POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 257, 26 July 1930, Page 32

POULTRY NOTES

Care of Breeding Birds

(By

"New Laid.")

August is a good period during which lo hatch out chicks of auy breed, hence next month the poultry-keeper's time will be chiefly devoted to the critical work of hatching and brooding the new Hock. If success is to be achieved, comments the Chief Government Poultry Instructor (Mr. F. C. Brown) the necessity for maintaining the parent stock in proper breeding condition cannot be emphasised too strongly. TN. is implies giving the birds a variety of grain foods such, as wheat, oats, maize, etc., for it must be remembered that if properly developed chicks are to lie produced the mated hen must be provided with, the necessary elements to pass on desirable qualities to her offspring. No one class of food will fulfill all requirements in this respect, and the greater the variety of food supplied to breedingbirds the greater is tiie likelihood that giiod hatches and strong chicks will result. The dead-in-shell trouble during the various stages of the incubation process is invariably due to a weak germ, which may be traced back to the breeding-pen. Breeding-birds should be induced to exercise as much as possible by such means as feeding the grain ration in deep Utter. Nor should the liberal daily supply of green food be forgotten: a plentiful supply of succulent green material not only tends towards economic production, but in addition ensures the maintenance of

healthy stock. With breeding-birds high egg-yields should not lie aimed at, or trouble may be expected in the hatching and rearing of the chicks, and for this reason meat, meat-meal, and other forcingfoods should be sparingly supplied, while condiments should never bo included in the ration. The ideal condition for breedingbirds is a free range whereby natural food and exercise is available. I have seen eggs from birds kept in confinement anil from those on free range placed in the same incubator. The eggs from the free-range bird could easily be [licked out when testing during the incubation process by the strong embryo and the distinct contrast generally. It is not convenient for every one to give breeding-birds a natural run, but the aim should be lo provide food and conditions as far as possible resembling those available on free range. Eggs for Hatching.

It Is well to reiterate that everv care should be taken in selecting eggs for'hateliiug purposes. However good a bird may be as a layer, if its eggs are on the small size it should not be bred from. If the proposed system for grading eggs on the ‘local market is carried into effect (by which eggs -will be disposed of according to their weight), and there is reason to biilieve it will be in -the near future, the size of the egg will then be considered of almost as much importance as the number produced. No doubt the weight clauses adopted In the egg-laying competitions have done much to check the production of small eggs, but, generally speaking, much remains yet to be done in this direction by producers before’it can be said that the bulk of the eggs that reach the market conform to the first-grade standard of 2oz. ' It must be admitted that under the present crude system of marketing the producer has little if any inducement to breed for large eggs, as these-cominand no better price on the local market than do those of medium size. Eggs for export are sold according to their weight per long hundred (or ten dozen). The sooner this system is adopted on the local market the greater will be the tendency for the industry to become stabilised. At the present time egg-pup is sold by weight, and there is no reason why eggs in shell should not be disposed of in a similar manner.” Artificial Brooding.

Probably the greatest caiwe of mortality in artificial brooding is allowing the chick's to huddle, this being usually induced by not providing the little birds with a uniform degree of warmth. Huddling means sweating, and its effect is manifested in several ways, the chief of which is a chill when the chickens leave the brooder. This brings on a weakened state, which is usually manifested by bowel trouble, and a general lowering of vitality. Another effect of chill is a weakness of tiie legs and a wobbling walk, indicating that the chickens are huddling at night and require more warmth. The young birds, feeling the need of more heat, huddle in the corners of the brooder, each one trying to secure nn inside position, which is the warmest. The trouble Is often Intensified by a lack of sufficient bedding on the floor, especially when the floor is very smooth, when the constant slipping on tiie smooth surface during the huddling effort has the effect of spreading and weakening the delicate legs. On th’e first sign of this condition being observed additional warmth should be applied, by means of extra flame in a heated brooder and extra covering in the case of a fireless bro'oder. The aim should be to make the chicks comfortable, as only in this condition can they be expected to thrive. If the chicks are spread over the door of the brooder it may be taken for granted that the degree of warmth being maintained conforms to that demanded bv instinct, whereas if they are huddling it is a sure sign that more heat is required. When chicks have acquired the habit of huddling in cornets, ns a result of chill, it is often difficult to break them of it. In artificial rearing It is always a waste of time to try and rear weaklings. as they seldom or never develop into profitable stock. Not only this, but usually thev are the first to acquire the habit 'of huddling, and teach the stronger birds to do likewise, with consequent heavy mortality.

General Notes. Better than keeping poultry is to make poultry keep you. If a fowl becomes ill, at once separate It from the others, since the disease may be coutaglous. It is better to keep a box of grit and shell constantly before the birds than to throw down a handful occasionally, or even every day. . Go about poultry-keeping in a careful and sensible manner. Look before you leap. Obtain, if possible, the counsel of some reliable and successful poultryman. It is not the number of birds kept, or the number of eggs laid that counts, so much as tiie money saved by eliminating waste, especially by culling out every unprofitable bird. More eggs, better fertility, and stronger chicks will follow if your fowls arc so tame that you can go amongst them without frightening them. Periodical examinations should be made of the male bird to see that they are not infested with vermin, which often results In a high percentage of infertile eggs, or “dead .-in the shell’ chickens. Do not neglect the birds because they are not laying. Producing feathers is often more exhausting than producing eggs. It is more profitable to keep twenty good fowls than double the number of indifferent ones. If a small flock annot be made to pay, it is no use attempting to conduct the business successfully on a larger scale.