POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20256, 17 August 1929, Page 25

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.]

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" Contribution!! and questions for answering should bo addressed to ** Utility-Fancy,” Poultry Editor, ‘ Star ’ Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each week, “ Dtility-Faacy ” will only answer communications through this column. AdrartisaaHmts to this column must bo banded in to the office before 2 pjsa. m Friday.

“ Brown Leghorn ” writes: Sir, — With reforenco to “ Country Brooder’s ” letter ro strains, ho asks where a strain begins and ends. Weil, all strains have a beginning, and it is only by tho strictest in-breeding and line breeding for years that tho particular strain is established. Out how many pure strains havo wo in New Zealand''' I think I am quite sate in saying that wo have hardly one strain that could bo termed absolutely established and pure in blood. 1 have seen advertise ments in various newspapers whore someone is advertising for sale eithei fowls, chicks, or eggs for setting, and described as D. and E. strain or Jones and Smith strain, and so on. When a fowl of ono strain is crossed with a fowl nr fowls of another strain tho progeny from such a mating are no strain, but only a cross. It takes from .twenty to fifty years, and perhaps longer, to thoroughly establish a strain, and then only by the strictest line and in-brcecl mg, and ohco you introduce outside blood it puts you back to whore you started. I have been working building iip a strain of Brown Leghorns for tho oast eleven years, and fully intend to ieop on at them, as 1 am now beginning to seo something for my work, and I havo no intention of introducing outside blood into them, and I am not looking" forward to Inn ing them thoi oughly standardised and to my liking for ten or twelve years to come. So lar they are good in constitution and ns robust as any cross-bred fowl, and the chicks strong and in no way hard to roar. 1 got quite a lot of souno information from game fowl breeders, and there is no doubt about what Mr F. G. Brown, chief Government poultry instructor, said at a meeting ol the Utility Poultry Club some years ago: That tho game fowl breeders were tho kingpins of tho poultry world. I. have noticed myself that i! you visit any of the principal game breeders dining the breeding season you will nevei seo more than one female with each male in the breeding pens; they wib not even risk two full-blooded sisters with one male. 1 quite agree with Country Breeder ’’ as to a pure estab lished strain of fowl showing the saint characteristics year after year in the show pen, and easily- picked From the others as being nbso.nrely distinctive. Experienced breeders will, I think, agree fully with tho contentions ol Brown Leghorn.” 1 may remark, however, that in his last sentence he i> agreeing not so much with statements by “Country Breeder” as. with thos made by “ Utility-Fancy.” However. I happen to know that “ Country Breeder ’’ is also in accord with them.

raised. With a view to determine the point experiments havo been conducted by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture. The results are discussed by tho poultry expert as follow;—The-. first experiment extended over a period of approximately three months, from June to August, 1924, when two pens of ten Langshan pullets were fed on smutted wheat for tho evening feed, and had a morning mash treated with .bunt-infested wheat cleanings. A cheek pen of ten Langshan pullets was fed on tho ordinary ration used on tho farm. Tho test showed that while there was no detrimental effect on the health of tho birds, the egg production was lower from tho bunt feed pens, the comparison being 301 and 279 eggs from these pens and 3(39- from the check pen. A further test over a period of ten months was concluded recently. The birds used in this experiment were White Leghorn pullets. Two pens of ten birds each were fed on an average sample of bunt-infested wheat for tbs evening feed, and wore given the usual wet mash in the morning mixed with 10 per cent, of cleanings from bunt-infested wheat. Two oens of the same class of pullets were used for choyk pons, and these were fed on the ordinary ration, which was tlie same as for tho bunt fed pens, except that the hurt-infested material was omitted. The results were; Pen 1 (hunt fed), 1,341 eggs: pen 2 tbunt fed), 1,240 eggs; total. 2,581 eggs. Check pens; Pen 1 1,575 eggs ■ pen 2, 1,332; total, eggs, 2,907. It will bo seen that 326 eggs more were laid by the check pens, although one of the bunt fed nen? laid nine more eggs than one of the check pens. There appeared to ho no difference in the health of the birds in any of the pens Throughout tho test. While further experiments may be necessary before com■ng to a definite conclusion, it would appear that the feeding of an average sample of bnnt-infested food has some letrimental effect upon egg production, hut has no ill.-fT—•• upon the health of the birds. The effect on production may be due to some action by the smut or to tho additional amount of inert •material in tho ration. At anv rate the results go to prove the wisdom ot feeding onlv good clean and who'esomo hod to the birds.

