94 



MAIXE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMEXT STATIOX. 



I9OO. 



seems extravagant, but when it is considered how rapidly 

 chickens mature it is not unreasonable. The practice of suc- 

 cessful poultrymen in selling the cockerels at the earliest market- 

 able age is well founded, for the spring chicken sold at Thanks- 

 giving time is an expensive product. 



The average live weights of the two lots at slaughtering was 

 very nearly alike, viz. 5.88 pounds for the younger and 5.83 

 pounds for the older ones. The young ones were better in 

 appearance, being thicker meated and softer, while the older 

 ones showed a trifle more bone and a little harder flesh. 



The details of the test are given in the tables which follow. 



CHICKENS CLOSELY CONFINED IN" COOPS AND FED TWENTY-ONE DAYS. 



AGE OF CHICKEN'S AT COMMENCEMENT OF TEST— 177 BAY?. 





Chickens. 



Live Weights During Experiment. 









yi 



i 







Increase. 





- 

 z 

 z 



1 



o 



-2 



X 



T. 



a 



Z. 



1 





18.5 

 20.2 

 20.8 



IS. 7 

 22.0 



20.5 

 •21.4 

 22.4 

 20.4 

 23.3 



21.0 



22.6 

 22.8 

 21.0 

 25 . -2 



22.0 



24.4 

 23.5 

 22.4 

 25.4 



M 



4.2 

 2.7 



3.7 



3.4 



.87 

 1.05 



.67 

 .94 

 .So 



17.4 



2 



3 





19.3 

 19.0 



4 

 5 



Four Plymouth Rocks 



Four Plymouth Rocks 



18.6 

 19.3 





100.2 



108. 

 7.S 



112.6 

 4.6 



117.7 







i'i ■ ■' 





5.1 



17.5 



.87 





Pounds of grain mixture required to produce a pound of gain, 8.2. 



TWENTY-FIVE PLYMOUTH ROCK CHICKENS CONFINED IV HOUSE AND 



SMALL YARD AND FED TWENTY-ONE DAYS. 



AGE OF CHICKEXS AT COMMENCEMENT OF TEST— 177 DATS. 



Ltve Weight. 



October 11. 



increase in weight. Total dressed 

 weights. 



November 1. 



Total. Each. 



Lbs. 



121.7 



Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. Lbs. 



144.9 23.2 .92 | 115.2 



Pounds of grain mixture required to produce a pound of gain, 7.63. 



