POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 35, 4 November 1933, Page 24

POULTRY NOTES

Organising the Industry

GOVERNMENT INSTRUCTOR’S VIEWS

(By

“New Laid.”)

“I have a small flock o£ ducks, and during the last few days several of them have developed sore feet,” writes Duck, Shannon. “On examination I found they had on the ball of the foot and also on the leaders running down to the claws, puffy swellings. The leg appeared to be swollen too, also the foot and leg is hot to touch, the ducks becoming very lame. They are shut in a small run at nigh t, but through the day have free range, and access to a running stream. I might state they are young ducks, this being their first laying season. I would be much obliged if you could give me a remedy for this complaint. [The ducks are suffering from, corns, the most common cause of which is compelling the birds to exercise on hard or strong ground. Corns are sometimes traceable to a prick from a thorn when ducks are on open range, or from pieces of gorse, thistle, etc., which may get m to the bedding material. There is practically no cure for this trouble, the only safeguard being to find the cause if possible and remove it.] Control of Insect Vermin.

“The wise poultry-keeper never allows vermin to make an appearance, particularly in. the case of red mite, says the Chief Government Poultry Instructor (Hr F. C; Brown), who adds that November is the good month for taking steps to prevent these pests gaming a foothold. The laying hen cannot give her maximum egg-yield, or the young stock make sound development it nightly tormented by iblood-sucking insects. It must not be concluded, Mr. Brown adds, that because red mite cannot be seen during the day it is not present. Ihe mites hide during the day in secluded places, and attack the ‘birds ‘by night, anu owing to this habit it is to be feared that too often they are responsible for much worry and loss to the poultry-keeper while escaping his observation. Ihe only way to make sure that a house is free from red mite is to dig" into the cracks and hiding-places, particularly near the roosting quarters, with a pen knife. If the dust, etc., is collected on a piece of white paper, the mites will be readily seen if present. Strict attention ro cleanliness, and frequent spraying with a strong disinfectant. are the first essentials, toward keeping the quarters free from those insects which do not live constantly on the fowls. Body lice, however, will not be overcome by any spraying, and powdering individual birds is out of the question on a large plant. The best method, of dealing with lice is by applying nicotine sulphate (a by-product of tobacco) to the perches. A good way of doing this is to make a small hole in, say, a cocoa tin, leaving a thin, line of the liquid on the perch. Da this at dusk, just when the birds are going to roost.' If there is not much dust on the perch, the liquid is apt to run. off and be wasted, and to prevent this it is a good plan to first rub the perch over with a damp cloth. If 'this is. done the liquid can be more easily applied to the centre of the perch, end the risk'of wastage will be reduced to a minimum. The treatment should be repeated in about ten days, after which' time the birds should keep fairly free from the vermin for about three months. Demand for Brpwn Eggs.

Eggs with deep brown-coloured shells are in greatest demand on the English market and usually command a slightly higher price than white _ eggs, .says Mr. J. N. Leigh, writing in the London “Daily Mail.” The breeds that lay brown eggs of the deepest shade are Welsummers, Barnevelders, and Langshans. The two first-named are comparatively new breeds, and as yet their laying power has not been highly developed. Distinct improvement is being made, but as improvement in numbers of eggs is effected, the deeper brown colour of the egg shell gradually disappears. The Langshan produces a rich brown egg, but this also is a moderate producer in point of numbers. The reason colour is lost as egg production improves is that the pigment that gives the shell its colour does not form as rapidly as the rest of the shell, and the egg is laid too rapidly to be fully pigmented—as the bird’s laying season progresses there is also a steady loss of colour. No one knows how to feed to improve the supply -ot pigment, but good grass runs and succulent green feed help to maintain shell colour and improve the colour of the yolk. Of the more popular breeds the best layer of good brown eggs is the Rhode Island Red. Some strains of this breed, that have been selected for egg colour, consistently produce such eggs, but as a rule there is wide variation in the shade of egg colour of individual birds.

Water-Filled Abdomen. ■ “Amateur,” Levin, writes: “Will you please reply in your column to the following:.! had a hen ailing for some time and when I killed and examined her she was full of water. Could you tell me tbe name and cause of the trouble?” * The condition mentioned is usually an after-effect of peritonitis, the probable cause being misplacement of the oviduct, whereby one or more yolks of eggs fall into the abdomen instead of into the oviduct', with the result that an inflamed condition is set up, followed by the abdomen becoming distended owing to its being filled with liquid. There is no cure for the trouble mentioned and affected birds should be destroyed.

