BODY WEIGHT AND EGG PRODUCTION 11 



Table 4. —Weight when Housed and Subsequent Mortality 



Weight Class 

 Pounds 



3.00-3.24 

 3.25-3.49 

 3.50-3.74 

 3.75-3.99 

 4.00-4.24 



Total or mean 



4.25-4.49 

 4 . 50-4 . 74 

 4.75-4.99 

 5.00-5.24 

 5.25-5.49 

 5.50-5.74 

 5.75-5.99 

 6.00-6.24 

 6.25-6.49 

 6.50-6.74 

 6.75-6.99 

 7.00-7.24 



Total or mean 



Grand Total or Mean 



Total 

 Birds 



1.941 



2,098 



Percent 



Mortality 



25.87 



26.36 



Increase or Decrease in Body Weight between Housing 

 Subsequent Mortality 



and March 1, and 



Pullets, when housed at the time they are ready to lay, usually show a marked 

 increase in body weight after housing, as has already been shown. It is desirable 

 to know whether weight increases or decreases between housing and maximum 

 weight about March 1 show a significant relation to subsequent mortality. Data 

 are available on 1933 birds which have been classified into three classes: Those 

 losing weight; those showing no weight change; and those showing a weight 

 increase. In Table 5 the results by years are recorded, together with the mean 

 of the three years. 



The highest mortality occurred in the birds that lost weight from the time of 

 housing up to March 1 and in the birds that failed to show an increase in weight. 

 In the class that gained weight, there was a consistent decline in mortality as 

 the amount of gain in weight increased up to about 1.5 pounds. These data 

 show that birds having a mean weight increase of about 1.5 pounds between 

 September and March were less likely to die later than were birds that failed to 

 make such a weight increase. As a basis for culling about March 1 to reduce 

 mortality, there would have been an advantage in this flock in removing individu- 

 als that weighed less than 6.25 pounds. 



