POULTRY NOTES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXI, Issue 10924, 26 September 1932, Page 1

POULTRY NOTES

BABY CHICKS. Baby chicks 1 require plenty of elbow room if they are to get a good start and grow Into vigorous profitable ''pullets, says C. M. Ferguson, poultry specialist at Ohio State University. In a survey covering 125,000 chicks It was found that overcrowding was one of the most serious factors affecting chick mortality. This survey indicated that where the floor space for 100 chicks was fifty square feet or more, the mortality was 13.1 per cent.; where the floor space was reduced to between and to fifty square feet for 100 chicks the mortality increased to 16.2 per cent.; and whore the floor space was thirty-five square feet or less per 100 chicks about 26.3 per cent. died. For best results each chick should have onohalf square foot or more floor space. Outgrowing their Strength. In many broods individuals are noticed that grow to a great size, but lack strength in the legs to support the body. These are simple cases of chicks outgrowing their strength. As a rule it is the cockerels that suffer from this trouble. It can be rectified in time, but It is good policy to dispose of these birds as soon as it is seen that they are weak in the legs. If, left, the trouble may recur later in life. If it is desired to cure the bird

he must be removed to a small pen, where he can be kept by himself. See that he can bask in the sun and feed the usual mash with' 3 per cent, of cod liver oil added. An extra feed of bread and milk each day will prove a help.