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UNIV. OK N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION [Bulletin 238 



DO SLOW FEATHERING BIRDS GROW FASTER? 



Poultrymen, in general, have assumed that slow feathering Rhode Island 

 Reds grow faster than rapid feathering ones. However, when the hirds 

 of a flock were separated into pullets and cockerels and weighed in groups, 

 E. M. Gildow found no apj^reciable difference. 



One group of 1,01G chicks was separated at 15 days into slow feathering 

 and rapid feathering groups. The development of the tail feathers and the 

 extent of wing feather growth were two of the factors that determined the 

 classification. The 4(V3 rapid feathering chicks weighed 94 pounds and 

 averaged .2034 pound apiece : and the other group of 554 slow feathering 

 chicks weighed 112 pounds and averaged .2003 pound. 



Rapid feathering pullets and slow feathering cockerels predominated. 

 When the chicks became cockerels and pullets and 65 days old it was found 

 that the rapid feathering pullets weighed an average of .36 pound more, 



Rapid and slow feathering chicks at 35 days of age 



while the rapid feathering cockerels weighed an average of .3 of a pound 

 less than the slow feathering individuals. 



Very similar results were obtained from another test with 347 Rhode 

 Island Red chicks. (Purnell Fund.) 



PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF COCCIDIOSIS 



Coccidia remain alive in contact with most forms of disinfectants; but 

 recent discoveries have shown that iodine, especially in the free form, kills 

 them. With.this in mind, E. M. Gildow experimented with iodine suspen- 

 soid in poultry houses as a means of preventing the spread of coccidiosis. 

 This treatment was linked with the ordinary sanitary measures used to 

 combat the disease and prevent worm infestations. 



Four lots of broilers of about 1,000 birds each were raised in houses 

 given the iodine treatment. Three treatments were given each flock, one 



