Sept., 1941] PROTEIN REQUIREMENTS OF CHICKENS 7 



protein and fish meal fed groups followed in the order named, with 

 the latter requiring 10.299 pounds of feed. 



All groups had started production previous to 24 weeks of age. 

 Table 6 indicates the days in production for each group. Since the 

 test terminated on the same day for all groups, those showing the 

 most days in production were the first to start. Group 9 (19% dried 

 skimmilk) started production before all others. This occurrence is 

 just the reverse of that mentioned in Station Bulletin 312 — the dried 

 skimmilk fed groups "were somewhat slower in sexual maturity than 

 were the other groups. Other than this, protein percentage of ra- 

 tion or kind of protein did not significantly influence date of sexual 

 maturity." The results this year using floor management rather than 

 cage management are in harmony with the last statement but with- 

 out exception for the milk groups. 



PRODUCTION PERIOD (24-70 WEEKS) 



As previously mentioned, at the start of the twenty-four week 

 period all groups were reduced in number to 15 females each. Rec- 

 ords of feed, weight and production were maintained for compara- 

 tive studies. 



All groups reached standard body weight or better by 50 weeks of 

 age but throughout the production period the weights varied con- 

 siderably. (See Table 2.) During the later period of production 

 body weights per bird in all groups were reduced but in no group 

 did the average fall below 5 pounds. 



The total feed consumption per bird during this period, as shown 

 in Table 3, varied from 91.2 pounds to 94.19 pounds. Generally, these 

 figures are considered quite uniform and with but little preference 

 between groups. There appears to be little relationship between 

 the protein content of the ration and the total feed consumed. The 



TABLE 2C. SUMMARY OF WEIGHT RECORDS IN POUNDS PER BIRD BY STATED 

 WEEKLY PERIODS FOR DRIED SKIMMILK GROUPS 



Group 7 Group 8 Group 9 



1 day ^3907 !0890 .0912 



4 weeks .4280 .4815 .5130 



8 weeks 1.381 ^ 1.624 1.490 



12 weeks 2.450 2.825 2.625 



16 weeks 3.350 3.450 3.450 



19 weeks 3.825 4.150 3.950 



23 weeks 4.400 4.650 4.275 



27 weeks 4.900 4.900 4.700 



31 weeks 5.150 5.100 5.250 



35 weeks 5.200 5.200 5.150 



39 weeks 5.250 5.300 5.050 



43 weeks 5.400 5.350. 5.200 



47 weeks 5.700 5.800 5.350 



51 weeks 5.700 5.700 5.450 



55 weeks 5.450 5.500 5.350 



59 weeks 5.300 5.350 5.300 



63 weeks 5.350 5.000 5.200 



67 weeks 5.150 5.300 5.250 



70 weeks 5.125 5.000 5.166 



