The Republican journal., 1902-01-30
Poultry Experiments at the Station.

The Maine Experiment Station is
now mailing Bulletin -, which con-
talnS an account OF experiments in fat
tening chickens for market, the incuba-
tlon of eggs stored under different con-
dltlonS, the relations of mating to fer
tility Of eggs, and breeding for egg pro
ductlon, including the egg record of the
| breeding pens for 1885, 1900 and 1901.
The feeding experiments for growth
| and for market are in continuation of
those reported in Bulletin 81 Compar-
lSons were made between chickens kept
IN small coops and in houses with
yards, 20 learn if close confinement
IN small numbers gives better results
than where larger numbers are kept
together without close croWding. The
results show that close cooping is not
necessary in order to secure the great
est gains in chicken fattening, and that
the chicks made greater gains when
given little liberty than when kept in
close confinement The results Of nu-
merous trials show plainly that with
poultry the periods of cheap and rapid
gains in weight come early in life.
The experiments in incubation in
cluded study of the effects of differ
ent conditions as to air. light temper
ature, transportation, under which the
eggs were kept before being placed in
the incubator. The results of studies
upon the time required to establish fer
tlllty after mating, and the continuance
OF fertility of hens eggs after mating
ceases and the fertility of eggs of diff
ferent shapes are also reported.
For several years past the station
has been breeding Barred Plymouth
Rna1 onl l.,
the hope of increasing the number and
improving the size and color of the
eggs. In 1898 trap nests were devised
and placed in all of the breeding pens
in order that the producing capacities
of hens could be known, and selections
for breeding could be made upon merit
alone. The egg records for these hens
for 1898, 1899 and 1900 are given in de-
tailed tables. While this report is
preliminary one, the following quoted
from the Bulletin indicates what is be-
ing accomplished.
during the three years in which we
have been selecting breeding stock by
use OF the trap nests we have found 80
hens that laid between 200 and PSI eggs
each III year. Twenty six of them
are now IN our breeding pens and con-
stitute-until other additions are made !
to them-the Foundation stock" upon
which our breeding operations are
based. Males for our use have been
raised from them during the last two
years. The number of the foundation
stock, now secured, makes practicable |
the avoidance of inbreeding, ard this |
is to be strictly guarded against, as it
is doubtful if the inbred hen has suffi- |
clent constitution to enable her to
stand the demand of heavy egg produc
ton.
Cali Of the other breeding stock we
are now carrying are tested hens that
have laid over $50 eggs in a year: pull |
lets whose mothers laid over 200 eggs
in one year and whose fathers mothers
lad over 200 eggs in a year; and pull !
lets sired by cockerels whose mothers
and grandmothers laid over 200 eggs in
one year. The size and color Of the
Plymouth Rock eggs are very fine. The
eggs from the Wyandottes are of good
shape and size, but are as yet too light
in color"
Bulletin 70 will be sent free to all
residents of Maine who apply to the
Agricultural Experiment Station,
Orono, Me. In writing, please mention
this paper. |