THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1114, 29 April 1911, Page 14

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

(By Chantecler.) W^fiS'

The Valus of Feeding,

The object of feeding poultry calls for continuous comment, as.there aro few causes that contribute more to failure than bad feeding. The subject is a big one, and. requires to bo dealt with in different phases. Feeding for rapid growth, for the show pen, for egg-pro-duction, for tho fertility of eggs, etc., each requires a special method. The. poultry-keeper must, of course, start from the day after the chick is hatched, and must decide the purpose for which the chick's life is to bo given. Many people do not understand tho wide difference between feeding and forcing. If chickens aro to be prepared for tho table, rapid growth is essential, and the system of feeding adopted must differ from that in which tho chick is kept for ogg-production. In tho case of one, rapid growth spells profit; in the case ■of the other, rapid growth means loss. Tho beginner must ever remember that, in feeding poultry, he must be guided by the purpose in view. Simultaneous feeding for bono structure and quick development for tablo nso is not conducive to success, when feeding for eggs, strong fertility, and strong hatchable eggs—all require different methods. What will do for ono will not succeed with the other. The Breeding Season. The breeding season will soon be in full swing, and thoso who have not purchased their birds for this purpose should 'do so without delay. For the beginner, a pen of second-year hens, mated with a cockerel, will give good results, or, if early-matured pullets can bo obtained, they will servo the purpose. But make sure that they aro early hatched, and that each has laid from

thirty to forty oggs. To breed from immature stock is to liavo a crop of weakly chickens. Treat tho male bird well, and see that ho has a sound constitution. Like does not always produce

like in poultry breeding (and in anything e ! clso for that matter), but ono may de- j pend upon it that robust males and fe- lc males will produce robust chickens. In s l the lighter breeds, ono malo to eight v or ten hens that arc laying is sufficient. '? It is best to havo the birds mated by " the breeder froni whom you purchase. P He knows what is best. A bad mating means very bad results. c The Prico of Eggs. ' Contrary to expectation, eggs jhavc taken a rapid jump in prices. It is nillikely, however, that tho rise will last very long. While tho hens havo gone into the moult, and are on strike, tho pullets are piling on tho totals, and will soon overcome tho demand. Fortunate is he who has early-hatched pullets. Ho can now clip some of tho profits. It is C a time of the year when poultrymen aro 1 silent as to what the egg-basket. contains each evening. They can all sing the song of success in September, but , how many are now getting 50 eggs a , day from every 100 fowls that'arc kept? Poultry-yard Emergencies. If a fowl's comb or wattles become ; torn or injured and commences to bleed, the flow of blood can he stopped by the ' application of a puff-ball (a ripened toad- ■ stool)vor a mass of spider's web. If these remedies fail, apply a hot iron and ' gently sear over tho injured portion. Fowls have been known to bleed to death from an injury to the comb or wattles, and the flow of blood should bo checked as soon as possible. If a hen acquires tho habit of eating eggs, cure her of this evil habit in this way. Blow outntho contents of an egg by making apertures in the shell at eacn end of tho egg, and thoroughly mix the contents with pepper. Now, with the aid of a funnel or a spoon, reinsert this mixture into the shell. Place this artificial egg in the hen-houso on the floor or in the nest. The egg-cater will soon attack this doctored egg, and several good bills full of the mixture will euro her for all time. The remedy is a severe ono; but it is the surest of any remedy save killing, which should bo speedily applied in case this cure does not work. If the feather-eating habit breaks out in tho flock, there aro several things that can bo done. • First, the bills of all those who aro doing the pernicious feather-pulling can bo trimmed so that tho bill when closed will not shut tight enough to fasten upon a feather. Secondly, abundance of exercise may bo provided. Thirdly, animal food, which they probably lack, and tho lack of which often causes this habit, should be given them in proper quantities. If a fowl breathes hard and cheesy discharges are noticed at the nostrils, and their breath is offensive, and their eyes are watery and often fille<l with a frothy substance, that fowl has the roup, and the quicker it is removed from the rest of the flock tho better. There, is no permanent euro for roup. There are many effective remedies upon the market, "but no medicine can eradicate the disease, for it is a constitutional one. Tho only suro cure, and perhaps the best and safest in the end, is killing. This disease is tho worst disease that can.affect poultry, and is fraught with danger. If the ball of a hen's foot is swollen up, it is a case of "bumble foot," a disease caused by injury to the foot usually brought on by jumping from high roosts down upon a . wooden or cement floor. Remedy tho disease by

righting the causes that protlucc it. If a fowl is found (lead under a roost where it has fallen from the roost at night it is a case of apoplexy, and it is a sign that too much fattening or stimulating food is being fccL An entire diet of maize brings on this disease. _ The cure lies in the prevention of tho disease by feeding a variety of grains like oats, wheat, barley, maize, and making the fowls scratch for everything they got.

If tho hens will not eat what you give them, it is a sign that the food is wrong or they aro given too much. Common sense on the part of the caretaker should tako care of this fault.

If fowls are constantly picking themselves, and have an emaciated appearance, it is probably duo to lice. A good dusting is the remedy needed, if it be body-lice, with some good lice powder. If it is roost or spider-lice, an application of liquid lice-killer or kerosene oil to the cracks of the perches will remove the evil. If tho legs of the fowl have a rough appearance, it is a case of scaly or scaly leg. The remedy consists in dipping the legs of fowls in a mixture of one part tallow, ono part keroseno warmed over an oil stove as warm as one can.bear their finger in. Ono treatment of this is visually sufficient; if not, repeat it. There is no disease without some cause. In caring for tho flock, sco to it that disease has no chance to creep in by any apparent cause. Good stock, properly feci, and housed, can bo kept frco from sickness and the common ailments to which fowl flesh is heir to.