POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2558, 4 September 1915, Page 15

POULTRY INDUSTRY

' (BY Chantecler.) feeding and judgment, (By J. B. Merrett.) (Continued from last week.) Judgment was needed in.feeding at various stages of the lien's lilc. As a' chicken she needed special care. Thanks to, their well-balanced chick foods, and •brooders, chicken raising. greatly simplified. A critical time existed when the chicken was weaned from the Too often th<o : times of n l in Fi. ave , lessened, to such, an extent that tho young bird received no nioro food than tfie matured. This was sure to }V°jk effect. Tho maintenance of bodily vigour in a-matured bird'was more easily kept up than in the young bird. Young stock should always be fed 1 to assure that, gitnrth was being made.''While grow 111 g they, can consume and digest /more food than an adult. To give birds a setback at this period was to. make them stunts, and unprofitable. As the pullets mature, caTo should bo taken not to use too rich a Tation. If the birds were stimulated, and forced to lay before they >iere matured, there would be a check in 'growth. . They used to "hear & .great deal getting birds to lay at four months °l :. " uc h an achievement was' not a sign of judgment, but an indication of ignorant feednig As approached,- the. pullet attained 9ier most sensitive period. It is better, to continue the growiD o, ration for several weeks, rather than force for egg-production." The aim must bo ; development. This would avoid the, small eggs, false moults, and epidemics well known to the initiated; ' •The •system ' of feeding adopted during the j raoult has a great-effect upon - -egg production.; From experience ho found that during moulting period;it paid 'to .be. liberal with health-producing foods. ■Everything ; in the nature of stimulants should be avoided. . The moult could be hastened by a sudden change of the diet, and 1 lessening the amount fed, but care should bo taken not to impoverish' tho birds system or the effect would result in great loss.' ■ ■ ' their competitions they had found' that the rations suited'for tho -light breeds was not so suitable for the heavy breeds. sweating, they would tmnic that any-ration possessing v the necessary element for egg production would be equal m results with one breed as w;ell as anpther. This was not so in equal proportion. «It was here that heredity came in, arid, the characteristics of the breed were , affirmed. Birds inclined to be fat required a narrower Tation than the ac.tire breeds. The., problem as they had lound it in the tests was how to feed judiciously so-that the heavy breeds may not N be in the egg-making materials, and at the same time to avoid* making fat. In the case of'reproduction there are few instances in Nature where the mother can sacrifice herself more than the hen. The system was subject to such a , continuous strain during the course of egg production that the natural offices of t[je mother for reproduction are sacrificed, i he health; land vigour of the chicken . depend largely on the food given, while the power to transmit laying ability, type, r and- general constitution depends upon the > prepotency of the male, in- the 1 production - of layers they could w>t givQ too. much attention to the male. He had read y/here the male was counted the -better half for production, but considered the male was-three parts in importance, and. the Ken and her food the remainder.,: .. ' . Care.should be taken in-the feeding of the breeders. One can influence the qual- • • °v .^r- e prooortion toUhe way ill which one .feeds the nitrogenous or carbonaceous ration. As onion or an acorn will - influence the taste 'of an egg. Do; not push the breeders during the early, months/of winter.' Let them'rest. When t(! e /breeding, season..is on, .feed, to strike the.happy medium consistent with healthy .chicks. • Judgment .should be exercised 'in' feeding..,- regularly and' continuously. when once a good balanced ration has piovwl effective. In time, quantity and 0 feeding the closest. adherence •should/be .observed or." the '.layers , will fail 10 rejipond. In changes both of . poultry and' ducks at their competition 'the cess.'K rr!? n '?