48 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



DEPARTMENT OF POULTRY HUSBANDRY. 



H. D. GOODALE. 



The Status of Work in Breeding for Increased Egg Pro- 

 duction. 



The work was begun late in the fall of 1912, with showroom 

 stock where no attention had ever been paid to egg production. 

 Little was known about birds placed in the laying houses 

 except that they were hatched some time in the preceding 

 spring, but whether early or late in the season was not recorded. 

 These birds were trapnested during that winter and the follow- 

 ing spring were mated to males of similar but otherwise un- 

 known ancestry. These matings, therefore, to all intents and 

 purposes were entirely at random so far as egg production was 

 concerned. Only about half the pullets reared were suitable for 

 placing in the laying houses. This generation furnished us our 

 first adequate data. These birds and many of their parents 

 were mated for the pullets that were placed in the laying houses 

 in the fall of 1914. The results, however, were disappointing,, 

 due probably to some secondary factor or group of factors. The 

 egg production of the pullets of the same matings was entirely 

 unlike in the two winters. The pullets now in the laying houses 

 will furnish us data for the fourth generation. At this writing a 

 very satisfactory egg production is being secured. 



A study of the data at hand indicates the following tentative 

 conclusions : — 



First. — We have been unable to interpret the egg records of 

 the strain of Rhode Island Reds kept at this station in the 

 same way that the records of the Maine station have been 

 interpreted. 



Second. — The prime factor in securing winter egg production 

 from strong stock is early maturity. 



