New YorK AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 85 
THE FOOD COST OF THE GROWN PULLET. 
To get some data as to the approximate food cost represented by 
grown pullets produced under ordinary farm methods, records'§ 
were kept, from the egg, of food for the sitting hens, of food for 
the chicks of both sexes up to marketable size, and for the pullets 
to nearly laying maturity. | 
One hundred and more eggs from each of two breeds, Cochin 
and Leghorn, the latter of small-sized strain, representative of 
different types, were incubated under hens. As would-usually, and 
preferably, be the case the Cochin chicks were hatched earlier in 
the season than the Leghorn, the Leghorn eggs having the advantage 
of season and a higher percentage of fertility. Sixty-five per ct. 
of the Cochin eggs and over 83 per ct. of the Leghorn eggs passed 
the last testing. Of the tested eggs about 78 per ct. hatched for 
the Cochins and about 92 per ct. for the Leghorns. Counting all 
losses and accidents in hatching, a fraction over 46 per ct. of all 
Cochin eggs set were represented by strong chicks and a fraction 
over 75 per ct. of all Leghorn eggs set. Considering the cost of 
food for sitting hens and allowing grocery value for eggs used, 
each Leghorn chick cost 40 per ct. less than a Cochin chick. 
Sexes were separated when the Cochin chicks were about 151% 
weeks old and averaged a little over 4 pounds in weight, and when 
the Leghorns were about 12 weeks old and averaged a little over 1.8 
pounds in weight. At the time of separation the Cochin cockerels 
averaged about 4% pounds in weight and the pullets about 3.6 
pounds. The Leghorn cockerels averaged about 2.1 pounds and 
the pullets less than 1.7 pounds. 
The food cost of the increase in weight made by the Cochin 
chicks was over 12 per ct. less per pound than for that made by the 
Leghorns. The cost of food for the Leghorn pullets during the 
next 3% months after the sexes were separated was 35 per ct. 
less per fowl than for the Cochin pullets. Deducting from the 
cost of growing all the chicks the market value of the cockerels at 
the time they were removed, would give a net cost for each Leg- 
horn pullet in November 20 per ct. greater than that of a Cochin 
pullet. With the Cochin chicks the sexes were in about equal num- 
bers, but there were 37 per ct. more Leghorn pullets than cockerels 
—an unusual excess. Had the numbers been equal, at the same 
poultry value and proportionate cost of growing, the net cost of 
“Rpt. 12:214-218 (1893). 
