POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 140, 9 March 1929, Page 32

POULTRY NOTES

IBy

“New-Laid”

Necessity for Culling. With the present high cost of foodstuffs the poultry-keeper cannot afford to have on the plant any bird that will not produce heavily. The present month may be regarded as the best period of the year for culling out undesirable stock. In the first place, according to the Chief Government Poultry Instructor (Mr. F. C. Brown), every hen that shows signs of moulting and ‘terminating its second season of production (with the exception perhaps of any noted breeding-specimens) should be weeded out without delay. Indeed, under existing conditions, drastic culling should take place in the majority of flocks after the pullets’ first laying season. The day for keeping all birds for two years is past. The culling of undesirable stock is one of the chief essentials in successful poul-try-keeping. Of all operatings connected with the business it is probably the most difficult to teach the novice pioperly by means of printed matter. However, to the man who is not a student of laying-form it may be pointed out that useful indicatios of poor laying-capacity in hens are early moulting, over fatness, and being above the normal weight of the breed; also any signs of weak constitution—such as dull eye, loose feathering, sluggish appearance, and lack of abdominal development—and anything denoting unhealthy condition. The birds which have laid well and which are likely to do so in the future will present the following desirable signs of constitutional vigour and laying-power: Late moulting; face large and free from feathers (it is not uncommon for the head to become quite' bare —a sign seldom or never found in a low-producer); a bright prominent eye; close feathering; a bright red comb; a well-developed abdomen, which should be soft to the touch, a welldeveloped crop, and an alert, vigorous, but shabby appearance. In yellow-skinned breeds the legs as well as the beaks of the good layers will mostly exhibit at this period of the year a bleached or even a white appearance, while, on the other hand, those of the poor layers will retain a more or less yellow colour. It may be mentioned that the legs of even the best layers will not become bleached out to the same extent when a grass range Is provided as when they are kept in confinement. Here, as is the case with all matters connected with the management of poultry, local conditions must be taken into account when applying the test. The same may be said with regard to taking the time of moulting as a guide to productive capacity. It will be usually found that In a mixed flock of first and secondseason layers the latter will, owing to their shorter season of production, moult later than those in their pullet year. Therefore, in the - work of culling due allowance for the age of the bird must be made, otherwise many of the young birds which it would be profitable to keep are apt to be disposed of, and their older but less profitable sisters retained in the flock. In order to simplify the work of culling, all young birds should be marked in the web of the foot by a special punch made for the purpose. t , Feed the moulting fowls well to bring them through in the quickest possible time. Moulting, birds should not be forced for eggs, as egg production and feather growth cannot be carried on successfully at the same time. The moulting process is a trying ordeal, and poultry-keepers must strive to protect the birds as much as they can. Green feed in abundance should be available at all times. Early Maturity and Small Eggs. For a bird to be a long-season layer of good sized marketable eggs she should, according to Mr. F. C. Brown, chief Government Poultry Instructor, not commence her season of production until she is well developed and has reached an age of at least six months, and even that period may be extended in the case of heavier breeds. It is not the age at which a bird commences to lay. but the number of eggs of good marketable size she will produce in two years and possess at the same time desirable breeding power, that determines her real value. The small egg is one of the greatest drawbacks confronting the industry to-day in the establishment of a sound export trade, and it is not the bird which comes to lay when it is little more than half-grown that will tend to improve matters in this respect. Fresh Air. Fowls at this time of the year, and at all times, require plenty of fresh air, and the sleeping houses should be well ventilated, but without there being any sign of draughts. If on opening the door of the sleeping house in the morning the air seems stuffy, then the ventilation is bad. The air should circulate through the house well above the heads of the birds. Think of the Consumer. There is one great fault made by the majority of utility poultry-keepers, comments an exchange. They think a lot about their own end of the business, but seldom think of the consumer's end. Our advice is, think of the people who have to eat your eggs. Suppose n family of children have boiled eggs, what sort of argument starts up if Billy has a smaller egg than Mary? What sort of a shock doos an invalid get who onens up an egg laid by your hens which Is bad or lacks flavour, or that has too strong a flavour? What does the average man feel about the egg that Is stained on the shell? Of course, such an egg can be used for cooking, but the odd time it Is served up hard or soft-boiled means another consumer who doesn't care for eggs, thank you! And thus the consumption of eggs is retarded Instead of being promoted. Stray Nates. If the red mite or lice are thick in the house add 2oz crude carbolic acid to each gallon of whitewash. Unripe fruit Is a bad thing for poultry, and will cause severe scouring. Never breed from cockerel and pullets of the same hatch, dr If you do, let it be but once, for to continue the practice means physical deterioration. » » ♦ A little flowers of sulphur (a tablespoonful to a dozen fowls) may be sprinkled in the morning soft mash of the moulting birds before it is mixed with water, but it should only be done when the weather Is bright. , . » See that growing pullets do not sleep on the floor beneath the roosts. Teach them to use the perches. Crowding in corners on the floors may start colds and other troubles. ♦ ♦ ♦ During the moulting season, the sexes should never run together. They should be kept separate until the breeding pens are made up for the next season. Do not let surplus males ent up the profits. Keep enough for breeding purposes and no more. If the others cannot be sold to be used as breeders get them Into condition £or market without delay. A good method of checking birds from eating their eggs is to construct a nest with the bottom made of thick felt (no litter), made Into a basin shape, a hole cut into the bottom large enough for a fullsized egg to pass. This immediately has a drop of about 3in. on to a felt or canvas trav, which is slightly sloping, thus causing the egg to roll gradually forward. So slight is the slanting of the tray that the eggs following will not crack.