- rJ" 1 ? , ma 7, bB traced to a cause. I ne. birds suddenly ceased production at a tune when eggs should continue. They are sensitive, especially during early spring, and .therefore system, should 1 bo closely_ adhered to. Ho had' hoped to' tore dealt with, the chomical value ..of. various foods, but in this : they had a subject with sufficient material to devote to another paper. .-. ... QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. Mr. E. H. James: Is it a fact that laying-hens can be overfed?' ' . Mr. ;Merrett: The words must be' taken, in _a- general : sense. If a hen' being fed puts on fat wie ceases, -to -be a layer, hencethe words, do not apply.: " The-world's ire-i cord pen of 1699 eggs, established'in Vicr' .toria last year, were fed on the dry .mash - system, and, this food- was always .before-J-hern, so that it supports my-contention-that a. laying, .hen. cannot be-oyorfed." . _'Mr.-E, W. Hawke: On what'evidence do. you contend- that 'mash' foods', digest moro quickly than;.grain foods? .. Mr. Merrett: Experiments have, been tried out-'that mash- rations digest ■ more', quickly than any grain. It is for'this reason mashes are . usually fed in .the • morning / and grain at night. Grain fed' to the birds in the evening require longer, digestion and,;keeps the ■ blood warnier,'. through tho winter nights. N Mr. Haw.ke: On what'grounds do you support the statement hat grit is unnecessary ?.., Do youi tjiink stone'" grit' 'is ■ essential for feather.production? : r.,. Mt._: Merrett: The- elements '/contained' in grit are:"n®e'ssat7"'fdr"f^thOT"yproduc^ i tion, but we have -,iai : more, "economical" method: of extracting- those 'elements: through ,-feeding green, foods.- 'Iron' and other mineral 'elemeats-are «toredHri*the : green foodsfrom'. the. sun, - rain,-; and;.' the. soil, and'being, easy of digestion/ tho crop' of the fowl is'i'nbt'.occupied: with .-waste' matter' such: as--'grit. The devouring of, grit; is largely' a habit, and not,'an aidto digestion, as was thought for thousandsof. years:'- l%e,smoothing of . the edges'of' grit iis\r not; the result of grinding; orop^to-."help. digestion, 'as,was the?old, theory,-: but is-the result of gastric juices' at work in -the process : of assimilation.''' ■ "Mr.':W.T.;,Green: How do you account" for, .the difeposal of, large quantities ' df; lime' taken-'iinto .the system by devouringoyster" shells? :: Mr. Merrett: The hen. will- usnally balance, her requirements for the making of. shells, though tliey often desire more than is necessary. Tho excess of.lime over and! above that required for shelling the eggsis lost in the excreta and is wasted. . Mr. A.'; E.. Wilson: How do'ydu account for having to feed heavy breeds less than the. light:breeds? \ ■ , ; . Mr..:Merrett:; Th-e- heavj -breeds, , by' 1 heredity; are-inclined- to fat; - The active : -birds.,consume .up.'more of.:the,fat; .elements.'than the inactive birds, therefore, ■greater.-care 'is: neceKary .in feeding. .. In : the- active birds digestion is accelerated, henceimucb is lost in wasto that is storedlip i in'.'.-the heavier breed. It is for-.this Teason we ,'jrant to' feed'.'a' narrower -asaf tioii; .to tho.;. heavy breeds, than to the light. I Mr. -A. E. Wilson.: Do you ificbmmend; a less-forcing ration for breeders' than those,;kept for 'egg-prbdiictidn'?" * " Mt.-Merrett: .AVhen we ttrce Nature-'w* •impose,-a penalty. .'From experiments I' ■have':found that, forced') birds will lay; a great many more eggs,' but there- are ,more infertiles, moro deaa chickens in thesliell, more 'chickens, with -weak legs 'and small; bodies than: I'obtain from eggs fed : to' breeders on a less forcing/'food-,- ■; Hens, wh'ichi lay less eggs are , therefore better breeders than pullets. - It certainly, does Eotipay.to breed from'forced birds.: The law" of -Nature rebels against it.: ': Mr."'G. -Willis: '■ Is' there- any- otlier' method-of gouerating warmth for: the body' than'the process,'of assimilation' by. exer-' cise? Would not carbo-hydrates stored in the body assist warmth? Mr. lierrott: The lien is ther greatest machine on earth for the assimilation of foods. Exercise is her great .. aid for warmth. Her blood is better than most animals, by reason of rapid digestion. In the case of a bear and other hybernating animals, they store up their fat and live 011 it. Tho lien obtains hers by direct nutrition and manufactures the elements into eggs, therefore has no storago except in the case of tho non-layer. The fat old liens can derive their, warmth from cafbo-hydrates-that's why you never see them at work. Mr. G. Willis: If as you .say the hen can transform protein into fats, would not a narrow Serve tlie eaaio'purposo as a balanced rati6n? ;,Mr. MeVrfitt: On the face of it your question, would appear to iayo oae

