POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20316, 26 October 1929, Page 29

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY,]

11 Amateur.”—Both pullets and old fowls are liable to lay soft eggs, it may be that your birds are not getting sufficient shell-forming material in the form oi oyster shell or lime in other form, but as a rule lack of lime is not the cause of shell-less eggs. Unhealthy conditions of the lower part of the oviduct, unusual production—,i.o., eggs coming too fast to be proper.y shelled—and the serving of too-forcing foods, spices, etc., are the usual causes Overfeeding or the feeding of too-fattening foods are predisposing causes. Treatment: —Administer two or three good pinches of Epsom salts, and repeat dose in three days’ time. For the next week or ten days, according to the condition of the fowl, feed lightly on gram .and give no other food except green stuff. “ Whit© Leghorn.”—They may bo; allowed to perch at a month old, but many prefer to keep, them from perch-1 ing till the sixth or eighth week. See that the perches are set into slots, and not nailed down. They require to be ; lifted occasionally, so that kerosene may be applied to the ends of the perches and the slots. Otherwise vermin are sure to breed there." . As the care of young chickens is at present time exercising the minds of many poultry keepers _ the following hints on incubator chicks may be ol service:—There are four secrets that are connected with the care of incubator chicks, and we are glad to tell them to our friends in the poultry business. They are: "warmth, fresh air, cleanliness, and good food. Never be in a hurry to remove chickens from the incubator: usually they may be left in twenty-four hours after the trays are taken out At this time the brooder is ready for them, being heated to 98 or lOOdeg, never higher. Have plenty of dry sand or dry clean earth on the floor of the feed room, and similar material and cut green stuff under the hover. Never be in a hurry to feed young chicks; more die from over-feed-ing the first week than from lack ol food. The first day in the brooder they will require considerable attention; see that they do not stay from under the hover long enough to get chilled. When they begin to huddle together it is time to gently push them under the hover again. They soon learn to pass back and forth from hover to feed room. Wait until they scratch and pick up grains of sand or grit before feeding them, for these are their teeth to grind the grain with later on. The prepared chick teed obtainable at most grocers is suitable for very young chickens, but for the first day or two a little flaked or coarse oatmeal is all that is necessary for them. They can now have water. A small tin or dish with an inverted cup or tin placed in it provides enough water space around the rim for chickens to drink from, and makes it impossible for them to jump in and get wetted. After three days the prepared chick feeds, green stuff finely cut up, clean water, and grit are all that is necessary, provided they have warmth, ventilation, and clean accommodation, to ensure rapid growth and good health. At the tenth or twelfth day they will be able to take whole wheat if a little is mixed with their prepared chick feed, but the latter should be kept going, though gradually reduced for five or six weeks. Never leave any feed about after the chicks have had a satisfying meal, for if you do it will surely be eaten after being soiled, and sickness eventuate. Never place more than fifty chicks in a brooder, and watch as they grow that the brooder continues to accommodate them without overcrowding. Overcrowding must never be allowed, for inevitably it means sickness. Wise Words from Lancashire.—A successful Lancashire poultry farmer told the ‘Daily Dispatch’:—“The cause of so many failures (in poultry farming) is not far to seek. People have a dozen birds in their back garden, and their calculations bring them to wonderful figures for 1,000 birds. They launch out without a thought of the difference between a hobby and a business. As soon as a man starts a poultry farm ho wants a car to take the eggs to market—the car usually wins—and consequently eggs are costly to produce. The same people who lose their money in poultry farming would never dream of going into a shop-keep ing business knowing as little of thbusiness as they do or producing eggs.” In the hot weather which we may meet with shortly the addition of a little permanganate of potash to the drinking water is of service. Dissolve

