ANNUAL MOLT IN R. L REDS 



Table 4. — Persistency and Wing AIolt, 1938-1940. 



Length of biological year, days 



Exhibition 



Production 



Production during biological year, eggs 



Exhibition 



Production 



Annual production, eggs 



Exhibition 



Production 



Number of primaries shed when laying stopped 



Exhibition 



Production , 



Date of completing wing molt 



Exhibition 23 Nov. 22 



Production 71 Dec. 8 



Date of termination of biological jear 



Exhibition 23 Sept. 13 



Production._ 71 Sept. 25 



10 Oct. 16 

 56 Oct. 18 



It is notable that birds bred for high fecundity averaged to lay about 42 and 44 

 days longer than those bred for color. In the group with incomplete wing molt, 

 the mean length of the biological year was from 17 to 19 days greater than in the 

 group that had completely shed all wing primaries by the end of December. 



In the first group, egg production during the biological year was about 48 eggs 

 greater in the high-fecundity stock than in the e.xhibition-bred stock; in the 

 second group, there was a mean difference of about 38 eggs. Lengthening the 

 biological year has therefore been an important step in increasing egg production. 



Annual egg production, measured by the number of eggs laid in 365 days be- 

 ginning with the first pullet egg, was significantly higher in the group of females 

 that had not completed their wing molt by the end of December, in both produc- 

 tion-bred and exhibition-bred stock. 



It is conceivable that the number of wing primaries shed at the time laying 

 ceases may be used as a guide in selective breeding. In the group of birds with 

 complete wing molt, the exhibition stock stopped laying when 2.6 wing pri- 

 maries had been lost, while the production stock did not stop laying until about 

 4 wing primaries had been shed. In the group with incomplete molt, there was 

 no difference in the two stocks with respect to wing primaries shed. This fact 

 suggests that very late wing molt is associated with the ability to lay after more 

 wing primary feathers have been lost. 



In the population with complete wing molt, the birds bred for high fecundity 

 averaged to complete their wing molt about 17 days later than birds bred for 

 color. Although this is not a wide difference, 1 1 does have a very great effect of 

 egg production. 



