POULTRY-KEEPING

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1927, Page 12

POULTRY-KEEPING

m (By K. J. TKRKY.i ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. jI.EtiHOKN iK.ictihi).—Write me again *t ; micp. stating whether you want to p\i liihir thi , binls in utility classes or iust exhibition birds, n* ilii> points vary { somewhat. •TEKPLEXKn.—Vpk. Hi.- fiu-t of the lions J iretting into your neichlionr"* paddock of rape would !•»■ quite siiflj.-irnt In discolour tin- pkcs. Kape is good gn-cti f<»>il for growing stuck l>ut nut for laying hens, although the pge is ili'prifiatrO only in ii|ipi'iinino>. Still, the tact remains that appearance does numt. ami yon must cater for it. Although I would know th» j reason for the discolouration, I don't think I would mjoy the eggs. IiKtiIXXKII (I'apatoefoe).- It Is |.ro|Kll.ln j tlio birds would continue t«> lay soft eggs. First, they started too young, and. μ-i--olidly. jon should not f.-.-d meat meal if joii art- piviiitf much milk. The nvat meal may also account for thp diarrhora. Is.- altiuini-n mini inslPiui. I would ad > iso your cutting down tlip rations of flip pullets that commenced to lay too rnrly. till thpy erase laying, thpn lot them commence apuin. nhiMi tln» rcjrs would proliilMy b.- normal. Tlipii give oitlipr milk or albunu-n meal, but not both. or. if >"U (h> give both, cut down the uuanllty. POf'KKT MOXKY n> Aroha).—Th.- idea nl" scalding curds is in enable you to get riil of a large proportion of the whey. ami so the birds really pat inorp of Hip solids of the milk. If the birds don't get an abundance of green stuff. It would Iμ- advisable to have at least one drinking vessel tilled With whe\. See (hat it is kept vpry clean. You'will see thai I am complying with your request lower j down. I think it would | )C useful. IHMMIE. —No. there is no occasion to look for stinging nettle tops and boil them f->r jour fowls. If you think their blood is overheated (which is improbable), put a little sulphur in the mash, and give more green stuff. Pleased the

column has been of assistance. I WORRIED (Hamilton).—lf the trouble on the comb first appeared as white or jrreyish white patches, somewhat scurfy in appearance, ami then went down the'neck ••I the bird, taking off the feathers, it is I faviis. I'rohahl.v your poultry house is . dark, and not very ilenn. Sunshine is a ;Mod preventive. Now it would be best !•> din all ihf bend in n solution of miracle. l> careful to wash your hands. especially if you have any cuts or scratches. Keep your rhlldren nwav from the birds till thev are clean, or the trouble may develop on their scalps. SOME TECHNICAL TERMS USED BY POULTRYKEEPERS. A.O.C —Any other colotir. A.O.V.—Any other variety. . A balanced ration really means a perfect ration, and it should be altcrvd or modified at various seasons of the year, and the condition of the fowls to keep it perfect. Roughly, the meaning is taken in repaid to the amount of nitrogenous matter in proportion to the carbohydrates. Barred.—Dark and light straight markings across the feather. Bean.—A dark marking on a duck's head. Beefy.—Applies to a large coarse, meaty fowl, jnst as one would say a cow was too beefy to be a good milk - ing type. Bloom.—That general appearance of sheen associated with health and a finished show condition, gloss on feathers, etc. Brassy.—Yellow feathers on shoulders and hackles of cockerels, especially in the white breeds, which is accentuated by exposure to the sun and iron tonic?, especially when the birds are moulting. Breast.—From point of breast bone tu base of neck in live fowls, the breast meat in table fowls. Breed.—A certain species of fowl having particular characteristics which are reproduced in the progeny. Brood.—Xuniber of chicks under one hen. Brooder House.—A house or compartment larger than coops for brooding chicks. It may be a receptable for holding several coops, or -nay be one large coop in itself. Brows.—The ilesh above the eye. In most cases when they are prominent if. is a bad fault except in certain fancy breeds such as the Malay fowl. Capon. —A mile bird from which the organs of reproduction have l>een removed. The bird ceases to crow, the feathers grow soft and abundant, the bird accumulates flesh. It may be compared as regards its physical condition to the difference between a bullock and a bull.

Carriage.—The general appearance of a bird standing or moving. The appearance and carriage is quite different in .1 highly bred healthy bird, and a poor specimen not in health. Just ns one would t»ay a racehorse looks fit or thnt he is "off colour," and docs not walk as if he were well. Chick.—Xewly hatched and up to about three months old. Chicken.—From three months to adults. Clean Legged.—When the poultry fancier uses this term be does not mean free from scale although the leg of course should be free, but free from any sign of feather on the leg or even stubs of feathers. Cobby.—Sometimes the word block y is used and denotes that the bird is compact, sturdily built. There is the appearance of a veil-knitted strong frame. Cock Breeder.—This is applied to birds, male or female, which are known to produce better exhibition males than females. In certain breeds, such as Barred Plymouth Rocks or Brown Leghorns, it is necessary to have two pen's, 1 one for breeding exhibition male birds and the other exhibition females. The birds in the breeding pens would be termed cockerel or pullet breeders. Cockerel.—A young male bird under twelve months but in some countries there is a date on which he becomes an adult bird, irrespective of the date on which he was hatched. | Colonj r House.—A movable house to accommodate up to, say, fifty birds. The houses are supposed to be placed in open paddocks and frequently shifted. Poultry writers quote colony houses to a great extent and they look nice in pictures but they don't work quite as well in practice. The wheels or the runners on which they are supposed to be moved have a way of sinking into a newly ploughed paddock, from the ground of

which the birds were supposed to find worms, grubs, etc. T) .are also supposed to he placed on the stubble after harvest, but here in the Xorth Island there would be danger of fire in many cases. Colony coops for chickens are practicable if small. Comb.—Fleshy portion above the head without any feather covering. Comb Over.—Comb dropping over to one side as in hens or pullets, therefore, it is only a fault in male birds. Condition.—The general appearance and state of a bird's plumage and general show get up. Coop.—Any small shelter which will confine the hen and chicks or it may have a slatted front to confine the hen and the chicks run free. Coverts.—Wing coverts or bars applied to feathers that partly cover slilT flight feathers of the wings. Tail Coverts.—Small curved fenthei* at the base of the tail. Cradle Comb.—A term sometimes npplied to the rose comb such as that »i the Wynmlott*. t

i Cranmivr.—A machine which is really a |>iini[> with a reservoir for forcing food into the crop, of the bird for fattening. It is not tiM-d lieip in New Zealand but is ipiite common in some parts of the continent of Kurope and in Great Britain. Crest.—Tuft of feather? on top of head. t Crop.— The receptacle at the bottom ; of nock where the food is held till it i« . required l>y the {.'i/.zard. It i* also moistened with saliva and certain socre- . timis which affect digestion. Cull.—A weedy fowl or one which ha« . siime fault*, in other word- a bird you . di« not require.