Chinese methods of putting liens off ‘ho chick. I do not recommend the following method adopted by the Chinese '"or treating unwanted nrooders If 1 lid I should expect the Society for Cruelty to Animals to call me to account. One method is to tie the feet <a that rhe hen may stand, but not walk, and then stand her in a basin ;hat has an inch or more of water. A day of that suffices. Another is to nlace a tape under the wings and fasten ‘he tape to a rope from a roost, and 'et her swing herself for a day. Perhaps the most comical is to see. a hen with a muffler around her neck, for immediately you think of sore throat, hut. uo, it is to muffle - the cluck. Then there is the ludicrous plan of covering the eyes or wrapping the head and placing her on a roost. If she tries to move she topples, and a day of that finishes the setting There is another simple plan they use, that of running a feather through the small hole or nose in the beak. PNEUMONIA, COLDS, AND CRAMP. The rather severe weather we have b_en experiencing lately is lialne to find out any weakness in either the stock or the method ot housing it, un if tho birds are not properly houseu there is a great chance of their con trafting colds, whicli in turn, if neglected, may develop into pneumonia, a very dangerous complaint, and one which is often latal to the growing chicks or any adult fowls that have not the necessary powers of resistance. The chief symptoms aro forced and hurried breathing, with a certain amount of wheezing, the plumage becomes ruffled, the wings dropping, and tho bird has a very depressed appearance. Viscid mucus is often present in the throat and mouth. The first thing to do is to isolate the patient, put it in a warm, dry coop, and ad; minister a little nourishing stimulant, such as a few drops of brandy or whisky in a teaspoonful of milk. Feed on soft food, mixed with raw egg, and a little raw minced beet is often found to havo a beneficial effect. When tinbird shows signs of improvement give a tonic, and add a little cod liver oil to tho mash. As in all diseases prevention is better than cure, so the proper pro feeding-is to be constantly inspecting your birds. See that their quarters an not draughty or damp, and at the first symptoms of cold (which aro running at the nostrils and eyes, ,a slightly laboured breathing, with occasional spasms of sneezing, loss of appetite, and moping) pick them up and put them in an isolation pen, administer quinine, the dose of which for an adult fowl is one grain, and wash tho head with a 2 per cent, solution of carbolic acid.

” Beginner.”—The proper tempera ture to have the brooder before the' chickens are put into it is a little below what is right when the chickens aro in it. The reason for this is that 1 lie body heat ot the chickens will raise he temperature, if, say, the brooder s to 85deg F., the body beat if the chickens will raise it to at least Hldeg F., which is about as high as it -.hould go to avoid sweating, and rathei than this should occur it is advisable to raise the lid ot tho brooder so as to lot some ot the hot air escape. Take Care of the Eggs —The eggs to be saved for hatching should be handled with great care. If they are humped or shaken, and the membrane that supports it is ruptured, the egg will not hatch, but the white will leak out and become sticky between the shell and the membnine. The chick may develop, but it will be unable to escape from the shell, and will die. Handle the eggs with care. Place them on a tray or piece ot blanket until you are ready to put them under a hen or into an incubator. Prior to setting, the eggs should bo kept at an even temperature, not allowed to chill on the one hand or to be so warmed that the genus may progress as though being meubnis-d. if the temperature falls to 40deg the totalisation will suffer Should the eggs bo kept for more than a week, it is advisable to give them a turn daily, or tho yolk will havo a tendency to settle and adhere to the side of tho shell. Do not turn the eggs large end down, as doing so may cause the air cell to break. Lay the eggs pn their side or at an angle o) lodeg.’ All eggs under 2oz should be placed aside, so also should eggs over 3oz in weight. Don’t risk the putting ot eggs which aro abnormal in any re soeeb under a hen or into an incubator

Pullets hatched from small eggs will lay small eggs, and from abnormally targe eggs ft is unusual to get chick* at all. Once you have a good setting of eggs from tested stock you aro on the eoad to breeding with success The hnpp.y-go-iucky methods of long ago will not do in theso days ol keen competit.»n, high-priced foods, and the need tor economical management. Cull and Cull Often.—Overcrowding brings on bad results. As the chickens grow older see that they do not crowd. When they reach the point where they cover cue brooder lloor at night it is time to cull them (or put some into another brooder). A consistent and fearless culler is almost invariably a successtul poultry man. In culling and dividing up tho broods tho different sizes should bo kept together. The smaller chicks often develop rapidly when separated from tho larger ones. Of course, any that are exceptionally weak or deformed should be killed. A 100,000-bird Electric Poultry Farm All tho big things are not in America. Scotland possesses a 100,000-bird electric poultry farm, covering an area oi 100 acres and producing an output ol some 15,000,000 eggs per annum Everything on this farm is an np-to date lino; electricity is used wherever possible for lighting, heating, and power. The brooders are so arranged that one girl can look after 0,000 -hickens.

