48^ nt3 T V.^tvM^ e/ivCkt-, I ? i Glass, SF.^^ "^ Book N lU /?/^ Poultry Exhibit of the U. S. Department of Agriculture • BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY DIVISION, AT THE EXHIBITION OF THE NEW YORK POULTRY AND PIGEON ASSOCIATION MADISON SQUARE GARDEN. NEW YORK December 31, 1915. to January 5, 1916 IVGOO"— 15 WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 191E Page Two D, Of D. FEB 3 1916 -!? I t-' N6 /^ // ^ Poultry Exhibit of the United States Department of Agriculture ^ ^ PURPOSE OF THIi EXIIIIUT. THE purpose of the Department of Agriculture in exhib- iting some of its birds at this show is to bring to the attention of poultry raisers in a concrete way the practical and experimental work being carried on by the Govern- ment. Through the exhibit the department wishes to make clear that its poultry specialists stand ready, as far as they can, to aid the individual poultry raiser in his problems, as well as, through publications, to make accessible to everybody the results of various experiments and practical information on poultry subjects. The birds shown are not competitors for any prizes. Many of the specimens are exhibited not because they are believed Im:,ij., View of Long Poultry Houst Page T h r e i Poultry Exhibit of the United States Department of Agriculture Bi .oders in Use. to be champion birds of their class, but to indicate the quality of the stock which is being used in the experimental work at the Government Farm. THE GOVERNMENT POULTRY FARM.. The birds come from the department's poultry farm, which is operated in connection with the experimental farm of the Bureau of Animal Industry at Beltsville, Md., 13 miles by trolley from Washington. This poultry plant is equipped with incubators for handling 2,000 eggs, and with model poultry houses for 2,500 birds, providing 90 separate pens and runs for 90 flocks of birds. In addition the plant contains a separate building for the housing of cockerels, with special pens for selective breeding. The entire plant is designed to provide ideal, sanitary equipment for the feeding and handling of birds. The aim, however, has been to use only such equip- ment as would be practicable in cost and nature for the regular poultry raiser. The farm provides also varied conditions for the unrestrained range of chickens and for their handling and feeding under ordinary conditions. Page Four Poultry Exhibit of the United States Department of Agriculture From 1, 800 to 2,000 chicks are hatched each year. The breeds kept are those which are commonly regarded as the most valuable for the farm, and include Barred and White Plymouth Rocks, White Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, and Buff Orping- tons. There are also a Hock of White Leghorns and one of Buff Leghorns. EXPERIMENTAL WORK AT THE FARM. vStudies are being made of the feeding of hens on various rations, including those in which the hen balances her own ration, rations in which fish meal forms a part, etc., vising only simple rations of widely available feeds. Hens are being trap- nested, and matings are being made to determine the possi- bility of inbreeding, and in certain instances to fix types desired in the flock. No birds are retained in the flock which have a disqualification that would bar them under the rules of the American Standard of Perfection. The results being obtained indicate that it is possilile to com- bine utilitv and standard breeding to a practical degree. For example, a Rhode Island Red male of good type and color has Small Colony Growing House and Chicks Inclosed by Portable Fence. Page Five Poultry Exhibit of the United States Department of Agriculture Cockerel House. proved to be especially prepotent with respect to producing daughters with an ability to lay well. Last year the daughters of this male were all good winter egg producers, and averaged over 150 eggs for the year. In 191 5 all of his daughters proved to be good winter layers, and up to date are ahead of last year's hens in production. Some of the offspring of this high producer are on display. Specialists are conducting studies in poultry breeding, and for the determination of the relative advantages, as regards egg production, of different methods of handling and different rations. The department also is devoting special attention to improving the conditions of the market egg, these studies covering the production of the market egg from the farm to the countrv store. In this connection the specialists are giving special attention to the keeping qualities of the infertile &gg. (See egg poster on exhibit showing the difference between the keeping qualities of the fertile and infertile egg.) In Washington and in the field specialists are conducting turkey and guinea-fowl investigations, including incubation, breeding, feeding, housing, and management. Another special study has to do with the management of turkeys, with the object of working out methods for prevention of excessive mor- tality. The department has charge of the study of the pro- duction of ostriches carried on at Glendale, Ariz. Page Six Poultry Exhibit of the United States Department of Agriculture The specialists cooperate with other branches of the depart- ment and with the vState agricultural colleges in establishing and assisting poultry clubs designed to interest boys and girls in raising chickens, and to teach them the best methods of handling poultry for the production of eggs. INVITATION To VISIT THE FARM. To all poultry raisers the department extends a cordial invitation to visit its poultry plant. Those wishing to visit the farm are invited to call at the Office of Poultry Investigations, Animal Husbandry Division, Bureau of Animal Industry, 1358 B street SW., which is opposite the grounds of the United vStates Department of Agriculture. Arrangements will there be made for the reception of visitors by those in charge of the work at the farm. As has been said, the specialists of the department will be glad to supply special information in response to individual requests, or to see that poultry raisers interested receive literature of the department. MOTION PICTURES. In connection wdth this show, motion-picture films of the work at the Government Poultry Farm will be exhibited. Framework of Large Portable Colony House. Page Sc I' CI Poultry Exhibit of the United States Department of Agriculture PUBLICATIONS ON POULTRY. The department has published the following Farmers' Bulletins dealing with various phases of poultry raising, which will be supplied free to ap- plicants on application to the Bureau of Animal Industry or to the Divi- sion of Publications, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C: Standard Varieties of Chickens. InTo. 51. Turkeys: Standard Varieties and Manage- ment. No. No. No. No. Important Poultry Diseases. No. 530. The Orjianization of Boys' and Girls' Poultry Clubs. No. 562. Poultry House Construction. No. 574. Natural and Artificial Incubation of Hens' Eggs. No. 585. Shipping Eggs by Parcel Post. No. 594. Natural and Artificial Brooding of Chickens. No. 624. A Simple Trap Nest for Poultry. No. 682. Squab Raising. No. 684. Duck Raising. No. 697. Eggs and Their Uses as Food. Poultry as Food. No. 182. The Guinea Fowl. No. 234. Poultry ^Management. No. ;87. A Successful Poultry and Dairy Farm. 355- Marketing Eggs Through the Creamery. 445- Capons and Caponizing. No. 452. Hints to Poultry Raisers. No. 528. In addition to these Farmers' Biilletins, a number of technical papers on various phases of the subject have been issued. Some of the more important of these are given in the list below. These publications the de- ])artment will furnish free as long as the supply for free distribution lasts. They are issued in limited editions, however, and when the department's supply is exhausted copies can be obtained only by purchase from Super- intendent of Documents, Washington, D. C, to whom should be sent the price named, in currency or post-ofhce money order (stamps not accepted). Commercial Fattening of Poultry. 1914. 55 pages, illustrated. (Agri. Bui. 21.) Paper, loc. Fattening Poultry. 1911. 60 pages, illustrated. (Animal Ind. Bui. 140.) Paper, loc. Improvement of Farm Egg. 1911. 43 pages, illustrated. (Animallnd. Bui. 141.) Paper, loc. Care of Farm. Egg. 1913. 52 pages, illustrated. (Animal Ind. Bui. 160.) Paper, 15c. Brood Coops for Hen and Chicks. V LIBRARY OF CONGRESS '■iiiii'.taiiii'a 002 839 877 3