370 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 260 



DEPARTMENT OF POULTRY HUSBANDRY 

 J. C. Graham in Charge 



Broodiness in Poultry. (F. A. Hays). The intense broody and the 

 non-broody lines are being continued, and a considerable number of 

 recessives lacking both genes for broodiness have appeared. As previously 

 pointed out, there is some difficulty in increasing the population of reces- 

 sives because of high mortality record. The wide variability in degree of 

 broodiness in the broody line is receiving special attention at this time. 

 The degree of broodiness in the flock as a whole has been reduced very 

 significantly; first, by reducing the percentage of broody birds, and second, 

 by decreasing the number of broody periods per individual. 



The average length of the broody period has remained constant at 

 fifteen days, throughout the history of the flock. The flock of 1927 

 showed only 9.5 per cent of the birds going broody as pullets. This 

 places the flock on the same basis with respect to the broody trait as the 

 White Leghorn. 



Breeding Poultry for Egg Production, (F. A. Hays and Ruby San- 

 born). The mean annual egg production of the 552 birds hatched in 1927 

 was 197-3 eggs. This flock was superior to previous flocks in early 

 iriaturity, intensity and non-broodiness, but was slightly deficient in per- 

 sistency. Records would indicate that the average decrease of eight eggs 

 per bird was due to lack of persistency and to modifying environmental 

 influences. The flock hatched in 1928 showed a very significant increase 

 in vigor as measured by mortality rate in the laying house, the mean 

 mortality rate for this flock being 14.85 per cent. The most significant 

 increase was observed in flock hatchability for the spring of 1929, the 

 mean percentage of fertile eggs hatched being 78, the highest in the 

 history of the flock. 



Age at first egg, body weight at first egg, high intensity and low 

 broodiness have been well established in the flock. At the present time 

 especial effort is being made to establish by genetic methods a flock lack- 

 ing the winter pause and breeding true for genetic high persistency and 

 high hatchability, together with maximum vigor. 



Statistical Study of Heredity in Rhode Island Reds. (F. A. Hays and 

 Ruby Sanborn). The data on the effects of inbreeding upon fecundity, 

 covering a period from 1923 to 1928, have been assembled and submitted 

 for publication as a Station bulletin. Eleven years' records on growth 

 rate in Rhode Island Reds have also been assembled and are ready for 

 publication as a Station bulletin. 



A Genetic Study of Rhode Island Red Color. (F. A. Hays). Consider- 

 able progress has been noted in the estaiblishment of desirable plumage 

 color in the egg-laying strain of Rhode Island Reds. In the spring of 

 1929 a small flock of standard-bred Reds was obtained and will be used as 

 a check against the Station strain in color breeding studies. 



Determination of Genetic Laws Governing Results in Inbreeding Poul- 

 try, (F. A. Hays). A study, carried on for five years, of the effects of 

 different degrees of inbreeding upon fecundity was concluded on March 

 1, 1929, and submitted for publication. The project is being carried on 

 at present using as a foundation birds measuring up to the highest 



