POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20428, 8 March 1930, Page 29

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.]

Mineral Feeding.—The fowl has a very high mineral requirement compared with most other species of animals, and disaster follows failure to give adequate supplies. Experimental tests prove that there are a number of minerals that are essential to body functions, but only a few that are likely to be deficient in the rations usually fed to poultry. They, are lime, phosphorus, chlorine, and sodium. The grams and vegetable products are low in lime, chlorine, and sodium. Bono meal is commonly added to the ration lor its minerals, and undoubtedly, the experts tell us, it is the most valuable combination of minerals to bo found in any single mineral product, it contains a generous amount of lime, phosphorus, and small amounts of the rarer minerals, which are also of importance. For the needed chlorine and sodium common salt (which is sodium chloride) is of course, the only source of these minerals that need be considered. For additional lime, either for body functions or eggshell formation, calcium carbonate is best supplied by oyster shell or 95 per cent, calcium carbonate limestone. So far as present information is concerned this is» as far as we lieed go for the essential minerals to supplement tho rations usually employed for fowls young or old. In the Ohio station’s work •'with minerals tor chickens a complicated ; mixture was first used, hut.a simple, inexpensive mineral mixture was finally developed which has proved highly effective and has come to be regarded as a standard mineral mixture for poultry. This mixture is being sold under the open formula by different commercial firms. It consists of poultry bone meal 60, oyster shells or 95 per cent, calcium carbonate limestone 20, and table salt 20. This is mixed with tho dry mash at the rate of 2 to 4 per cent, by weight, the amount depending upon the composition of tho mash. Tne present practice of the, station, however, is to simply add 2 to 4 per cent, of tho bone meals and to f per cent, of salt to the mash mixture as its regular ingredients. Then tho oyster shells are supplied in separate containers, sc* as* to easily avalable at all times. The addition ol 5 per cent, coarse oyster shells as a regular ingredient in the all-mash mixture lot layers is proving quite satisfactory in tests which are in progress at the Ohio station, and this practice is already meeting with considerable favour among ponltrymen. When aro additional minerals required F Probably the most common cause of mineral deficient rations is the heavy feeding of scratch grain and the lessened consumption of the mash which usually results. Since it is the mash that carries the bulk of the minerals, a liberal consumption of mash is necessary to supply adequate minerals for the grains which arc dcficient in this respect. The mystery of how eggs come into being is one (says Professor Bareroft) of the most profound with whicli biologists aro concerned. “ The changes which take place in the egg, apart from the actual development of the cluck, were,” he added, ‘‘ of two kinds: those which took place whether or nob the egg was fertilised and others incidental to the life of tho developing chick. Typical of tho former was tbo loss of weight. Typical of the latter was the ilegyec of respiration of the egg. Eggs breathed; Like their parents they took in oxygen and gave out carbonic acid, but only to a small extent, until about the end of the second week.” The Poultry Industry.-—Few people realise the tremendous size and recent growth of the poultry industry in America. The latest figures I have been

