4 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 325 



Broodiness. — No broodiness was shown in any of these flocks; but had it made 

 its appearance, the broody birds would have been removed before or during 

 the hatching season. 



General Appearance. — From the time the pullets were housed in the fall until 

 the close of the breeding season, specimens not meeting the standards on general 

 appearance were removed from the flock. This included birds showing unusual 

 fading in feather color, injuries, and the lack of those qualities associated with 

 thrift and vigor. However, very few birds were removed for these causes. 



Weighing Eggs 



All eggs from the flock for the first three days of each month were weighed and 

 the average computed. This has proved experimentally to be a fair measure of 

 egg size in a flock, provided the percentage production is normal during these 

 periods. 



Mortality 



Definite records were not kept for mortality and its causes throughout the 

 period, as this was not considered to be one of the main factors at the beginning 

 of the work. It can be said, however, that the mortality in this flock was prob- 

 ably not so great as the general average for the entire college flock. Cannibalism 

 did not break out in any of these flocks except the first one, when four or five birds 

 were lost one day. 



Selection of Males 



At broiler age about three times the number of males needed for the breeding 

 pens were reserved, attention being given to size, type, vigor, color, and general 

 uniformity. The elimination of undesirable specimens was continued throughout 

 the growing season and fall months. Those finally placed in the breeding pens 

 weighed from 8}/£ to 9% pounds. The use of males above that weight was avoided 

 in order to keep away from the meat or beefy class. Uniformity in type, color, 

 and general appearance was adhered to closely. 



Selection of Hatching Eggs 



Eggs were set weekly, and size, shape, and color were the bases of selection. 

 In most instances not more than 75 to 80 percent of the eggs gathered were placed 

 in the incubator. The past two years the average weight of eggs on the incubator 

 trays was close to 27 ounces to the dozen. As all small birds and in most instances 

 those of medium size had been removed from the flock, but few small eggs were 

 produced. 



Discussion and Results 



Chart 1 gives the set-up for the four-year period. This shows the number of 

 pullets housed each year, the number mated, the number of eggs (new blood) 

 purchased each year, the number of males mated, and the number of sisters 

 tested. The new blood flocks are designated as A, B, C, and D 1 for the four 

 years, respectively, and are referred to as such. 



'D— Experiment Station flock. 