Seasonal Catarrh. Seasonal catarrh, if neglected in the incipient stages, will develop into the more serious form of roup. Taken at the outset,; and affected birds segregated, a slight film of eucalyptus oil on the drinking water will nip the trouble in the bud, says the New South Wales Poultry Expert, Mr. E. Hadlington. When the symptoms persist individual treatment is necessary by cleaning the nostrils and eyes and syringing with a solution of two teaspoonfuls of boracic acid and one of salt in a pint of boiled water. It may be necessary to do this twice daily. A further excellent mixture for severe cases is composed of a teaspoonful each of oil of pine and eucalyptus, and 20 grains of menthol crystals in 4oz. of medicinal paraffin oil’. Tbe best preventive is to avoid overcrowding in inadequately ventilated houses.

“Broody Fever.” It was common in the old days to refer to the broody “fever” and to say that clucking hens were in a feverish condition. A well-known American incubator expert once put it on record that during some of his experiments he found that the body heat of four heus he tested with a clinical thermometer gave readings of 98, 102, 103, and 105 degrees, and that those with 102 and 103 degrees were the best hatchers. When a hen becomes broody, the normal warmth of her body is increased by the condition of the blood vessels in that part of her body coming in contact with the eggs. These become distended, and the accelerated blood flow causes the temperature of the atmosphere around the eggs to rise. The actual blood heat of the broody hen, however, should not be higher than that of the laying hen, and when it is then such “fever” is due solely to the state of the hen’s bowels—constipation will “send up the temperature.” It must be admitted that the physiology of broodiness in hens is not yet fully understood, but it is a mistake to say that •when a hen first becomes broody she is feverish and that her temperature is

higher than when she is normal. — “Poultry.” Ducks and Swimming Water. Many maintain that in order to do their best laying ducks need to have swimming water, but according to Mr. T. Hedges, manager of the Harper Adams College laying trials, swimming water is not necessary. No one can deny that ducks really enjoy being on water, says Mr. Hedges, who adds that for breeding ducks he would prefer to let them go out daily for a swim, but for the purpose of egg-production swimming water was not necessary. Ducks must, however, have plenty of drinking water at all times. At the college pens a two gallon pail is let into the ground almost flush with the surface and this is kept filled with water. The main idea is to enable the ducks to immerse their heads freely in order to cleanse their eyes. “After the Brooding Stage.” “It is advisable to run the pullets in separate groups as soon as possible, since the cockerels are bullies and take more 1 than their share of the food, says Mr. W. Powell-Owen, an English expert who has recently issued a brochure entitled, “After the Brooding Stage.” Cockerels in the light breeds, says Mr. PowellOwen, can be picked out at a much earlier age than those of heavy breeds. Their combs and wattles soon begin to grown and redden up. Cockerels in heavy breeds usually feather up more slowly than the pullets and get their tails later, while there are bare patches on the back and wingbows; they are thicker and longer in the leg and have rather prominent abdomens. The pullets get their tails quicker and seem generally to feather faster, not having bare patches at back or wing; they arc finer in leg, lower on leg, feather well at the thighs, and have less prominent abdomens. The males do not develop enlarged and red-dened-up headgear till comparatively late. Feathering is a reliable guide in time and, at this point, it may be advisable to learn to distinguish the plumage of an adult cock and hen. Take a feather from between the shoulders of an adult male, or from the back, and you will notice that there is a wide fringe on the outside, while the inside is spearshaped. Now take one from a hen at tbe same place, and you will see that there is but a narrow outer fringe, if any, and that the inner line is rounded and firm. When you find these pointed feathers on a young fowl, it is a male. You must not be guided by baby feathers, but must wait till the stiff feathers grow; look for any that are new and are growing underneath as shown by the soft sheath at the end of each.” How to Sweeten Chicken Runs. There is probably no better way of keeping runs in a sweet condition for next season’s rearing of the baby stage of chickens than to spell them for a few months, having first swept them clean when the last batch of chicks of the season. has Seen removed, says an Australian writer. This should be about November, when the sun and elements should be allowed to do the sweetening until next rearing season, commencing June or July. Should a mossy film form over the surface of the run, remove it to a depth of half to one inch, a week or two before placing the chickens in it. This practice may serve well enough for three or even four years on the average class of soils; then it is a good practice to remove the surface to the depth of three or four inches when the last batch of chickens is taken out, leave the runs open, and fill in a month or two before required. By this. means the runs are renewed, and the chicks are again on practically new land. This is, of course, only practicable with the small baby chicken runs. For the larger areas where the chicks are run in the second and third stages, spelling is the only practicable course to adopt. Feeding Young (Chickens. Discussing a problem of interest to all poultrykeepers at the moment —the feeding of baby chickens—J. N. Leigh writes as follows in the “Daily Mail”: — “It is a mistake to attempt to economise on the food of chickens during the first six weeks of their lives. Don’t try to make the food cheaper, but try to make it better. “Biscuit meal is a good starting food. It is not the cheapest food, but it is bulky and easily digested. Scald the biscuit meal with boiling or very hot water. Leave it to swell for half an hour or so. when, if properly scalded, it will be found possible to pulp the separate particles of food between the finger and thumb. Drain off any surplus water there may bo and pour one per cent, of certified cod liver oil over tbe biscuit. This must bo mixed in very thoroughly, so that the oil is evenly distributed. When this has been done, add sufficient fine middlings or ground- oats to dry it off to a crumbly condition. The exact consistency of the mash is very important, and the aim should be to make it sufficiently moist to bind together when squeezed in the hand, yet to fall apart when dropped to . the ground. It must be free from any stickiness, and be clean to handle. Feed this three times a day at S a.m., 11 a.m., and 2.30 p.m. At 4 p.m., feed a grain mixture in the troughs that is made up of one pound pinhead oatmeal, one pound finely kibbled wheat, and half a' pound very small grade maize grits. This is really all the food outdoor chicks need for the first six weeks. -It is an old-time method of feeding that still holds its place on many farms, and is productive of very good results. Another easily prepared mash that may be substituted for, or used alternately with, the biscuit is flaked maize. Moisten thfe with cold or warm water, to which skim milk may with advantage be added, and allow to stand until the flakes are soft. Then dry off with fine middlings or ground oats as described above. Great care must be taken of the feeding trough, for all wet mashes sour in time, apd when that happens fresh food is soon contaminated. Scald and scrub, the troughs, especially wooden ones, twice a week. ' Give the chicks grit and water from the time they are hatched.

