REPORT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER 211 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



one, two and three weeks of age. The high death rate was not confined to this locality, 

 as was shown by the number of letters received on the subject from many parts of the 

 country, asking as to cause and a remedy. Beyond the unfavourable weather it was 

 impossible to assign a reason for such general loss. 



Edbrt was made to hatch a majority of chickens of the breeds calculated to be of 

 the most use to farmers as winter layers and rapid flesh makers. Chickens of Buff 

 Orpingtons, Faverolles, Buff Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds were hatched for 

 the first time. All these varieties have claims to utility from the standpoints named. 

 The development of the chickens of these comparatively new comers, as well as from a 

 second cross from a first one of Light Brahma male and Barred Plymouth Rock female, 

 was watched with much interest. The first cross of Brahma and Plymouth Rock 

 proved an excellent one, from both egg laying and market points. The number of eggs 

 laid by 15 pullets of this first cross in comparison with an equal number of Whita 

 Plymouth Rock and White Wyandotte pullets during the winter season of 1901-02 is 

 shown in a table of eggs laid by different breeds in six months, to be found on a later 

 page. The chickens were taken from running in a field when weighed. In a later part 

 of this report the results of experiments conducted by the Chemical division in the flesh- 

 ing of chickens of different breeds, on various rations, and in crates or limited run are 

 given, and furnish interesting and valuable data. The following are the weight develop- 

 ments of the chickens, up to three months of age and previous to being used for the 

 Experimental work referred to viz : — 



Barred P. Rock Cockerel at 3 raos 3 lbs. 10 ozs. 



(( " u 4 " 2 



White Wyandotte " " 3 " 11 



« " « 3 " 2 



Faverolle " " 3 " 7 



(I a (( 3 " 2 



Silver Gray Dorking" " 3 " 15 



u «( <t « 3 " 3 



Buff Orpington " « 3 " 121 



» " " 3 " 5 



Rhode Island Red " « 3 " 4 



(( (( (< ee 2 " 14 



Light Bra.-B.P.R. {2nd cross) " 4 " 6 



" " " " .... 4 " 3 



c( (( «' <t ........ 5 " 1 



Chickens obtained from a farmer near Carleton Place, Ont., for Experimental 

 fattening weighed as follows : — 



Barred Plymouth Rock Cockerels at 2 mos. and 6 days : — 2 lbs. 5 ozs : 2, 4 : 2, 5 : 

 2, 2. These chickens were also taken from a field, but had been regularly fed and 

 well cared for. ^ 



EARLY MARKET TYPES. 



With the view of ascertaining which breed furnished the earliest and best market 

 type careful attention was given to the chickens of the varieties and ages named abova 

 Amon" them will be noticed two well known English and French table fowl producing 

 breeds viz : Dorking and Faverolle. The ideal chicken borne in mind was one of rather 

 blocky frame, showing a rounded breast with fairly long, low and straight breast bone well 

 ■ covered with flesh and thighs carrying a generous proportion of meat, with white flesh 

 and le^s of light colour. Such a chicken should present a plump and inviting appearance 

 and make a model three months old bird for early home .market, or export. Experience 

 so fax gained goes to show that none of the utility breeds of to-day furnishes three months 

 old chickens of acceptable type, in greater number, on an average, than another. All 

 varieties tried have produced early chickens of desirable shape and size, but in limited 

 16—14^ 



