuredarnur sce oes aus aeweransine S4teiones 10 Conditions Should be Watched and Noted 12 What: to: Mee discs 0c ctuccese eee van sale o otaaletema ance ates & 13 Under Peeding: sscnaxees we vanaalia Saw 22h se ae ee es Gee EEE 15 Over -Recding. 2 ce.csee 2 saree ae eae: Pee es ew eee ay 16 CHAPTER II—HOUSING AND APPLIANCES Asitomatic: Feeders: scicns db tontieic tah eden Soha we Aerie 19 Fussing Vs. Economy of Time............ccce cece ce es ce cesseces 20 Water (Problems: 923 siessains Gnas -a selena ve ahiie wan ee ew ore SRO ENS 20 Housing; Ventilation and Lights: .+icos4s-weses canes sence beau os 23 ‘Trap: Nesting: su 35 < 8 O4t 2 Smaccicaee 2 bus. Oats.. 80 * 12 TOO Gave wren ent INT SIRE dejo. ce inbu snd ctiedennds eee daneragesy Newoeen ees 1.79 s 12 LOQ bccn anaggeceness Scratch Feed. ns cdnnantinatih'd ie painting elaneheian ees 1.85 re 1 100s see SCreenings: ¢-2 simagey seu etagedaigns 1.39 ot 13 100i 2 etenas eau Scratch Feed......-..-.-- e+-e.++ 1.85 “ 19 TOO 2 keen 2 eaed Scratch Feédiscs.0s,cs.ea,esee.es 185 ‘ 21 LOE Sena cGes Chatcoal .weyssusin tencsye keene 2229 s 22 LOO: ssssenasdesienn Scratch ae neterdrsanre ore 1.85 M 26 LOO! shsnetie sine Scratch Feed.. 1.85 ft 27 DOO so ceeccrai wren 1 bbl. Cabbage: 1.40 - 28: JOOh 9 6 Pits. 28 44 31 1 14 7 10 30 39 23 29 Hens 8 9 6 Pits. 29 45 38 8 8 8 30 39 13 19 Hens 8 3 8 8 Pits. 30 46 32 1 9 7 10 36 44 15 23 Hens . 15 Pits. 31 44 34 Wed onde 10 25 Tot. Hens 717-107 108 247 Tot. Pits. 2 130 560 810 Grand Total 1,299 1,192 719 237 668 1,057 PART II The Revolution and Its Results CHAPTER V Basic Theories “Whys? and Wherefores!” The writer, in his experience of twelve years of keeping poultry on the same piece of ground, in addition to his pre- vious experience elsewhere, had reasons to ask a good many “whys,” and has concluded that, as a result of asking the “whys” he now is in a position to wrjte “wherefores” to some of these “whys.” Observing that he always got some winter eggs when many others, and among them some neighbors in close prox- imity, failed to get them, the question arose “why?” Their flocks looked well, but did not produce—the “wherefore” of this “why” was found in the fact that the other flocks were not fed sufficiently to sustain themselves, and at the same time produce eggs. Their outlay for feed was a dead expense; whereas, if they had increased the quantity of feed they would, in all probability, have had this expense returned to them, plus a small profit. Observing, in caring for his flock late at night in the winter time, after the birds had been on the roost some hours, that the lantern light brought the birds off the roosts to at- tempt feeding; and that he had, on many occasions, to turn down the lantern light to a minimum, before he could get the birds back on the roost, the question “why” naturally arose, and to “Ask the birds, their judgment is good.” Observing that when placing feed in the feed box for cockerels (which having been separated from the pullets, were fed in a separate pen) late at night by lantern light, they immediately got down off the roost to eat out of the box, the 67 68 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION question “why” came up, and the answering “wherefore” was that they must be hungry, but had to wait for a light before they could see to eat. Observing, that when placing feed in the same manner for these cockerels on bright moonlight nights, when no light was carried, he often found the cockerels at ten p. m. or later eating out of the box in the moonlight—he decided that the “wherefore” to this “why” must be found in the fact that, while fowls could not see to find and pick up food in the dark, or by moonlight if scattered around in litter, they had sense enough to know that there was feed in the box which they could pick up without having to hunt, or look for it. Limited Fuel Boxes The author is endeavoring, in writing this book, to take the reader through something like the same process of rea- soning whereby he arriyed at his conclusions, and the causes which induced him to carry on further experiments. If we wish to heat a large house or building, we invaria- bly either study the question ourselves, or have experts study it for us, in order that the fuel boxes of our heating plant shall be adequate to meet all possible requirements, under the conditions we expect to meet, in the way of temperature variations. On top of these possible or probable require- ments, we make provision with a surplus space in the fuel boxes, to care for any possible emergencies, defects, or leak- ages, in order that our heating plant may be at all times adequate. Now let us take a hen’s crop and make a little study of it in this light. Instance: a hen in a wild state, or in the semi-wild state, in which they are expected to produce eggs on the farms in the United States, we find that such a hen picks up an item here and an item there—in fact is contin- ually at it, picking up, or searching for opportunities for picking up things. The bulk of the eggs produced in this country are produced on farms, according to statistical rec- ords, and farm conditions are mostly such as are now being described. The hens on farms have their liberty, and in spring and early summer are able to pick up a good living, and produce A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 69 a comparatively heavy crop of eggs at this season; their fuel boxes are adequate for the variations in temperatures and other drains on their vitality, which they must cope with at this season. Later in the season, that is in late summer and early fall, the fuel boxes are still adequate; but the supply of fuel has fallen off, and the hens have to wear themselves out in their efforts to obtain enough to eat to sustain themselves and produce. In the fall and winter the fuel supply is scarce indeed. The fowls are now mostly limited to what they can pick up indoors or around the barns; and generally farmers kindly throw them a few handfuls of corn, or other grain, at intervals more or less frequent, if they happen to think of it. As a result of these conditions winter eggs on farms are, as a general thing, an impossibility. The poultryman takes better care of his flocks, and for a great number of years has been endeavoring to supply all the fuel the fuel boxes could take care of—that is, he has been trying to similate spring and early summer conditions. He has, generally speaking, however, failed to realize that he was not keeping up the right amount of steam for efficient work—that he was not feeding