LATE PULLETS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 88, 13 April 1935, Page 25

LATE PULLETS

Pullets that have not yet come into full egg production should be pushed along with the addition of an extra share of meatmeal in their mash. Late pullets are seldom of much value as prospective breeding stock, as they seldom attain good enough body size, but often they will commence laying this month and continue steadily right through the late autumn and winter without a break, whereas the earlier pullets will perhaps take a spell. Those smaller pullets from the early batches are best disposed of. Often they are runts that will never grow, and if kept much longer they will be confused with the later hatches.

The long dry summer caused a shortage of green food, so that care must be taken to avoid outbreaks of roup and chicken-pox, wßich appears more common than usual this year. There is nothing better than a weekly feeding of chopped-up onions, but they must be finely minced and fed raw —rather an unpleasant job for a large number. Advanced cases of roup are most difficult to cure, and when flocks are badly attacked the cause must be sought. There is a growing belief, backed by scientific investigation, that intestinal worms are responsible for many cases of lowered vitality, and professional advice should be sought if serious losses result. *.

Chicken-pox is liable to be worse when many are about, as they quickly spread infection from one bird to another. Epsom salts will help to keep the blood cool, 'and weekly doses will keep disease infection at a minimum. Prevent the moulting hens from sleeping in the nests; by closing up earlier, and still keep a watch for red mite and body lice.