POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 220, 13 June 1936, Page 28

POULTRY NOTES

A Simple Ration For Chickens

FROM DAY OLD TO SIX MONTHS

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New Laid.)

The best time to hatch chickens which are required purely for egg-production is from the middle of August to the second week in September for Leghorns, but a month earlier for Australorps, Langshans and other heavy breeds. If, however, birds are wanted for breeding purposes, they should be hatched in June or July if they are to be at their best for use next breeding season. Intending purchasers of day-old chickens should remember that there is a very heavy demand for chickens during the comparatively brief hatching season, and to avoid disappointment it is wise to place orders well in advance of the time the chickens are required.

A newcomer to poultry-keeping, having arranged for his chickens, the next question is how best to feed them. Some very elaborate feeding systems are encountered during the rearing season, but it is not necessary to go in for any fancy feeding to get the best results. Some comment in this connection by Mr. Jas. Hadlington,' a well-known New South Wales authority, writing in the “Sydney Morning Herald,” is of particular interest just now. This authority states that, feeding a simple but adequate ration, £lO will cover the cost of feeding 100 chickens from a day old to six months. The particulars he gives refer to a ration he fed at a time when he was putting through upward of 10,000 chickens annually, the bulk of them in the main rearing season, and the balance for summer hatching. A similar ration, it may be stated, is still being fed, both at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College and the New South Wales Government farm at Seven Hills, at each of which about 5000 chickens have to be reared annually.

For the first six or seven weeks, while in the brooding stage, the chickens are fed mainly on semi-wet mash, mixed with skim milk (or its equivalent in milk powder), and made to a crumbly consistency, with one feed of chicken mixture for the last feed of the day. In addition, green feed, all that they will eat, should be available, and fine shell grit should always be available to them, but not fed with the food. Dry rolled oats, crumbled between the hands, is the food for the first two days, after which the mash feeding is commenced. The mash for this stage is made up of two-thirds pollard, and onethird bran, to which is added two or three per cent, of bone meal (no meat meal) and common salt dissolved in the liquid with which the mash is mixed, at the rate of one ounce to each s)b. of mash material. This is important.

During the next six weeks, t-he same mash, with or without milk, can be fed three times a day, winding up with a feed of grain or chicken mixture. At this stage, however, whole wheat, and finelycracked maize can be eaten if the chicks were brought on to it. Some maize, either as grain qy meal, is advisable.. If meal, it can take the place of a portion of the bran. If milk is not available, the morning mash as fed to the layers may be given, but only one feed of this per day, or the protein content of the ration will be overdone.

This brings the age to three months, from which time onward the morning mash as fed to the layers can be fed regularly, milk or no milk, and. the mash now without meat-meal can be fed one or two feeds during the day, with grain at evening. Greenstuff and grit, as in the other stages, should be given as an adjunct to all the other food. Care should be taken not to keep the birds with a surfeit of food; feed all they can eat, and keep them keen for their food, is a good maxim. Any signs of slackness for food should be countered by the attendant giving them less, until keenness is restored. Herein lies the art of feeding for results, whether it be in growth or eggs.

In order further to elucidate the matter of costing, Mr. Hadlington gives the result of an experiment carried out at Hawkesbury College, on the quantities of the different materials used iu the above ration, for 100 chickens over the six months’ period, except the milk and greenstuff, which were, of course, in addition :—Pollard and bran combined, 66 bushels; wheat and maize, 15 bushels; chick mixture, 401 b.; meat-meal, 251 b.; bone-meal, 101 b.; rolled oats, 141 b.; shell grit, 141 b. This enables costing to be arrived at approximately no matter what are the prices ranging for foodstuffs, and, of course, the difference between buying in small quantities and wholesale in big lots.

Looking over some records, taken for 500 chickens, at the Kentville N.S. Experiment Station, Canada, giving the quantities, but less the grit, as mentioned above, the weights of foodstuffs eaten from day-old to five months’ are found to support the Hawkesbury figures very closely. In this case, the periods are dissected into stages of (a) first three months, and (b) two separate months (the fourth and fifth). Tn the first three months, for the 500 chicks, the weight consumed was 21591 b. In the fourth month, 285011)., and in the fifth month, 30311 b.. mailing a grand total of food consumed over the five months liy 500 chicks as at 80401 b. By multiplying the Ilawkesbury figures, to bring them up to amount for 500 chickens, and adding a month to the Canadian figures, to make a proper comparison, the Hawkesbury figure would come out at 11,38241 b. of food for 500 chickens, up to six months, as against 11,0711 b. for the Canadian experiment over a similar period. ' Mr. Hadlington’s estimate is based on the prices ruling for poultry foodstuffs last year.

