Every Hen her Own Accountant.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 21 January 1913, Page 4

Every Hen her Own Accountant.

The astute and enterprising gentleman who pursue poultry farming for profit in America fully appreciate the importance of keping m accurate record of the actual laying performances of thoir hens. With out some such record the systematic culling and weeding of unprofitable hens cannot bo conducted with any degree of certainty. Most poultrymen, says the Scientific American, Fave their own rule of thumb methods, and the results they have attained have given general satisfaction. But investigation!? on an experimental poultry farm have proved that theso methods are extremely faulty. One hen, estimated to lay 250 eggs h, year, laid only 86, while another with a reputation of 80 per annum laid 182. More accurate methods of arriving at the actual laying capacity are clearly needed. The poultry farmer, however, cannot afford the elaborate methods of the experimental farm, so a couplo of fitnte Island poultrymen have r> ut their heads together and invented n very simple device wh/ich makes each hen her own book-keeper. Each lien is induced to sign its autograph as soon as it has laid an egg. The manner in which this seeming miracle is accomplished is very simple. The nests where the hens lay the eggs are fitted with a little inclined platform up which the fowl must walk to get to the nest. As it walks up the board its back strikes ia little trigger which releases a light wire framo, swinging outwards from the nest. This closes the entrance against any other lieu while the nest is in use. Attached to each" leg of each hen is a coloured crayon, the colour for eacii leg being different. The crayons are secured spurwise, ' and on leaving the nest and crawling under the swinging barrier that has been set down, the fowl makes ils distinctive crayon marks on a piece of paper laid on the inclined board. The gate remains down till the attendant arrives and resets 't. taking the record. By the use of various combinations of coloured crayons a comparatively largo flock of fowls can thus bo checked, and the results are said to have given the fullest satisfaction.