In addition to the above joint 

 study, each of the states concerned 

 is analyzing the problem as it relates 

 to local conditions. By such co- 

 operation, much can be gained by 

 pooling ideas and comparing results. 

 This joint analysis of producer, deal- 

 er, and consumer problems is expect- 

 ed to contribute to the development 

 of an economic framework for those 

 concerned with the New England 

 milk market. J. R. Bowring 



Chore Efficiency in Producing Pul- 

 lets. Detailed time records in doing 

 the daily routine chores in produc- 

 ing pullets were taken at two-week 

 intervals on 10 New Hampshire poul- 

 try farms. Four of the operators 

 were using coal brooders and six had 

 automatic heating equipment. In 

 February, when the first records were 

 taken, labor requirements were at a 

 peak. The severe weather and early 

 age of chicks required strict attention 

 to brooding equipment. Water was 

 supplied from numerous hand-filled 

 small fountains and the feed was 

 made available in a number of small 

 feed hoppers. 



As indicated in Table I, all the op- 

 erators equipped with coal stoves, 

 used over 30 minutes a day on rou- 

 tine chore work per 1,000 chicks, 

 while four of the six operators with 

 automatic heat used less than 30 

 minutes. Farm A, with the highest 



labor requirement, had the disadvan- 

 tage of scattered pens and unhandy 

 locations of supplies of feed and coal. 

 The operator also fed three times 

 each day. 



The outstanding low labor record 

 ( Farm J ) resulted from the simpli- 

 fication and combination of practices 

 so that in one trip through the pens 

 in the morning, sufficient feed and 

 water were supplied in the containers 

 to carry the chicks for 24 hours. 

 After that it was only necessary to 

 check on the condition of the chicks 

 in the late afternoon. The operator 

 performed each task efficiently and 

 had the advantage of a modern two- 

 story brooder house. 



The change in time required in 

 chore work as the brooding period 

 progressed is illustrated in Table II. 

 In mid-February the operator of 

 Farm D had all coal stoves going 

 full blast, which required careful at- 

 tention and refuelling morning and 

 night; the numerous small founts 

 and feed hoppers in each pen also 

 required considerable time in refill- 

 ing. As the season advanced, the 

 weather moderated and the birds 

 were larger and hardier; less time 

 was needed in tending fires until fin- 

 ally all fires were discontinued. 

 Automatic waterers were substituted 

 for the hand-filled founts which also 

 increased the labor. The time re- 

 quired to feed, however, increased as 



Table I. — Total Man Minutes Per 1000 Chicks 

 Routine Indoor Brooding Operations on 10 Farms 



Farms Using Coal Brooders 



Farm A 48.6 min. 



Farm B 46.8 min. 



Farm C 36.3 min. 



Farm D 32.2 min. 



Farms Using Various Types of Automatic Heat 



Farm E 37.6 min. 



Farm F 30.7 min. 



Farm G 27.0 min. 



Farm H 21.6 min. 



Farm I 20.5 min. 



Farm J 12.6 min. 



