ANNUAL REPORT, 1944-45 63 



condition of firm albumen, shade of shell color, and incidence of blood spots, 

 meat spots, blemished yolk, and fishy odor. Correlation analyses will be run to 

 determine whether any significant relationships exist between an>- of these ten 

 characters. Each character will be tested for heritability on the basis of sire 

 progenies. 



Methods of Feeding. (John H. Vondell.) Eight pens of R. I. Red pullets were 

 fed as follows: four pens were hopper fed (free choice) mash, whole corn, oats, 

 and wheat; two pens were hopper fed mash and hand fed scratch feed; and two 

 pens were fed complete all mash. The feeding methods were compared for the 

 following factors: egg production, mortality, egg weight, body weight, feed con- 

 sumption per bird, feed to produce a dozen eggs, protein intake, and costs and 

 returns. The test ran from December 1 to September 1. 



Average egg production varied less than 4 percent for the three methods, and 

 egg weight less than 1 percent. Mortality averaged 19 percent for the hopper-fed 

 pens, 17 percent for the scratch and mash, and 13 percent for the all-mash. The 

 scratch and mash ration seemed to maintain body weight best, with the all-mash 

 ration poorest. Feed consumption ran 71.27 pounds per bird for the all-mash, 

 75.81 for the hopper-fed, and 79.05 for the scratch and mash. The hopper-fed 

 birds required 6.39 pounds of feed per dozen eggs, the all-mash 6.47 pounds, and 

 the scratch and mash 6.61 pounds. The protein intake averaged 14.08 percent 

 for the hopper-fed birds, 16.28 percent for the scratch and mash, and 16.68 per- 

 cent for the all-mash. Net return per bird over feed cost was $2.77 for the hopper- 

 fed, $2.58 for the scratch and mash, and $2.38 for the all-mash. 



The test is being continued. 



Comparison of Four Strains of Broiler Chicks. (John H. Vondell.) Four strains 

 of commercial broiler chicks were kept under identical conditions and grown 

 through 13 weeks. One strain proved vastly superior in growth, feed efficienc>-, 

 and dressed grade. The return above feed cost for the four strains was $72.93, 

 $86.39, $78.99, and $106.05. 



Poultry Housing Projects. A. (C. I. Gunness and W. C. Sanctuary.) The 

 non-insulated pen previously described (Bulletin 417:67) produced favorable 

 results in terms of litter condition, ceiling condition, and general welfare of birds. 

 This test was not complicated this past winter by water coming through founda- 

 tions during hea^^ rains. Adequate drainage prevented the trouble. 



B. (W. C. Sanctuary.) Of the two pens under comparison, one (No. 28) 

 was especialh- arranged to increase housing capacity. The nests were on the 

 rear wall, the pits (roosting quarters), water fount, and hoppers were elevated 

 to give more floor space, and the rear ventilators were near the floor. The other 

 pen (No. 27) had the usual placement of equipment, with floor pit and hoppers 

 on the floor and the rear ventilators (of the same area as those in pen 28) as 

 high as the ceiling would permit. The birds were allowed only three square feet 

 of floor space per bird in each pen. 



Both pens were equipped with the baffled window ventilators, and no change 

 in ventilation adjustments was made for the second winter. With no addition 

 of litter after early November, because none was to be had, little building up of 

 litter was possible. The moisture content of the litter became as high as 41 per- 

 cent, with some caking of the surface. The air was drier in these pens (75 per- 

 cent humidit\") than in other pens which were less crowded. 



To June 9, 1945, the birds in pen 28 had laid 8 eggs more per bird than those in 

 pen 27, and the mortality was 3 less than in pen 27. The preceding year, with no 

 crowding, both pens laid practically the same. 



