POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20020, 10 November 1928, Page 24

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.] J

OoßtrtbwtloM and nwsAioaa for answering should bd addressed to “ Utility-Fancy, Poultry Editor, ‘ Star ’ Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each week. " Utility-Fancy ** will only answer communications through this column. Advertisements for this octunm must bo banded in to the office before 2 p-m. on Friday.

“ Putrid.”—Yes, I have known at several instances ot liens providing rotten eggs. The cause is thought to be tne retention ot the egg too long in the oviduct. Other so-called putrid eggs are not eggs at all, but tuberculous growths, formed like an egg, and passed out by the fowl. There have been cases in which these tuberculous growths have been coated with albumen and properly shelled before being it id in the nest.

aifecled ones, disinfect tho drinking water (if not already done), and isolate them. When you have isolated a bird suffering from a cold bathe its eyes, nostrils, and mouth daily with a weak solution of non-poisoiious disinfectant, taking care to remove all tho mucus you can. If tho nostrils arc tightly clogged they, should bo syringed with a little peroxide of hydrogen or thcrmol glycerine. Two drachms of boracic acid to a pint of water make a very useful preliminary wash, while the best thing to add to tho drinking water to disinfect it is permanganate of potash. Dissolve the granules in water. Copper sulphate, which forma the‘ ! basis of many roup powders, will prevent germs developing it it is used at the rate of as much as will go on a shilling *to a gallon of water. Do not overlook tho importance of sound feeding at all times, but especially when sickness lurks around. Should any of the fowls die, burn the bodies and bury tho ashes. To clinch these remarks on roup a little, let mo say that if colds are kept out of tho fowlhouso there is little else to fear, but should a fowl exhibit tho slightest sign of a cold take action immediately

“ Early to hatch and early to lay ” la a good slogan for the poultry lurnur. The great thing witn the young chickens is to keep them near the haver, lor they aro tender things. Jjo, however, that the hover is worth while keeping near. . If it is too hot the chickens w .11 be all right, because they can ■ pread out to a cpinfdrtable distance, but if it is not giving out sufficient heat they will crowd up and suffocate one another. .

The i'fgg.—Jules -Michelets, in Ills book, ‘Tho Bird,' published in ISOS, makes tho following reference to the egg—thinking tho while of the eggs oi tho birds of the air rather than those ot tho domestic fowl. He writes; “ Let us take tho egg in oui hands. Tins elliptical form, at mco the most easy ot comprehension, the most beautiml, and presenting the fewest salient points to external attack, gives one the idea ot a complete miniature world, of a peilect harmony, from which nothing can be taken away, and to which a-n,lung can be added. No inorganic matter adopts this perfect form. 1 conceive that under its apparent inertness, it bolus a high mystery of life and some accomplished work of God. What is it, and what should issue from it? I know not. But she knows well—yonder trembling creature who, with outstretched wings, embraces it and matures it with her warmth; she w;ho until now the free queen of the air, lived at her own wild will, but suddenly fettered, sits motionless on that mute object which ono would call a stone, and which as yet gives no_ revelation. Do not speak of blind instinct. Facts demonstrate how that clear-sighted instinct modifies _ itself according to surrounding conditions; in other words, how that rudimentary reason differs in its nature from the lofty human reason. Yes; that mother knows and sees distinctly by means of the penetration and clairvoyance of hens. Through tlio thick calcarious shell, when your rude hand perceives nothing, she feels by a delicate tact the mysterious being which she' nourishes and forms. It is this feeling which sustains her during the arduous labour of incubation, during her protracted captivity. _ She secs it delicate and charming in its soft down of infancy, and she predicts with the vision of hope that it will be vigorous and bold, when with outspread wings it shall eye the sun and breast the storm.”

Mash Feeding.—Feed a complete ration. A ration deficient in any respect lessens tho fowl’s appetite. Employ a mash tho birds like. The payability of a mash depends upon tho ingredients and their quality. A mash made mostly of granular material is more readily consumed than when finely, ground. Uso a suitable type of masn feeder, and supply 20ft to 24ft of eating space for each 100 layers. Tho reel mash feeders, made 7in to llin wide and 4iu deep on inside, are well adapted for this purpose. Feed fresh mash daily in tho evening in about tho amount that will bo consumed before the next feeding. The birds relish fresh mash, and if it is fed in tho evening they will go to roost with better filled crops. During severe winter weather a small amount of fresh mash can be fed to advantage in tho morning and at noon. Milk in some form is an appetiser, and usually aids in securing greater feed consumption, it is also a valuable addition to tho ration for its nutritive properties. Lights in the poultry house aid in securing Pscreascd feed consumption by making the days longer. Any of the methods for uso of lights mav bo employed to advantage. Moist mash mav prove beneficial, especially if skilfully used. The skill and extra labour necessary for success with moist mash may make its uso questionable in some instances. Moist mash fed without tho proper skill and judgment often docs more harm than good. However, if properly managed, a moist mash can be used to considerable advantage for tho layers during the later summer, fall, and winter months.—Ohio State Experimental Station.