an ounce of the crystals in a pint of water and bottle. Use a teaspoonful of this to each quart of drinking water. Remember When Mating.—At the laying trials in England and America it has been noted that there is a direct correlation between body size and size of . egg. In no case has it been found that Leghorns under 81b in weight have produced, on the average, 2oz eggs, but birds weighing 41b to 4£lb have produced both the greatest average number and size of eggs. Breeding for Egg Size. —The commercial grading of eggs is having the effect of giving importance to size in market egs. In . breeding poultry for egg size it has been a question whether the male or the female parent more strongly affected the egg size. At the Sidney (British Columbia) Experimental Station an experiment was carried on by mating male birds whose dams laid large eggs with hens laying small eggs. It was not, however, until 1928 that dependable conclusions were reached. That year, according to the superintendent of the station in his report for 1928, published by the Department of Agriculture at Ottawa, the male used had behind him three o-enerations of large eggs. It was observed that, while the pullets from the males with large egg ancestry commenced, as pullets usually do, to lay small eggs, the egg size soon increased until quite large eggs reaching _ from 240 z to 270 z to the dozen were yielded during what is termed the third period of the pullet year. Testing Fertility. Poultrykeepers who are doubtful about eggs being fertile can, we are told, determine the matter by breaking one of them into a saucer. Break the shell caiefnily, and let the contents go gently into the vessel. The yolk will fall with the germinal disc uppermost. Alternatively portion of the shell on one side can be removed and the yolk examined as it rests in the egg. The germinal disc is always on the top side or the yolk. The disc is easily recognised as a small, light-coloured spot about one-sixth of an inch in diameter, ft is from the colls in this germinal portion oi the etrg that the chicken starts, and the balance of the yolk is food for the embryo. In a fertile egg a typical germinal disc shows an outer white nm of a little breadth, ard within this is a circular transparent area. In the terminal disc of an unfertilised egg there is no distinct division into an opaque rim and transparent centre, and the white disc is simply shown by a number of irregular and clear spaces. Sanitary surroundings, simplicity m feeding, constant carc ; and regular attention especially during the mid-sum-mer months are essential factors to be considered if satisfactory maturity is to be realised. Undeveloped or undernourished pullets cannot be expected to do well . , .. Chinese Eggs.—Much has been written about the quality of Chinese eggs and pulp shipped to Britain and other countries for cake and pastry making. ‘ Poultry ’ (England) publishes an extract from a letter written by a partner in a r big firm of export egg merchants in Northern Ireland When you are wot king out propaganda in other directions in connection with eggs, 1 wish you could the use of Chinese eggs in all bakeries, pastries, and the like. Now seems to bo the opportune time to get this question ventilated, as there appears to be such a desire on the part of the Government and the Press for people to know exactly the nationality of the egg that is used. “ I should not go so far as to say that the law should compel every retailer of pastry to state that the eggs used in its manufacture were Chinese; but T would suggest that they he compelled to place a notice in the shop or in the bakery, or in the place of manufacture, stating that the eggs used in all the pastries sold in the respective establishments are_ Chinese. Please keep the Chinese liquid eerg question before you, and if an opportunity arises get it ventilated. Even in our own city of the bakers and confectioners use Chinese eges in quantities.” Mr P. H. Bayiiss, apropos of liquid eggs, remarks:—“ 1 should like to place the editor in a position overlooking the hold of a ship from which Chinese liqii’d eggs are being unloaded, He would soon require a gas mask to save himsrif from being poisoned. One of my poultry students, who works in the docks in Loudon, assures me that he has known men come over so faint after the first few moments in an attempt to unload such a cargo that thev have had to give up for the clav ” On Breeding.—ln order to produce good progeny you must have good parents. One good parent can do a lot, hut can’t do it al I —there must be two. So far as fowls are concerned this is the right way of breeding: The male bird should be strong, a real male one that crows and flaps'his wings, always ready to fight for his hens, and a good hearty “ doer ” generally. That’s the side of physical strength and vigour, but more than that is required from him. You want large eggs and plenty of of them, and as the mother transmits those characters to her sons care should be taken to make certain that your breeding male conies from a dam of that kind. I The hens should be strong and healthy, | of the full size and weight of their breed and lay 2oz eggs and plenty of. them That’s the combination you j want, and it is Hie only one that will give full results. Any other way means that you are merely tinkering with the business and “ trusting to luck.” Trusting to luck is no good in the matter of breeding good fowls. You get what you go for. It is emphasised that when you are mating the birds do not use an undersized male. It’s true that the | hens have the most “ say ” in the mat- ■ ter of putting size and weight into the stock. But they haven’t all the say, which means that the father, too, must be a good specimen in those directions., —“ Hardshell.” PRACTICAL POINTERS. Keep the hens confined to your owm land and off the road. Don’t keep a male bird. Hens lay just as well without a male. Purchase well-matured pullets rather than hens. Don’t expect great success in hatch ing and raising chicks unless you have had some experience, and have a grass plot separate from the yard for the liens. I Build a good house or shelter. Make the • house dry and free from draughts, but allow for ventilation. Cowls stand cold better than damp-! ness. ! Keep house and yard clean. i Provide roosts amd dropping boards. 1 Provide a nest for each four or five hens. . Grow some green crop in the yard. j Spade up the yard frequently. Feed table scraps and kitchen waste.

