POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 172, 21 April 1928, Page 30

POULTRY NOTES

(By

“New Laid.”)

"A. 8. after acknowledging assistance received through this column in the past, desires advice as to lumps on fowls’ feet, and as Io whether he .should kill the birds off. The nests, he states, are four feet from the ground, which is covered in straw except when the dropping-board is down. The dropping-board is lifted each morning. In reply: There is no necessity tn kill the birds simply cm account of the lumps on the feet, if one can spare the time to treat them. Painting with iodine is n simple and often effective treatment, or the corns may be I rented with a bluestone solution. Dissolve a piece of bluestone about the size of a walnut, in half a pint of hot water, and when the water is cool, dip Hie affected foot into it. Repeat this treatment daily for a week or more. The bird should not he allowed to perch., and should be provided with soft bedding. Frequent dressings of vaseline may be afterwards applied. As with most of the ailments of poultry, prevention is better than cure, and in this case it would appear that the nest boxes would be belter if placed at a lower level than four feet from the ground—a foot or more lower would considerably lessen the chance of n recurrence of the trouble. Another point, why not dispense with the droppingboards. have the perches not more than two feet from the ground, and keep n good depth of straw, say. six to eight inches over I lie whole floor? That would just about, cut out the chance of the birds getting corns, for all time. A further query is as to the trouble of feather picking. This was dealt-with a few weeks ago. The chief cause of it is that the birds have ion little to do, and aro probably overcrowded to a certain extent. The giving of large quantifies of meat, as mentioned by my correspondent. may possibly have something to do with it. but the principal thing is to give the birds more exercise by reducing the meat and mash foods, and making them hunt in the litter for their grain.

A Small Beginning in Duck Farming. The first thing required to start duck farming (writes a correspondent in an exchange) is a nice, dry, well-drained yard or piece of laud, a portion of it. may be low, or even swampy, which, in fact, would be all the better, providing there is sufficient high, dry ground for the ducks to camp. If only a small capital is available, it start can be made by purchasing two sittings of eggs from an owner of good .stock, and hatching them under a Muscovy duck tor a hen) in August or September. After the ducklings are reared the services of an experienced breeder should be sought to select. the best drakes from each brood and to mate them to tho ducks of the other brood. It is the best way for a beginner to start from the bottom and learn as ho goes along, with a small flock. He will then pass through all stages of tho industry, because, if he is to be a successful “ilucker' he .must learn to breed his own stock, not rely upon other people to supply him. • It always gives me greater pleasure and satisfaction to sell a person a pen or two of mated ducks, than to sell him two or three hundred ducklings, because I know that with tho pens he is on the right road .to be successful—although there would be more profit in selling the ducklings. In starting with two settings of duck eggs, it will be twelve months before the' beginner will have any largo quantity of his own stock. Anyone with courage, a little capital and confidence, who wants to raise a flock quickly should buy two pens or trios of ducks. The purchase of at least two pens to start is advised, to prevent further expense in buying stock drakes. Be careful that the duel- = purchased are from a well-establishe. duck farmer and of the same line of blood, which is- most important, with Indian Runner ducks, as with utility fowls. If only ono breeding trio or non are purchased for a start, when the nrogeny aro over twelve months of age, get tho farmer from whom you got the ducks to supply you with a drake of the same line of blood. He will then know what to supply to nick with the progeny sent to you to keep up the production. It is only an experienced duck farmer who can utilise out-crosses to advantage, and these must necessarily bo watched very closely, as the stock’s production can bo quickly lost by this method With the Muscovy duck it is altogether different. Being an original breed that cannot be altered, outcrossing is what is required with them, so long as it is with vigorous, quickly devc’pphig stock of good stamina. You will also need a small Hock of Muscovies to incubate the eggs —which is much the best and safest means for the purpose. There are four great attributes required to become a successful duck farmerpatience, common sense, courage, and perseverance. Put these into practice, work on tlio right lines, and you cannot go wrong. Head all tho literature on the subject you can get—books papers on poultry and articles from anywhere, particularly from the practical and successful duck farmer. Get all the advice you can; listen and try to learn from others who have been successful in the business. You must remember you are entering into an occupation in which you will always need to be a student; X have, after twenty-five years’ experience often picked up little wrinkles even from a novice, and put them to advantageous use. Always use common sense and do not make drastic changes from one extreme to the other.

Here is another particular point which one must remember if he has fully considered going in for duck or poultry farming—do not rent or lease your land, or yon will again be working for someone else. There are many little properties, or even a piece of virgin land within reasonable distance of. the city, which can be bought on small deposit, with instalments for the balance which works out nt no higher than ordinary rent—with the distinct advantage of it becoming your own freehold in time. But you must always be very careful that the property is suitable for the purpose, with rerrard to locatiou, water, aspect, and soil.

What greater object has any young poison, possessing grit and strength of character, than one day becoming his own “boss” with a full and independent life? There are many young people who start poultry farming, and if the farm does not return something near the basic wage, they declare the proposition no good, throw it up, and go back to the old drudge of working for a wage—and they never got any further. The noultryfarmer certainty will have ups and downs, and there may be times when he is not getting nearly living wagejj. But if he is gradually acquiring bis own pronerty, and lias the courage and patience to look to the future—he must also remember that any improvement, or any increase, in stock ho makes—are the best wages he can receive, and in due ‘course will pay him handsomely. I have been both a new beginner and a backyarder. I well remember just before I bought iny present property, having over 200 ducks of various ages, and 50 fowls, on a 24-perch allotment, with a Svc-roomed house taking up about one-third of the area. Certainly I had a run out. for them, but they were kept scrupulously clean ever day.