REPOliT OF THE POULTRY MANAGER 



221 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



We have evidence in these foregoing data, (a) of the variation that may occur in 

 growth in the same chicken from week to week during the feeding period, (b) of the 

 differences in increase in weight that may result among birds of the same breed and 

 sex, (c) of the difference between pullets and cockei-els as regards gains in weight, and 

 (d) of the relative merits of the breeds experimented with, in flesh production. 



(a.) Regarding the first mentioned feature, it is only possible at the present time 

 to say that we found the chief cause to be the weather, or rather the temperature, 

 though undoubtedly age and health were frequently factors. During weeks of exces- 

 Bive heat the usual gains were always reduced. 



(b.) What we may term individualism is as strong among fowls as in other classes 

 of live stock. Vitality, constitutional vigour and ability to digest and assimilate food 

 are not meted out alike to all, and though there is no apparent cause, lack of thrift is 

 not uncommonly to be observed in some members of a hatch. 



(c.) In every pen made up of the two sexes it will be invariably found that the 

 cockerels made the larger gains. This is an important fact, though not perhaps a new 

 one to most poultrymen, confirming the wisdom of fattening the cockerels and keeping 

 the pullets for eggs. 



(d.) The evidence as to the relative* merits of the breeds as fatteners will perhaps 

 be clearer from a perusal of Table II., presenting data as to gains in weight, of food 

 consumed and of its cost, and of cost of food per pound of increase in hve weight, of the 

 various pens under test in this experiment. 



Table II. — Breed Test. 



Breed. 



Barred Plymouth Eock . 

 White Plymouth Rock.. 



FaveroUe 



S. G. Dorking 



Orpington 



Rhode Island Red 



White Indian Game. . . . 

 White Wyandotte.. . . . 

 Crosses(P.R. xL.B.)... 



No. OF 

 Chick- 



EXB. 



3 



o 

 o 

 O 



be 



a 



'S . 



•5-S 



to 03 



-^ b 



to® 

 1° 



10 

 5 



o 







l.s 



9 13 

 9 8 



9 



7 



3 



14 



8 



1 



11 



8 



15 13 



a 



-as. 



J2 si 

 hJ O 



21 6 

 17 4 



23 12 



24 3 

 23 7 

 16 3 



9 10 

 29 7 

 34 13 



c3 

 u 



^ O 



11 6 

 11 7 



13 15 



14 11 



13 15 

 9 2 

 5 15 



14 15 

 19 



.5 a 



to.13 

 c a> 



^ O 



2 5 



1 15 



2 5 

 2 7 

 2 5 

 1 13 



1 8 



2 8 



3 2 



Food Consumed. 





Hi O 



13 5 



4 13 

 8 11 

 8 6 

 6 10 



5 7 

 3 14 



10 14 

 29 14 



c3 



a 



ID 

 H 



iJ o 



21 4 

 25 3 



28 11 



29 11 

 29 

 25 

 15 7 



32 

 27 



s 



.a 



".3 



1^ o 



32 



38 



55 



56 

 55 

 35 

 17 

 65 

 40 



-a 

 o 

 o 



o 



o 



Cts. 



46 

 44 

 53 

 57 

 53 

 43 

 27 

 63 

 71 



\£.> 



o 



O D . 



o 2 S> 



tc S fe 



Q 



Cts. 



4-7 

 4-5 

 4-2 

 3-7 



The facts in Table II. furnish a basis for discussion as to the relative economy Avith 

 which the different breeds were fed. 



In the first place it is to be noted that the cost of production (food only), did not 

 exceed in any case 4 '7 cents per pound of live weight, and that this figure was only 

 reached in one pen, which for some unknown reason lacked the thrift noticeable in all 

 the others. 



The cheapest flesh production was obtained with the Light Bi-ahma-Pl3-mouth Rock 

 cross at 3-7 cents per pound, but this was very closely followed by White Plymouth 

 Rock, Faverolle, Silver-Gray Dorking and Buff Orpington, at 3 8 cents per pound, of 

 increase. Barred Plymouth Rock at 4 cents, White Wyandotte at 4-2 cents, White 

 Indian Game at 45 cents, and Rhode Island Red at 4*7 cents per pound complete the 

 list of those under trial. 



