2jo Growth of Chickens. [aug., 



included in the experiment, and it is now possible to make some 

 comparisons of the results obtained by the different breeds. 



Comparisons. 



The cost of the chickens at thirteen weeks old is arrived at 

 as follows : — 





Lot i 

 29 White 

 Wyandottes 



Lot 2 

 29 Faver- 

 olles. 



Lot 3 

 29 Buff Or- 

 pingtons. 



Lot 4 

 30 Cross- 

 breds. 





d. 



d. 



d. 



d; 



Initial cost of egg 



1-48 



1-48 



1-48 



1-43 



Cost of working incu- 









bator ... 



CT2I 



0*21 



0*21 



0*20 



Cost of working brooder 



0-17 



0-17 



0*17 



o*i6 



Cost of food (average)... 



6-8 



675 



6-5 



5*92 



Average cost per bird ... 



8-66 



8-6i 



8-36 



771 



In 1904 the cost at twelve weeks old of White Wyandottes 

 was 9* id., and of the cross-breds 9'09d. It will be seen from the 

 above that this year the cost is less, although the birds were fedi 

 a week longer, and that the cross-breds are below the pure-breds,. 

 but that is partly explainable by the fact that all Lot 4 were 

 reared. In the above no allowance is made for interest on- 

 capital, rent or labour, as these would vary considerably, and 

 can be calculated by poultry-keepers in accordance with their 

 special conditions. The actual cost, inclusive of eggs, working 

 incubator and brooder, and food, works out as follows : — 

 White Wyandottes and Faverolles, a fraction over 8^d. 

 Buff Orpingtons, 8Jd. ; and cross-breds a little over 



An interesting point is the comparison of the weights of the- 

 birds of each breed at the end of each successive week, as given, 

 in the following table. It will be seen that there was very 

 great variation in the growth in different weeks, though,, 

 generally speaking, similar fluctuations in growth were made 

 in the same weeks by all the breeds. 



Thus the fourth week was a week of considerable growth in 

 each case ; again the eighth week was marked by a great 

 increase in weight, while comparatively small increases occurred 

 in the first three weeks, and again in the fifth, sixth and 

 seventh weeks. 



