POULTRY. 



While poultry has been kept at each of the Farms ever since 

 they were established, the chief experimental work has been done 

 at the Central Farm under the immediate supervision of Mr. A. G. 

 Gilbert. At the Branch Farms a number of the most suitable farm 

 breeds have been kept in sufficient numbers to carry on comparative 

 tests of egg production and fattening. Only thoroughly good speci- 

 mens have been kept and these under good farm conditions. 



The reports that have been annually issued have been useful 

 guides to farmers and poultry keepers seeking information on the 

 relative values of breeds and of rations and methods of feeding. 



The work with poultry at the Central Farm has been of a much 

 more comprehensive nature. Here practically all of the good 

 utility breeds of chickens have been kept for purposes of experiment 

 in regard to the various phases of the industry, as for example, early 

 maturity, egg production, development of laying strains, vitality 

 of stock, housing, feeding, natural and artificial incubation and 

 brooding, and many other points. 



Special emphasis has been placed upon quality and vigor of 

 stock and the development of winter laying strains. In connection 

 with these features, much experimental work has been done in regard 

 to housing which has brought out the value of the airy house ventilated 

 by cotton screens set in the wall. Even in the cold winter climate 

 of Ottawa, these airy poultry houses have been demonstrated to 

 give better results than closely built, warm pens. 



By a long series of experiments with trap nests, by which poor 

 layers are discovered and discarded and only good layers retained 

 for breeding, it has been shown to be practicable to build up heavy 

 la} ng strains that when kept in good condition may be depended 

 on to yield a sure and substantial profit. 



Repeated tests in hatching with incubators heated by electricity 

 have proved this new system to give excellent results. A 6o-egg 

 incubator was heated by the wires used for lighting the poultry house. 

 The requisite uniform temperature of 103 degrees was easily main- 

 tained with the result that hatchings ranging from 75 to 85 per cent 

 of fertile eggs set were obtained. The electric brooder known as an 

 " electrohover " was found to be equally satisfactory. 



Systems of feeding and comparative values of different foods 

 have provided an almost exhaustive study. Feeding for egg pro- 

 duction, for fattening, for early maturity, for vigor of breeding stock. 



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