POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20510, 14 June 1930, Page 29

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.]

“'Leghorn ” writes:—“ Several _of my White Leghorn pullets have died. They become droopy, they seem dizzy, and their wings droop. Their combs turn blue, and their feathers are all ruffled. They seem to lose the power of their legs.” The symptoms mentioned indicate liver trouble, but I would suggest poisonous or putrid food as the cause Are they getting dried blood in their mashr 1 If so, it may not be in a fit state for food. It may bo that the bran, pollard, or even the grain is musty. There is something wrong with th feeding, and “ Leghorn ” must investigate.

mustard; they gobbled it up and enjoyed it. Next I gave them one containing bitter aloes mixed with meal; down it went. Then turpentine and meal, with the same result. Finally I dipped an egg in kerosene. That was eaten, too —but no more. They never again touched an egg. It’s certainly an easy cure.” According to the Purdue egg calendar, ligli breeds, such as Leghorns, should be fed from 13lb to 15lb of grain per 100 lions per day during December, and heavy breeds, such as Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, 11.1. Reds, and heavier birds should be fed from 16113 to 181 b of grain per 100 hens per day. A good laying mash must, of course, be kept before the birds all the time, in addition to the grain that is fed. PETALUMA. lb is remarked in Hie ‘ American Poultry Journal ’ for December last that, when speaking of poultry, or other matters, in California one has to speak in superlatives. Whatever it is they have it is the “ biggest tho “greatest,” or “most”; consequently whatever one says without using such terms is inadequate. So far as the writer can gather from American poultry literature, California is not an exception in this respect. However, we have to swallow some statements, though they sound rather tall. For instance, when we read that the Peta 7 luma section of California has a poultry population within a radius of approximately ten miles of about 9,000,000 hens, we are merely glad we have not to check tho statement. There is a statement at the railroad station that Petaluma produces annually 45,000,000 dozen (.note tho dozens) eggs. The journal 1 urn quoting doubts the last tact, because it only allows 60 eggs per annum per hen. if overcrowding is in any way detrimental to egg production, as wc all believe, 45 million dozen eggs is a fair lot to obtain within a radius of ten (presumably square) miles. The representative of the American journal, who visited Petaluma, says. First impressions ot one coming a long way to see this section are varied. Ho finds all types of houses, he rinds many birds on a small area—and he wonders, it must be admitted that the first impression tv as not wholly a pleasing one. Tho condition is easily explained, however, for many of these poultrymen have been there for thirtyiivo years or more, and they have retained their bid buildings and have not seer, fit to make any changes ni consti notion. The newer poultrymen aro adopting newer types of houses and newer methods. SUNSHINE HELPS.

