POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 286, 30 August 1941, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

Novel Wartime Feeding Plan A POTATO AND GRASS DIET

(Bx

New Laid.)

Some novel war-time feeding methods have been evolved by poultry-farmers in Great Britain to overcome the shortage of regular feeding stuffs. In a recent English poultry magazine, Mr. Robt. Holmes, a prominent Irish breeder, gives an account of his attempt to feed his poultry very largely on a potato diet. “The daily ration per fowl,’’ says Mr. Holmes, “averages approximately 12.80 z. of potatoes, 1.20 z. of ceieals, and 0.30 z. protein meal. This is a ration in which potatoes are 8J times greater by weight than the dry meals. If it became necessary I would not feel dismayed at the prospect of having to remove the cereal meal altogether from the ration, but a slight increase in the protein meal might then be required. The ration totals 14.30 z. per day, but since potatoes are only a quarter the food value of dry meals, this corresponds to a normal ration of 4.70 z.

The feeding system is as follows: — The morning feed consists of B.Boz. potatoes, O.ooz. protein meal and O.loz. of cereals. The potatoes are boiled in a plain boiler stove into which is fitted a homemade wire “basket” to make it easy to remove the boiled potatoes from the water. They are emptied into a large box (the walls of which are doubled to prevent loss through cracks between boards), and over them the protein meal is evenly scattered. The very small amount of cereals has been mixed into the protein meal as I believe it makes it scatter better. The potatoes and proteins are then very thoroughly pounded together with a large “battering-ram” (4ft. long. Sin. diameter), until.no white potato lumps are left, but all is browncoloured, mashed potato. Circumstances make it necessary for me to prepare this the evening before. On waiting overnight it often becomes much wetter, so that I have sometimes seen hens attempt to drink it rather than “eat” it. Nevertheless, they take a nice cropful of it at the time, though there is often a surplus remaining for some hours (in the houses, for shelter from wild birds and In this connexion one wonders what is the origin of the belief that “wet mash” should be consumed by poultry in one greedy gorge. It is certainly not “natural”; for wild fowl will usually be feeding in small amounts all day long. The evening feed consists of 4.20 z. potatoes, and l.lOoz. cereal meals (at present, 2 parts of salvaged maize meal to 1 part of pollard). The potatoes and two-thirds of the meal are pounded thoroughly ■ together, and this is then dried off to some extent, by stirring the remaining meal through it. The result is fairly like a normal mash if fed at once, before the stickiness of the potato makes itself apparent. Given warm,, it is appreciated by the fowls and quickly cleared up. . It is important that the protein and cereal supplements to the. potatoes should be separated like this in the two feeds, so as to prevent the monotony that might otherwise injure the fowls’ appeiites It’should be added that the fowls have access to grass runs,, and that these runs, without any special attention (except from the fowls), appear to provide a practically continuous supply of fresh growing grass, both winter and summer. It might be thought that the bulky potatofeeding would leave little room for grasseating, but the birds seem to eat even more grass, thus getting the fibre largely absent from the potato, besides valuable supplies of minerals, proteins and sugars. Without this grass, I doubt if the potatofeeding would have been so successful. Egg-production on this feeding (now in operation over four months) has perhaps been not quite so good as in some seasons, but has been satisfactory enough. The following are typical pullet records from birds in lay during the period February 1 to May 11 (100 days) : 85 eggs, 83, 82,*78, 73, 73, 73, 72, 71, 71, Secondyear hens, 85, 79. Third-year hen, 71. The health of the birds shows no signs of suffering. Droppings are slightly softer and damper than when normal mash and grain are used, but not “loose.” The chickens have been fed on normal cereal foods tin about eight weeks old. ■ They have then been given a ration consisting of one part of cereal mash to three parts of the same potato-protein mash ag forms the adult fowls’ breakfast. It may be pointed out that this potatofeeding has been adopted just because they are the only food readily available. Apart from the extra time and exertion involved in their preparation, they would appear to be a less economic feed than the usual cereal meals (were they available). Stockfeeding potatoes now costs 3/- and over per cwt. Add 6d. per cwt. for fuel, etc., and it gives a cost of 14/- to 16/- or so for 4 cwt., as -compared with under 12/- for 1 cwt. of middlings having the same feeding value. Wastage in the potatoes may easily raise the cost above that given, while retail prices in small quantities may be as.mueh as 5/- per cwt. A point or two in conclusion. Potatoes are sometimes regarded as “fattening.” I doubt it. My poultry (overfed) often became fat till last season, when whole boiled potatoes replaced the grain (with a good supply of ordinary mash at night). There has not been any of the fatness that previously often showed itself in a proportion of them. The potato-fattening idea may have arisen from instances in which potatoes were fed without any pro-tein-supplement that would allow eggproduction to continue. As protein-supplement I have used not only the protein meals (of which I am fortunate to have a considerable reserve), but have also boiled with the potatoes all dead-in-shell eggs, etc., from the incuba-

tors, and all mice caught in the storeroom, and rats caught in the runs. I see no reason why these vermin should not make after death what retribution they can for the food they have stolen during life! If protein meal were not available, but animal or fish offal could be obtained I would expect these to give equally good results.”

Hatching-Eggs from America. , A consignment of 64 Rhode Island Red eggs forwarded by air from the United States to Sydney resulted in tour chicks being hatched. The eggs were uelayed in transit for five days owing to a mishap to the aeroplane, and in addition some very rough weathei was encountered during the trip. Many of the eggs arrived with the air cell fractured. A consignment of 48 White Leghorn eggs which arrived by the same aeroplane produced six chicks.