Contribution* and questions for answering should bo addressed to Utdity-h aBC T, Poultry Editor, ‘Star' Office, and received not later than Tuesday w each weei. “ Utility-Fancy ” will only answer communications through this column. Advertisements for this column must bo handed in to the office before 8 p.n». so Friday.

Also feed grain opco or twice a day. Feed a dry mash. Keep hems free from hce and the house free from mites. Kill and eat the hefts m the fall as they begin to moult and cease to lay. preserve the surplus eggs produced durihg the spring and summer for use during the fall and winter, when eggs arc scare© and high ill price.— 1 i 1 arraers’ Bulletin,’ 1,331.

TWENTY-FIFTH PAPANUI EGGLAYING COMPETITION. Loading Pens, Twenty-Seventh Week, Ended October 12 (189 days). Tsst I.—J. H. Shaw Memorial Challenge. Light and Heavy Breeds. Black Orpingtons.

Week’s Weight. Eggs. oa. drs. "I. J. M. Campbell ... 5 10 4 139 T. I). Dalziel ... ... 5 10 5 122 White Leghorns. G. A., Stratford ... 7 18 8 173 A. M. Espie ... ... 6 13 6 161 E. J. Ross ... ... 6 11 9 155 E. Dimstan ... ... 6 14 3 15U T. D. Dalziel ... ... 6 12 9 148 S, G Batten ... 6 12 11 145 F. R. Cotton ... 6 13 3 144 Test 11.—White Leghorn, Single Hen. Owner Enters 3 Birds. Highest Aggregates. Week’s Grand Total. Total S. E. Davey . 5 4 6 140 168 166 ; t. E. D. Dalziel . . 5 6 4 155 133 154 Fuchs . 6 5 < 151 134 151 J. Liggins .761 138 153 136 M C. Craig , 6 5 4 156 136 133 Miss Williams .. . 6 5 3 150 148 125 C. M R Manhire 4 4 6 130 141 150 Test HI. -A.O.V. Light Breeds. Other Than White Leghorns. Anconas. Week’s Grand Total. Total. A. Pearce ... . . 373 124 134 102 S. H. Mitchell . . 5 6 4 109 126 86 1 Test IV.—Black Orpingtons only. ' R. M. Cookson 6 5 3 117 148 149 A. R. Leckie . 5 5 7 149 119 115 H J. Ballin . 6 5 6 143 99 121 Test V— A.O.V. Heavy Breeds Other ■ Than Black Orpingtons. J R, Griffen (L.S.) ... . . 6 4 3 140 95 143 R. Drysdale (W.R.) 5 7 6 102 34 99 Test VI.- Flock Teams <6 birds) Light and Heavy Breeds. ! White Leghorns. Week’s Weight. Eggs. oz. drs. Ti. M C Craig .. .31 72 2 832 Green Bros. . 31 69 14 823 W. E. Ward . 32 67 13 821 F. Halves .30 61 8 800 G. J, Verrall .. .32 65 14 759 J. Biggins . 33 76 5 726 W. H. West .. . 35 73 8 708 Black. Orpingtons. J. Kingsland .24 51 2 683 H W. Beck .. , 31 62 11 554 Test Vi I.—Single Ducks. Owner Enters Three Birds Highest Aggregate. Pekins. Week’s Grand Total. Total. J. W. Thomson .. .677 85 117 83 Indian Runners G, A, Heath . 7 6 6 177 162 156 A. G. F. Ross ,. . 774 139 175 179 F. R. Cotton . 6 5 5 171 153 167 J. W. Thomson .. 777 145 174 168 H. A. Dawber .. . 6 6 4 157 161 163 R. W. Hawke .. 676 135 106 138