N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station 



[Bulletin 303 



Growth, Weight and Condition 



The growth of all groups was very satisfactory, averaging at six 

 weeks of age .9335 pounds per chick. Some variations between groups 

 were noted, but these were not significant. There was no significant 

 difference between the houses used and the rate of gain in weight. Some- 

 what more rapid feathering was again observed in chicks under electric 

 brooders as compared to those brooded by coal stove. The crooked-toe 

 condition reported in Station Circular 46 was not in evidence this year. 



i"!' 



Mortality 



All birds which died during the course of the experiment, (Decem- 

 ber 4, 1934-March 20, 1935), were autopsied by the Poultry Pathology 

 Laboratory to determine the cause of death. Of the total mortality to 

 six weeks of age, which averaged for the entire season 14.8 per cent, pneu- 

 monia was the cause in 85 per cent of the cases. From an analysis of 

 these records it is apparent that floor insulation was of little or no value 

 in preventing mortality. 



Labor and Fuel Costs 



A detailed labor record-sheet was kept, showing the total time spent 

 at each visit and the operations performed, i. e., feeding, watering, 

 cleaning, care of stove, etc., at each of the three 10'xl2' colony brooder 

 houses. 



Table I shows a difference of four hours and four minutes actual 

 labor time between the electrically brooded pens and the coal brooded 



Table I. Itemized Labor Requirements in Hours and Minutes for 

 Electrical Brooding and Coal Brooding of Chicks. 



o 



o 



a 



o 

 a 



3 



o 



bo 

 o 



Care of Stove 



■3 

 «<1 



2 O 



e5 C 



13 1 

 (Elec.) 2 



14 1 

 (Elec.) 2 



17 1 



(Coal) 2 



Average ; 



Electric 



Coal 



11:46 

 8:01 



11:371/2 

 9:38 



15:31 

 13:08 



1:33 3:33 

 0:56 2:47 



1:31 

 1:04 



3:161/2 

 2:53 



1:39 3:22 

 1:05 2:54 



3:23 



1:41 



3:31 



2:50 



1:12 3:07 



1:25 2:40 



3:03 0:14 



2:27 0:10 



3:04 0:15 



2:36 0:15 



2:35 3:16 0:19 



2:21 2:31 0:12 



10:151/2 1:16 3:07i4 2:51% 2:471/2 0:13i/2 



14:191/2 1:22 3:08 l:18i/2 2:53i/2 2:28i/2 2:53i/2 0:15y2 



* Regulating and Adjustment: There was very little need of this for either 

 type of brooder after the initial setting had been determined. This column 

 also includes the small amount of time reported for the reading of instru- 

 ments. 



