POULTRY NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 78, 23 October 1939, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES

SPEEDING UP SLOW GROWERS La lor in the roaring season it frequently happens that hatches ot young pullets fail to make good progress. There arc a number ol laetois which may account lor arrested ucvelopmcnt; but at Ihe moment I am not concerned with the possibility of disease, though it is one thc.-t should be never overlooked. However, in many eases where the young birds appear to be at a standstill a change of environment may be the remedy. Moving maturing pullets to fresh ground is often most beneficial, even though that which they are already occupying appears to lie quite fresh. Birds may also respond to a slight alteration in the feeding, especially where appetites tend to flag. S>ry masli feeders need never hesitate to give a little of the same mash in a moist crumbly condition during the latter part of the rearing season. It will often effect considerable improvement in the condition of the birds and may be the means of getting good production from them dur ing the winter. It must not be forgotten that the condition of the birds as they approach maturity has a great bearing on their future production. It is easier to build up the birds before the3 r start to lav than after. POULTRY MANURE An English authority states: On the basis of 3%-oz of manure collected daily from each hen he estimates that the total value of hen manure reaches the colossal total of over one and a half million pounds per annum in England and Wales. This does not take into account also the effect on poor grassland of a lien's scratching. Poultry manure is richer than any other manure in organic matter and nitrogen, but it is proportionately deficient in phosphates and potash —particularly potash. Any small poultry-keeper, therefore, would find it can be used to even greater advantage if the droppings boards are sprinkled with superphosphate—not lime, which, being alkaline, releases

the ammonia—and the land dressed with potash As Messrs Ling and Muir, of Bristol University, luive pointed out if 10 per cent of superphosphate is added to the manure —or per 50 birds per week —-and the droppings are then dry stored for a month, a remarkable physical change takes place in the manure, which becomes friable and powdery, free from smell and high in nitrogen and low in moisture. It is recommended to sprinkle half the superphosphate on the dropp-ngs boards and add the remainder ay hen collecting. WIRE FLOORS About 15 or more years ago, Professor Arthur A. Allen, of Cornell University, set himself the task of rearing in captivity the rapidly diminishing ruffled grouse. Year after year he made the attempt, and the result Avas failure after failure. The young birds would hatch, liA'e n while, and then die.

Noav, Avhen birds die, a scientist wants to knoAV why. The Avord 'luck' is not in his vocabulary. When the scientists knows Avhy maturing birds die, it is generally only a question of time Until a remedy can be found. It took Professor Allen seA r en years to find the secret of raising ruffled grouse in captivity, and he solved the problem by rearing the young birds on AA'ire floors.

Since Professor Allen's discovery the use of Avire floors in poultry production has been increasing as rapidly as can be expected. Bear in mind that it generally takes years for producers to catch up Avith the scientists. Luther Burbank said it is comparatively easy to produce a better variety of any plant,, but it is a much sloAver process to get it accepted.

Some time after Professor Allen's discovery, the United States Experimental, Fur Farm at Saratoga Springs New York, demonstrated that silver foxes infested Avith. lungworms could be cured bv placing them in pens Avith elevated Avire floors. The droppings containing the eggs of lungAvorms passed through the floor, Avhere they could not contaminate food. The life cycle of the jiarasites was thus broken.

Practically all mink bred in cap tiA'ity are raised on ay ire doors, Foi

years, rabbits have been raised on wire floors, and it is now an established practice. A large percentage of the game birds raised in captivity are brooded on wire, especially quail and pheasant.