POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 80, 28 December 1929, Page 28

POULTRY NOTES

(By

“New Laid.”)

Hens That Lay Undersized Eggs. Poultry usually believe that any hen laying 250 eggs a year is a good one, and a record of 300 eggs in a year is unusual except in a relatively small number of highly bred flocks which are fed and cared for by skilful poultry specialists. At the Beltsville experiment farm of the United States Department of Agriculture last year one hen made a record of 306 eggs laid in 365 days. But she went to the butcher. The poultry experts of the Bureau of Animal Industry made no apology for what would seem a sacrifice to many. This hen laid eggs that were undersized, poorly shaped, and below standard weight. They would have culled her before the year ended but for the fact that her record was needed for comparison with her sisters in a study of inheritance. Her eggs were numerous, but her 25J dozen eggs did not weigh more, or have more food value, than 18 or 20 dozen standard eggs. She <Ud in fact lay a greater weight of eggs *han the average of many high-producing flocks. But even so she was not considered a desirable breeder. The Department’s studies of inheritance show it is much more difficult to breed into a flock of chickens the factors responsible for size and quality of eggs than it is to breed merely for numerical production. In the interest of the industry, which should endeavour to meet the demand for quality products, the Department has set a minimum standard for the hens it will use in breeding experiments. They must produce eggs weighing not less than 2 ounces each, or a pound and a half to the dozen. They recommend this standard to poultry growers.

Keep Eggs Clean. Dirty eggs and the washed eggs which sometimes result from them are perhaps the greatest cause of loss and annoyance to the egg trade at rainy seasons. The dirty eggs, qf course, are repulsive and of muth lower market value than clean eggs, while washed eggs are even more damaging than the dirty eggs. Washed eggs, when placed. in storage, early develop musts and moulds and other iorms of rot, and are, as a result, a complete loss.

It is easy to avoid producing dirty eggs with reasonable precautions. If the hen yards are muddy there is usually no food in them anyway, and the widest procedure is to keep the hens indoors until the yards dry up. If it is considered essential that the hens be let out, there should be plenty of good dry, ,clean litter kept on the floor so that 'the birds will have' a chance to clean their feet before going into the nests. Plenty of clean, dry straw should be kept in the nests at all times, whether the bens are let out or not. It is impossible to produce clean eggs in dirty nests. Washing eggs is a most damaging practice and should never lie followed. If some dirty eggs are produced it is far better to consume them at home or wipe them off with some steel wool. This does not damage the shell, but washing dampens the egg and allows filth to enter through the pores. Facts About Bantams.

It is not so very manj» years ago when breeding and raising bantams was considered generally us children’s play, and Whatever attention was given to it by grown people was just “time thrown away.” In fact, the question is often asked “what are bantams~good for, anyway?” (writes “V.M.C.” in an exehange). They are too small for table use and lay comparatively few and small eggs. And the time was when the few real bantam breeders bred them more for the pleasure derived fronn the care of the birds than with the idea of making the venture a profitable one, but the bantams with some of the breeders turned out better and more profitable than they expected, the result being that some are still at it.

It would surprise many-people to know what a demand there is for these little b feeds and largely among exhibitors. And the profit lies in producing something that is exceptionally good, and as a rule it’s only these breeders ;of long experience who are able to raise and develop these fine specimens. Besides those who make a business of exhibiting, the best customers are found among doctors, lawyers and professional men of all walks of life. The time has come when few city people and many on suburban places, do not care to bother with a flock of hens for eggs and meat. But a small flock of bantams take but little space and are easily cared for and will furnish some eggs, three of which are equal to two of the ordinary sized eggs produced by the large breeds, and the feed required for these is of very small account. It has been found that five bantams cap be fed on the same amount, of food required to feed three of the larger fowls, and it is not necessary to have large buildings or rutis for bantams. Almost all the breeds thrive in confinement. , ' • I have always been partial to the Cochin breed and in popularity it is one ot the leaders in the bantam world, Blacks and Buffs being my choice. They are fairly good layers for bantams. I'or brooding some prefer the clean-legged breeds, but I have had most excellent results with the Cochin in brooding clucks. In feeding bantam chicks I find for the first few days fine bread crumbs and bard boiled eggs cut fine about the best, then after about the third day, feed four or five' times ot equal parts cracked corn, wheat millet and pinhead oatmeal. And if they are not allowed much range, leed fine beef scraps and green food in some form. Fine grit, shell and charcoal are required for bantams the same as for any of the larger breeds. In starting with bantams, get good pure-bred’ stock from some reliable source, mate and breed carefully, then advertise your stock, offering a square deal and you will have no difficulty in disposing ot some of it at a good profit. ,