32 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION 
there was a larger percentage of infertile eggs the third day 
after each cold wave, still there was also a much larger per- 
centage of infertile eggs and weak germs from the birds that 
had the warm water than from the others. There seemed to 
be very little difference between those that had access to snow 
and those given cold water, the latter showing a slightly high- 
er percentage of fertility. Some particular strains (one of 
White Wyandottes in particular) that had a pen in each test 
showed practically no fertility till early in March, while in most 
of the pens it was 65 to 80 per cent., and in the case of the 
birds that were on free range the fertility was above 80 per 
cent. all winter, and the chicks hatched from these eggs were 
exceedingly hardy, while chicks from the pens that were con- 
fined were not so strong, although there were times when the 
fertility seemed fully as good. 
The eggs from the birds in confinement have steadier in- 
creased in fertility as the season advanced, and the chicks have 
been much stronger. A peculiar thing, however, is that there 
is no noticeable difference in fertility of the eggs or vitality 
of the chicks from hens that were confined to the house and 
from those on limited range; although on fully one-third of the 
days this winter the weather would permit the latter to roam 
anywhere about the yards. 
Snow was given to young chicks, Bie the results were dis- 
astrous; although chicks that were reared in out-door brood- 
ers were let run on the snow crust during bright days when 
three weeks old or over, and no serious results followed. 
The time saved by using snow and dry mashes amounted to 
nearly half that required in tending the fowls. The difference 
in egg production between the use of warm and cold water 
can be seen easily by comparing pens 10, 22, 24 and 26 with 
pens 13, 19, 23 and 25. All of these pens contain Barred Rocks, 
and the egg yield averages about the same, though slightly in 
favor of those getting cold water. While both of these methods 
gave a shade better egg production than when snow was given, 
the increase was not enough to pay for the extra labor. 