able to obtain for the United States were for the year 1926. Since tho industry is growing, they are surely conservative lor the present time, lot the year 1920 there were 750 million fowls raised and a total of two billion dozens of eggs produced, representing a total value of one billion 132 millions of dollars. It is difficult to grasp tho meaning of figures in measuring the size of an industry. With your permission, let me give yon a few corapaiisous. Tho poultry industry is nearly equal to tho value of all the cattle produced in the United States, is 32 per cent, of the value of all swine is over 40 per cent, of the value ol all dairy products, is SO per cent, of the capitalisation of all national banks, is 22 per cent, of all the money in circulation in this country, is equal to 6J per cent, of the value of the corn crop. Tt exceeds the value of the wheat crop, is double the value of all fruits and fruit products, is twice the value of the oat crop, is more than six tunes the vane of ail sheep, is nine times the value of all horses and mules m the entire country is more than seven tunes the production of silver in Jhe entire world, This gigantic poultry industry represents 7 per cent, of the entire farm production, and' ranks sixth in value among all products of agriculture in the United States. So much lor the industry from tho national viewpoint.— From radio talk given by A. A. Brown, University of Wisconsin. An Expert’s Opinion.—Professor Bay mond T. Parkhurst, of the Harper Adams Poultry College, gives the io ■ lowing opinions on tho question ol pullets versus yearling hens:—(l) It is preferable to breed from selected yearling hens of known production factors; (2) that it may be necessary under certain circumstances to use pullets to supplement - yearling liens; (3) that hatching eggs of the same size are as •mod from carefully selected pullets properly mated as from hens also properly mated; (4) that when used, jmlets should be selected carefully; (5) that the use of nnselocted pullets by breeders and hatcheries is probably second onlv to the use of untested breeding stock in the harm that it docs to the poultry industry. There is no doubt but that the indiscriminate breeding from immature pullets is the cause of poor hatchability and fertility. Dead in shell is one of the results, the chickens being deficient in vigour and vitality. Chickens that are hatched out from the eggs of such pullets are most difficult to rear, only a small percentage reaching maturity. Since the introduction of artificial lighting it is possible to got much bettor results from yearling hens during the very early weeks of the breeding season. It is, however, not advisable to overdo this treatment with breeding birds. Keep the early pullets growing so that they will be well matured before thev begin to lay. The pullets .should bo 'kept bv themselves out of sight of the cockerels, and should bo moved on to fresh ground as often as possible. Precocious pullets that begin to lay before they are six months old are seldom profitable. Though carbonate of lime is partly supplied in such foodstulis as oats, clover, meal, and green vegetables it must be supplemented, when birds arc confined, by a supply of oyster shell. When starting poultry-keeping begin right, then there is a chance of going on right. Fowls on tree range search lor grit, in the form, of shell and stone; but when they cannot do this grit and shell must be provided. Rod Mites.—Owing to tho fact that the mites hide away daring the day in tho cracks and crevices and under roosts and dropping hoards, and come forth to attack tho birds only at night, their presence is often unsuspected until the infestation becomes so heavy that it is called to the attention of the poultry keeper by tbo irritation of the mites on his own body after a visit to the bouse. Although not hard to kill, tho habits of this blood-suck-ing mite make it difficult lo reach them in their hiding places. Dust baths will not control them, as at best only a few of the mites that remained on tho birds in the day time would bo affected. Either the roosts, nests, boxes, etc., must bo removed from the house or a high pressure, coarse spray that will penetrate all crevices must be employed. For places that are easily accessible, like the underside of roosts, crude petroleum offers _ a satisfactory remedy, and will retain its killing power for several weeks. When used as a spray it will work better if diluted with one part of kerosene lo four parts crude oil. The addition of one gallon of crude carbolic acid lo twenty-five gallons of oil will make it still more effective. Kerosene ten parts and crude carbolic acid one part is commonly used, but docs not have the lasting effect of crude oil. Winter Eggs.—lt is against natural habits to get eggs in winter, and more so to got them in large numbers. In springtime the hen’s natural impulse is today eggs. In winter this impulse is not present, but the poultry keeper, through encouraging certain traits, modifying certain conditions, by caro--4nl selection, and after much study and experiment, has evolved birds that

Contribttiioci* and questions for answering should bo addressed to , Utility-Fancy, Poultry Editor, ‘ Star ’ Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each weak. “ UtiKtyHFßiacy ” will only answer communications through this column, to r column wmmt bo banded in to tho office before 2 p.m. on Friday.

hiy out of season as well as in season. To get a good supply of winter eggs it is essential to keep birds that will pvoduco and respond to management, such as feeding and housing. Egg nroduction is very much influenced by the food, and if there is a deficiency of green vegetable food or animal iood, which are so essential for egg production, there will bo a decrease in eggs, it must be remembered that as the weather becomes colder fowls need more heat-producing food for their own bodies than they need in summer, and if a surplus is not supplied for egg-making there must he a shortage in”the production. One may give ample allowances of such grains, or their meals, as oats, barley, and wheat, but enough of these cannot he eaten to provide the heat and energy of the body and supply the extra lor egg-making. Foods that are strong in albuminoids and without an excessive amount of cat-bobydfates will increase bodily vigour, aud an addition to the food of green cut bone, which is a splendid egg-former, is indispensable to the’ heavy layer. As much as an ounce per bird is recommended m the wet mash, and when this is given the feed of grain following it need not be of too liberal a’nhtnrc: To conserve the bodily heat of birds during the long dark nights the ‘evening meal should lie substantial. At the. same time there is the happy medium to be struck in regard 1o feeding, _ and though supplies must bq_ sufficient there is always the risk of over-feed-ing. The fowls ‘ should always be m that condition when they are sharp for the next meal, but yet not overiumgry, and they should never bo fed to 1 the extent that they are not interested in their litter or too lazy to scratch in it and keep busily exorcising." XVinter greens or roots ought to he fed daily or -f no such supplies are available clover hay may ho added to the .food, either mixed in the mash or steeped, and" then fed by itself.