his fuel boxes to their capacity. The author’s experience, however, was not of this nature. He came to the conclusion, some years ago, that a hen’s fuel box must be taxed to the limit by crowding in fuel, and that of the best quality, to produce eggs in winter—and he acted on his conclusions with fairly satisfactory results. Having done all he could to provide satisfactory environ- ments for his flock, and having a flock which, by heredity, were good layers, and layers of winter eggs, he was still blocked in his efforts; so he came to the conclusion that the hen’s fuel boxes were too small for their other possibilities of producing eggs, at all seasons of the year, under natural environments or conditions. The Year Book of the Department of Agriculture for 1910, page 462, shows the importance and the need of “A Revolution in Egg Production.” “Such climatic conditions as prevail during March and April in the Central States, both East and West, are ideal for egg production and egg market- ing. Hence, it is only necessary to know the climate of a 70 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION region in order to know when the egg supply is greatest and best. If one considers the number of months each year when climatic conditions preclude egg production almost entirely over the whole of our great egg producing territory, it is plain that some provision for these months of scarcity must be made from the season of plenty if eggs are to appear the year round on the tables of any except wealthy people. The devel- opment of the resources of Kentucky and Tennessee will help to ease the demand of the Eastern markets for “best fresh” eggs during the winter months, but it can never satisfy the general demand any more than the Northern belt, as repre- sented by Michigan and Minnesota, can keep all supplied during the heat of midsummer. Therefore, we must continue to study, and work for, and urge, increased egg production wherever the little feathered lady can manage to eke out a living by dint of hard scratching, be it North, South, East or West. And we must remember, too, that every new laid egg is fresh, sweet, nutritious food. * * * * * The hen has kept pace with her breed and her environment, and almost invariably, even under the worst conditions, she has given her owner more than she receives.” Value of Light We have stated, in our preface, that heredity and environ- ment are two big factors in egg production. Heredity is the sum of the effects of the environments of past generations, and this part of the subject is too compre- hensive to take up in this little work. We should, however, profit by the laws of heredity suf- ficiently to produce, or purchase, our foundation stock from sources which are known to have produced the kind of stock we desire. We purchase farm stock, of other kinds, on this basis and theory that like begets like; and why should we not do the same with poultry? A flock, produced from the eggs of stock of good laying quality, will almost surely produce heavier, under like condi- tions than flocks produced from eggs of indifferent lavers. Taking this position for granted, however, the second factor in production, namely, environment, will have more effect on laying qualities than heredity. A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 71 Flocks may be found which are excellent layers, and other flocks which are very poor layers, in cases where both kinds of flocks are produced from eggs obtained from the same source, and under identical conditions. Nothing in the world but the effect of environment can account for such cases. It all depends on “the man behind the gun.” One man hits the bull’s eye—the other shoots wide of the mark, in providing environment. In other words, we must supply such environments as will enable the stock to back up their reputation, and prove out on their heredity. This little book, up to this point, has been dealing mostly with this second factor, of environment. The book, however, would never have been attempted, except as a result of a study of the third factor mentioned in the preface, which is “the length of the hen’s business day.” The author had noticed for several years that, irrespec- tive of extreme temperatures, the egg yield fell off in late fall and winter as the days got shorter, and that this falling off occurred even faster during cloudy and dark seasons, which were comparatively mild, than during bright sunshiny seasons of colder temperatures. This condition was so obvious that the author decided that he would, at some time, experiment with an artificial day. A Hen’s Business Day On June 21st, in the latitude of Chicago and Boston, the sun rises at about four twenty-three a. m. and sets at about seven forty p. m., making a day of fifteen hours and seventeen minutes; and in the same latitude, on December 21st, the sun rises about seven twenty-six a. m. and sets about four thirty- one p. m., making a day of nine hours and five minutes. This is a difference in the length of a hen’s business day of six hours and twelve minutes. This variation in the length of a hen’s business day only tells a part of the story. The days in summer are nearly always light enough for the hens to transact business for their whole length; but many of the short days of winter will be so dark and dreary as to restrict the hens to a business day of seven hours or less. 72 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION This is a serious proposition, if we look at it from the viewpoint of the hens’ capacity for factory production in the output of eggs. If we were running a factory, with men as the producers, we would at once equalize these conditions by artificial light, so as to make a uniform or nearly uniform day throughout the year. With human factors, however, actual production ceases at the business hours, but, with the hens production goes on after business hours, but is not delivered, except in rare cases when they lay on the roost, until the following day. In the short days of winter the fuel boxes get empty and the steam runs down. It takes more steam to keep going in December than in June; but, up to the present time, we have not taken means to provide this extra steam. The business day is restricted, the fuel boxes get empty, steam runs down, and we have to start new fires every morning; whereas, we should bank the fires ready for an early steam pressure the following day. This is about how the author of this little work figured out the proposition, and decided that sometime, in the unde- termined