POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19352, 11 September 1926, Page 24

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.]

“ Interested.”—l have had no experience with Muscovy ducks, hut I have learned that a cross between a Muscovy and another breed of duck is a mule, and consequently useless for breeding purposes. The fact that this mating produces mules, or infer tiles, is proof that the Muscovy is no true duck. The progeny from an Indian Runner drake and a Muscovy duck grows to a heavy and a large-sized bird, which would sell well in the market. The progeny of either sex are useless as breeders, so both are marketed. For some reason unknown Muscovy eggs do not hatch well in incubators, and are better set under ducks or hens.

Mr J. R. Brown, 26 Lawrence street, Mornington, who is secretary to the Dunedin Cage Bird Club, and quite evidently an enthusiast at that, sends me quite a good collection of paragraphs having reference to the educational value to fanciers in belonging to a club. My notes from week to week are solely devoted to the poultry interests; consequently I make no reference to cage birds, 'but in so far as the literature kindly sent by Mr Brown I shall have pleasure in using it as opportunity offers.

Mr J. R. Dickieson, a poultry farmer of Anderson’s Bay, who had about forty chukars placed in his yard by the Otago Acclimatisation Society, has now some thirty of these Indian birds, apparently acclimatised and doing well. I am informed that he has been more successful with this consignment than any one else in the dominion who has boon similarly entrusted with the care of these birds. This success of Mr Dickieson must bo very gratifying to the society. South Australian Ducks for New Zealand.—The Adelaide ‘ Observer ’ reports: “Mr A. M. Whittenbury, of 106 Magill road, Norwood, has received an order for. a pair of fawn-and-whito Runners, to be shipped to New Zealand this week. It is good to know that folks in other parts of the world have their eyes on our doings in South Australia. The ducks are to be sent to Mr Peat, who will be remembered as the owner of Lady Knight, the world’s record holder for cither ducks or fowls, laying 363 eggs in 365 days. It is hoped the birds arrive safely and do well.”

“ ivaikorai.” —The trouble is prolapsus of the oviduct, and it is by no means a rare occurrence where numbers of fowls are kept. Very often it is the best layer in the Hock which suffers; at least, that has been the verdict of numerous inquirers. The direct causes are constipation, over-feeding, and straining to expel large eggs. It frequently appears, particularly in hens which davo been regular layers and is rare with pullets. Prolapsus may also occur as the result of inllamma■tion of the oviduct or from a condition that prevents the passage of the eggs. As soon as the symptoms of prolapsus are indicated the bird should be carefully examined to determine if an egg has been detained in the passage. If there are no signs of the presence of an egg, the part may be washed with a 1 to 100 solution of “Milton,” or “ Izal,” after which a little glycerine and borax can be applied, and the protruding part replaced into the cloaca by gentle pressure. A small sponge which has been rendered antiseptic by soaking in disinfectant solution, already mentioned, for say, 10 nunulea, will be found handy for the purpose. If an egg is present in the uterus, inject a small quantity of warm glycerine, or gently scrape away the skin covering the egg and remove it. A saline aperient is of service at all times when there is an indication of oviduct trouble, and an occasional dose of sodium sulphate (Glauber’s salt) will he found beneficial. I may add that it has been reported that case? have been successfully treated by the following:—After gently placing the part back, the hen should be wrapped in a hag of thin canvas, through which she can easily breathe. Allow her legs to be outside, but hind her wings so that she cannot flutter. She should then be placed in a sling, the head and shoulders being about din lower than her abdomen. An old sack is a good thing to use. The fowl should he allowed to lie in this position for about six hours, and the egg passage will fall into its proper place without forcing the hen to strain hcr?elf in trying to get it back. If the prolapsus is, however, considerable in extent, the bird should at once be killed if not valuable.

Fresh Air and Sunshine.—As Mr Poweli-Owen points out in his book, ‘Poultry-keeping on Small Lines,’ two aids to increased egg production are fresh air and sunshine,' yet so many poultry-keepers fail to allow for them. This is surprising, especially when wo remember that they are among the few items that the poultry-keeper can obtain for nothing. Old Sol should be allowed admittance to every possible corner of the house during the day, and if the front of the intensive struc-. turo in properly designed the sun’s rays will be able to cover the whole of the floor space. In the winter the birds spend a considerable time on the perches, for which reason the ventilation question must be carefully studied. Query.—ls that bird for breeding or purely for laying? if for breeding, bo careful. Force not. Rigidly keep off all spices, too great a supply of fresh meat, and forcing ways generally. Forcing destroys stamina in the birds and in the eggs, and consequently in the resulting chickens. Exercise is the first sine qua non to lay—presuming the strain is right and that the bird was hatched at the right time. Right kind of feeding is the next. Force ordinary layers all you can. Of course, the more condiment you give them, the more you use them up. I believe a hen is hatched to lay so many eggs before she dies; therefore the more you force her the sooner the end. Nobody suffers but the hen, whoso career is short. A good condiment is made from ginger, fenugreek, and a little liquorice powder, to be well peppered over the food. Put a little sulphate of iron into the drinking water. Keep houses very clean, water very fresh. Scatter gram in the litter, or rake it in. Give grit and green feed and all will go well. Push on the hatching of chickens. This and next month are the best months of the year for the chicks'to appear. It is the August and September hatched birds that can be relied on for winter eggs.

