EGG FERTILITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5690, 8 October 1896, Page 3

EGG FERTILITY.

I FERTILITY BEGINNING WITH DAY OF MATING.

(Form and Home.) As a test of the best time to select eggs for setting, after the male has been cooped with the hens, the following experiment was performed by C. E. Spiers. Forty Leghorn hens were put in three pens, 7 x 8 feet, with a run 6 x 16 feet. Three Leghorn males were placed in the pens Feb. 18, 1894. These were the first males that had been on the farm, so no eggs could have been previously fertilized.

How long the eggs would prove fertile after the males were removed was next determined. Males were removed July 1, 1894, and the eggs saved and set for fifteen days. The results were obtained in the same pens as in above test.

FERTILITY AFTER REMOVAL OF MALES.

The- egg fertility was apparently not materially affected until the twelfth day, after removing the roosters. There was then a marked decrease in their fertility. Farmers will find it of advantage to coop separately a few of the choicest fowls with cocks if intending to make a setting. Do not gather up a setting of eggs promiscuously, but be sure that the eggs to be used in setting come from the best fowls and are fertile.

I Total. p._ m - Noa- . ¥er Tatc. I Eggs iertll °- futile.; Ceur.. February 18 ... 20 0 21 | 0 February 19 ... 18 2 16 I 11 February 20 ... -24 12 12 50 February 2 1 ... 20 12 8 GO February 22 ... 20 15 5 75 February 23 ... 24 19 5 79 February 24 ... 15 12 3 80 February 25 ... 19 17 2 8> February 26 ... 19 18 1 95

Total Fertile Nou- Per Date. Eggs. lerlue - fertile. Cont. July 1 9 6 3 67 July 2 ... ... 13 8 5 02 July 3 11 0 2 82 July 4 10 10 3 jOO July 5 12 10 2 83 July 6 0 7-2 78 July 7 0 9 0 100 July 8 13 12 1 92 July 9 11 9 2 S2 July 10 12 9 3 75 .Inly 11 9 6 3 t>7 July 12 9 3 6 33 July 13 9 3 6 33 July 14 8 1 7 2 July 15 9 2 7 22