548 Bulletin 282. 



month of July. From the first to the third weeks (Fig. 169), the 

 chicks of all flocks seemed to grow well and all appeared in good 

 condition except those in flock 58 (dry mash). These chicks showed 

 some roughness of plumage and acted restless and dissatisfied. During 

 the third week the chicks in flocks 55 (cracked grain, bran), 56 (cracked 

 grain), and 57 (cracked grain, dry mash), became roughened in plumage 

 and appeared much weaker than those having the wet-mash and variety 

 rations. All mortality in flock 60 (skimmed milk mash) during the 

 third week was due to accident. During the fourth and fifth weeks 

 (Fig. 170), the roughness of plumage and general weakness of the 

 chicks in flocks 55, 56, 57 and 58, the flocks having the various dry- 

 grain rations, were more pronounced, and the mortality was greatly 

 increased. 



This high mortality was due, apparently, to a disease, the symptoms 

 of which were similar to those seen in the chicks previously kept in 

 this house. Indications are that this disease is directly traceable to 

 the soiled exits which were not disinfected and were unnoticed until 

 the chicks had run over them for several hours. In any case, one flock 

 was exposed to infection as much as another, and flocks 59 (powdered 

 milk mash) and 61 (variety ration) showed no signs of disease, while 

 flock 60 (skimmed milk mash), which was kept in the pen between 

 these two flocks, had a few cases. During the fifth week, all chicks 

 showing symptoms of disease were removed from the flocks and all the 

 surroundings well disinfected. No further trouble was experienced 

 from this cause. 



During the sixth week the mortality in flocks 55 to 58 was much less 

 than during the weeks preceding, and the remaining chicks were some- 

 what better in appearance. (Fig. 171). In flock 60 (skimmed milk mash) 

 the chicks were less vigorous and lively than before and three died 

 during the week, this time not from accident. 



The total mortality (Fig. 168) for the six weeks was greatest in flock 

 56 (cracked grain), closely followed by that in flock 55 (cracked grain, 

 bran). Flock 58 (dry mash) contained the poorest chicks, though in 

 mortality this flock stood third on the list. Flock 57 (cracked grain, 

 dry mash) had also a high mortality, but the chicks were somewhat 

 better in appearance than those of flocks 55, 56 and 58. At the end 

 of six weeks, the chicks in flock 59 (powdered milk mash) and flock 

 60 (skimmed milk mash) were the largest in the experiment, plump and 

 solid, and the combs of the males were rapidly developing. Flock 61 

 (variety ration) had no mortality during the six weeks, and the chicks, 

 thougl' not fat, had frames of good size, good appetites and a large 