Don’t Pick Those Precocious Chicks. —ln selecting future cockerels, ii tncy are a coloured variety, tho young feathers will generally indicate what may bo expected in tho adults,_ but often, as regards other points, it is necessary to run the birds on until they aro more fully grown. A long-legged youngster often enough becomes a fine bird, because it possesses a large frame, on which plenty of llesh and muscle can bo grown. On tho other hand, a youngster that is perfectly shaped may never attain even normal size, because figure and form como with maturity, and precocity is nob a desirable characteristic. The first sign of precociousness is abnormal development of comb and wattles. Young birds showing such signs do nob usually make tho best specimens. , Tho development of the entire frame should bo gradual and all in proportion.—E. Bostock Smith. Roof Garden Farms.—A rabbit and poultry farm has been staged on the roof garden of a well-known North London store. Tho entire roof garden has been converted into a farmyard, with pons of livestock, containing hundreds of rabbits and chickens of various breeds The object of tho demonstration is to' show Londoners how rabbits and poultry can bo reared profitably, oven in the most restricted space. _ Let Early Pullets Lay.—Advice is generally given to hold hack pullets from laying until a satisfactory body growth has been made. Regarding this matter, the New Jersey station states: “The holding back of_ pullets, which is frequently practised with later hatched birds, is not desirable with tho earlier hatches, as it not only decreases the number of eggs received during tho summer and fall, but also has a tendency to produce smaller eggs. The ration should bo well with protein, preferably milk protein rather than meat, during a hot season, and should contain 3 per cent, of bone meal. Oyster shell and grit should ho constantly available even during tho growing period.” Summer Roup.—Where colds exist visit the roosting house when the birds aro settled for tho night, remove the

TWENTY-FOURTH PAPANUI EGGLAYING COMPETITION. Lending Pens, Thirtieth Week, Ended October 27 (210 days). Test I.—J. H. Shaw Memorial Challenge. Light and Heavy Breeds. Black Orpingtons. Week’s Weight. Eggs. oz. drs. IT. T. D. Da bid ... 7 10 0 144 Miss Mcyriek ... u Do U 4 White Leghorns.

—Singlo Hen Test.— Owner Enters 3 Birds. Test ILL—A.O.V. Light Breeds, Except White Leghorns. Anemias.

Test V.—A.O.V. Heavy Breeds Other Thau Black Orpingtons. J. R. Griffon (L.S.), No. 1 1 JG7 U. E. Corlott (W.R.), No. ,2 ... 6 354 J. C. Wilson (L.S.), No. ID 1-15 J. R. Kingsland (R. 1.8), No. 1 ... ... 2 HI Test Vl.—Flock Teams (6 Birds). Light and Heavy Breeds. Whito Leghorns. Week’s Weight. Eggs. oz. drs. Total. H. Harrison ... .26 72 13 940 H. W. Beck, No. 1 30 60 8 905 H. W. Beck, No. 2 26 55 11 858 I' 1 . Hawes 32 66 11 . .843 O. J. Verrall ... 36 76 5 814 J. Bobbitt ... ... 37 SO 1 813 W. E. Ward (ono dead) 26 54 0 SOS G. H. Bradford ... 32 72 5 800 Tost Vll.—Single Duck Test. Owner Enters 3 Birds. Pckins, Week’s Eggs. Total. J. W. Thomson, No. 3 ... 7 178 J. W. Thomson. No. 2 ... 7 172 Indian Runners. C. E. Barnett, No. 1 ... 0 I9S H. A. Dawber, No. 2 ... 7 193 J. W. Thomson, No. 3 ... 5 189 J. W. Thomson. No. 2 ... 6 187 C. E. Barnett. No. 3 ... 7 182 J. W. Thomson, No. 1 ... 6 131

L, J. Kuowlcs_ ... 7 IB It 182 Grecu Bros. No. 1 7 10 t 131 Green Bros., No. - 7 1G 7 175 Master Liggius ... 7 U It 170 T. W. Betteridgo 7 11 10 1GS W. E. Ward 7 it 35 Kid E. J. Boss ti 12 IB 1G5 Test 11.—White Leghorn Single lien. Owner Enters B Birds. .Week's Eggs. Total. H. Williams, No. 1 ... 7 177 T. W. Bcttcridgo, No. 1 ... 7 174 ,T. W. Thomson, No. 2 ... 7 3 74 H. Williams, No: 2 ... 7 174 S. E. Davey, No. B ... ... o 171 T. Bond, No. 1 ... 1* 171 Tracey King, No. 2 ... 7 170

Week’s Eggs. Total. :r. Pearce, No. 3 5 135 s. H. Mitcbell, No. 2 ... 11 124 Test IV.—Black Orpingtons Onlj’. j. M, Campbell, No. 2 ... 0 ISO j. M. Campbell, No 3 ... 0 No A. M. Espie, No : 2 5 1 (IS A. R. Lcckie, No. 3 ... l> 147 A. M. Espie, No. 3 ... 3 145 A. K. Leckie, No. 1 ... 1 144