14 The University of New Hampshire [Bulletin 338 



Table 3. Moisture Holding Ability of Litters Used 



Litter Absorptive Ability 



4.5 



4.4 



4.4 



4.2' 



4.2 



3.7 



3.d 



3.2 



2.5 



1.4 



0.14 



show that the type of litter used was the factor of most influence. 

 The type of insulation or ventilation did not seem to influence greatly 

 the egg production of the birds or the moisture content of the litters. 



To show the influence of wet litter condition on mortality of 

 laying birds, Table 7 gives a summary of the mortality by pens during 

 the three test periods. 



The total mortality was relatively low and as far as could be de- 

 termined was not closely related to the moisture content of the pen 

 litters. If one were to group the reported figures on the basis of (1), 

 less than 40% moisture in litter and (2), more than 40% moisture in 

 litter and take an average value of the per cent mortality for such 

 grou])ing, it would indicate that those pens under (1) experienced a 

 mortality of 6.02% Avhereas those of (2) had an average mortality of 

 8.04%. 



WATER CONSUMPTION AND SPILLAGE 



During the period January 9 to May 20, 1940, detailed records 

 were maintained in several pens on the amount of water consumed 

 and spilled from the waterers. Figure 8 shows the method of catching 

 the s])illage by the use of inverted metal electric brooder hoods which 

 directed the spillage into a lower, centrally located refrigerator pan. 

 No attempt was made to estimate and allow for loss of water from 

 evaporation or the absorption of small amounts by the dust particles 

 adhering to the cone-shaped hood under the waterer. 



Table 8 presents a summary of the results procured and shows 

 that an estimated average of 22.6 gallons of water are consumed per 

 bird per year. This figure comi)ares favorably with that of 19.9 gal- 

 lons as reported by ?Ieywang (H)- He allowed for 1.24 gallons of 

 water lost as a result of normal evaporation. The per cent of water 

 spilled according to our measurements amounted to 2.15 per cent or 

 .486 gallons per bird per year. The effect of this spillage of water on 