future he would try artificial light. to make a longer day, as a solution of the problem of satisfactory egg production. The days in the winter 1913-1914 proved so dark and dreary that he decided to make an immediate start: and on January 21st, 1914, electric lights were installed in the poultry co We decided to “Ask the birds, their judgment is good, CHAPTER VI Remarkable Results The Problem Solved. The installation of the electric light in two poultry houses, which included the wiring, and the moving of the meter from the second story of the house to the basement, cost thirty dollars. Two sockets were placed in each poultry house, one socket in each house being used for a single lamp, and the other one being provided with a Benjamin socket. In the Benjamin socket, in each house, an eight candle power incandescent lamp was placed on one side and a sixty candle power Tungsten lamp was installed on the other side, and in the other socket another sixty candle power Tungsten lamp. The reason for providing Benjamin sockets was, that we wanted the small light to remain burning, to simulate dusk, while the fowls were going to roost, after turning down the larger lights. Double wiring, so as to have the smaller lamps on a separate circuit and switch, would prove more convenient, as it would enable us to turn the larger lights out, and leave the smaller lights on, without having to go to the poultry houses. For the purposes of this experiment, it was thought too expensive to put in double wiring, so we unscrewed the larger light in the Benjamin socket, and turned the other light out, leaving the smaller or eight candle power lamp burning until the fowls had all gone to roost. We then turned off the switch in the house, screwed up the loosened lamp in each Benjamin socket, and turned the other individual lamp switches on—thus leaving the lights already set for an early morning light, by turning the switch in the house at any time desired. We found that the eight candle power lamp was too good a light to leave for the fowls to go to roost. We went visiting one evening, and left the smaller lights going, and when we 2B 74 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION came home at eleven p. m. found the birds as busy as at noonday. We, therefore, substituted two candle power lamps for the smaller lights, and got over this difficulty. At the time we turned on the electric light, we had re- ceived for that day and eleven days previous eleven, nineteen, eighteen, seventeen, eighteen, thirteen, seventeen, twenty-six, twenty-one, twenty-one, twenty-one, and twenty-six eggs re- spectively, a total of two hundred twenty-eight eggs in twelve days; and in the twelve days after turning on the light we received eggs as follows: Twenty-two, twenty-nine, twenty- nine, thirty-four, thirty-seven, forty-three, forty-six, fifty-four, forty-six, sixty-one, seventy-three, and on February 2nd eigthy-three, a total of five hundred fifty-seven for twelve days; which is over double the number of eggs for the twelve days immediately preceding. The other conditions remained the same. The hens had plenty of feed and water, always available, before them, if the light was strong enough to see to get it. By merely lengthen- ing the hen’s business day we doubled the output in twelve days. We must also make allowance, for anyhow three or four days, while the fuel boxes were enabling the hens to re- plenish their bodily conditions. We now use the same candle power in the larger house as when the light was first installed; but we use only one Tungsten lamp, of one hundred candle power, in the smaller house in one socket, and the small two candle power lamp in the other socket. A reference to the laying record on Page 82 will show 1,943 eggs laid in twenty-eight days of February, an average of 69.39 eggs per day. There were 160 members of the flock for 13 days, 160X13=2,080 single hen days, and 159 members for the other 15 days, 159X15=2,385 single hen days, making 4,465 total single hen days; and this divided into the number of eggs—1,943—gives an actual average percentage of 43.52 per cent of an egg a day for each member of the flock. This month of February was extremely cold with us—on five days the temperature reading touched from one to nine below zero Fahrenheit, and twelve days showed a maximum temperature during the day of twenty-five degrees, and less, Fahrenheit on a registering thermometer. A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 75 On ten days at seven a. m. the temperature registered less than five degrees above zero. The reader can imagine that we felt elated at the result of our experiment, and the solving of the problem of winter egg production. Given proper care, a balanced ration, liberal and regular supply of feed, and we had added only one factor of summer conditions, and that a factor heretofore not considered—we had merely lengthened the hens’ business day to enable them to eat sufficient food to repair bodily waste, supply heat and energy, and leave a surplus for the production of eggs; and presto! we gathered one thousand nine hundred forty-three eggs in a February of extremely low temperature, as compared with one thousand ninety-five eggs for the previous February when the thermometer only touched zero twice, and that only for a short time. While we had some cold nights in the February of 1913, it warmed up in the day time as compared with February, 1914. The birds continued to produce well, as will be seen by the production records on Page 83; and a comparison will prove interesting with the production record on Page 64 for 1913. In due course arrived the moulting season. Few poultry- men expect many eggs at this season, and farm kept poultry seldom, if ever, produce at this season. Many poultrymen, and some poultry papers, maintain that hens cannot moult and lay at the same time. It will be noticed in the production records on Page 84 that production steadily decreased; and, in discussing this problem with a friend, the author made the following state- ment of his position: “The birds had been doing well all summer, and were now moulting heavily, and were under- going the greatest strain on their vitality; that the days were also shorter considerably than they had been—hence the hens had less opportunity to repair waste and energy and grow feathers; that he believed turning on the light, and lengthen- ing the day at this time, would help the hens recuperate and get through the moult quicker. Also, that if they did this, they would probably produce during the