Poultry Keeping

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 139, 14 June 1929, Page 15

Poultry Keeping

V By R. J. TERRY

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS,

SINCERITY. —If the birds have roup in the month remove all the cheesy-like growths if there Is a growth In the bronchial tube, so that the bird is often purple in the face when breathing, it would be best to kill it. The growths in the mouth should be washed with a good germicide, which should also be put in the drinking water, so that the trouble does not spread. Birds standing by themselves and appearing to be sick may have a growth in the throat which would account for the difficulty in breathing, but if, on examination, you find the throat clear and the droppings of the bird are green and white and very loose, that there is still food in the crop and the bird is not eating, then in all probability the trouble is contagious enteritis. The same germicide should be put in the drinking water. KHAKI. —If you put an advertisement in "Poultry wanted column" in this paper, you would be certain to have your wants supplied. E.M.S. —Buttermilk has several feeding advantages over ordinary milk. It contains a bacteria which feeds on putrifactive bacteria, therefore the fowl's digestive tract is in better order. The most common trouble as regards buttermilk is to obtain a supply which is clean and free from harmful bacteria. If you could obtain dried buttermilk, as in America and Australia, this trouble would be over* come, because there buttermilk is prepared scientifically and cannot be contaminated with harmful bacteria. The feeding value of dried buttermilk would be very great Indeed. TUBERCULOSIS IN FOWLS.

EGGS APPARENTLY IMMUNE. PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES. Tuberculosis, or in other words consumption, in fowls is sufficiently prevalent in New Zealand to merit the serious attention of poultry-keepers. There is very little danger, if any, to the public who consume poultry products. The bacteria of consumption has never yet been found in an egg. Further, in the cooking of poultry, owing t8 there being no great depth of flesh as would be in the case in, we will say, a joint of pork, the heat penetrates sufficiently through all parts to kill the bacteria. Still there is a certain amount of danger in dressing the bird, or of another bird or animal consuming portions of the internal organs. For some years it has been a matter of controversy whether tuberculosis is intercommunicable from birds to humans and vice versa. My object is to point out to poultry people that they should at once discard any affected or apparently affected birds purely from a commercial view, as they would not be profitable. The disease exists extensively among many large poultry plants, but seldom kills enough fowls at one time to excite the alarm of the owner. It does not take an epidemic form, but its existence in a flock constitutes a steady drain, and, being only a steady drain, does not cause sufficient alarm, the losses being too evenly distributed. It affects adult birds chiefly. ■' e y..' Symptoms of the Disease. v There seems to be no noticeable symptom until the disease has progressed far enough to cause extreme loss of flesh and weakness. In such cases the breast muscles are found to be wasted away and the light weight is very noticeable. In the last stages of illness the affected bird crouehos, apparently from weakness. -The pale comb, ruffled fea,thers, unnatural gait and general attitude are features that attract attention to the victims of the disease. Diseased birds should be destroyed and burnt before they reach this final stage. I have noticed that a percentage of birds which are affected show tuberculosis nodules on the skin of various parts of the body. These may consist of single spherical masses, each surrounding the roots of a feather, or more often consist of larger inasses. These signs are fairly common in some of our so-called table poultry. Facts concerning the length of time that fowls usually live when infected have not yet been fully secured. A hen inoculated by injecting crushed tubercular liver into the abdomenal cavity died in six weeks of generalised tuberculosis.

