SEARING OF CHICKENS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 84, 6 October 1933, Page 13

SEARING OF CHICKENS

THE END OF THE SEASON

Ottobcr is the last mouth for chicks if winter eggs are desired, and those requiring more young stock must needs get busy. Many cannot procure broody hens earlier in the season, or bad luck may have reduced the anticipated number of chicks from earlier hatches. Light breeds do better than the dual purpose heavy breeds during the end of the season, and there are some who state that their October hatched pullets are the most profitable of all. Certainly if suitable rearing ground is available and some shade is provided luring the hot summer weather, they will do well and come into profit before the dear egg season is past. Besides, with warmer weather brooding is not always so difficult, though tho changeable spring days of October are often upsetting to the poultry keeper who has broods of'chicks all over the place. Take care that they have shelter from sudden cold showers, and in particular avoid allowing the later hatched chicks to run with tho earlier ones. If a large number of clucks is required some breeders allow a reduction of prices for this month, and one enterprising breeder in the' Auckland province ia advertising day-old chicks as low as 50s per 100. Such prices are tempting, always provided that quality is good. As a general rule, late hatched chicks are not advisable, but the old saying "Better late than never"'applies ill the chick business just as well as in other matters. With late clutches under brooders, watch, that overcrowding on warm nights does not cause sweating, and in particular get the chicks out runing on clean short grass as soon as possible. Sunshine is wonderful for all young things, and there is something in the ground which growing chicks require. Intensively reared chicks do well up to about four weeks, but after that they must be allowed free range. See that their water is kept in a cool place and that it is alway clean and fresh. Bemember that vermin, body and head lico will breed much quicker in warm weather, so that all chicks' coops and sheds must be kept clean. Head lice will often attack hen-roared chicks, and a little olive oil, dabbed on the top of the head, will stop them. Never mix henreared chicks with those in a brooder, as brooder, chicks are usually more free from vermin than those running with a hen, which is one reason why they are often easier to rear. The earlier chicks must not be neglected, and try to move them on to fresh ground at every opportunity. Just as soon as their run appears at all stale and bare of green feed, try to open up a fresh run for them. Long stringy grass is of no use to growing chicles. Silver beet, cabbage, and thistles, with perhaps the outside leaves of'the lettuce, make useful additional green feeds. Milk in some form will always help growth, but discontinue feeding too much after the chicks are eight to nine weeks old.