coming winter as well as the pullets, under the improved conditions of the longer business day.” 76 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION The light was turned on, on the 21st of August. The family at this time was away in Michigan, and did not return until September 5th. On this account the daily mash had been fed to the hens in early morning; but, after turning on the light, this procedure was changed, and it was fed at seven thirty p. m. after arriving home from business. The five days previous to and including August 21st produced an output of eighty-nine eggs, and the five days thereafter produced seventy-seven eggs; and from there on the birds started in to produce again, and produced one thou- sand one hundred seventy-three eggs in September as against seven hundred nineteen for the September previous; and pro- duced one thousand five hundred twenty eggs in October as against two hundred thirty-seven eggs in October, 1913—this in the face of the fact that in August, 1914, we received only eight hundred sixty-six eggs as against one thousand one hun- dred ninety-two eggs in August, 1913. We had once more acted on the suggestion to “Ask the birds, their judgment is good.” We received eggs which will compare as follows: Winter of 1913-1914 Winter of 1914-1915 Month Hens Pullets Month Hens Pullets September ........ 717 2 September ........ 1,156 17 October’ «i s2acs ss 107 130 October: -..cs.we a: 1,191 329 November ......-- 108 560 November ........ 822 421 December ...-...-. 247 810 December ........ 556 651 Janiary: ¢..cepesee9 191 586 January as es s< vives 789 694 Potals 100 1579 1105 70 % Out 3/2 April ..... 50 &« 30 = 1500 1500 1105 73.67 % May . 50 « 16 = 800 1 Hen 499 x 15 = 735 1535 1021 66.51% Out 5/6 June ..... 49 x 30 = 1470 1470 837 56.94% July ...... 49 % 31 = 1519 1519 915 60.23% August. ...49 xX 22 = 1078 1 Hen 48 x 9 = = 432 1510 843 55.83% Out 8/22 September .48 & 24 = 1152 1 Hen 47 xX 6 = 282 1434 545 38 % Out 9/24 October Hens ...47 xX 31 = 1457 1457 367 25.19% Pullets ..59 xX 31 = 1829 1829 28 1.53% November Hens ...47 xX 30 = 1410 1410 201 14.25% Pullets ..59 xX 30 = 1770 1770 271 15.32% December 1 Hen Hens ...47 XX 19 = 893 Out 12/19 46 xX 12 = 552 1445 273 18.89% Pullets ..59 xX 31 = 1829 1829 588 32.15% Totals 23296 9598 41.15% Totals for Adult Fowls only 17868 8711 48.75% NOTE—41.15% of an Egg a day for 365 days equals aun average of 150 Eggs from all Birds in the flock. 48.75% of an Egg a day for 365 days equals an average of 178 Eggs from all Adult Fowls. The Year Book of Agriculture for 1910 recognizes the importance and immensity of the value of our egg production in the aggregate. In a chapter on “The effect of the present method of handling eggs on the industry and the product,” the following excerpts will give the reader an idea of the 98 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION economic importance of “A Revolution in Egg Production,” if such a revolution is generally carried on: “During the calendar year 1909, 4,256,320 cases of eggs were received in the City of New York. Each case contained 30 dozen, hence there were 1,532,275,200 individual eggs, or enough to permit of a per capita consumption per annum of 321. * * * * * According to the report of the Secre- tary of Agriculture for 1907, ““More than $600,000,000 must be regarded as the value of the poultry and eggs produced on the farms in 1907. The amount may easily be larger. This industry has advanced at such a rapid rate that no arithmetic can keep up with it.” Again in 1908, he says, “The eggs and pou produced on the farms are worth as much as the * 2 * * hay crop or the wheat crop,” the latter being aces at $620, 000 ,000 for 1908. “In eggs and poultry, then, we have an agricultural pro- duct of enormous money value, considered either individually or by comparison with other agricultural productions. * * * * * The output of eggs is steadily growing, but the de- mand is growing even faster than the supply, due to the increased price of meat, as well as a preference for eggs as food; hence, the price of eggs has gone up. In 1899 the farm price was 11.15 cents per dozen, as an average for the United States; in 1909 the average was 19.7 cents. * * * * * These are the prices to the producer, not the customer. The latter pays from fifty to one hundred per cent more than the producer receives. Some of the reasons for the increase to the consumer will be discussed in this article.” Averages and Percentages There is an old saying that “figures don't lie; but many so-called average and percentage records are wide of the mark, because they are based on erroneous methods of arriving at results. This is especially true as to the averages and per- centages in egg production. When a hen drops out of the race, she does not do so con- veniently at the first of the month, but may ask the poultry- man to dispense with her services, or she may quit by request, at any time during the month. A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 99 To arrive at the average number of hens in any one month, we must understand that we cannot either deduct a hen dropping out, say, on the 5th of the month, from our number of hens; nor can we leave such a hen to be accounted for in the figuring as having equal value, in the results, with those in the flock for the full month. The only way we can get an exact percentage is to figure on the number of single hen days, and divide this number into the egg record, for the period for which we want the percentage. This method is shown on Page 97. Suppose we have a flock of one hundred sixty hens for the first ten days in a month, then sell off sixty hens, leaving one hundred hens for three days, and then sell off forty hens, we would have left sixty hens in the flock for the rest of the month. The erroneous way sometimes used to figure this per- centage, would be to add the numbers up for each period, and then divide by three (the number of periods) to get the aver- age number of hens in the flock; thus 160+100+60=320, and 320+3=107. This figure would be multiplied by the number of days in the month, and then the result would be divided into the number of eggs to show the average percentage of eggs laid, by each hen, of a possible egg per day. Suppose we try this on a month of thirty-one days with an egg record of 1,192 eggs. We get a percentage of 35.94 per cent. If we figure this correctly, we should multiply 16010= 1,600 ; 100*3=300 ; 60X18=1,080; and 1,600+300+1,080=2,980 single hen days; which, divided into the number of eggs for percentage, in this case 1,192, would make an exact percentage of forty per cent. This shows a difference of over four per cent due to wrong method of figuring. The errors of this method may show errors as either more or less than the cor- rect results. Using this method for our 1914 production, we had re- sults as follows: 100 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION AVERAGES AND PERCENTAGES FOR ADULT FOWLS IN 1914 Single Total No.of No.of Hen Monthly No. of Per Remarks 1914 Hens Days Days Hen DaysEggs Cent January ....160 * 31 = 4960 4960 777 15.67% February ...160 & 13 = 2080 1 pullet out 2/13 159 & 15 = 2385 4465 1943 43.52% March .....1599 Kk 6 = 954 1 pullet out 3/ 6 158 x 4= 632 1 hen out 3/10 157 & 8 = 1256 l hen out 3/18 156 x 2= 312 1 hen out 3/20 155 & 11 = 1705 4859 2278 46.88% April) aaeees 155%. 