Feeding Trough Space. It is not an unusual sight to see birds I fighting and crowding over the troughs I or mash hopper at feeding time because I there is not sufficient space provided to allow all the flock to feed comfortably. When there is not enough feeding space some of the birds do not get their share of food and consequently production suffers. Furthermore, the fighting hen which gets more than her share of food under such conditions is frequently only a moderate layer at. best” and robs less truculent birds who otharwise would prove most profitable. Dead in the Shell. ' Every incubating season complaints are heard about the number of chicks found dead in the shell. This problem has been attacked by Dr. A. Romanoff, of Cornell University, who has been devoting attention to research work covering incubation from all angles. The annual Joss of eggs during the incubating period is set down by Dr. Romanoff as at least 35 per cent. The conclusions he has arrived at, he remarks, suggests that the reasons are many and not restricted to any one part of the process. “If there arc too many dead embryos during the first week of incubation it usually indicates that the eggs have weak germs, due to their poor reproductive inheritance. If there are too many dead embryos during the second week of incubation. it means that the eggs have weak germs, partially due to poor inheritance and par. tially due to deficiencies in the egg’s make-up. It may also indicate that these eggs came from unhealthy hens, or from a flock of breeders not properly cared for. Again, it may indicate that the eggs were partially destroyed, previous to incubation, b.v age or by improper storage. If there are too many deaths during the last week of incubation it usually means that the incubator equipment is defective, or that the operator neglected to give proper care during the incubation.”

A Whitewash Recipe. A correspondent forwards the following as a recipe for a lasting whitewash, and one that he says will not peel off: —

Slake a basinful of quick lime in four gallons of cold water, keeping the receptacle carefully covered until steam ceases to rise. Next beat ’{lb. of rye flour in sufficient water to bring the mixture to a smooth paste, then stir slowly in four pints of boiling water. In a separate vessel dissolve "lb. salt in three-quarters of a gallon of boiling water; add this to the flour paste; then stir into the limewater.

Perching Accommodation. An internal fowlhouse fitting which does not always receive the attention it should is the perch which can be seen in a wonderful variety of different houses. Perches should be not less than 2in. wide and when required for a long shed 3 by 2 hardwood, with the edges planed off, is most suitable. For smaller houses 2 by 1 timber will do. It is best to suspend them from the roof by heavy-gauged wire or, better still, light iron rods; this method facilitates cleaning, as there are no obstructions for broom, rake or scraper. They should be not lesw than 2ft. from the ground, and all on the same level. Previous to placing the perches in position it is advisable to give them a good coating of hot tar. This will fill up the cracks which might make suitable hiding places for red mites. If the perches are of varying heights the birds will fly to the highest perch. If the house is filled to capacity they will jostle each other for the favourite position, and the weakest are apt to be pushed off and may be injured. Also the higher the perches, the greater the danger of the bird hurting the ball of its foot and contracting that troublesome complaint known as bumble foot; especially should this be guarded against where heavy breeds are kept.

Maize for Winter Feeding. Maize is a useful food for winter, its considerable starch content providing heat and energy in the cold weather. It can be used in the mash if ground up for that purpose, but is not a cheap food at the present time. Kibbled maize is of greater value to birds than the same amount eaten whole, and is likely to help their laying to a greater extent. To be most economical, when the maize is kibbled but. not screened it is necessary to sieve out the flour. This can be used to advantage in the mash.

Birds’ Food Consumption. According to the American Poultry Journal it will take approximately 301 b. of feed to raise a chicken to maturity from hatching time if the pullet is one of the general-purpose birds such as Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, ete. It will take approximately 251 b. of feed to raise a Leghorn pullet to maturity. Approximately half of the feed required will be mash and half grain. For the first year of laying it is estimated that Leghorns will confsurne 801 b. of feed each and the heavier breeds about 901 b. each in either case approximately half of this amount will be grain and half mash.

EGG-LAYING CONTEST

Massey College Results — In the egg-laying contest conducted at Massey College the eleventh week’s results are as follows: — SINGLE PENS. Section A.—A. G. Mumby, W.L.. No. 1. 5—58. It. M. Smith. W.L., No. 1. 5—58. A G Mutnbv, W.L.. No. 2. 5—56. Miss H. Kedtiell. W.L.. No. 2. 1—55. G. E. Moody, IV L . 5—54. Rnngiuru Egg Ranch, W.L., Xo 3 5—54. Mrs. C. A. S'tratford, W.L., 5-51. Miss H. Koddcll, W.L.. No. 1, 2— 47. A A. Iloare, W.L., No. 2. 5—44 F. Ecob, W.L.. 2—42. A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 4, 5—41. Miss E. Ladd, W.L., 3—36. J Reilly, W.L., No. 2, 3-36. R. M. Smith, W.L., No. 2, 5—34. A. A. Hoare, W.L., No. 1, 5—30. A. G. Mumby, W.L.. No. 3, o—3o. J. A. Annan. W.L., 4—29. J. Reilly, W.L., No. 1, s—2 Br. A. E. Salisbury, W.L., No. 1. 3-27: No. 3, 3—27. C. L, W. Urquhart, W.L., 5—27 r. M. Stephenson. W.L., 3—25. E. B. Wainscott, W.L., 0—23. Moreland Bros., W.L., 5—22. Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L.. No. 1, 2—lB. Mrs. B. B. Andrews, W.L., 2—17. Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L., No. 2. o—l 7. A. E. Salisbury, W.L., No. 2, o—l 3. J. Mold, W.L.. o—9. F. H. Paddy, Min., 3—3 r. H. Polson, W.L., o—3. C. 11. Barker, W.L., No. 1, 0—0; No. 2, o—o. Section B.—T. Dowthwalte, 8.0., No. 2, 5—62; No. 3, 6—62. A. E. Salisbury, A. 0., No. 3, 6—62. F. Seymour, 8.0., 4—59. J. Sutton, A. 0., 6—59. Norman Ross, 8.0.. 5—58. R Feist. R.T.R.. No. 2, 6—55. John Walker. A. 0., 5—53. T. Dowthwalte, 8.0., No 1, 6—52. A. E. Salisbury, A. 0., No. 1. 5—49. R. M. Smith. 8.0., 3-35. W. A. Larsen, A. 0., 5—34. A. E. Salisbury, A. 0., No. 2, 5—31. Mrs. Norman Ross. A. 0., 0-25. R Feist. R.1.R., No. 1, 5—24. G. A. Edge, R.1.R., 5—12. J. D. Rowlands. R.1.R., 3—lo.

