POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 221, 14 June 1930, Page 30

POULTRY NOTES

Hatching Temperatures

(By

“New Laid.”)

Flock owners who are hatching eggs from their own hens, In small Incubators, cau make good use of the results of a ten-year study of the temperature probelm made at the Purdue Agricultural Experiment Station. The following are a few of the more important results:— 1. The optimum temperature for the Incubation of hens’ eggs was between 100 degrees and 103 degrees F., measured by standing thermometers in a hot air type Incubator—with the centre of the bulb 1J inches above the egg tray. 2. A uniform temperature throughout the period of incubation, measured by a standing thermometer, gave slightly better hatches than a temperature which increased one degree each week as the period of Incubation advanced. 3. A temperature of 101 degrees F. throughout the period of Incubation, with a standing thermometer, gave the best results. .... , 4. Temperatures below the optimum tended to delay the hatch, and gave a large number of undesirable chicks. 0. Temperatures above the optimum brought the hatch off earlier, but gave a greater number of undesirable chicks than did optimum or lower than optimum temperatures. C Standing thermometers, with the middle of the bulb li inches above the egg tray and near to but not touching the eggs, gave the most dependable temperature for Incubation. ... 7. The full effect of unfavourable temperatures on the incubation results is only partly shown by the number of chicks hatched. It is believed that a largo part of the mortality among chicks in the brooders during the first two weeks may be due to adverse Incubation conditions. Value of Alfalfa Meal. An experiment Io test the value of alfalfa meal was made by the bclentlflc Poultry Breeders’ Association with 30 White Leghorns kept intensively. The only difference in the mash was that ono contained 20 per cent, bran, and a mineral mixture, and the other 10 per cent, bran and 10 per cent, alfalfa, and no mineral mixture. Neither pen received any green food of any kind. The pen receiving alfalfa meal averaged 141 eggs per bird, of which GO per cent, were first grade, while the other pen averaged 138.60, 43 per cent, of which were first grade. The birds remained in perfect health during the nine months of the test. In all the association’s experience only eggs weighing 2oz. or over are counted as first grade. Disinfecting Incubators. Considerable agitation has developed, says an American exchange, regarding tho necessity of properly disinfecting incubators between each hatching, to prevent the possible spread of bacillary white diarrhoea and other infectious diseases to succeeding hatches of chicks. This is of special importance for large poultry farms and hatcheries. All Incubators should have all hatching trays, nursery drawers, and muslin or burlap cloths, thoroughly scraped off, washed and disinfected between each hatch. This involves first scraping the trays with a broad-bladed putty knife to remove all droopings, yolk material and parts of Shell. They should next be inverted in a strong soap solution and scrubbed with a stiff brush. Let tho tray drain a few minutes, then put it in another tub filled with a strong disinfecting solution. Common disinfectants which use crude oil as a base are satisfactory, as are a number of those which use chlorine as a base. After the disinfecting bath, the tray or drawers should be stacked and allowed to drain before being replaced in the machine. The floors of the incubators should be thoroughly swept out; and in the case of tho mammoth cabinet machines, the doors should be opened for a minute or two, with the fans revolving at full speed. The egg racks holding the eggs in early stages of incubation should be turned once or twice to loosen any dirt which may have blown in the upper section of the incubator. The fans will force this dirt out the open doors. h The hatching sections of the cabinet forced-draught machines and the floor parts of the compartments in long-deck machines should be sprayed with a mild chlorine disinfectant. Nest Boxes. In fitting up a poultry house, the nest boxes should bo regarded as one of the most important details, and in making these, it is desirable to put them in the darkest and most secluded corner of the house. If the nests are raised a foot or two above the floor level there should bo an alighting board along the front, whereas in the case of outside nest boxes there is no advantage in having them more than a few inches above the floor level. Hens sometimes have a tendency to make use of one nest and to ignore the others. The best way to avoid this is to place one or two china eggs in each nest, for hens like to follow where other have been. Each nest should be well built with straw or similar material, and it is a good plan to put half a spadeful of dry soil into each box and mould it well into the corners. Whenever an egg is broken in the nest all litter should be cleaned out and renewed.—Chrlstchurcn “Sun.” Poultry-house Ventilation, Late winter and early spring is a critical time in the laying houses because th re is apt to be much dampness in the air. Leave the house open as much of the day and night as possible. Be sure that no draughts blow across the birds on the perches, but that plenty of frefji air enters the front of house and gradually works back to the roosting areas. An abundance of fresh, pure air, loaded with oxygen,is far better than a warmer temperature with stale air, filled with carbon dioxide. Many late attacks of colds and roup are due to an effort to house the pullets at a sacrifice of oxygen. Toe Picking. If taken at the start toe picking is not a difficult matter to break up, says an exchange. As a first step, remove the chicks that have been picked and keep them bv themselves if there is space available for this. If there is no available place paint the toes with tar or put some bitter aloes on them and put the chicks back in the pens. Next darken the house at once. This tend to make the chicks less active temporarily and will make it a little more difllcult to see the bright toenails and picked toes. It Is necessary to have tho room darkened for only a few days. After this, feed the chicks more often to keep them busy. More feed need not bo given than is usually given—just feed more frequently. If toe picking is permitted to go on, It develops into cannibalism, which is very hard to break up. A good yard of growing green feed will be a big asset in preventing this vice and even in fighting it.