POULTRY KEEPING FOR PROFIT

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21641, 27 November 1935, Page 5

POULTRY KEEPING FOR PROFIT

! CARE ©F BIRDS IN WET WEATHER [By "LEGHORN."] The damp and cold weather lately demand special attention for adult birds and particularly young stock. It is advisable always to keep a liberal amount of scratching material on the floor of the house, providing, of course, that the roof is weatherproof. One of the greatest factors in promoting egg production is exercise for the layers. A little grain thrown into the house in the evening after the birds have gone to roost will cause much active scratching when the birds comes off the roost in the morning. On wet, cold days it is advisable to keep the layers confined in their house, and in the case of young stock endless trouble may result if the birds are not protected. • A moderate amount of kibbled maize is of great value to growing birds, especially during cold, changeable weather. Feeding for Egg Production It has been proved beyond • doubt that animal food in some form is essential for heavy laying poultry. A hen living in a state of nature naturally devours all the worms, grubs, and insects it comes across, as well as seeds, grains, and grass, and it thrives on the mixed diet. It is well to follow nature as closely as possible. The best way to feed animal food is by adding meatmeal to the mash, and where birds are kept in confinement meatmeal supplies the animal matter in an easily assimilated form. The quantity of meatmeal to be used will, of course, depend upon the other component parts of the mash. If the mash is mixed with skim miljc 5 per [ cent, meatmeal has been found sufficient, but without milk 7 per cent, to 8 per cent, can be fed with safety. Milk is also a valuable food for all poultry, and most commercial poultrykeepers use skim milk for mixing the mash, with excellent results. If it is not possible to obtain milk in liquid form, it can be obtained in powder form, in which case it should be mixed dry with the other ingredients before the liquid is added. The quantity of liquid to be added is important; if the mash is too wet or too dry it. is bacj for the birds, particularly if it is too wet. Mash in its correct form for poultry feeding should be thoroughly mixed and of an open or crumbly consistency. Agricultural and Pastoral Show The poultry exhibit arranged at the recent Metropolitan Show at Addington was probably the best exhibition of utility poultry seen in Christchurch for many years- If public interest in the show can be taken as an indication, the poultry tent must have been one of the most popular features at Addington. The White Leghorns, Black Orpingtons, and Australorps were the strongest classes, and some remarkably fine birds were on exhibition. It is difficult to particularise upon individual birds, but from the writers point qf view the judges must have experienced some difficulty in selecting the winners. The South Island Poultry Association held a successful conference in Dunedin recently, when many matters of interest to the fancy were dealt with. On Tuesday, December 3, the monthly meeting of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club will be held.