16 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION.BULLETIN 429 



Table 7. — Annual Molt in Males, Production Stock Only, 1939-1944. 

 Time required and date of completion. 



Feather Region 



Number 

 of BirdsJ 



Average 



Days 

 Required 



Average ■ 

 Date of 

 Completion 



Neck (Cervical) 



Breast (Pectoral)..— 



Thigh (Femoral) 



Lower Leg (Tibial). 



Back (Dorsal) 



Wing Primaries 



BODY WEIGHT DURING THE MOLTING PERIOD 



Body weight records were obtained at the time of the molt observations on 

 44 males representing six generations of production-bred birds. The results are 

 depicted in chart 2. 



This chart confirms the observations made on two generations of production- 

 bred males shown in chart 1, to the effect that such males do not decline in 

 weight while undergoing annual molt. Body weight records taken at two- week 

 intervals from July 27 to Noven\ber 30 indicate a very consistent increase through- 

 out the period. 



10.00 



9 oo 



6.00 

 5 00 



AUG AUG. SEPT SEPT OCT 



T NOV, 

 21 5 19 2 



DATE OF OBSERVATION 



NOV NOV DEC DEC. 



Chart 2. Mean Body Weight of Males and Females During Annual Molt. Production Line, 

 1938-1944. 



Females 



TIME REQUIRED FOR MOLTING 



In the seven-year period records were secured on 135 females that had com- 

 pleted wing molt by the end of December and 142 that had not molted all wing 

 primaries by that date. The data available should be sufficient to furnish reason- 

 ably accurate information. 



