Yes, I actually quoted myself! Trap nesting is how egg production was increased. It was used extensively, with no ill effects! So many old timers on this site write of times past when their backyard flock averaged 200+ eggs a year. You'll also read post from people who raise standard bred poultry and keep sex links for eggs! Why not just get your chosen breed to lay better?Except from "High egg Production from individual hens, pens and flocks" published in 1922
"The Hogan system, as we understand it, has not worked out well with us. Have studied it and tested it but did not find it reliable. With us that plan failed badly, and both ways. Birds that by the test should have done well, did not; while others that ought not have laid well, proved to be good layers. One hen that laid 249 eggs did not show up well by the Hogan test, while another that did extra well laid only 179 eggs.
When a man uses trap next for FIFETEEN YEARS (my emphasis) -uses them every day in the year, keeps careful records and studies these records=he has a lot of theories knocked out of him. His judgment is the 365th day."
Is that inspiring or what? Most of the breeders in the book trap nested. The book can be downloaded from Google.
People wonder whatever happened? How is it that most standard bred poultry are not laying anywhere near the numbers they used to? Who trap nest and keeps accurate trap nest records anymore? Very few; it's too time consuming. But it is a proven method for increasing egg yield and within only a few generations. Do it for a number of years and amazing results will realized.
Read through the above mentioned book and you'll see standard bred Reds, Brahma's, Rocks, Wyandotte's, Orpington's, Leghorns etc with staggering egg/yr records!
We are testing our trap nest right now, we will be breeding standard-bred RC Ancona's. The emphasis will be breeding to standard but trap nest records will be taken into account. Due to severe loss by predation last year we are two years behind schedule in our breeding program. We were frustrated but not defeated, new enclosures were built. Adjustments were made. We have not lost a bird this year, and will begin anew next spring with fresh stock.
***Worth repeating: "When a man uses trap next for FIFETEEN YEARS (my emphasis) -uses them every day in the year, keeps careful records and studies these records=he has a lot of theories knocked out of him. His judgment is the 365th day."