DAY-OLD PULLETS

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 104, 4 May 1935, Page 32

DAY-OLD PULLETS

Many, people are still ignorant of the fact that specially trained experts can detect the sex of a chick at hatching time. Much experience is required before the sexes can be divided, and this work should not be attempted by the average poultry keeper. It is said that after a few lessons anyone can select some of the pullets and some of the cockerels, but about 15 per cent, are most difficult to sex, and it is these which require expert knowledge. Since the week chicks must be sexed quickly and gently so as not to chill or damage them, the services of an expert are essential. It is now. fairly definite that at least two Japanese experts will visit New Zealand this coming season to operate at some of the leading farms, and it is hoped that classes of instruction will be conducted so that in future years we will have our own experts.

Much speculation is resulting from the effect on the day-old chick trade of day-old, pullet prices. In order to cover costs the price of pullet chicks will have to! be a little more than double that of unsexed day-old chicks, since the day-old cockerels are of little commercial value. In some countries, particularly in the United States, tho. cockerels are reared in batteries for grillers.' They are forced for quick I growth and sold when six to twelve weeks old. . .

'At first thought the idea is that double the number of chicks can be | reared per brooder, but this is not so, for it must be remembered ' that as chicks grow they require more space1 and brooder room. In the . ordinary course of events the cockerels are killed off or sold when they are detected at from three to five weeks old, thus leaving additional room for the growing pullets. Far too many chicks are lost every year - through overcrowding, and this point needs watching if day-old pullet chicks are being purchased. One big advantage, however, is that feather pecking ■ will be more easily controlled, as there is evidence in support of the theory that it is the cockerel chicks which cause outbreaks of tail pecking.

If only some co-operative scheme could be promoted which would ensure the destruction of all light-breed cockerel chicks at hatching time, great benefit would result. The demand for table poultry would increase, and the heavy-breed cockerels reared would be saleable at a' reasonable profit instead of as today, often at a loss.