15 = 2325 l hen out 4/15 154« 5= 770 1 pullet out 4/20 1443 x 2= 286 1 hen out 4/20 131 & 5= 655 12 hens out 4/22 119 & 3 = 357 4393 2369 53.93%12 hens out 4/27 May) ccc < 119 x 6= 714 10 hens out 5/ 6 109 & 25 = 2725 3439 1858 54.03% JUNC sess 109 & 27 = 2943 2 hens out 6/27 107 xX 3= 321 3264 1650 50.55% July acces 107°. 3 = 321 l hen out 7/ 3 104 & 17 = 1768 1 hen out 7/17 103 & 11 = 1133 3222) 1448) 44.94¢¢ August ....103 & 31 = 3193 3193 866 27.12% *Sub Totals 31795 13189 September ..103 x 3 = 309 3 hens out 9/ 3 100 x 7 = 700 2 hens out 9/10 98 & 20 = 1960 2969 1156 38.94°% October .... 98 & 18 = 1764 2 hens out 10/18 9 & 5 = 480 1 hen out 10/23 9 xX 8= 760 3004 1191 39.65% November .. 95 & 16 = 1520 1 hen out 11/16 94x&k 7 = 658 2 hens out 11/23 92% 7 = 644 = 2822 822 29.136 December .. 92 & 18 = 1656 2 hens out 12/18 90 x 13 = 1170 2826 556 19.67% Totals 43416 16914 38.95% NOTE—38.95% of an Egg a day for 365 days equals an average of 142.16 Eggs from each Adult Fowl! in the flock, for the whole year 1914. *These sub-totals are carried over to the next table. A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 101 SUPPLEMENTARY TABLE TO INCLUDE AVERAGES AND PER- CENTAGES FOR PULLETS WITH THE ADULT FOWLS. Single Total No. of No.of Hen Monthly No. of Per Remarks 1914 Birds Days Days Hen Days Eggs Cent September .103 X 3 = 309 3 hens out 9/ 3 100 x 7= 700 2 hens out 9/10 98 x 20 = 1960 T 34 3003 )=—:1173 39.06% October ....t152 & 18 = 2736 2 hens out 10/18 150 * 5= 750 1 hen out 10/23 149 & 8 = 1192 4678 1520 32.49% November ..149 & 16 = 2384 1 hen out 11/16 148 * 7 = 1036 2 hens out 11/23 146 x 7 = 1022 4442 1243 27.98% December ..146 X 2 = 292 1 pullet out 12/ 2 145 x 8 = 1160 1 pullet out 12/10 144 x« 8 = 1152 2 hens out 12/18 142 x 9 = 1278 1 pullet out 12/27 1441 « 4= 564 4446 1207 27.18% Totals 16569 = 5143 *Sub-totals to August 31, 1914 31795 13189 Grand Totals 48364 18332 37.90% NOTE—37.90% of an Egg a day for 365 days equals an average of 138.33 Eggs from each hen or pullet in the flock, for the whole year 1914. *These sub-totals are brought over from the previous table, to add in with this table, to show the averages and percentages for the whole flock. +34 days added to cover 17 Eggs for Pullets beginning to lay. +54 pullets raised. Press Comments on the Experiment. When the author found that his experiment with a longer business day, for the hens, correlative and supplementary to his liberal and regular feeding of balanced rations, was a suc- cess, he decided that an economic fact, of such importance, should be given to the public, in tangible form, as soon as sufficient data had been accumulated to present a preponder- ance of results to make its success apparent, without oppor- tunities for skepticism. 102 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION Having succeeded, where others had failed, in discover- ing the real reason for low egg production in fall and winter, by well cared for flocks, the author felt a pardonable pride in wishing the public to know the facts, and to be benefitted by his discovery. Of course, an experiment of this kind could not escape a certain amount of local publicity, because such a new event as an “egg factory” running full blast after dark, could not very well be hidden from the view of passers-by on the street —either afoot, or in automobiles or other conveyances. Through some channel, of which the author has no knowl- edge, the “Chicago Tribune” editorial staff was informed of the fact that the author was using electric light in his poultry houses; and they called him up on the phone, at his place of business, on January 4th, 1915, with a request for an inter- view on the subject. Realizing that having started out to get information they would succeed in getting what they wanted in some manner, the interview was granted, and they sent a photographer out to take a few pictures. On January 5th, 1915, the following pictures and write- up appeared in the “Chicago Tribune.” The pictures were taken by flash light, after dark, and show the ‘‘egg factory” in actual operation. FOOLS CHICKENS; GETS MORE EGGS G. G. Newell Installs Electric Light in Coops and Hens Work Overtime. George G. Newell is an auditor. Figures and statistics and chickens are his hobbies. Efficiency is his watchword. Back of his residence in Congress Park there is an inclosure forty feet square in which he keeps what he calls his “150 egg machines.’ The “machines” belong to the feathered tribe known as White Leghorns. He expects and obtains eggs from these “machines” with the same regularity and accuracy as he does figures from an adding machine. Gets 18,000 Eggs. He says he has obtained 18,000 eggs from his “machines” in the last year, or an average of an egg every third day for each fowl, and expects to bring this average up to an egg every other day for each hen during 1915. All the hens are laying now and he sells the eggs for 50 cents a A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 103 dozen. Mr. Newell attributes his success to the fact that his chickens live in two electric lighted coops, go to roost by electricity, and get up at the beck of 100 candle power. “I figured the whole problem out in black and white,” said Mr. Newell. “I found that my chickens were not laying much in winter. They’d go to roost earlier in the winter months and get up later. I figured they didn’t have sufficient daylight in which to eat the necessary amount of a LLL ID DDD DIE DD DPD DDD DDD LZ DDE LEE \ \ \ \ \ if i | \ \ \ y « ANNAN NNHNNHAANHNAANNHANHAA NNN NNN AAT ANNAN HNAINT Plays Electric Light Joke on Chicks and They Lay for It. food and to get the required amount of exercise for good laying. I estimated they got