THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1222, 2 September 1911, Page 13

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

> (By Chantecler.)

Fircless Brooders. "Ivarori" asks for a description of.fircless brooders. A few weeks ago tho writer gave a description of tliem. and also an illustration. They are simple to make—a few boards S x i cut into 2 feet lengths; make the box two feet square. An entrance 1 x 3 inches is made on one side. The floor is covered with straw and a pieco of sacking.- A frame to fit 3 inches from tho floor is supported in two slats. On the frame a piece of sacking or scrim is tacked. This is tacked so as to sag in the centre, and fit cosily over the chicks' backs. Two or three quilts arc made of art-muslin aid cotton wool, or feathers—the samo size as the box—placed in the frame. These retain the heat just iu tho same way as a baby is kept warm. No fewer than 25 chicks should bo placed in a brooder of this size, and no more than 50. In tho first time or two of feeding tho chicks need to be taken out. and placed back in the brooders, though they will soon learn their way in and out of tho entrance. The writer has used such brooders this season, when tho cold in July was very severe, and the thermometer registered only 30 degrees. Tho chicks were taken from tho incubator, and placed straight into tlie fircless brood•er. This system of brooding is tho cheapest, and will revolutionise the poultry business. The Day-Old Chick Trade. The doom of the clucking lien is sealed. For years she has been deprived of her maternal instinct by the use of the incubator, but tho day-old chick trade will completely do away with the clucker. Instead of ordering a setting of eggs, yon simply order a dozen chicks. There is uo waiting, and attending to a hen, with consequent risk, and you have your chicks right from the incubator to the breeder. There are several of out poultry-breeding establishments which arc specialising in this trade. Perhaps the record order for day-old chicks was secured by the New Zealand Poultry Institute at Cliristchurch for 500 chicks to the order of a Hutt resident. The chicks will bo supplied in fireless brooders. Dry Mash Feed. Corespondents continue to inquire about dry mash. Some have never heard of it before, and aro at' a loss to understand its meaning. It is simply this: Instead of feeding poultry with the usual mash of boiled vegetables, sharps, and water, tho meals arc taken in their dry form, mixed, and placed in self-feeding hoppers. As a labour-saver they are unique, but, as to giving the most profitable results in egg production—thai is a question. Advocates of dry mash affirm that they can look after a far greater number of birds on this system, and flint they can afford to lose a few eggs less per hen. Mr. Muniby, Lower Hutt, gave an excellent paper on this subject at the recent Poultry Conference, and his belief is that it pays better to feed the mashes in their moist form. With his experience, tho writer agrees so far as egg-production is concerned. The Poultry Conference. The Poultry Conference at Cliristchurch (to be held during carnival weak in November) is going to be a great educational event, and delegates from all parts of the Dominion will be present. A pleasing feature of the movement will be the entertainment given by the Gordon Hall poultry Club. They have invited the iwmmittoe to allow them to entertain the delegates in tboir lecture hall .on the first evening of the conference. They aro also going to prepare a special programme. The club is doing excellent work. The Now Zealand Utility Club will also entertain the delegates at tho egg-laying competition grounds: at Papanui. The conference will discuss important matters relative to legislation for tho advancement of tho industry. Mr. E. Brown, sccreary of tho National Poultry Organisatioi Society of England, has issued the following suggestions for the proper marketing of eggs 1. Size, The consumers' preference is for eggs weighing 2oz. each, or 15lb. per 120 eggs. 2. Shape. Medium formations are preferred; anything in the direction of malformation militates agiinst value. 3. Shell. Roughness of shell is undesirable; tho smoother it is the better. i. Bloom. A new-laid egg has a bright, shiny coating, and experienced buyers can tell the age more or less by appearance. Washing is desirable. A dirty-shelled egg is useless for the best trade. 5. Colour. Tinted eggs aro often preferred," and to meet the demand there should Iw a fair proportion of "brown" eggs. G. New-laidness. When ono or two days old the white of an egg when boiled does not thicken to tho extent that it will later, but remains milky, clothy, and flaky. After from threo to fivo days this condition disappears; something has gono which makes for flavour and quality, and such eggs do not command tho'top price. 7. Fullness. One sign of "new-laidness" is that the egg shall bo full, by which is meant that the air spaco is scarcely visible. Observations on the evaporation of eggs, mado in cool weather, show that

out of 120 eggs one egg contents disappeared ill six days, two in 13 days, three in 21 days, four in 21) days, live in 3G days, six in 17 days, and seven in CO days. 8. Brightness. By this is meant clearness of contents through the shell, not dull opaqueness. There must lie no spots which represent moulds or dark areas, generally betokening development of_ the germ or bacterial colonies in tho white. 0. The white and the yolk ligaments must bo strong mid firm, and the yolk also round. A fiat yolk means age. These qualities aro not" revealed until tho shell is broken. 10. Colour of yolk. The best eggs havo a reddish-yellow look, not pure yellow. This also is not ascertainable until the sficll is broken. 11. Infertile eggs keep better than those that aro impregnated. Mr. Brown states his conviction that if infertile eggs could bo guaranteed for market purposes they would soon win favour. Largo producers, he says, may easily secure this result, and small ones also,"if they set themselves to do so. Poultry and Insects. Poultry-keepers who are observant will at this time of the year find a large number of nits around tho heads of both cocks and hens, and, unfortmis.oly, some of the chicks as well. These must bo destroyed, and can be done so by mixing an ointment of white precipitate powder twothirds, and lard one-third. As this is poisonous, it must be put away from children, dogs, cats, etc. On examination of the birds, tho nits will be found around the head and neck, and attached very closely to the feathers. All up-to-date poultry-keepers must know birds cannot, and .will not, thrive with these pests on them. In tho case of the chicks, if neglected, they, become stunted in growth, and never develop so well. For destroying tho insects, use pyrethrum-powder, and, ito avoid waste, spread a large sheet of paper on the table, and then place tho bird on its back on tho paper and dust it all over, rubbing in the powder well to the roots of the feathers. Knock off the looso dust from the outside feathers, turn over tho hen or chicken, treat tho back the same, and the loose powder can bo replaced in tho box or tin again. Tho next-boxes should be .well attended to (luring summer. These are a frequent source of contamination. Seo they are limowashed insido with i'.ot lime frequently, as this will kill all insects lurking in cracks and crevices.