La Bresse.—“ Breeder” (Caversham) writes:—In your notes in to-night’s issue of the ‘ Star ’ you say that you do not know of anyone keeping La Bresse. 1 think if your correspondent were to write to Mr H. Williams,_ 114 Somerfield street, Spreydon, Christchurch, he would bo* able to got all the information ho ronnires. Ho is the only breeder of Black La Bresse that I know of. 1 do not ' think there are any white in New Zealand. In tvpe they are nothing like Anconas. I have pictures of the two breeds. The Bresse, to mo, seem to be top-heavy, and the Ancona is an upright bird. I have been breeding Anconas for a number of year? now; they are my favorites. 1 have also Crested Polish, White Wyandottcs, utility and Black Leghorns. They are all great layers, and all over the 2o;’ egg (Polish excepted). I was trying to get four more Anconas ont from Home, but the Government will not allow any birds to come into the dominion from England or America on account of roup. I am Hyhg to get some rotecombed Anconas -Torn Australia. 1 have Ancona chicks romhg out next Sunday, and White Wyandottes the following Sunday.

It is a good idea to give raw onions to fowls now and again. The best way to feed onions to fowls is to cut_ up small and add to the mash. Onions possess strong tonic properties, and also act in the direction of expelling intestinal worms. White Diarrhoea in Chickens. —In a | useful bulletin issued by the College of Agriculture of Missouri University , A. J. Durant gives the following notes | on white diarrhoea:—Dealing first with the cause, it is pointed out that this | may bo duo to chilling arising from it - ] discreet handling of the nursery trays of the incubator. These trays may be at a temperature much below that of the egg trays. The subjection of the newly-hatched chick to a lower temperature would chill it and in many cases cause diarrhoea. The chicks may also bo chilled by carelessness in transferring them from the incubator to the brooder in a cool room and by failure to warm the container which the chicks are to occupy. The hands and tuo cloths with which the chicks arc covered should be warm. _ Another condition that may cause diarrhoea is overheating the incubator or brooder; this may interfere with the absorption of j the’ yolk and cause sickness after Mm j chick is a week old. Diarrhoea may | also bo caused by musty or sour food, or by allowing the chicks to sera tell in musty chaff. The cause of diarrhoea and death from the foregoing causes may, however, be small as compared with the losses resulting from infectious white diarrhoea. The infectious form of the disease is duo to a minute organism, the “Bacterium Pullorum.” This can readily be isolated from infected chicks and convoyed to healthy ones. Grown chickens are practically immune, but hens showing no visible sign may harbor the germs in the; ovaries, and the eggs of these hens : may be affected and produce infected chicks. About onc-forth of all the eggs, laid by an infected hen wall contain germs of this disease. It is thus seen that the hen is the responsible of infection. Infected hens usually ex- j hibia an ovary containing several hard, \ discolored angular ova; the organ may, 1 however, continue to function, and from time to time an egg harboring the germ is released. Chicks may ho infected in throe ways—(l) by moans i of an infected egg laid by a _ carrier hen; (2) by contact with an infected chick or chicks; (3) by being housed in contaminated brooders recently occupied bv infected chickens. In the most' acute form deaths occur suddenly with] but slight symptoms of illness. There is a disposition to huddle and lo remain ; under the hover or the hen more than ; healthy chicks should; they arc listless, | stupid, slecoy. The wings droop or pro- , jeet slightly from the body, and diar-l rhooa may soon appear. The droppings may bo white or creamy, and arc some- > times mixed with brownish material. This sticky excrement often collects to [ such an extent that the vent is stopped, i and, unless relieved, will cause the | death of the chick in a short time. The diseased chicks chirp or “ peep almost constantly. They become rapidly weaker, breathe with effort, and death soon follows. The disease may take a more chronic course and the chicks live longer. They gradually become, weaker and waste away, 'i.iey stand with legs apart or rest against a wall for support. The term “ white ■diarrhoea ” suggests that diarrhoea is a constant symptom. This, however, is not so. Mortality ranges from 50 per cent, to ICO per cent. The liver shows the most constant visible changes, being, pale with some reddish areas. Some observers consider unabsorbed yolk the most characteristic sign of the disease. These signs lead to a suspicion of 8.W.D., and measures should at once be taken to stop the trouble. The presence of infected boas can be found