It is very seldom tliat the lungs are affected, in birds as would be the case ill humans or animals. In most cases the liver is ciffected, being found enlarged and studded throughout with large yellow nodules of a more or less cheesy consistency, varying greatly in size and quantity in different cases. The nodules are readily separated from the surroundin? liver tissues. Poultvymen generally refer to this condition as "liver coniplaint" or "going light," "spotted liver,-' etc. The in a fowl is not a long, ribbon-like organ, but a small rounded purple orcan about half an inch in diameter. It is frequently affected bv tuberculosis, and in consequence greatly ■enlarged. Rounded "masses of varying size may be found in the walls of any part of the intestines. The mesentary, the .thin membrane to the border of which the intestines _ is attached, is occasionally dotted with nodular masses. As before. stated the luno-s are seldom affected. Alterations of the bones, joints or other organs occur more rarely, and are not so readilv recognised as the chanires described. Most birds badl v affected with tuberculosis are very lean, but there are executions; a bird may be verv fat. and yet be in the last stages of the disease. Tt depends on what form the disease takes and what part of the body or organs it attacks. Detection and Eradication. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by organisms known, as tubercle bacteria, which gain entrance to certain organs of the body and multiply there. The nodular growths so constantly found in tuberculosis are caused by the presence of these bacteria in the affected regions. The spread of tuberculosis from one fowl to another occurs only when conditions permit the transfer o the live tubercle bacteria more or less directly from the diseased to the healthy. The presence of tuberculosis growths in the walls of the intestine and in the liver sugcrest. that the tubeicle bacteria enters the body with the ooc. The conclusion that they are liberated through the intestine is unavoidable. That' the droppings of fowls is affected with tuberculosis must, therefore, oe regarded as an important factoi in spread of the disease. The practice of , feeding soft food from the « ro affords the best opportunity of contamination of the food with f) ?. 5 .!., P. pings, and there exists a possibility of conveying infectious material by .tne feet to the food. ~ There is 110 known remedy for tne cure of tuberculosis ill the fow . - birds should be killed as. *00" as tne existence of the disease is * "J. It is useless to attempt treatment.

The disease must be controlled by measures designed to keep the healthy fowls separated from the diseased ones.

Medical men and bacteriologists tell | us that tubercle bacteria cannot remain alive after fifteen minutes' exposure to the direct sunlight. So do away with that dark, closed-in poultry house, pull out one side or end, either the north or east, and replace the timber by wire netting. Do not have poultry runs overshadowed. Some of the inhabitants around 'the suburbs have a decided inclination to shut off the poultry run from sight of the house or the other portion of the garden, and when one makes a close inspection, one does not wonder at the attempt to hide it. But why should this be so? If the trees or shrubs were cut, or partly cut down, so that the sun could reach the soil, it would never be in the filthy state in which many are at present. A row of trees will even spoil a road if the sun cannot reach it. How much more so an overcrowded poultry yard? Let the sunlight in, kill off the sick birds, and you have nothing to fear. EGG-LAYING. AUCKLAND POULTRYKEEPERS CONTEST RESULTS ELEVENTH WEEK. The eleventh week of the Auckland Poultrykeepers' eleventh single-bird and team contest ended on Sunday. The following are the leading birds and teams to date, the figures in parentheses being the weekly totals, and the last set the team aggregates: —

