12 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 364 



*This table includes 3 fewer birds than Chart 3 because 3 individuals were not weighed when 

 housed but were weighed for the remainder of the year. 



9. Body Weight on March 1 and Subsequent Mortality 



The fact has been pointed out in Section 1 that maximum body weight of the 

 first laying year was attained about March 1 and that weights taken at this time 

 probably are the best measure obtainable of the body weight of a flock. It is 

 highly desirable to know whether this mature body weight is in any way related 

 to subsequent mortality. 



A population of 1,936 pullets was classified into quarter-pound weight classes 

 starting with the minimum of 3.5 pounds and extending to a maximum of 9.5 

 pounds with respect to weight on March 1. The subsequent mortality was cal- 

 culated to the end of a 365-day period in the laying houses for each weight class. 

 The data are presented in Chart 3. 



CHART 3 

 WEIGHT ON MARCH FIRST 

 SUBSEQUENT MORTALITY 

 1936 BIRDS 



J. SO 400 



sso 6.00 e.so 



BODY WEIGHT 



There were 29 birds that weighed less than 5 pounds on March 1 . These 

 birds were probably pathological when weighed, and their mortality ranged from 



