178 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



From experiments in progress to determine the relation which exists between 

 the vigor, age, and health of the breeding flock and the hatchability of eggs 

 which are produced, it has been concluded that for hatching eggs should be saved 

 only from hens which have reached maturity, or from hens which have been 

 through at least one complete molt, and from mature birds that have not been 

 excessively forced for heavy egg production during the previous winter and are 

 vigorous and healthy in every respect. 



Experiments indicate that there is no advantage in late fall hatched pullets. 

 Birds hatched late in the season did not have time to mature before winter set in 

 and consequently were not fitted for egg production until along in the spring. 

 From tests with various kinds of brooder stoves it is concluded that the most 

 efficient forms are those which have a capacity of from 2.'50 to 300 chicks. 



A brief note on summer sickness of fowls, with symptoms of ptomaine poison- 

 ing, is given, the trouble being ascribed to eating carrion flesh. There is also 

 a detailed description of a scheme which has been worked out for the cooperative 

 selling of eggs. 



Experiments in fattening fowls for market, H. W. Jackson and R. V. 

 Mitchell {Pennfujlvania Sta. Ri)t. 1912, pp. 190-208, pis. 2). — Metho<ls of 

 fattening poultry for market are described, and experimental work reported. 



There appeared to be little difference in gains in crate fattening as compared 

 with pen fattening with the American class of fowls. The kind of birds best 

 .suited for this kind of feeding are considered to be those of the American clas.s, 

 .'^uch as the Barred I'lymf)uth Rocks, Wyandottes. and Rhode Island Reils, and 

 the season of the year best suited for this kind of work from August 15 to 

 November 15. 



Experiments in continuation of work previously noted (E. S. R., 28, p. 172) 

 were conducted to determine what feeds are most profitably fed and the best 

 method of feeding. Six groups of two pens each of five 2 to 3 lb. White Leg- 

 horn cockerels each were fed for two weeks the following rations: Group 1, 

 white bolted corn meal, low-grade flour, oatmeal, p<>a meal, buckwheat middlings, 

 and wlieat middlings, 24 : G : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 ; group 2. the same ration as group 1 in the 

 proportion of 12 : 4 : 6 : 6 : 4 : 2 ; gi-oup .3, the same as group 2 in the proportion of 

 1 : 1 : 10 : 10 : S : 4 : group 4, white bolted corn meal, oatmeal, low-grade flour, pea 

 meal, buckwheat middlings, wheat middlings, and tallow, 23.5 : 5.5 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 : 1 ; 

 group 5, white bolted corn meal, oatmeal, low-grade flour, pea meal, buckwheat 

 middlings, wheat middlings, and sugar (brown), 22.5:5.25:1:1:1:1:2.2.5, re- 

 spectively. Group 6 was a check lot. The cockerels were not profitably fat- 

 tened on any ration, although the quality of flesh was .somewhat improvtxl. The 

 best gains were made on the widest rations, the gains decreasing uniformly 

 with the nutritive ratio of the ration fed. 



In a second experiment three groups were fed three weeks on corn meal, low- 

 grade flour, wheat middlings, buckwheat middlings, and buttermilk in the fol- 

 lowing proportions: Group 1, 65:15:15:5:300; group 2, 00: 10: 15: 15: 2CX): 

 group 3, 55 : 10 : 1." : 20 : 150. The results of the test indicate that from 1.5 to 1.75 

 lbs. of buttermilk per pound of ground grain, which makes the ration thin enough 

 to pour, gives better results than a ration either too thick or too thin. It is 

 thought that approximate results might be secured with soured skim milk where 

 buttermilk is not obtainable. 



In connection with this experiment it was found that pens receiving no grit 

 or green feed made better gains than the lots with these adjuncts to the ration. 

 Comparing fowls fed in crates with fowls fatteneil in jiens it was evident that 

 Leghorns weighing over 2 lbs. will do decidoflly better in pens. Comparing pen- 

 fattened fowls with those on range, the experiment indicates that some con- 