answer. the hen can adapt herself to tho conversion of protein into fat, it can only bo for a limited period. An engine inajr run some distance on combustion, without ' lubrichticn, but it would ruin- itself by> over-heating and seizure. Similar results would happen to the hen. lho blood would become over-charged, the kidneys overtaxed, and general debility would follow. The lien would suffer less from a too narrow ration rather than too wide, but both are faulty, and it is for this reason the balanced ration should always bo ou.r aim, At the conclusion of the questions Mr. Hawlie proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the writer of the paper, whicli had been most instructive, as also were tho answers to the questions, which were given in an intelligent and forceful manner. Mr, Wilson supported the motion, and expressed his apprecaition of the paper; _ Sir. Merrett returned tlianks, and said it had only been a pleasure to discuss the subject of feeding, and felt sure it had been as profitable to himself as to tho .audience. '. N.Z. UTILITY- 1 POULTRY CLUB'S COMPETITIONS.' The official_ insults of the twenty-first week of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's eleventh egg-laying competition for. fowls for the week ended Tuesday, August 31, are as follow:— Total Total , for to week. date. Verrall Bros., B.L. 2D 441 H. Leger, S.C.W.L 29 410 Waikato Egg Farm, S.C.W.L. 30 451 Calder Bros., Sj.C.AV.L 27 428 Heretaunga P. 0., No. 1 S.C.W.L. 27 393 N.' Solomon, S.C.W.L 31 329 J. Wordsworth, S.C.W.L. ....... 19 . 39t Dominion, P. Plant; S.C.W.L. 25 . 265 M.' P. Chapman, S.C.W.L. ... 26 340 Mrs; J. Mills, S.C.W.L. 31 422 A. R. Browne,-S.C.W.L. ..i 31 .407 HeretaungaP.C.,No. 2, S.C.W.L. 30 405 TV M'lhvraith, S.C.W.L. ...... 23 339 C. Warburton, S.C.AV.L. ...... 2-1 288 A. G. Brailcy, S.C.AV.L. 30 441 AVainoni P. Farm, 5.C.W.L.... 28 352 Glencoe P. Ranch, S.C.AV.L. ... 31 463 A..W. Irvine, S.C.AV.L. 30 331 Aslvburton P. Farm, S.C.W.L. 29 284 Geo. Catteral, S.C.AV.L; 25 342 L; T. Wright, S.C.W.L. 30 431 L. Macdonald, S.C.W.L 28 232 AtkinsoD Bros., S.C.AV.L 31 283 A. E. Phillips, S.C.W.L 29 330 . Dalmuir P. Yards, S.C.W.L, 33 435 B. P. L. Clayson, S.C.W.L. ... 25 376 Green Bros., S.C:AV.L 33 391 Jack Green, S.C.AV.L 30 481 A. E. Wilson, S.C.AV.L 32 405 AV. A. Nixon, S.C.AV.L 27 ; 344, H. S. Woodnorth, S.C.W.L. ... 22 438 R. Roxburgh,. S.C.W.L. 31 314 R. A. Lazarus, S.C.W.L. ...... 30 333 A. W. Adams, S.C.W.L. ......... 28 . 370 I'. Fazackerley & Sons, S.C.W.L. 23 330 W. Davey, .S.C.AV.L 32 369 AV. A. Nixon, S.C.W.L 30 ' 363 R, ,-H. James.' S.C.AV;L. .. -. 30 382 R. Mills, S.C.AV.L. 31 412 ; S.-L. Leggett, S.C.W.L. 29 260 R'. Willis and Son, 5.C.W.L.... : 25 419 George Gee, S.C.AV.L, 30 338 Green Bros., S.C.AV.L 25 309 Rahgiuru Egg Ranch, S.C.W.L. .27 275 Thos. Kennedy, S.C.W.L. ..,...- 25.' . 349 •Calder Bros., No. 1, S.C.W.L'.' 31 420 •R. AV. Hawke, S.C.W.L 21 • 350 Mrs. M'Kinnon, S.C.AV.L. ...... ,2? 348j Green Bros., R.C.AV.L 30 '. '-386. ~ {Totals ! ..2... 1381 18,001 HEAVY BREEDS. ' Total Total to to ' Week. date. A'. W. Adams, S.W. ............... 33 249 Green Bros,. S.W 29 836 E. Oakes, R.1.R.'., 28 324 Cooper and AVairiseott, R.I.R. 20 1 453 .AV; A. Nixon, R.I.R. ■ 17 , 117 • A'. 8.-Wilson, W.W 26 208 T. Kennedy, W.W. 28 359 W. A. Nixon,, 8.0 35 366 AV. -L. .Walker,' 8.0. 26 , m E. Willis, 8.0 : 33 510 W. -Bloomfield,; 8.0. ..V 31 406 -Totals '315 3732 FOR DUCKS. The New Zealand, Utility Poultry Club's sixth egg-laying test for ducks. Returns 'for the twenty-first week are as follow:— Total Total to to week. date. J. B. Merrett,.l.R 34. . 259 T. E. Hall, I.R. ..... 27 331 Glencoe Poultry Ranch, I.R. ... 36 421 AV. Davidson, I.R 38 292 Thomas Dowthwaite, I.R 20 237 W. Knight, I.R.- 31' 447 W. Knight, I.R, 18 , 303 Waiaoni P. ITann, I.R. — 94 Totals 207; 2381 , . The letters after eacK entry denote the breed is -under:—B.L;, Brown Leghorn; S.C.W.L., Single Comb White Leghorn; R.C.W.L., Rose Comb White Leghorn; S.W., Silver Wyandotte; R.1.R., Rhode. Island Red; AV.W., White Wyandotte; 3.0., Black Orpington, 1.R., Indian Runner, Woodsr" Great Peppermint Cure, For Coughs and colds never fails. Is. 6d.*