POULTRY-KEEPING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 57, 8 March 1935, Page 14

POULTRY-KEEPING.

AUTUMN FEEDING HINTS.

PREPARING WINTER LAYERS

(By ORPINGTON.)

It may seem to the beginner a little early in the season to advise poultry keepers about feeding their birds for winter eggs, but a/ter the hatching date and management during early rearing, the feeding of the birds from now onwards is most important where winter profits are concerned. To gain the best results, pullets for either laying , or showing must be kept growing steadily during the whole sis months before production. The very hot, dry summer has been inclined to retard growth but encourage early maturity, and many egg producers are going to be faced with a large proportion of pullets laying small eggs, unless they have ample green food and shade for their birds. Once undersized birds have started to lay they will rarely produce standardsized eggs, even after a moult. Milk feeding can be a tremendous help to the poultry farmer in a summer such as this, but must, be used in conjunction with a bulky, non-forcing ration. Pullets fed a good proportion of curd require only bran and pollard to supplement it, With or without an alternative grain feed of mixed wheat, oats or barley. When birds are near laying maize can be included in the grain and a little aiuizc meal in the mash, otherwise pale ?ggs will result, since pullets do not usually get enough tender young grass, even on free range, to keep the yolks a good colour unless just about the time the autumn growth comes away. But much maize fed in conjunction with curd is very forcing for young pullets and is almost bound to have them laying before they are full sized unless the particular strain is a very slow maturing one. Pullets kept intensively or semiintensively are much more apt to lay too early than those on free range or in "folding" units moved to fresh grass each day. Laying Rations Now Jn keeping pullets, that are not laying yet, on a bulky diet, however, it must be remembered that the older birds need different treatment. Early hatched pullets in lay or on the point of production must have a well-balanced ration for egg production. Also the best among the old hens will go on laying at this time of year however they are fed (within reason), but unless they are given egg-making materials, which they cannot get for themselves in dry paddocks or dusty pens, it will be at the expense of their own bodies. This means that, when their moult comes along, they will probably take it very badly and hardly be fit for breeding by next spring. The old layers then must have a sound laying mash as for winter laying, and fan even l>e forced with maize and curd feeding to keep up egg production if they are going to be sold off to make room for the pullets. Pullets already in lay should now htive at least 10 per cent protein in their mash to give them every chance to continue body growth and to allow them to go on producing eggs without too great a strain on the system. Otherwise they will be quite unfit to stand up to autumn and winter laying and will prove unsatisfactory producers. It nlwavs seems unfortunate to see the number of novices who write for advice about June, asking why their pullets are not yet in lay, although they have looked like it for some time. By the time they can change their feeding, according to advice, to a sound laying mash, the profitable egg season is already past and the bird-3 in question would possibly be in lay anyway, following the general early spring seasonal increase in production. Although it is on the spring-hatched pullets that we must rely for autnin eggs, even first-class overyear hens do continue to lay to a remarkable extent through autumn and into winter in the mildest parts of New Zealand, provided their diet is adequate.

BANTAMS FROM SCOTLAND.

Included in the cargo of the Tamaroa, which arrived from London on March 1, was a Sealyhain terrier, bound for Wellington, and some Game bantams for Auckland. The Game bantams have como out from Scotland to the order of R. J. Hay, Takapuna, a member of the Auckland Game Fowl Club. They comprise a trio of Silver Duekwing and a Pile hen. The birds had stood up very well to their long journey.

CUKE FOR BUMBLE FOOT.

A Sandringham inquirer hae six White Leghorns, three of which have some foot trouble on one or both feet. The pad of the foot and the web between the toes are badly swollen. He asks what is the cause <ind cure? Is it infectious and would it have any deleterious effect on the quality of egge laid? The birds are suffering from bumblefoot, caused by dirt collecting on the pad, which by constant pressure produces a corn. These corns often grow to a considerable size, and if untreated may fester, causing severe swelling end inflammation. The corn must be entirely removed with the fingers or a blunt knife, prising up each side until it is free, and all the pus must be squeezed out. The foot should then be bathed in lysol solution, and iodine should be poured in, after which the foot should be bound up to keep out the dirt. Remove the bandage after three or four days for examination, and If pus has reformed it will be necessary to treat again. One treatment, however, usually suffices. You need not feel compunction in inflicting the little pain necessary to perform this operation, for the removal of the corn actually affords the bird immense relief. In mild oeses, where the corn has not festered and its removal doee not causo bleeding, it ie not necessary to bathe or bandage the foot. Bumble-foot is not infectious and cannot possibly have the slightest effect on the quality of the eggs laid. The pain which the bird undergoes, however, combined with the difficulty of walking, may easily be Aiifllcient to put her off the lay. The trouble would never occur if it were possible to examine and clean the feet of the birds, say, every week or ten days._ Sometimes hard lumps of dirt arc embedded in the web between the? toes and cause it to 6tretch to s\ich an extent that when they are removed by pressure from the back they leuve pockets of loose skin. '