about sixteen hours of daylight in midsummer and only about seven hours in midwinter. I decided to strike an average of their waking hours. Up at 6 a. m. “At a cost of about thirty dollars I installed a one hundred candle- power tungsten lamp and a two candlepower incandescent lamp in one chicken house and two sixty candlepower tungstens and a two candlepower lamp in the other. These I connected with switches in the house. “As soon as the alarm clock goes off at six or a little after in the morning I turn on the switch and the chickens get up, thinking it is 104 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION daylight. The lights are turned off at eight or eighty thirty, when it is full daylight and the neighbors’ fowls are just arising. “When it begins to get dusk, along about four, my daughter Dorothy, or my wife turns on the lights and they are kept going until nine at night, when I turn all out except the two candlepower lamps. These give just a sufficient amount of light to give the appearance of dusk, and the chick- ens begin going to roost. I leave the small lamps lit all night, so that if any of the chickens want to get up at night to eat they can do so. Average Jumps from Twenty-six to Eighty-three. ‘Eleven days after the lights were installed the daily average jumped from twenty-six eggs to eighty-three. During the moulting season under the old custom, when most of the food was going to feathers instead of eggs, I got only eleven eggs a day. Now I get fifty-two a day during the moulting season. It is merely an experiment in efficiency, and I hope to improve on it.” “Chickens think,” said Mr. Newell. “If they know they are going to get plenty of food the next day they’ll lay. By my method I keep them thinking they are getting the same amount of daylight all the year around, and I’m keeping them thinking all the time.” This article was either copied, or a new article made up from it, in the press in many papers throughout the United States. A clipping sent the author from Dunkirk, New York, had reproduced the pictures in the “Tribune” and as an insert picture had the following: The following was given me by a friend as having been taken from the Can Biancises Call :” “CRUELTY TO HENS IN DARKEST CHICAGO.” “They Have to Get Up at Six O’clock in the Cold Winter Mornings. There is an ingenious gentleman in darkest Chicago who takes about the meanest advantage of his hens that has come to our atten- tion. Under the solar conditions obtaining in Chicago, midwinter A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 105 dawn is not due until about eight o’clock in the mornng, and so a natural hen is not supposed to quit her downy roost until that hour. But this Chicago man has equipped his hen house with electric lights. These he switches on at six o’clock in the morning. The poor hens are aroused by the glare of light and their consorts loudly crow to hail the dawn of artificial day. Down from their roosts troop the fowls and straightway they make for their nests. With some twelve hours of light before them, the hens busy themselves in laying, and every hen does her duty once every three days, which is a better egg laying average than obtains when there is no electric light inducement to laying. As natural darkness comes over Chicago, the gentleman turns on the electric light, and until nine o’clock the poor hens are kept awake, under the delusion that it is still daylight. Such cruelty to the hens should be punished. The man ought to be forced to eat a dozen eggs every day.” The “Electrical World” of February 6th, 1915, had the following: © “EGG PRODUCTION INCREASED BY ELECTRIC LIGHT” “According to the testimony of Mrs. George G. Newell, of *Brook- field, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, the effect of using artificial light in her chicken house to simulate the long days of summer has been the trippling of the egg output of her hens. In their tungsten-lighted compartments these estimable chickens now average one hundred fifty eggs per hen per year. A total of 18,000 eggs was produced in the Newell coops last year. The increase in the productiveness of the hens has resulted, it is explained, from the duplication of summer lighting conditions dur- ing the dark days of winter. It was Mrs. Newell’s theory that the hens did not lay many eggs during the winter months because they spent more time on their roosts and had less opportunity for scratch- ing about for food. At a nominal cost the electric service of the Public Service Company of Northern Illinois was extended to the hen house. Each of the two sections is provided with a two candle- power lamp and a one hundred candlepower cluster. At 6 a. m. on dark winter mornings when the family arises the lamps are switched on in the coops. At once the feathered occupants are roused to the day’s activity of scratching for food. After the appearance of daylight outside, the lamps are turned off. With the return of dusk in the late afternoon they go on again, and they con- tinue to burn until eight o’clock, when all are turned off except the two candlepower units. These lamps give a low illumination, simu- lating dusk, and the hens at once prepare to go on their roosts. *Brookfield, Ill, has three depots and three postoffices, called Hollywood, Brookfield and Congress Park. 106 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION Fifteen minutes later, when all are in place, the small ‘dusk’ lamps are extinguished and darkness reigns on the chicken house until the next morning. Two weeks after the present lighting system was installed the daily egg output had_risen from twenty-six to eighty-three. accord- ing to the owner. Fifty eggs a day are now obtained during the moulting season, in comparison with eleven eggs a day secured under the former artificial lighting conditions.” This is a very fair article, except for the error in the last line, where it gives the impression that other artificial lights were previously used. Judging by the letters received, the “Chicago Tribune” article aroused a general interest. This article, and all the others which the author has seen, with the exception of the one here reproduced from the “Electrical World,” show that the subject was treated in either a humorous or sarcastic vein; and left the inference to the readers that it was cruel, tricky, or humorous to subject the hens to a longer business day. The economical importance, of the subject. seems to have been left to the reader’s own ability to draw his own deduc- tions, and to read between the