POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 16624, 5 January 1918, Page 10

POULTRY NOTES

I have received from tho secretary of the New Zealand Poultry Club tho prizo schedule of the 1918-1919 egg-laying competitions, entries for which close on February 9, 1918. Breeders who intend entering should read carefully the diet given below, which will be used "at the competition. If a change is made in the diet the birds will often go into a moult, so breeders should get their birds used to the one which will be used. —Light Breeds.— Morning (before 7 o'clock).—Two-thirds pint of grain (bruised oats, wheat, split. peas or cracked maize), thrown in deep litter in scratching shed. Morning (about' 11 o'clock).—Ono-third pint of grain. Evening.—Mash (about lloz mixed). If hungry a little more will be given. All that the birds do not eat up eagerly shall be removed, and less given next clay. The mash for Mediterranean breeds to consist of two parts pollard, one part bran (by measure), mixed with soup in winter, after which meatmeal will be substituted. During morning green food, such as lettuce, cabbage, clover or lucerne (.chaffed), kale, rape or mangolds will be supplied. Ground oyster shell and metal grit and fresh water is always before the fowls. All grain will be fed in deep litter, and a little more given if the birds seem hungry. —Heavy Breeds.— Morning (before 7 o'clock).—Two-thirds of a pint of grain (bruised oats, wheat, split peas, or cracked maize), thrown in deep litter in scratching shed. II a.m.—One-third of a pint of grain thrown in deep litter in scratching shed. Evening.—Mash (about'lloz mixed). If hungry a little more will be given. All that the birds do not eat up eagerly shall be removed, and less given the next day. The mash for the heavy breeds to consist of two parts pollard, one part bran, and one part ground oats mixed with'soup in winter, after which meatmeal will be substituted. During morning green food, such as lettuce, cabbage, clover or lucerne (chaffed.), kale, rape or mangolds will be supplied. Ground oyster shell and metal grit and fresh water is before the fowls. All grain will be fed in deep litter, and a.little more given if the birds seem hungry. —'Single Birds.— The breeds will bo classified and fed a ration pro rata as fixed above for light and heavy breeds. —Ducks.— The bill of fare for the ducks consists of mashes—pollard two parts, bran one part, ground oats one part, lucerne or clover (chaffed) i one part, mixed with liver soup: also boiled meat and ample green food will be given. Grit and oyster shell is always before the ducks. A young bird show for ehib members only is to be held in connection with the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club cm the 30th March, 1918. So far I have not beard of any date boincr fixed for the young bird sliox in Dunedin. but it usually takes place in March. I notice quite a number of late-hatched chicks about. These should be brought on as quickly as possible by judicious feeding. The cockerels should bo killed off as soon as they can be selected if you haveonly a small run. Watch carefully for lice and head lice, and also red mite. a.s they are always most prevalent during the hot weather. A breeder informs me that quite a number of his late-hatched chicks are dying off, although he is feeding' them in the same way as the early-hatched ones, of which he only lost one" or two. Trouble of this sort is sometimes caused by alternate hot and cold weather, but as a rule it can be traced to the breeding pen. The hens or pullets have been laying for months, and they are not in the best state for breeding from. Chicks from . such birds will frequently hatch well and do well until they are about a month old. The wings will then begin to droop, and tho cbickwill be found dead in a day ox two. _ This is simply a case of want of stamina-. In-breeding, if carried too far, will often give the same results. Bantam breeders who intend showing at the young bird show should now select their best forwaird specimens, and give them special attention. Birds which "are backward stand a very poor chance against tho more forward specimens. A little meat and hemp seed helps to bring the birds on. The lobes will also want watching. They should be washed in wri.rm water and powdered with a little zinc powder. The hernp seed helps to brighten the face, and a little boiled linseed helps to put a gloss on the feathers. An iron tonic will help the birds if they are backward. Plenty of green food will keep the blood cool. Suitable grit must be always handy so that tho "birds can help themselves. A nurse writing from England savs egfs are 4s 6dj per dozen. It would pay every householder to keep a few birds there. Breeders who keep their birds for exhibition should examine the breastbone of each bird to see it is not twisted, as marks are taken off for this trouble. ' Anv Wrd with side sprigs fa likely to be turned down. Twisted toes and feathers between the toes in clean-legged breeds should bo watched far. Infertile eggs, if packed in oats, will keep well for several weeks, or even months, if the oats are free from smell and' the eggs are kept in a cool place. Staie bread soaked in fresh- or ?kim rnrTk makes splendid food for the birds it milk cannot be spared soak tho bread m boiling water for an hour, squeere out tne water, and pour on a little milk. If you have no milk mix witfh bran and pollard. If bread is placed in the oven and thoroughly dried (the starchy nature of the bread, which is the only im'urious property it contains is abstracted) it can bo powdered and used an the soft food.