24 



X. II. Age. Experiment Station [Bulletin 265 



In contrast to this the feed consumption per dozen eggs in old hen 

 flocks varied from 6.7 lbs. in March with 50' < production to the very 

 high requirement of 60.8 lbs. in November, when production was only 

 .")', . Old hen flocks took over nine times as much feed per dozen eggs 

 in November as in March. Of course, while these weekly comparisons 

 are interesting, the situation over the year period is of much greater 

 significance. However, a study of Figure 5 does indicate that, on the 



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£ 



SlS *5 £ 3 Is* ^ J 



41 





Wax Bcginning 



Figure 5 — Weekly feed consumption per dozen eggs in 6 old hen flocks 



(heavy breeds) 



average, old hens are carried several months in the fall at a consider- 

 able net feed cost. It is roughly estimated, for instance, that in the 

 four months of October, November, December and January the product 

 of 100 old hens assuming average rate of mortality and culling would 

 be 121 dozen eggs, worth approximately $70, while the feed cost would 

 be 2995 pounds, or approximately $75. Thus, under price conditions at 

 the time of the study the income from egg production from old hens 

 was not sufficient to cover feed cost from October to February. In 

 this case, the poultryman has much the same problem that the dairy- 

 man has with respect to carrying dry cows over a long period. 



Mortality MORTALITY AND CULLING 



The average mortality of the laying flock based on the maximum 

 number of birds was 16.9 per cent. In other words, out of 100 birds 

 housed in the fall 16.9 died before the year was up. The actual number 

 that died averaged 217.6 birds per farm. The per cent mortality figure 

 was obtained by dividing the actual number that died (217.6) by the 

 maximum number of birds (1290.3) housed per farm. The mortality 

 per farm ranged from f).(i to 35.9%. Only 5 farms had less than 10% 

 mortalitv on layers; 6 farms had from 10-15%; 4 farms had from 15- 

 20% ; and 8 farms had over 20%. 