lines. Corroborations of Long Business Day Benefits. The first, of whom the author has knowledge, to follow in experimenting with a longer business day was Mr. J. C. Kline, of Congress Park. He seemed to take some interest in accounts of the experiment and its results, but did nut -eem to get enthusiastic, until he saw the plant in operation at the end of the summer of 1914. He equipped his poultry house with electric lights, and has received full benefits since in the supply of eggs in the fall and winter. The next to follow was Mr. J. W. Allen, of Riverside, Illinois, to whom electricity was not available at the time. The author procured three Air-O-Lanterns, which produced a 300-cp light, with a consumption of one quart of gasoline, for from twelve to fifteen hours. Mr. Allen got one of these lanterns, and after putting the same into use began to receive returns in eggs within three or four days. Mr. Maurice L. Newell, a brother of the author, got an- other of these Air-O-Lanterns to try on his poultry farm in A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 107 Michigan. He had been skeptical right along about the effi- ciency of light—attributing the author’s good egg yield to other causes. His egg yield in November, 1914, however, had dwindled to twenty-two eggs in twenty-one days, and on November 26th the author took him an Air-O-Lantern, which was installed in the poultry house. The following extract from the letter of November 2lst from Maurice L. Newell, will give some idea of the condition of the flock: “Some of those early moulters, you know they started to moult in July, well they came just up to the laying point— red large combs, etc., and in good flesh—one or two started to lay, then they quit and are now in their second moult around neck and losing tail feathers. Also some of the year- ling hens have done the same, and while the pullets are look- ing well, and some have large lay-over combs, have so far not received an egg from them.” A few days later the author got word from his brother, that he was shipping eggs to Chicago in case lots. Mr. William Trefzger next installed electric lights in his poultry house. On February Ist the author wrote him as follows: “Congress Park, Ill, February lst, 1915. Mr. Wm. Trefzger, 8541 South Sangamon Street, Chicago. Dear Sir: Knowing that you have kept poultry for a number of years, and that you have recently installed electric lights in your poultry house, I shall appreciate the favor if you will write, giving me the results obtained from your experiment. I am enclosing a stamped and addressed envelope for your reply, which will greatly oblige, Yours very truly, GEO. G. NEWELL. And received the following reply: 8541 South Sangamon Street, Chicago, Ill, February 3rd, 1915. Mr. Geo. G. Newell, Congress Park, Ill. Dear Sir: I have received your letter dated February Ist, 1915. You will remember my conversation with you about the middle of last December, in which I asked you what caused my pullets to suddenly stop laying, and your reply that it was due to the short days. At that time I could not see it your way. Within a few days I spoke to you twice again on the same subject. On the latter occa- sion you volunteered the theory: 108 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION First, that, as I had told you, my pullets were laying well, and would probably have continued to do so, falling off gradualy as the winter progressed. Second, that the sudden change to cold weather which fell below zero at our place on December 14th, made a sudden call on the systems of the pullets for extra nourishment to maintain heat and vitality—thus forcing a curtailment in egg production. Third, that the weather remaining cold for several days, the pullets had not been able, on account of the short days, to get back into laying form; and probably would not do so until Spring unless their business day was lengthened. Sogn after, my house was wired for electricity, and I ran a wire out to the poultry house, and started the light January lst, 1915. The pullets, in the meantime, had gone into a heavy moult. The first effect noticed was that the moulting stopped imme- diately. Next there was a great improvement in the looks of the birds. Their combs began to redden and we began to get eggs the third day. We have in our flock six hens and twenty-six pullets. We did not keep any record of eggs, but they increased two or three a day until the fifteenth, when my wife suggested that, as we were getting so many eggs, we had better keep account of them. I enclose a calendar for January on which we kept this account. You will see on the fifteenth we got 16 eggs and then 18, 16, 18, 21, 22, 15, 24, 24, 19, 24, 19, 23, 19, 21, and on the thirty-first, 20 eggs, which is a total of 319 eggs in sixteen days. We had tried liberal feeding without results. This record is very good, especially so considering the cold weather. The ther- mometer read below zero several mornings, and fourteen below zero January 28th. I have been keeping poultry over twenty years, and never had such surprising results from anything. My wife was overjoyed, as she loves her poultry, and the sudden change from a condition, when we thought the whole flock would have to be sacrificed, to one of health and vigor, with the addition of good laying, was very gratify- ing to us. We think it is wonderful the way your theory has proved out in actual practice. Yours very truly, (Signed) WILLIAM TREFZGER. CHAPTER VIII Conclusions Trying it on the Ducks In the foregoing pages of this little book, the reader has been given an insight into the problem of egg production, and poultry keeping in general, from the author’s viewpoint. The whole subject has been put in such a manner, and the author has tried to state his premises clearly, so that the reader was not asked to take anything for granted. The whole book has treated the subject with reference to hens only as producers. The production of duck eggs has taken great strides in the last few years, especially with the Indian Runner ducks, which have been termed “the Leghorns of the duck family.” In the keeping of ducks, however, the author does not feel competent to speak from actual experience. By the pro- cess of deduction, it is reasonable to predict that the same general effects of a longer business day will apply equally well in the production of eggs from ducks as from hens; and, on this deduction, this question should be worth serious con- sideration by those engaged in this branch of the poultry industry. It is well known that the