SINGLE BIRD COMPETITION. All breeds (32 birds).—Mrs; I. Dimant, Light Sussex (5)„ 57; Mrs. 0. Olsen, White Leghorn (1), 56; Mrs. M. Dickey, White Leghorn (5), 56; R. S. Higginbotliam, Black Orpington ( —), 5»; Air. Stewart, Black Orpington ( —), 50; Lucerne Poultry Farm,. Black Orpington (2), 43; A. H. Clark, Black Orpington (4), 43; B. R. Arnott, Black Langshan (7), 42; Lucerne Poultry Farm, White Leghorn ( —), 42 ; C. Dustan, White Leghorn (4), 42 ; S. G.-Batten, White Leghorn (3), 42; Mrs. R. S. Higginbotham, No. 3, White Leghorn (1), 41; John Black, Black Orpington ( —), 41; Mrs. R. o. Higginbotham, No. 1, White Leghorn (1), 40; Mrs. Alf. Stewart, White Leghorn (—), 39- A. F. T. Ansley, Black Orpington (4). 38: A. Wilson, Black Orpington (4), 36; H. Astbury, White Leghorn ( —), 35 ; Mrs. L. Muir, Black Orpington (—), 34; Lucerne Poultry Farm, Black Langshan (2) 34;. Mrs. A. Z. Nixon, Black Orpington (2), 31; Mrs. I. Dimant, White Wyandotte (3), 31; Mrs. I. Dimant, White Leghorn ( —•). 31; L. G. Bedford; White Leghorn (—), 28; Mrs. R. S. Higginbotham, No. 2, White Leghorn (—), 25; W. L. Conway, White Leghorn (4), 24; Sam James, Black Orpington (5), 23; A. Taylor, White Leghorn (6), 13. TEAM CONTEST—FOUR BIRDS. LIGHT BREEDS SECTION. White Leghorns (53 teams).—Tom Ingham (7), 211; Walter Hamer (8), 211; G. H Parker (—), 193; E. J. Mathews (o). 193; B. R. Arnott (0), 192 ; C. T Richards (18), 192; Mrs. M. A. Parker (10), 18J; Mrs. 0. Olsen (5), 188; J. L. Fray (7), 188; J. W. Manifold (2). 187; Sam James (5), 180 ; L. A. McNabb ( —). 177; J. Havern nnd Son (2), 172; Clias. Collins ( ), IG7; A. J. McLean (13), 166; H. Astbury (—), 165; T. A. Harrison (6), 160; R. J. Roberts (4), 158; S. G. Batten No. 1 (9) 155; J. V. Booth and Son (1), loo; F. S. Allen (—), 147 ; S. G. Batten, No. 2 (2) 147; J. Nixon (2), 146; H. Hitchcock (7)', 143; Mrs. L. Pickard (l), 141; Mrs. R. S. Higginbotham (3). 138; Mrs E M. Baggstrom (4), 138; W. H. Oliver (-). 134: Alf | Stewart (—), 129; rye s Welling Poultry Farm (2), 128: J. W. Williams ( —). 129; Mrs. Leo Ayling ( —). 12a ; IN. E McKav ( —). 127; A. Taylor, No. 1 (3). 119: A. Taylor. No. 2 (—), 113: Lucerne Poultry Farm (3), 111; R. rearson (—), 111; Mrs. I. Dimnnt ( —), 109 ; G. E. Moody (—), 109; H. Loger (—). 103: .T. B Miller and Son (1). 100: Lucerne Poultry Farm (—), 06: Dustin Bros. (—). 04; A. Bush (—). 04: H. G. Morris (5), 02 ; Miss G. Johnston ( —). 87: Mrs. 11. G. Hunt (2>, 85; R. Woodcock (2). B_. Black Minorcas. —A. Wood ( —). 87. HEAVY BREEDS SECTION. Black'.Orpingtoii (35 teams).—J. N. McLean (18). 237; H. Astbury. fto. 1 UP). 22.3- J. Slater (11), 212; Walter Hamer (3)'188: P. P. Jensen (11), 187; Lucerne Poultry Farm. No. 1 (14), 182; lucerne Poultry Farm. No. 2 (7), 1(8, Miss G. Johnston (7). 176: Mrs. L. Mmr (8), 17j>: T. E. 11. Evans (3). 172: C. H. Oliver (o_), 170; Les. Batkin (8), 164; A. H. Clark (;>), 163: Pve's Welling Poultry Farm (7), 1 ; >4; H. Astbury, No. 2 (11), 143; J. M™n <41. 142- E. J. Tavlor (6), 141; E. Gubb (»;, 130: C. Dunstan (6), 137; Matai Poultry Farm (6). 128: Alf. Stewart No. 2 (19). 134: Alf. Stewart. No. 1 (11). Ho; E. J. Matthews (6.1, 113: Mrs. H. E.Worsp (19) 112: J. Black (C). 112: J. H- Burgess ( ), ii2i: Miss C. E. A. Purvis (13). Ill; .T. C. Nesfleld (13). 109: F A. Powell (7). 102; Sam. James (2). 9i>; Lucerne Poultry Farm, No. 3 (12). 77: A. F. T. Ansley (9), 68: A. Wilson (8). 67.' __ _ Rhode Island Reds (3 teams).—J- H. Kissling. No. 1 (7), 153; J. 11. Kissl.ng, No. 2 (2). 110. r White Wyandottes (3 teams).— L. G. Bedford (16). 147: .T. C. .Tames (—). 68 Light Sussex (2 teams).—W. Bish (14), 00: Mrs. I. Dimant (12), 34. Black Langshans (2 teams).—H. Harrison (8), 84; Mrs. I. Dimant (4), <0.

duck section. Khalci Campbells (7 teams). Cameron Finlavson (7). .207: M. G.- l>«'h (-31, 205: R. B. Cruickshank (17). 201, 1 J. Bates (20). 134; Leo Ayling (2d), 13-, Mrs. A. M. Moor (17). 131. Pekins (1 team). —W. Mayn (10). 0-. Fawn and White Indian Runners (6 teams). —-T. .Teckell and Co. (18) 241, Tlios. Dowtliwaite, No. 1 (22). 108; Mrs. I Dimnnt (18), 155; Tlios. Dowtliwaite, No ° (18) 122; T. ,T. Bates (15). 7i>. White Indian Runners (4 teams) — IJ, K. Arnott (23>. 266; .T. A. Hanham (13). 232, T E. H. Evans (13), 220; Tlios. McKay (19)," 204.