General Notes. It does not pay to purchase inferior food because it appears to be cheap. Pullets will lay more and better eggs if ample ggpen feed is available. Chicks with deformities such as twisted beaks and roach backs should be culled out as soou as these deformities are noticed. * * * Overcrowding chicks in an attempt to economise on space is an expensive exneriment. * Incubators and brooders should not be neglected after the hatching and chickrearing is over. These important units of the plant cost money and the wise poultryman sees that they are kept in good condition for future use. • • • It is a mistake to leave in an intensive laying flock a weedy bird that the others insist on peeking. Such a bird will spend most of its day dodging the others, will never pay its way as a layer, and any day may get a severe peck, and may be starting the vice of feather-plucking or cannibalism. A hen owned by Mr. A. Foster, of Bromley, England, laid an egg containing four perfectly-formed yolks. • ♦ » ♦ Last year the average nroduction of the ducks in the Harper Adams egg-laying trials was 241.1 eggs of an average weight of 2.590 z. or a total production per duck of 391 b. weight of eggs. Good lucerne meal or dust should require no special scalding other than what it receives in the mixing of the mash with hot water. A good plan in mixing the mash is to pour the hot water or other liquid over the bran and lucerne meal

first and then work the wet mass through the pollard. It is highly desirable to take the males out of the pens as soon as the breeding season is over, so that the eggsi will be infertile during summer, when they are most likely to be affected by high temperatures. V * • Mr. W. Rugg, the Victorian chief poultry expert, recommends the following as a good growiug mixture: Maize-meal, 40 lb; ground wheat, 201 b; ground hulled oats, 101 b; bran, 101 b; charcoal, 31b; bone-meal, 2^lb; dried butter-milk, 2jlb; fine shell grit, 241 b; salt, ilb; superphosphate, |lb. This mixture can be given either as a dry or a wet mash. For a scratch grain, 201 b cracked wheat, 401 b cracked maize, and 101 b cracked hulled oats will be founa satisfactory. Birds kept in confinement must be supplied with hard insoluble grit as well as the soluble variety that supplies the necessary lime and other minerals. This hard grit is required by the gizzard to grind up the food. When on free range birds find this commodity for themselves, but under the intensive system this and many other important factors have to be provided by the poultry-keeper. The usual practice is to have a small box or hopper filled with a mixture of the two kinds of grit. A flock of 50 fowls will consume about 31b to 41b of grit a month. Male birds need not be kept, unless the breeding of chickens is desired. The fact that there is no male in the pen will have absolutely no effect on the number of e oo laid by the hens. If it is desired to rear chickens, it is necessary to keep the ma e bird with tbe hens for a few weeks, but the male should be disposed of just as soon as sufficient eggs have been procured for the hatching of the required number of chickens. This is desirable, not only to save the expense of feeding, but infertile eg-s keep better than fertile eggs, and consequently are superior for preserving and for market. Birds down in condition are quickly restored by giving them a food made by beating together a raw egg and a teaspoontul of compound syrup of hypophosphates and adding sufficient cod liver oil to make a crumbly food. A sprig or two of saffron in the water is recommended m cases. o? a delayed moult, giving the birds a change of temperature and condition. Fluid magnesia is sometimes recommended in bowel trouble, being a cooling and soothing mixture. Twelve drops in. water is an efficient dose. —S. Clifford in Poultry.