duck family are naturally more nocturnal in their habits than hens. Heredity and Performance The flocks which we use for heavy egg production must be produced from birds which are known to be good layers. The birds must come from vigorous stock in order to grow and thrive quickly into producers. Some seem to be prejudiced against breeding from hens which have laid well during the winter ; but, if heredity counts for anything, how are we going to produce good winter layers unless we breed from those which have produced eggs freely in winter? If hens do not lay during the winter, can we reasonably expect winter layers as a result of transmitted heredity from such hens? If hens do not produce well in the 109 110 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION winter months, they cannot make up the deficiency necessary to qualify, as heavy layers, by any summer laying records. It is a safe conclusion that heredity alone will not give us good producers. Heredity must be supplemented by good, well regulated, and liberal feeding of balanced rations, to- gether with a plentiful and constant supply of good drinking water. Only in this way can we turn to full advantage the hereditary qualities, which were transmitted to our birds. We must give our flocks good quarters in which to work, and must keep these quarters in a wholesome and sanitary condition, as a requisite to that health and vigor, without which we cannot expect or obtain satisfactory results. “Playing electric light jokes on the chicks” will not make them “lay for it,” unless we give them plenty of opportunity to make use of this light. A longer business day will not feed the hens. Many will jump to the conclusion that artificial light by lengthening the day, will make their hens produce. Artificial light will lengthen the day, but will not and cannot be of any practical benefit to anyone who tries this innovation, unless such a person is also a liberal provider of food for his flocks. Egg Producing as a Business Proposition The author would place the value of artificial light to a flock of 2,000 layers at not less than $800 per year in in- creased production. This light, however, must be bright enough to flood the houses with light—not a mere glimmer. Nothing could be further from the author’s intention than to have the reader of this little work jump to the conclusion, from what has been written in the foregoing pages, that anyone can engage in the poultry business, and make a living or a competence, out of the business of producing eggs. Like every other business, this business requires study, and attention to business affairs; and to enter this business without the necessary ability, or qualifications, cannot help but prove disastrous. Many enter this business as a result of dreams that won't and can’t come true. This business has some advantages, however, over other businesses—chief among which is the fact, true in all civilized countries, that the market has not been, and is not likely to be, fully supplied with good fresh A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION 111 eggs at all seasons. What a bonanza would such a condition create in any manufacturing line, or in a wholesale or retail business. To illustrate how quickly a large flock of hens which are not producing can eat into a bank account, we have an example on Pages 59 and 60, where the feed in October, 1913, cost $26.13, and the production in eggs was only $7.91. A large flock on this same basis, would produce a large balance on the wrong side of the ledger in a short time. Even millionaires would tire of extended experience of this kind. If no profits are made, they at least expect to get their money back. To the generality of poultry keepers, in a small way, this would be the time when they would reason that they must cut down expenses and withhold the feed. To do so, however, would be suicidal; because, if that was done, the flock would not only remain in the non-produc- ing class all winter, but would still cause a necessary expense for feed. By liberal feeding at this time, the flock was en- abled to turn the scale in the following month, and do well all winter thereafter. Capital and Equipment for Large Flocks By careful watching, and close observation, large flocks can be housed and cared for more economically than small flocks. The labor can be cut down, by labor saving devices for carrying feed, litter, droppings, etc.; and the houses can be so constructed that they may be easily subdivided, at pleasure, by placing swinging doors in the divisions, in such a manner as not to be a hindrance or impediment to free ingress or egress. With automatic feeders in use, a grain conveyor could be so equipped, and without great expense, as to fill all the feeders, in succession, by the use of power machinery. Such arrangements, with an automatic supply of water, would enable the poultryman to care for large flocks with a minimum of expense. Only the actual expenses for material necessary for pro- duction have been gone into in the preceding chapters. The items of general expense, labor, interest on investment, etc., have not been gone into or taken up. These various items can 112 A REVOLUTION IN EGG PRODUCTION be figured out to suit the needs and circumstances of each producer. As to the capital necessary to engage in this business, that also is a matter of individual judgment and opportunity. Some successful poultrymen have been saved from disaster by lack of capital, this lack compelling a safe and sure pace while gaining their experience. Instances could be cited of poultrymen starting out with large capital, minus a practical knowledge of what was before them, who used up their capital in gaining such knowledge, and gave up the ship in disgust at the results, or from inability to borrow more capital at the time when they had learned how to use it. On the other hand, instances could be cited of those who have had to do without capital because they had it not, or could not procure it, but who have started in, in a small way, and attained the necessary working knowledge as they went along, and who, as a result, have grown into successful and prosperous poultrymen. These varying results are accounted for when we con- sider that a poultryman must know his business, and if he has to learn the business, after engaging in it, a very large per- centage of losses with a small flock amount to but a few dol- lars; whereas the same percentage on a large investment is a very serious matter. 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