Show FARM I TOPICS j I SHOULD CHECK ON GROWTH OF CHICKS Flocks May l Be Developing Too Slow Too Fast By Dr tr W V. C C. Thompson Poultry Hus Ilus- bandman Now New Jersey a Agricultural fm Experiment Station l Service It is a part of good business man man- management management management for the poultry producer to know whether his chick flocks arc are growing at about the rate which should be expected of average well w ll bred healthy chicks It may be that the rate of growth being shown by a given lot of 01 chicks is not up to par or it may be that they are growing faster than ex ex- experience experience experience has indicated as being op op- optimum Chick growers therefore should have some sort of standard so that the development of chicks during the growing season may be measured This does docs not mean that it is I necessary for the to weigh all of ot the chicks every week or two He may obtain a good aver nver- average average age by weighing any ten chicks caught at random at each weighing time Average White Leghorn pul pul- pullet pullet pullet let chicks should weigh 39 pounds per at the end of the first month 68 pounds at the thc end of the sixth I week pounds at nt the end of of the the eighth week at the end of the I twelfth week 2 10 at the end of ot 16 weeks and about pounds per I pullets at the end of 24 weeks The seven corresponding weights for for heavy breed pullets such as Rhode Island Reds New or Barred Plymouth Rocks are 18 43 43 83 and pounds p pr r birds These weight standards can be copied on a card and nailed on the feed room door or kept in another convenient place for comparison with average weights of this years year's pullet flocks determined from time timeto to time One need not worry if II pullet flocks are running at just about the level of these standards or somewhat heavier but if they are running at considerably under these standards inquiry should be made as to the probable cause Ex Ex- Experience Experience Ex- Ex Experience teaches that unless pul pul- pullets pullets lets develop at approximately ly these rates they cannot reasonably be ex ex- expected expected to reach laying egg maturity at the normal time and be in con con- condition condition condition I to continue through a long longyear longyear longyear year of normal egg yield Next years year's pullet layers arc ar in inthe inthe inthe the making in this springs spring's chick flocks and this summers summer's growing pullets It is important to keep an eagle cagle eye on their rate of ot growth and make sure that it does d es not de de- depart depart de- de depart part too far from normal expect expect- ancy |