June, 1942] 



Agricultural Experlment Station 



27 



m' 



Fig. 10. View near edge of dropping board in Pen 15 under 

 LITTER treatment "A", May 1939, showing packed 

 litter condition. 



The relation of the litter moi.sture content to the percentage of 

 egg production in pens 15. 16, and 17 i.s presented in Figure 6. It ap- 

 pears evident that there are two seasonal peaks in egg production and 

 one in litter moisture. The first peak in egg production occurs in 

 October and November, during which time the litter moisture values 

 are at a relatively low level. The second egg- production peak occurs 

 between February to A]:)ril, inclusive, and is associated with the period 

 of highest litter moisture content. Since these peaks of egg produc- 

 tion occur at both high and low litter moisture values, it is apparent 

 that there is no relation between percentage of egg production and 

 percentage of litter moisture. Egg production is primarily depen- 

 dent ujion time of hatch, and upon breeding and management and is 

 independent of the seasonal litter moisture curve. 



SUMM-ARY 



Data have been collected and observations have been made on 

 litter moisture conditions for a period of approximately three years. 

 These observations and data have included poultry pen humidity, 

 temperature and litter moisture content, similar records for litter 

 maintained in a separate "plot" house affected solely by atmospheric 

 conditions, water absorptive capacity and retention values of various 

 litters, rate of moisture increase in litter replacements to poultry pens, 

 egg production, mortality, water consumption and spillage by birds, 

 effect of under floor heat on litter moisture and sources of litter mois- 

 ture. 



The chief sources of litter moisture are (1) poultry droppings, 

 (2) respiration, (3) water spillage by birds and attendants, (4) atmos- 