_ Another trouble prevalent at tins time of the year, and one for which we are constantly being asked to recom mend a cure, is cramp. This can be caused not only by exposure to damp, but. also by unsuitable flooring, such as cement or boards that have not a sufficient depth of litter on them. Cramp, as tho poultry man understands it, takes the form of loss of power in legs and toes, the former being drawn up and the latter contracted, and often turned in, with the natural consequence that walking about is very difficult for the bird. In very acute cases it is de cidedly hard to effect a cure, and un less the bird is very vrlrahl-i it is hardly worth while to try. The only method of treatment is to put the legs of the bird m warm water, and then massage the joints with a good embrocation nr turpentine and oil. This should ’ be done twice a day till there are signs of improvement. TWENTY-FIFTH RAPANUI EGGLAYING COMPETITION. Leading Pens. Seventeenth Week, ended August 3 (149 days). Test I J. El. Shaw Memorial Challenge. Light and Heavy Breeds. Week’s Weight. ' ' Eggs. oz. drs. Tl.

Electric Lighting for Egg Production._ —Many articles have appeared concerning the use of artificial lighting on poultry farms, and a lengthy ’investigation was carried out during tho past two years by the agriculture experimental station of the Agricultural College at Corvallis, m the State of Oregon, United States, to obtain operative statistics from lighted and unlighted pens of pullets and hens. The flock of birds employed for the purpose consisted of 460 White Leghorn pullets and 400 yearling White Leghorn hens, and it was found that when artificial lighting was applied to a flock the response in egg production was almost imm.cliate, regardless of the age or condition of the fowls, and all lighted

(locks, constantly maintained their pro duction above that of the ' unlighted ' flocks from the pi'riod extending. from October in one venr to February in the next vear that is. during the antemn mcl winter .periods. Bunty Wheat; A Feeding Fxperi ment.— Whether the feeding o smut ted wheat has any detrim-'ital effect ( on poultry is a question frequently

Black Orpingtons. J. M. Campbell ... 6 13 1 79 T. D. Dalsiel ... 1 2 0 78 White Leghorns. C. A. Stratford ... 7 13 7 108 A. M. Espie ... 5 a 3 99 E. Ornstan ... ... 4 9 7 37 E. J. Ross ... ... 6 11 12 35 T. D. Oalziel ... 5 10 7 93 F. R. Cotton ... 5 10 7 90

Test II.—White Leghorn, Single Hen Owner-Rulers 3 Birds. Highest Aggregates. Week’s Grand Total. Total: rl ©i CO i-5 ©1 CO 6 6 6 6- o © 'A A .A A A A S. E. Davey ... 6 7 6 84 104 104 T. D, Dalzicl ... 5 4 6 96 80 99 Miss Williams ... 5 5 5 94 94 82 C. M. R. Man hire 5 5 5 85 90 94 E. Fuchs 5 3 5 94 85 90 M. C. Craig ... 0 4 5 100 81 82 E. Dunstan 6 6 4 106 89 67 Highest individual laying 1 for the seventeen weeks in this test is by M. Wilson’s No. 1 bird, 110 eggs m 110 days. . Test III.—A.O.V. Light Breeds. Other Than White Leghorns. Anconas. Highest Aggregates. Week’s Grand Total. Total. o o ©i eo o 6 6 o 6 o A A A A A A II. Pearce 4 3 5 81 76 53 S. H Mitchell 0 4 5 62 78 39 Test IV.—Black Orpingtons only. R M Cookson 064 71 98 106 H J. Ballin ... 4 0 2 93 61 83 A R Decide 4 2 4 93 71 54 T. J). Dalzicl 1 4 2 66 78 63 Test V.—A.O.V. Heavy Breeds Other Than Black Orpingtons. J. R. Griffeu (L.S.l 6 3 6 85 55 97 P. A. Cornish 0 0 3 18 — 95 (L.S.) ... ... Test VI.—Flock Teams (6 birds). Light and Heavy Breeds. White Leghorns. Week’s Weight. Eggs. oz. drs, Tl. W. E. Ward . . 29 61 9 516 M. C. Craig . . 29 61 6 506 F, Hawes . 31 63 4 502 Green Bros. . 32 70 7 493 G. J. Verrall . . 20 40 11 442 J. Liggins ... . 26 59 9 425 Bl'ck Orpingtons. J. Kingsland 32' 66 9 382 H. W. Beck . 10 19 11 282 Test VII.--Single Ducks. Owner Enters 3 Birds. Highest Aggregate. Indian Runners. Week’s Grand Total. Total. A. G F. Ross 0 7 7 98 106 ll F H Cat con ... 760 412 98 lw G. A Heath ... 7 7 7 111 105 It H. A Dawber 6 5 5 97 97 l'-i J W Thomson 7 6 4 77 104 n.