30 N. H. Agr. Experiment Station [Bulletin 313 



20, 1938. Results of the experiment conducted by T. B. Charles and 

 P, A. Wilcox indicated that the heating unit was not large enough 

 to provide an adequate temperature for starting chicks in sub-zero 

 temperatures in an uninsulated 10' x 12' colony brooder house. Man- 

 ufacturers followed the suggestions that the top of the brooder be 

 insulated and a new heated head provided, and with changes the 

 same gas-burning brooders will be tested out this coming season. 

 {Purnell Fund) 



Vitamin A Requirements for Growing Chicks 



A complete report of this project covering the years 1931 to 1936 

 has been printed as Bulletin 310. {PuriieU Fund) 

 Protein Requirements of Chickens 



Further experiments by A. E. Tepper, R. C. Durgin and T. B. 

 Charles in feeding chickens varying levels of proteins substantiated 

 many tentative conclusions drawn last year. The chemical phases of 

 the project were under the direction of S. R. Shinier. Findings for 

 the years 1935-38 have been published in Bulletin 312. 



As the percentage protein content of ration increased from 15 to 

 19 per cent, a definite increase in body weight of chicks fed these 

 rations also occurred. 



There is no apparent relationship between per cent protein fed and 

 total feed consumption, but a very definite relationship occurs 

 between total feed consumed and body weight attained. 



Those groups receiving fish meal as the sole source of animal pro- 

 tein concentrate averaged heaviest in weight, heaviest in production, 

 lowest in feed cost per dozen eggs produced and earliest in sexual 

 maturity. 



There appears to be no significant relationship between per cent 

 protein fed and size of q\^^ laid. 



The maximum level in a ration at which meat scraps or dried skim- 

 milk may be used is quite definitely lower than the level at which fish 

 meal may be used. 



No outstanding distasteful odor or flavor could be detected in meal 

 or eggs from birds fed the fish meal ration which contained 19 per 

 cent of protein. 



No significant relationshii) was observed between mortality and 

 type of animal protein source fed. {PiniwII Fund) 



Laying Cages versus Floor Pens 



According to studies made by T. B. Charles and P. A. Wilcox, 

 chicks brooded on the floor consume slightly more feed per pound of 

 gain than do those l)rooded in a battery. This is probably due to at 

 least two factors: first, greater exercising area, causing the burn- 

 ing of more energy ; and second, more wastage of feed from the floor 

 feed hoppers than from the battery feed hoppers. 



Approximately 300 chicks of each breed, single-comb white leg- 

 horns and New Ham psh ires, were hatched at the same time, and 

 records were kept for nineteen weeks. 



Time studies of labor requirements of floor and battery brooding 

 under the conditions of this exi)eriment indicate that it required 

 about fifty per cent more labor to care for the chicks brooded in bat- 

 teries in comparison to those brooded on the floor. 



