Protein Requirements of Growing Pullets

The amount of protein from certain sources and with certain basal rations (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) required to rear chicks during the first 10 to 12 weeks of the growing period has been definitely measured and rations have been formulated which supply an adequate amount of protein during this early period. So far as we know the optimum amount of protein for pullets for the period extending from 10 or 12 weeks of age to maturity has not been determined for any given protein supplement with any specific basal ration. Atwood6 has reported that a poorly-balanced ration, fed to chicks from one week of age to maturity, reduced the rate of growth, the mature weight of the females, and the number of eggs laid, and increased the age at which the first egg was laid, but had little, if any, effect upon the weight of eggs laid. This poorly-balanced . . .