TWENTY-FIFTH PAPANUI EGG- ‘ LAYING CONTEST.

Loading Pens Forty-sixth Week, Ended February 22 (322 days). Test I.—J. H. Shaw Memorial Challenge, Light and Heavy Breeds.

Black Orpingtons. \Vcck’s Weight. Eggs. oz. drs. Tl. J. M. Campbell ... 4 8 6 229 T. D. Daiziel ... 0 DU 193 White Leghorns. G. A. Stratford ... 7 . 13 2 298 e j. Boss .. (> 12 9 259 K Dunstan ... ...5 12 9 ■ 257 S. G. Batten ... 0 It 0 254 J-'. J. Hi IBs ... ... 0 13 1 238 Miss A. .fakins ...5 10 5 233 Test 2.—White ’ Leghorn Single Hens. Owner Enters Three Birds. Highest Aggregates.' Week’s Grand Total. Total. E. Fuchs ... . .. 5 3 3 255 239 265 J. Biggins ... . .. 7 5 2 255 255 249 T ])."Dalzid .. .. G 6 (i 263 235 259 A. Al.'Espie ., ,. 7 0 3 222 290 224 W. K. Hamilton 560 255 270 203 S. E. Pnvev I, ..0 6 0 211 257 240 C. M. R. Manhire .. 6 5 6 212 234 260 Air Af. Wilson’s ; No. 1 bird in this test has* laid 300 eggs i to date of report. Single Hen Tests. Owner Enters Three Birds. Highest Aggregates. Test 3.-—Any Variety Bight Breeds Other Thati ‘W. Leghorns. An coii as. Week's Grand ■Total. Total. S. 11. Mitchell . .. 3 0 4 203 198 168 R. Pearce .. .. 0 1 5 182 197 151 'test 4.—Blacl v Orpingtons Only. If. ,J. Ballin . .. 2 4 5 234 173 216 R. Al Cookson . ,. 5 5 0 170 217 210 L. P. Hawke .. 0 4 5 208 181 200 Test 5.—Any Variety Heavy Breeds Other Than Black Orpingtons. J R. Griffon (BA,-" .. 0 3 7 183 146 230 R. Dfvsdale V (W.Jl.) ... . .. 3 4 2 J76 129 184 Test 6.—Flock Team, Six Birds, Bight ' 1 and Hcary Breeds. ' White Leghorns. Week’s Weight. Eggs, oz.'dfs. Tl. Green Bros. .. 27 62 0 1.400 AL C. Craig .. 20 43 14 1,379 G. J. Verrall . 13 28 12 1,281 J. Bobbitt ... . .. 24 53 0 1,267 W. Turner ... . .. 22 47 7 1,266' F. 11 awe:. ... . .. 21 43 9 1,257 Black Orpingtons. J. Kingsland .. 17 36 14 1,033 11. W. Beck . .. 16 33 1 '987 Tost 7.—Single Ducks. Owner Enters Throe Birds. Highest Aggregates. Indian Runner. Week’s Grand Total. Total. J. W. Thomson . .. 6 7 6 268 295 273 F. R. Cotton . 0 5 6 254 267 267 G. A Heath .. 0 4 0 249 275 251 A. G. F Ross . .. 6 1 5 256 230 254 R, W. Hawke . .. 5 (i 3 209 218 251 Airs W Warren 3 6 6 177 239 202 A. C. Adsett • .. 5 0 5 285 0 286