176 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Continuing the studies of the cause of weak germs in early spring eggs (E. S. R., 

 16, p. 296), it was found that hens kept in cold quarters and fed heavily produced 

 eggs with strong germs which hatched well. On the other hand, poultry kept in 

 artificially warmed houses laid eggs with weak germs which hatched weak chicks. 

 The "results were considered in favor of fresh air and plenty of it even if it was cold." 



Data are recorded regarding hatching tests, to compare different sorts of incubators 

 with hens, but definite deductions are not drawn. 



In a study of the duration of fertilization after the removal of the male bird, 

 records were kept of the number of eggs laid and the eggs which hatched or which 

 were shown to be fertile. The last trace of fertility was noticed eleven days after 

 separation. In accord with earlier observations, the unfertilized eggs had superior 

 keeping qualities, so the author recommends that as a rule male birds should not be 

 kept with hens depended upon for market eggs. 



A test was also reported made by F. T. Shutt, in which chickens and old hens 

 were compared, some of the chickens being fed in pens with limited runs and others 

 in crates. The hens w r ere fed in pens. The average gain per head per week in the 

 month covered by the trial ranged from 4.1 lbs. with old hens to 7.1 lbs. with 

 chickens fed in pens. In general the chickens fed in pens made greater gains than 

 those fed in crates. It was also true that the chickens fed a mixture containing meat 

 meal made greater gains than similar lots fed a ration without this form of animal 

 feed. 



Considering the test as a whole, the cost of a pound of gain ranged from 1.3 cts. 

 with one of the lots of old hens to 6. 1 cts. with one of the lots of chickens fed in 

 crates. The deductions which were drawn from the test follow: 



"The pullets, with one exception, did not make as great gains as cockerels of the 

 same age-. Old hens which are well fed require no further treatment to make them 

 fit for killing. The older the hen the more readily does she take on fat rather than 

 flesh. The crossbred chicken, although fed on a more nutritive ration, did not 

 make as much weight as pure-bred ones. The chickens which were loose in their 

 pens with limited runs made slightly greater weight development, at cheaper cost, 

 than those in crates." 



Poultry, R. Robertson, S. A. Bedford, and A. Mackay {Canada Expt. Farms 

 Rpts. 1904, pp- 350, 393, 394, 450). — Data are given regarding the poultry kept at the 

 Maritime Provinces, Manitoba and Indian Head Experimental Farms, and tests carried 

 on at the Manitoba Farm are also briefly reported. 



Four pure-bred Plymouth Rock cockerels fed all they w T ould eat of a mixture of 

 equal parts of ground wheat, oats, and barley mixed to a thin porridge with skim 

 milk gained 6 lbs. in 21 days at a cost of 3.25 cts. per lb., as compared with 5 lbs. 

 2 oz. at a cost of 3.5 cts. per lb. in the case of four white Wyandottes fed the same 

 ration. (For earlier work see E. S. R., 16, p. 296.) 



An incubator test led to the following conclusions: "The percentage of chickens 

 from fertile eggs was the same, whether setting hens or incubator were used. It is 

 possible to secure earlier chickens by using an incubator. A large proportion of the 

 eggs laid in early spring before the fowls have an opportunity to take exercise are 

 not fertile. ' ' 



Poultry, W. R. Graham {Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm, 30 {1904), 

 pp. 135-141, fig. 1).— Statements are made regarding early and late hatching, the 

 Station poultry houses, the treatment of breeding stock, varieties of geese kept, etc. 

 In a test, which began in July, of the possibilities of inducing early moulting, it was 

 found that in general old hens confined and fed a low ration for two weeks and then 

 an abundant ration began to moult during the third week of the test, while those fed 

 the same way but allowed to range did not, This would indicate, according to the 

 author, that it is possible to control the moulting season more or less. 



