36 



\. li. A<;r. Experiment Station |Billetix -0)7) 



Difference in Egg Size Between Flocks 



There was a marked difference in flocks in egg-size distribution. The 

 three flocks that were first to reach a point where 75% of the eggs 

 weighed 24 ounces or more to the dozen were selected as "high" flocks. 

 The three that failed to reach this point during the year's production 

 period were considered as "low" flocks. As shown in Figure 14, the 



£5 30 35 40 45 



Age of Flock in Weeks 



50 



55 



60 



Figure 14 — Comparison of three high, three low and average Red flocks 

 in per cent large eggs (24 ounces or over) at various ages. 



three high flocks were consistently higher in per cent of large eggs 

 ■over the entire period. At 50 weeks of age, roughly, 87% of the eggs 

 of the high flocks were above 24 ounces as compared to 61% in the low 

 flocks. The average weight of one dozen eggs from mature birds was 

 26 ounces in the high and 24.13 ounces in the low. Both groups reached 

 the point of maximum egg size at approximately 45 weeks. 



The question arises as to whether or not production was enough 

 greater on these Low egg-size flocks to offset the disadvantage in egg 

 size. The three large egg flocks produced 148.9 eggs per bird and the 

 small egg floeks 150.4 eggs per bird — a difference too small to be sig- 

 nificant. 



THE PROBLEM OF DATE OF HATCH 



The problem of best date of hatch involves expected egg production 

 at different dates, sizes of eggs at different dates, price of various 

 grades at different dates, and cost of raising pullets at different dates 

 of hatch. 



The price received by the farms in this study varied greatly on 

 account of different markets; some sold at wholesale at the door, others 

 shipped to Boston and still others marketed all or part of their eggs at 

 retail. The market quotations of the Boston Globe for the period have 

 •accordingly been used as data for the price problem involved in date of 



