DITISIOy OF POULTRY 



963 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



The maximum fertility, 100 per cent was reached in the pullet pen 22 six days 

 after mating, and occurred three times in a period of twenty-one days. A good show- 

 ing when we. take into consideration the number of females mated with one male and 

 the unusually cold spring. 



The maximum fertility of 100 per cent was reached in pen 16 which contained 

 the old hens, on the eleventh day after introducing the male. 



The fertility increased more rapidly and continued a good deal stronger in the 

 Tullet pen than in the pen of old hens. 



It would seem, therefore, from the above that it is fairly safe to set eggs and 

 sell them for hatching six days after mating, providing that the breeding stock pos- 

 sesses plenty of vigour. 



It also is of interest to note that the first fertile egg was laid the third day after 

 mating, though out of eleven eggs laid and set that day it was the only one fertilized 

 and it produced a strong healthy chick. 



FORTY-FOUR WHITE LEGHORN HENS WITH ONE MALE. 



In the following experiment the object was to substantiate somewhat the deduc- 

 tion arrived at in the previous investigation, and also to note the time before one 

 male would be giving the maximum fertility in a pen of many layers after being intro- 

 duced to the pen. 



In this experiment the male was in the pen with the whole flock and allowed 

 intercourse ad. lib. in the usual way. 



Table No. 6. — Showing fertility, egg yield, and hatching as season advanced. 



It will be seen from the above table that the increased number of hens laying at 

 the third test in no way told against the percentage of chickens hatched out ; on the 

 f>ontrary, improvement is shown all round. 



Though the percentage of fertility was highest when only 5G.8 per cent of the 

 hens were laying the total hatch was only 33.3 per cent. When 86.4 per cent of the pea 

 were laying the total hatch was 48.1 per cent, and the fertility 87.7 per cent. The 

 season being further advanced and the birds getting more out-of-door exercise would 

 improve the fertility and accoinit for the better showing in the last hatch. 



This test shows a fair hatch with a number of hens that has generally been con- 

 sidered more than it was advisable to mate with the average male. 



Ottawa. 



