On 06/12/2016 20:14, Rod Speed wrote:

Local farmer says, "Neck one with t'others watching. It encourages 'em."

There could be something in that statement?

Unlikely that the ones that arent necked would realise
that the reason one was necked was because they werent
laying enough and so would start laying more.

If you think about it, it's because he kills the weakest one. Thus the
feed/egg ratio improves.

Bill