Treatment of Prolapsus. What is termed by poultry-farmers “broken down behind,” or prolapsus, is a trouble that should be taken in hand at once if serious consequences are to be avoided. The ailment is one that often overtakes the best layers, and when production is at its highest. What, happens, says the journal of the Scientific Poultry Breeders’ Association, is that the internal organs just inside the vent are expelled, a half to four inches protruding. The bird suffers considerable pain and if not treated may die of egg stoppage or blood poisoning. As soon as a bird is seen picking round its vent or walking awkwardly'or holding its body in a more upright position than usual it should be caught and examined. In the event of prolapsus the organs should be carefully washed with warm, soapy water containing a disinfectant. Olive oil should then be swabbed on to the parts, which are carefully and gently pushed back inside the vent.

The bird should be given one teaspoonful of olive oil each day for three days, and fed upon a layers’ mash mixed with an equal quantity of chopped green vegetables. This feeding should be continued for four days. Frequent examinations must be made, for if the organs are found protruding again they must again be treated as described above. If the protrusion continues, in spite of replacement. the bird should be suspended in a towel so that it hangs comfortably with the vent 4in. to sin. higher than the crop. After the bird has been in the sling for 12 hours, the organs will usually then remain in place. Prolapsus is brought about through excessive straining and overwork of the organs, and may be due to the feeding of a forcing mash, ■ one, for instance, containing more than 10 per cent, animal food, and often results from the injudicious use of meaty house scraps.

When Eggs Disappear. Garden poultry-keepers are sometimes puzzled because hens that. have bright red combs and bear every indication. of being in full lay do not give the anticipated return of eggs despite much cackling and frequent visits to the nests. One possible explanation is that there is an egg-eating hen or hens in the flock. This vice is often due to a hen laying shell-less or thin-shelled eggs. An egg-eat-ing hen is clever at hiding traces and a careful watch is necessary to find the culprit. The vice is one which may spread quickly if the original offender is not caught. Addition of a very little salt and 5 per cent, limestone flour in the mash or loose in a hopper are often beneficial and plenty of green stuff should always be provided. Another possible explanation of the “mystery” may be found iu the presence of one or two “internal” layers in the flock. These birds, by some accident, or excess of internal fat, produce yolks which miss the mouth of the oviduct and fall into the abdominal cavity. Such birds are freaks and their trouble cannot be cured. A final conceivable explanation is that someone or something (perhaps rats) is stealing the eggs.

EGG-LAYING CONTEST

Massey College Results Results of the twenty-first week of the egg-laying contest ibeing conducted at Massey College, are as follows:— stnxjle pens. ■Section A (all W.L.)—G. Clark, No. 2, 113; G. Clark, No. 1, 117: A. G. Mumby, No. 3, 114; W. E- Yewen, No. 2, 111; A. O. Oakley, No. 1, 109;-J. Wilson, No. 1, 106; .T. T. Saunders, 105; A. G. Mumby, No. 2, 104; A. J. iSliailer, No. 2, 104; J. Mold, 103; B. E. Wilkinson, No. 2, 101; J. A. Annan, 90; A. A. Hoare, 97: A. G. Mumby, No. 4. 95; A. G. Mumby. No. 1, 94; W. E. Yewen, No. 1, 94; J. Wilson, No. 2, 93; W. H. Barker. 89; A. O. Oakley, No. 2, 79; B. E. Wilkinson, No. 1, 78; E. A. Carveil, No. 1, 75: A. J- Shailer, No. 1, 70; W. E. Y'ewen, No. 3, 83; E. A. Carrell, No. 2, 55. Section B.— -W: A. Larsen. A. 0., No. 2, 113; K. Mullins, R.1.R., 113: B. Pimm, A. 0., No. 1, Ml: B. Pimm, A. 0., No. 2, 100; E. W. Stephenson, A. 0., 100; R. K. Cunningham, A. 0., 98: R. Holmes, A. 0., 97; H. P. Ahrens, A. 0., 95; J. Carlyon, A. 0.. No. 2. 92; W. A. Larsen, A. 0., No. 1, 89; .T. D. Wealleans, A. 0., No. 1, 87; J. D. Wealleans. A. 0.. No. 2, 76; E. O. Collier, Lang., 70; A. A. Hoare, R.1.R., 70; J. Carlyon, A. 0., No. 1, 60. TEAMS RESULTS.

Section C (all W.L.).—G. Clark, 9S. 102, 101, 301; J. Wilson. 87. 96. 107, 290; F. P. Longbottora, 71, SI, 123, 275; A. J. Severn, 105, 63, 103, 271; Mrs. F. L. Gread, 78, S 3, 107, 288; G. I. Bews, 69, SS, 108, 265; W. F. Stent. 64. 100, 81, 245; A. O. Oakley, 73, 60. SS, 221.

Section D._G. A. Edge, R.1.R., 127, 64, 118, 309“; B. E. Wilkinson, A. 0., 114, 96, 90. 300; W. A. Larsen, A. 0., 115, SO, 103, 298: 11. P. Ahrens. A. 0., 32, 106, 105, 243; P. Mummery, 8.R., 97. 69, 59. 225; G. I. Bews, R.1.R., 10S, 56, 10, 174; J. D. Wealleans, A. 0., S4d, 24 , 66, 174; K. Mullins, R.1.R., 63. 16. 51, 130. d. Bird dead.