EGG-LAYING CONTESTS Massey College Competition Following are the thirtieth week’s results of the egg-laying contest conducted at Massey College:— SINGLE PENS. Section 8.-Mrs. Dimant: 8.0., (6) 129. T. Douthwaite: BjO., No. 1, (o) 100, No 2, (7) 175: A. C. Frankham: 8.0.. m Il4x. Mrs. Hellaby: 8.0., No. 1, (o) fit BO No 2 (5) 127. Larsen Bros.: B O No.“l CD 184: 8.0.. No. 2, (-) 46d; JLO/ No. 3, (6) 153. Mrs. Scarrott: 8.0., No 1, (6) 138; 8.0., No. 2 (5) 100- Mrs. Waddell: 8.0., No. 1, (© IGOx; 8.0.. No. o ( \ 140 d. W. E. Watson: 8.0., (o) 137. Mrs. Davey: L.S.. (7) 105 x. Mrs. Youngson: Bk.W., (—) 78x. K. Mouldey: R. 1.8., (7) 138. Section A.—Chas. Barker: W.L., No. 1, (5) 147; W.L., No. 2. (6) 104. A. Strawbridge- W.L., No. 1 (6) 105. Mrs. Cannon: WL 7) 166. G. H. Cross: W.L., (6) 102. E. Calvin: W.L , No 1. (5) 151 x; W.L., No'. 2, (5) 163 x; W.L., No. 3, (0) 83. J. 1. Hazelwood: W.L., No. 1, (5) 157; W.L., No. 2 (6) 138. Mrs. Hellaby: W.L., (6) 108. Mrs. Dimant: W.L., (6) 102. J. Ibbotson: W.L., (5) 131. W. J. McAloon: WL. (7) 137. D. Kruse: Anc., No. 1, (5) 137- Anc., Nd. 2, (6) 132 x. Miss Mitchell: W.L.. (5) 156. A. G. Mumby: W.L., No. 1, (5) 154; W.L., No. 2 (6) 142. Mrs. Stewart: W.L.. No. 1, (6) 135; W.L. No. 2, 'wP’H. N Barker; W.L., No. 1 (5) 112; W.L., No. 2, (8) 127 x; W.L.. No. 3, (6) 112. J. Smith: Anc., No. 1, (4) 112; Anc.. No. 2, (4) 80. W. FStent: Min., No. 1, (5) 80- Min., No. 2, (5)'85. A. R. Watson: Br.L., No. 1, (6) 142- Br L., No. 2. (3) 95x. Mrs. Youngson: Bk.L., (4) 118. TEAM RESULTS. Section D (All B.O.). M. L. Boyce: 116, 157, 177 x, 101, 143, 147 (25) 841. Larsen Bros.: 12-ix, 107 x, 133, 108 x, 112 x, 12fi (38) 710 ‘ ■ Mrs.’ ilellaby: 73, 98d, 143, 84, 122, 162 (°5) 652 Mrs. Warren: 91, SSx, 119 x, 130, 89, 74 (3 Mrs 6 °Scarrott: 87, 75, 80x, 103, 45d, 100 (28). 490. Section C. P. B. Harrison, W.L.: 144 x, 146, 169, 136, 136. 115 (30), 846. F S. Allen, W.L.: 150, 12ox, lu9, 159, G7d. 170 x (28). 830. Mrs. G. Hillman, W.L.: 124, 134, 124, 134 x, 137. 153 x (28), 806. H. A. Lucas, W.L.: 148, 116, 152, 144, 71, 108 (28), 739. E B. Wainscott. W.L.: 124 x, 139, 146, 109. 60d. 137 (26), 715. F T Wimble, W.L.: 94. 141, 100, 98, 126, 151 (30) 710 ,T. T.' Hazelwood, W.L.: lf)4x, 120, 89, no, 101. 120. IM. 16 lilss 37 Mltch ) 101, 120, 103, 120, 73 119 (°8) 672 A C. Mumby. W.L.: 121, 87x, 83, 102, 95, 109 (24), 597. A, Strawbridge, W.L-: 86, 117, 126, 45d, 84x, 104 (22), 562. S. D. Morris, W.L.: 99x, 125, 19d, 124, 43d. 130 (19), 540. W. G. King. W.L.: 92x, 94, 29d, S6x, 109. 97 (27). 