258 



Growth of Chickens. 



[AUG. r 



6. When five weeks old the cold brooders were removed, and 

 the chickens were placed in a large house without perches, 

 remaining there until the end of the full period of twelve weeks \ 

 these houses were in large grass runs ; 



7. During the whole period they were fed in identically the 

 same manner ; and 



8. No attempt was made to force growth. The birds were 

 treated in the natural way. 



The chickens were fed a week longer than in 1904, as they 

 did not make such rapid growth, doubtless due to the very- 

 dry weather in May and June. 



Location. — For the first five weeks the brooders were kept in 

 a paddock on the farm, and moved to fresh ground daily.. 

 Throughout the entire time, careful attention was paid to 

 cleanliness. 



The houses, to which they were removed at the end of 

 five weeks, varied somewhat, but each contained about 234. 

 cubic feet of air space. The runs contained about 280 super- 

 ficial yards each, or about 9 rods, and were laid down in grass.. 

 They were well sheltered on the north by large chestnut trees*- 

 and planted with fruit trees, but additional shelter was provided 

 by means of hurdles. 



Cost of Eggs and Working. — At the time when the eggs were 

 placed in the incubators (March 13th) their market value was 

 slightly under is. per dozen, and in the following calculations, 

 they have been estimated at one penny each. During the season* 

 1904-5 the average of hatching by machine has been 75 "82 per 

 cent, of fertile eggs,* but for the sake of comparison we have- 

 taken the same average as in 1903-4, namely, 70 per cent. 

 Thus, nearly forty-three eggs were required to produce thirty 

 chickens at the time of hatching, and the egg cost of each chicken, 

 when hatched was i'43d. 



The cost for oil burnt in a 100 or 120-egg incubator is about 

 3d. per week (using Majestic oil at 8d. a gallon), and, allowing, 

 four weeks for regulation and complete hatching, this gives- 

 a total of 1 2d. Providing for infertiles taken out, and taking, 

 two lots in one machine, a total of 6d. per lot is reached, to be 

 divided in accordance with the number reared. One brooder 



* See Report on "Artificial Incubation," Journal, May, 1905, pp. 87-96. 



