consumption records were taken for the next four weeks. The data showed 

 that the full feed pullets ate 1.90, 1.88, 1.95, and 2.18 pounds of feed per 

 bird per week, while the restricted pullets, with four hours feeding time, 

 ate 1.91. 1.91, 1.95, and 1.88 pounds of feed per bird. Thus there was virt- 

 ually no fee:! restriction during this 16- to 20-week period. Since there 

 was an 11.2 percent restriction of feed during the 20-week period, this re- 

 striction must have occurred before 16 weeks of age. 



Table 2 presents the results with pullets restricted in feed consumption 

 on a poundage basis, when grown in confinement and on range. 



It would appear that equivalent feed restriction results in less delay in 

 maturity when pullets are confinement reared as compared with range rear- 

 ing. However, the experiments were run in different years and different 

 feeds were used, although the stock was the same. Since year and feed 

 may have had some effect, it cannot be said that equivalent restriction of 

 feed results in less delay in maturity in confinement than on range. 



While early egg size, as measured by average weight of all eggs laid to 

 50 percent production, is generally larger for the restricted fed pullets, 

 this is not always true as shown by the results of Experiment 6. Also it 

 is evident that when egg size is measured at a specific time after the re- 

 stricted fed pullets are in production, there is little difference between the 

 two groups in ess size. This is due to the high correlation between egg size 

 and chronological age of the pullet 1 13, 14) . In a given experiment the two 

 differently fed groups of pullets are the same age at all times, hence the 

 egg size should be approximately the same. 



Pullet weight was markedly affected bv the feed allowance, as would 

 be expected. However, this weight was made up following four to eight 

 weeks of full feeding. Surprisingly, this is accomplished without the con- 

 sumption of additional feed. Hence feed saved by restriction during the 



Table 4. Summary of Results with Confinement Reared White Plymouth 



Rock Pullets Full Fed with Natural Daylight and Restricted Fed with 



14-hour Light During the Brooding and Growing Period ; 



Experiment 9. 



Natural Daylight 14-hour Light 



Full Fed Restricted Fed Difference 



Feed restriction 

 Feed per pullet to 20 wks. 

 Age at 25% production 

 Age at 50% production 

 \ve. egg size to 50% prod. 

 Ave. egg size during week 

 in which rest'd pullets 

 reached 50% production 

 Pullet weight - - 20 wks. 



24 wks. 



28 wks. 

 Feed per pullet 20-28 wks. 

 Feed per bird to 60 wks. 

 Eggs per bird 

 Laying house mortality 

 Hatching eggs, 21-27 oz/doz 



*. ** Significant at the 5 and 1% level of probability, respectively 



12 