Contributions and quootions for should be addressed to “Utility-Fancy. Poultry Editor, ‘ Star ’ Office, and received not later than Toesdey of each week. “ Utility-Fancy ” will only answer communications through thill column. Ajflnmtsaftmcntg fcsT thia column masi be bonded is to tho office bofctfc 8 jUEti ca Friday.

by means of a blood test. All that show a positive reaction should be destroyed. The cooked meat is fit for food: Note; It is not sufficient to make one blood test; at least two should be made at intervals of a few weeks, or as ordered by the veterinary surgeon who makes the test. Once this fact is realised there will bo less disappointment at losses from this disease among the progeny of blood-tested stock. Vve are of opinion that in view of the alarming increase in the malady among chicks every breeder who values his or her reputation ought to have the best hens and male birds blood tested twice before next breeding season.

TWENTY-SECOND PAFANUI EGGLAYING CONTEST. Leading Pens, Twenty-first Week Ended August 8 (147 days). FLOCK TEAMS (Six Birds), —White Leghorns.-

—Rhode Island Reds.— P. Bailey 33 64 12 SINGLE HEN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP (Light and Heavy Breeds). —White Leghorns.— Week’s Weight.

—(Hack Orpingtons.— J. K. Kingsland 5 10 5 WHITE LEGHORN SINGLE HEN CONTEST. Owner Enters Three Birds. Week’s

Aggregates for the leading competitors at the Papanui egg-laying competition for tho twentieth week:— Eggs. R. W. Coombes 333 A. i attorsor. 316 11. Williams 315 E. Crouch 314 G. and F. E. Billcliif 305 Green Bros 294 J. Rattigan 293 SINGLE HEN CONTEST. Owner Enters Three Birds. —Black Orpingtons.— Week’s Eggs. Tl. G. Blair, No. 2 6 117 -J. W. Thomson, No. 3 ... 6 115 H. Harris, No. 2 6 112 A. R. Leckie, No. 1 5 103 —A.O.V. Heavy Breeds.— Cuthbertson and Mitchell, W.R., No. 2 ... 6 125 Cuthbertson and Mitchell, Vv .11., No. 1 0 111 Cuthbertson and Mitchell, W.R., No. 3 6 109 D. O’Hcrn, W.W., No. 1 ... 5 108 —A.O.V. Light Breeds.— H. Villiams, 8.M., No. 2 5 '99 H. W. Beck, 8.M., No. 2 5 92 SINGLE DUCK CONTEST. Owner Enters Three Birds. -—lndian Runners.— Week’s

Week’s Weight. TI. Eggs. 07.. dr. w E. Ward .. 34 69 11 — 667 J. Biggins .. 31 66 6 — 607 M. C Craig ‘27 57 9 — 599 H. c. West .. 32 66 14 — 584 F. Hawes ... .. 31 62 15 — 571 Calder Bros. .. 27 57 9 — 554

Fggs. oz. dr. Tl. Grf"cn Bros. „. 7 15 6 — 120 Miss M. White ... 5 11 3 — 118 N. Harrison ... 6 13 5 — 116 A. 6. F. Ross ... 5 ’ 9 14 — 110 F. Hawes ... 5 10 4 — 107 W. Burrell 5 10 5 — 102

Eggs. Tl. II. IV illiarns, No. 2 ... 7 122 R. W Coombes, No. 1 .. 7 122 IV. J. Kichanls, No. 1 .. 5 121 E. Crouch, No. 3 .. 6 120 Miss M. White, No. 3 .. G 120 A. C. (lOocUat, No. 3 .. 6 119 H. C. West, No. 1 ... .. 6 119

Dggs. Tl. ,T. W. Thomson, No, 2 ... 7 146 n. . w. . Haw Ire, No. 1 7 141 n . A. Dauber, second trio, No. 3 ! ! 7 138 j. W. Thomson, No. 1 7 136 j. w. Thomson, No. 3 ... 7 13.1 IT . w. . Deck, No. 2 ...■ ... 7 135 II . A. . Dawber, first and seen; nd trio, No. 2 7 130 II . W. . fleck, No. 1 7 130