Effect of watering systems for floor-reared pullets on subsequent caged laying hen performance.

Two watering system trials were conducted with floor-reared pullets. Trial 1 showed that pullets raised on trigger cups (STC) compared to pullets raised on dome waterers (DW) had significantly better feed conversion and lower mortality. A significant difference was shown between 4 and 5 hens per cage for hen-day egg production and feed per dozen eggs. There were no differences in production responses according to cage waterer availability or for main effect interactions. Trial 2 showed that raising pullets on STC, DW, or a DW to STC change during the rearing phase had no effect on cage laying performance. Mortality trends were shown according to waterer system. Trial differences were hypothesized to be associated with the laying cage waterer type used in each trial; fount cups were used in Trial 1 and TC in Trial 2.

Effect of photoperiod on body weight and reproductive performance of ringneck pheasants.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of exposing ringneck pheasants to different photoperiods on their body weights and reproductive performance. Ringneck pheasants were obtained from commercial sources for the first experiment and from the Pennsylvania Game Commission for the second. Birds were exposed to different periods of nonstimulatory light (8 hr of constant light and 16 hr of darkness daily) before they received 16 hr of light and 8 hr of darkness daily (stimulatory light). Data on body weight, feed consumption, semen volume, fertility, and egg production were obtained. The results indicated that ringneck pheasants grow faster when exposed to a period of nonstimulatory light. It was concluded that, if pheasant hens are to be raised under confinement and receive stimulatory light at 27 weeks of age, they should be exposed prior to that time to at least 6 weeks of nonstimulatory light.