960 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



5 GEORGE v., A. 1915 



Hens 70, 50, 4, and 21 " missed," and their eggs were all infertile. 



No. 34 laid five fertilized eggs in succession. 



Ho. 45 laid an infertile egg preceded and followed by fertiles. 



It appears from the results shown that five fertilized eggs is the maximum from 

 one mating only, and is of interest on account of the possibility of strong fertility 

 from the use of a good vigorous male with a larger flock of hens than is generally con- 

 sidered advisable. 



All eggs were infertile aft^r date in above table. 



FERTILITY TEST FOLLOWING 12 HOURS MATING. 



In conjunctioia with the previous experiment a test of the fertilizing powers of 

 one male was also tried on another flock of hens that had not previously been mated. 



In this instance, females were allowed intercourse ad. lib. with the male for about 

 12 hours and then removed to other quarters where there was no possibility of a repeti- 

 tion. 



By studying the following table it is "apparent at a glaace that this arrangement 

 is more conducive to results than the " one mating only " proved to be. 



This method of mating appears highly satisfactory ensuring, as it does, the 

 attention of the male to the laying hens only and safeguarding him from the inter- 

 ference of the non-layers or from wasting his energies in unprofitable attention. 



The fairly early date of mating in an unusually cold spring mitigated against 

 high fertility, and the fact that the males had been confined to small winter quarters 

 for several months indicates that this system of mating might prove advantageous if 

 generally adopted. 



It is proposed to carry out an experiment on these lines through an entire hatch- 

 ing season, and on its conclusion more definite information will be available. 



Table No. 4. — Showing high fertility obtained by mating about 12 hours, number 

 of eggs fertilized without second intercourse, and date laid. 



Notes. — Of the eleven hens in this test, three laid eggs the first day after mating 



and of these none was fertile; five hens laid the second day after mating, and all 



eggs were fertile. 



Ottawa. 



