BROODIXESS AND FECUNDITY IN FOWL 

 Proi;ri:ss to Datk. 



57 



General Froi/reati from Year to Year. 

 Taime 1. — Mean Deirree of Broodiness hv Years. 



* This cohinin iiu-ludis all Rhofle Lsland Red.s except intense broodies and inbreds. 



It will be observed that the percentage of broody birds has been reduced 

 from 90 in 1912 to 27 in 1923. Great significance should also be attached to 

 the fact that the mean annual egg yield has increased from 114 to 200 in the 

 same period. Tn the 1912 flock each broody lien lost 75 days in broodiness her 

 first year, while in tlic 1922 flock eacii broody hen lost but 29 days. The 

 assumption seems justified, tiierefore, that progress in eliminating broodiness 

 has been two-fold: namely, reduction in the percentage of broody birds, and 

 reduction in the mean degree of broodiness. 



The average numl)er of days spent in broodiness for the 112 broody birds 

 in the 1912 flock is 74.8. For the 71 broody birds in the 1913 flock the figure 

 is 78 8 days. In tlie 1922 flock, made up of all birds except those bred for 

 intense broodiness, tiiere were 112 birds that were broody, with a mean of 

 28.71 days spent in liroodiness. In tiie 1922 flock there were .33 birds bred 

 for intense broodiness. These birds averaged 42.94 days broody for tiie pullet 

 \"ea r. 



Sperip'c Results. 



The non-l)roody strain lias been strengthened during the past two years 

 by the retention of non-broody hens up to five years old. Such hens have 

 been used as breeders each season so that their genetic character for broodi- 

 ness may be confirmed by Lhe progeny test. Aged breeding males have also 

 been retained for similar purjioses. 



An intense broody strain has been carried on from year to year. Females 

 selected to perpetuate this stniin have been selected with a view of combining 

 the nuixinuun number of broody periods with desirable traits from the stand- 

 point of annual fecundity. This intense broody strain will eventually differ 

 from the non-broody strain only in pos.sessing the broody trait. It is possible 



