BY L. C. OPPERMAN 83 



(1) The results of hatches one and two indicate that the influence of 

 environmental conditions were not positive enough to be of significance. 

 The percentage of deaths to total chicks for hatch one would show that the 

 progeny of pen I (tight house) were stronger than those of any other pen. 

 While the above statement may be correct, mention should be made of the 

 fact that the offspring from the six experimental houses were so near alike 

 in the matter of vitality, that it was impossible to say positively which one 

 gave the best results. 



(2) That for hatch three there is a noticeable variation in favor of 

 pen 6. It is also apparent, with the exception of pens I and VI, that the 

 mortality was greater than in the previous broods. This increased death 

 rate was due to the intense hot weather, and to placing this hatch in yards 

 which had been used by a previous lot of chicks. These disadvantages, 

 however, were shared alike by all pens. 



The variations as mentioned above cannot be associated with the 

 environmental conditions. This point is made clear by comparing the per- 

 centage of deaths in hatch two with those of the following hatch. Such a 

 comparison would show that the death rate for pen I in hatch three was 

 identical to that of hatch two. This would indicate that the chicks of this 

 pen were fully as vigorous as were those of pen VI. Even granting that 

 they were not, their percentage of deaths is so much less than that of the 

 chicks from the other fresh-air houses that it is impossible to charge the 

 results of this hatch to housing conditions. 



In order to determine, with some degree of certainty, the influence of 

 construction on the offspring of pullets of the first generation, the conditions 

 under which the parent stock are confined would have to be of a more 

 extreme nature than was the case in this experiment. 



THE INFLUENCE ON THE PROGENY DURING THE SECOND YEAR 

 The important points to be noted in the brooding record of the second 

 year are : 



(1) That the progeny of pen VI were more vigorous than those of any 

 other pen. 



(2) That the offspring from the tight house were fully as resistant as 

 those of any pen except VI. This would indicate that the parent stock 

 were still vigorous in spite of their abnormal housing conditions. All 

 results point to the fact that the most desirable conditions for maintaining 

 the vigor and productive power of the breeding stock are those found in the 

 open-front house with exposed roost. It cannot be too strongly empha- 

 sized, that fresh air and freedom for the breeding stock are very essential if 

 the poultryman is to renew his flock successfully. 



