POULTRY KEEPING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 223, 20 September 1935, Page 16

POULTRY KEEPING.

CHICKS FOR STOCK. FEEDING SCHEDULE

(By ORPINGTON.)

Time was when September-hatched chicks were considered the early hatched ones. Still, September is the first of the normal hatching months and there is always the greatest demand for hatching c gg s and day-old chicks then and in October, when the broodies are about. Consequently there is a temptation to breeders to sell more than tlicy perhaps should then, and to use and sell any eggs that may be fertile whether they are really lit for production of stock or not. Experience teaches that the only sure procedure for the safeguarding of one's own laying Hock and luture breeders is, in the lirst place, to decide before the popular season exactly how many chicks and from which pens young birds are required to replenish and possibly increase one's own stock, and to stick to the decision arrived at; sccond, to let any two-year-old hens that are good layers but not sufficiently good for breeding purposes run with the ununited pullets. No moving will put them off lay at this season and I lie eggs are better to be infertile for selling to customers for preserving. And third, decide now to finish hatching definitely by the middle of October—unless perhaps for ducks-—and resolve, if more chicks are wanted by customers, to start earlier next year. Neglect of any of these three points is apt to result in disappointment in one's own stock by the time the pullets' laying season is here.

Knowing the average rate of maturity of one's own stock, it is comparatively simple to arrive at which hatches it is wise to keep. For the sake of customers, when selling growing pullets it is as well to realise that the check in their progress that inevitably occurs with a journey and change of quarters puts them back about a fortnight as far as laying age goes. It is only practical economy to sell the whole of one hatch of chicks (as day-olds) and keep the whole of another, rather than sell some chicks out of each hatch and be left with small batches that take as much looking after as big lots and run ill together later on. When the latter is allowed to happen, the profit m<ule on chicks sold is soon lost in extra labour and the loss on bullied chicks when more than one age are run together. Would-be purchasers of dav-olds should realise this and make their arrangements early in the season, or at least bear the breeder no ill will when he refuses to sell.

Regular Feeding. Like all animals, and particularly young things, chicks thrive best when they are accustomed to regular habits. The tinies especially, ami bigger chicks that are confined or on short range, can get quite miserable if they are even half an hour overdue with meals. Then they are apt to gorge more heartily than is good for them. It is natural for chicks to peck around all day where the broody dam tells them to, getting the crop filled only gradually. Tlio methods of feeding that come nearest this with "civilised" chicks are dry mash feeding (when the chicks can eat only a limited amount without running some distance to take a drink of water and back to feed), and the feeding of grain buried a little in dry litter or sand.

But grain is the most expensive part of tlio chicks' ration and must perforce be used sparingly. Dry mash feeding is not generally popular, although the writer lias always had by far the best rearing results feeding chicks dry. It certainly limits the use of scrap food, skim milk or curd and necessitates tiie use of proper hoppers (although these can be home-made) in a rat-proof shed if it is to be carried out to advantage. Whether they arc fed dry mash or wet, it is wise, unless the feeding is on a very small scale, to mix a quantity of dry masli, say once a week, and keep it in a rat-proof bin. Meals are much more likely to be on time if they can be given very quickly and this is the greatest help. The same, of course, applies to the grain if it is not bought mixed. Small chicks require some form of protein in their food <is much as laying hens do. They also need an easily digested form of lime. Bone meal (chick grade) supplies both these wants and can be used up to 20 per cent after the chicks arc about six days old. Bran, which is so useful for starting the small chicks (dry), requires equal parts ot pollard and either maizemeal or very fine oatmeal to make a first-class, fullbodied meal for young growers. The grain can be equal parts cut wheat, fine kibbled maize and coarse oatmeal.

Rearing Programme. For the usual wet masli feeding methods, with sonic grain, the following hours might be observed in attending to the chicks at this time of year. 6.30 to 7 a.m.—A feed of crumbly wet mash, fed on trays or troughs, given to the smallest chicks first, all to be cleared up in ten minutes. After three or four days the draught-guard round the hover can be removed at this feed, giving the chicks the freedom of the whole warm compartment. After ten days the chicks can be let into the cool compartment or outside on mild mornings. All water vessels should be cleaned o'.it and, with the water renewed, put on to a board or shelf to prevent litter being scratched into it. On very cold mornings the heat under the hover can be raised a little as the chicks need more warmth when running in and out than they do at night. 9 to 0.30 a.m.—A scratch grain feed can be given, at first on trays but later in the litter, when the chicks have learnt to clear it up. Err on the short side for this feed. While the chicks are busy the hover should be raised, a kerosene lamp, trimmed, relit and, if necessary, refilled. The litter under the hover should be scooped up and renewed. Grit should be looked to and the water, if necessary, renewed. In the case of hen rearing, the broody is as well to have a feed of whole grain by herself while the coop is cleaned, when she will not eat so much of the chicks' food. All food trays, boards or troughs should be scraped or scrubbed clean and set up off the ground. Liberate chicks after four days.

11.30 a.in.—A feed of wet mash can be given all round, of which half the bulk is tender chaffed green food. Or the mash can be fed as usual and the greens given in wire netting baskets, troughs, or hung up to keep the chicks occupied longer. If the day is hot and sunny, the warmth for older chicks can be turned off under the hovers. Late in the season this can be done at the previous feed. 2 p.m. —A small mash feed can hoi given all round. The water should be changed, and where the warmth has been turned off lamps should be relighted ar switched, cuv j

4.30 p.m.—Or after the adult feeding has been done, a grain feed of more liberal allowance should be given the chicks. This should be fed on trays until the lighter evenings are here, -when it keeps the birds busy longer to have it in the litter. Even free range chicks, which may be kept on short commons through the day in order to encourage them to make the best of "free feeding,'' should have as much as they can eat at their last feed.

Lamp Regulation.

After dusk it is necessary to see that all chicks have found their way under the hover or the lion and arc comfortable. If any grain has been left, less should be given the following night. Any surplus on trays should bo retrieved rather than encourage vermin. Brooder chicks should be lying quietly around the edge of the hover. If they are huddled close to the lamp or cheeping, there is not sufficient warmth, while if they are outside it there is too much. Especially if the night is likely to be frosty, it is often a saving of time to clcan and empty the chicks' water vessels, but this should only be done when the first round in the morning is soon after light.

A mash feed can replace that of grain suggested at 9.30 a.m. if desired, and even the evening feed some nights in the week or, for free range birds, always after thev are three weeks old.

Some jobs must be done weekly, such as clearing and renewing the whole of the litter, scrubbing and disinfecting equipment thoroughly and mixing tho drv ingredients of the mash. The number of feeds given arc for tiny chicks. The first to be missed would be the 0.30 a.m. and then the 2 p.m. Chicks need three feeds until they are fit for the table or until they are laying.