507. w G. E. Manning, W.L.: 25d, 97, 09, 107, 71, 80x (26), 445. W. F. Stent, Min.: 66, 38, 55, 97x. 59, 105 (17). 420. "x” Disqualified egg weight clause, “d” Bird dead. Taranaki Competition Following are the results of the 31st week (ending November 1) of the Taranaki Society's sixth competition. White Leghorns.—H. Moreland: No, 1, (4-165 • No. 2, 7—157; No. 3, 5—114. G. L. Gaylard: No. 1, 5—93; No. 2, 6—150; No. 3, (! —131. M. Loveridge: No. 1, 6—109; No. 2, (>—l7l* No. 3, 5—121. Gibbons Bros.: No. 1, 5-1'11; No. 2, 7—1J53; No. 3, 6—127. Mrs. R. R. Cannon: No. 1, 5—182; No. 2, 7—140; No. 3, o—ll 7. A. J. Cadman: No. 1, 6—181; No. 2, 6—155; No. 3, 6—151. A. V. Hopkins: No. 1, * No. 2, 0—22; No. 3, 7—167. S. Pope, 7—109; W. Crompton, G—O2; J. Meuli, 6—132; T. Bruce, 6—163; Miss E. Ladd, B—2oB. Brown Leghorns. —Mrs. A. J. Hopcroft, 5— Mlnorcas.—C. Strang, 5—79; J. T. Brice, 6— Miss D. Swadling: No. 1, 5—96; No. 2, 5-61; No. 3. s—llo. Anconas. —A. J. Bloomfield, 5—154; T. J* Bates, 5—129. Wyandottes.—Tlios. Dowthwalte: No. 1, 4—193; No. 2, 6—164. Light Sussex.—iD. J. Prestldge, *; T. J. Bates, 5—134; Mrs. It. R. Cannon, 6—l Bo. Black Orpingtons.—Airs. S. Paterson: No. I, 6—145; No. 2, 5—126; No. 3, 5—147. Mrs. F. A. Warren: No. 1, 4—156; No. 2, 6—164; No. 3. 5-129. H. W. Smith: No. 1, 7—783; No 2 6—174; No. 3, 6—121. Larsen Bros.: No 1 6—190; No. 2, 6—148; No. 3, 6—139. Mrs. D. M. Waddell: No. 1, 6—170; No. 2, 7— No. 3, 6—192. Miss D. Swadling, B, 0 —157; G. L. Gaylard, 5—180; Mrs. V. L. Gane, 1—151; E. J. Poswillo, 5—l2G; E. R. Marshall, 6—198. DUCKS. Fawn and White Runners.—Mrs. F. A. Warren: No. 1, 0—71; No. 2, 5—122; No. 3 3 133. Thos. Dowthwaite: No. 1, 5—90; No. 2, 7 —213. Mrs. V. L. Gano, 2—107 T. J. Bates, 5—73. White Runners. —11. G. Emeny, 4—77; K. Mouldey, s—f>6; Stan. Beauschamp, 6—92. Fawn Runners.—Stan. Beauschamp, 6— °Khaki Campbell.—T. J. Bates, 6—80; H. G. Emeny, 6—160; W. Rowlands, 6—134. 'Pekins.—-H. G. Emeny, 6—84; H. A. Lucas: No. 1, 6 —104. Light Breed zThree-blrd Teams.

Ducks. Mrs. F. A. Warren, pig 0 S 6 10 325 •Signifies bird dead. M., moulting M., Minorca; 8.. Broody. W.L., White Leghorns.

1 2 3 Weekly to total, date. II Moreland, W.L. ... 6 7 5 18 455 G. Ij. Gaylard, W.L. .. 5 G G 17 374 JI. Loveridge, W.L. .. 0 G 5 17 401 Gibbons Bros., W.L. .. Mrs. 11. B. Cannon, 5 7 6 18 301 439 [j 5 7 0 12 A. .T. Cudman, W.L. .. 6 6 G 18 487 A. V. Hopkins, W.L. .. Miss D. Swiidling, M. 0 7 7 2o3 5 o 15 267 Heavy Breeds: Black Orpingtons. 448 Mrs. S. Paterson .... 0 5 5 16 Mrs. F. A. Warren .... 4 6 u 15 449 7 6 6 19 478 6 6 G 18 477 Mrs. IX M. Waddell .. 6 7 6 19 580