"The plan I have found to be the best, and one which
72



THE CHICKENS 73

I have followed for years now, is to run the pullets on for
laying and not to breed from them until they are hens —
that is, when they are in their second laying season. I
am never in a hurry to get my pullets to begin laying ere
they are out of their chicken stage. It seems to be a
weakness with some folk to have their young stock laying
when the birds should still be growing ; and if those people
can get their pullets in lay at four months of age they
imagine they have done a great thing. Nothing of the
sort ! If they kept the birds back for another couple of
months it would be the wiser plan by far. I admit that it
is not always an easy thing to prevent the January and
February hatched chickens laying in the early summer,
and particularly if the birds are being forced on for the
spring markets or for summer shows. But it can be done,
and simply by growing them slowly, and making them
build up a good frame first."

"But would not that rather depend on the feeding than
on anything else? " I asked.
"Not exactly," replied Mr. Tapley. "It's a question
of management as well, probably more so than feeding.
Of course, the pullets must not be given a forcing diet.