TEAMS RESULTS. Section C. (All W.L.). F. Ecob, No, 2-—lO, 43, 12, 48, 47, 35, (20), 231. Argvle Poultry Farm—l2, 42, 38, 30, 29, 41, (10), 225. C. L. W. Urquhart—34, 31, 45, 50, 28, 33, (23), 221. E. B Wainscott—43, 23, 21, 38, 54 , 41, (14), 220. F. Ecob, No. 1—45, 29, 58, 17, 18, 37, (17), 204. •I. Graham—2o, ’ 45, 41, 30, 24, 28, (11), ' 194. S. D. Morris—2s, 18, 21, 39, 14, 49, (7), 100. Cotswold Poultry Farm—lB. 28, 44, 53, 0, 20, (13), 103, S G. Batten—ls, 21, 13, 48, 25, 38, (8), 100. Penrose Poultry Farm—2B, 28, 2, 20, 35. 20, (SI), 133. 15 W. Thompson—l 4, 19, 48, 27, 7, 16, (7).' 131. M. Stephenson—2, 40, 32, S, 20, 18, (21), 120. ,T. Wilson—o, 11, 20, 17, 34, 29, (11), 111, D. M. Peek—3, 9, 52, 1,4, 40, (7), 109. J T. Hazelwood—2s, 17, 3, 13, 11, 32, (5), 101. R. Forlong—lOd, 0,5, 34, 35, 7, (10), 97. Mrs, G. E. Sewell-18, 24, 28, 14, 12, 0, (4), 9(1. A. E. Salisbury—l 9, 22, 12, 0,0, 34, (7), 87 ! IL Polson—23.' 10. 0, 27, 14, 0, (8), 83. Miss 11. Keddell-14, 28, 2,0, 14, 14, (0), J. .1. Faulkner—22, 25, 3,0, 0. 10, (5), 00. A. J. Hudson—Hi, 13, 0,1, 15, Ir. (1), 40. Mrs. P>. B. Andrews—l, 8, 10, 1,1, 8, (0), Section D. Mrs. D. M. Waddell, 8.0.—58, 00, 18 36 52. 11, (21), 235. Cotswold Poultry Farm, A. 0.—55, 20 CO 21. 52, IT, (20), 231. ‘ ' L. Fletcher, 8.0.—15, 54, 1, 12, 50 48 (17), 210. ’ ’ J. B. Duthie. No. 1. 8.0.—21, 29, 26 65 4, 50. (23), 195. ' ~ ’ J. B. Duthie, R.I.R.—2S, 15, 32 14 0 59. (18), 178. A. E. Salisbury, A. 0.—13. 56, 35, 25 5 4r, (10), 168. F. A. Dewburst, R.1.R.—22, 46, 9 43 30 10, (18), 166. ' ' A. Thomson, A.0.,—55, 30, 11, 0. 27 "3 (10), 140. ’ ’ J. B. Duthie, No. 2, 8.0.—10. 23 3° 4 31, 9, (8), 139. ’ ’ ’ Mrs. R. Willcrs, 8.0., —27, 0, 35 31 37 0, (8), 130. ’ ’ Bliss Bros., R.1.R.—22, 0, 20, 30 2 30 (121. 11(1. W. A. Larsen, A. 0.—25, 18, 13, 0 29. 13 (22). (IS. W. Fletcher, A. 0., 1, 11, 18, | ‘>n i» (17), 65. ' ’ *' I. ,1. Grose, 8.0.—5, 0, 4 11. I "7 (ft) 51. G. A. Edge, R.1.R.—0, 12, 14, a n (9), 4ft. "r” Replacements, “d” Bird dead.