The sixty-third consecutive show held by the Christchurch Poultry Club took place last week, and jpportunity is taken to herald the fact _ that the Christchurch Poultry Club is the oldest in Australasia, and that its shows are the largest in the dominion. The fact that the club is noted for its liberal prize-list is regarded as one of the reasons why it has achieved such popularity. Tho following represent some of the wins made by Otago exhibitors at last week’s groat Christchurch show:—Mr P. J. Neilson (Cayersham) won seven first prizes, two specials, two cups, and five seconds; Mr G. W. Wall (Grosvenor street! gained two first prizes and sis seconds; and A. Guilliau (Reid road) brought back one first prize and a special. The competition in all sections was very keen, and tho achievements of tho local breeders are, therefore, all, tho more creditable. Keep none but sound, healthy birds. Sick fowls are an abour tion. If you desire to maintain vigour in your flock never, in any circumstances, breed from weakly fowls or fowls that are in any way sickly. Such birds aro better got rid of speedily. If they are fit for eating, then prepare for cooking. If not, and there is no prospect of saving them, better kill them and incinerate their bodies. By this means you lessen the risk to other members of the flock. A good point is to, if possible, retain nothing that is off colour. You cannot get best results by giving grain alone, you must give some animal food. A Tip to Poultry-house Builders.— An English poultryman, a Mr Irven Hall, of Watling street, Cannock, who was originally a miner and, starting with a few fowls, now' has so many that they engage his whole time, lias introduced so many gadgets and contnvances on .his farm, <ind with evident success, that he has attracted much attention on the part of poultrymen at Homo. He has now 3,000 laying hens, and by the end of the year hopes to have 8,000. All aro bred and reared in extensive liouses, which are mainly built with asbestos sheets. One peculiar feature of his houses is that, standing in them, you can see the sky through a narrow slit running tho whole length of every house. Hus is described as a ventilation scheme, and is contrived by there _ being no capping boards along tho ridge of the root at the apex. ’This enables all loul air to escape through the roof, and, strange to say, no rain oyer penetrates. The outside air passes right over, and rather than admit rain sucks the inside foul air outward and carries it .away. i His Majesty tho King, who had already given his patronage to the congress, lias now entered as an exhibitor, and is sending birds from tho Homo Farm at Windsor to bo shown at the Crystal Palace when tbo World’s Poultry Congress meets in July next. It is interesting to note that His Majesty nas followed the regulations that apply to all exhibitors, that is to say, ho has ■tiled in the ordinary forms and sent the ordinary fee in the same way as the most modest poultry-keeper. His acknowledgment of tho value of the congress tor exhibition purposes is significant, and the news of ins participation will be received throughout tho industry, and beyond its considerable urea, with very genuine satisfaction. A Yorkshire fancier has a silver Wyandotte hen that is still carrying on the good work, although seventeen years of age. This settles the übiquitous query ‘‘ Hoes poultry-keeping pay?” This hen was purchased in 1910 by its present owner as a six-year-old broody for tho princely sum of 2s 6d. —‘ Poultry World.’ Breeds of ducks recommended for table purposes are Pokins, Aylesburies, Buff Orpingtons, and Magpies. The best layers are undoubtedly tho Indian Runners, cither white, fawn and white. Khaki Campbells. Cayugas, and the utility type of Buff Orpington ducks. Where a combination of both laying and table qualities is desired it is not a bad plan to cross either of tho above birds. Tho , offspring should not, of course, bo bred from.

Tho Californian sun.lnn. been good to these people; it is warm and strong and there is lots of it. It is doubtless this sun that has enabled the poultrymen to keep their chickens under the intensive system for so long. When the full rains come, yards that are dry and. sere in summer become freshened up during a period of the year when green feed is essential. The climate, too, is conducive to good results with poultry. Losses from disease are, not abnormal; as a matter of fact, adult mortality gives more concern than chick mortality, because of the use of intensive fedmg methods—not because of disease. One can drive around this whole area and see one poultry farm—they call them ranches—after another Everywhere there are chickens. Some ranches aro better than others, naturally, and it is also natural that some are making money and others are not. There is one thing on which you can bank, however, and that is that these Petaluma poultrymen take their pleasures along with their worn, for when tho hunting season opens, they go hunting. 1 found this out to my own disappointment, for several poultrymen with whom 1 would like to have talked wore out when 1 visited their farms—gone hunting. THE USE OF ELECTRICITY. It is interesting to see tho extent to which electricity is used in incubation here. There is the Must Hatch Hatchery, which is tho largest in the world, with a total capacity at one setting of 1,800,900 eggs, all electrically equipped. From thirty-six to forty men are kept busy hero during the hatching season. Even when 1 was there, around tho first of August, there were approximately 250,000 eggs in tho incubators. There are ten isles of incubators each, 208 ft long. Approximately 120 flocks averaging about 2,000 birds to tho flock, making a total ot 420,000 hens, are necessary to supply the eggs for this hatchery. Although some of the machines aro run the year

Egg-oatiug.—A poultryman writes: “ L am interested in the letters on eggoating. I had a small, but very expensive, flock that devc 1 ■'cd this trouble. I tried filling an egg with

I Contribution* and question* for answering should be addressed to ** Utility-Fancy,” It Poultry Editor, ' Star ’ Oiuoc, and received not later than Tuesday of cadi week, B “ Utility-Fancy ” will only answer communications through this column. I] Aovywiisomaata for this column sent be handed in to tb* offif* before 2 pj». ms |j Friday.

round, the season really starts in December and runs through the middle of May. Mr John P. Burke, the head of this concern, was not tfiere, and J. therefore missed the opportunity of talking with him. The use that these Californians are making of electricity emphasises the fact that electricity is becoming more and more popular on farms throughout the country. Incubators, brooders, lights in the laying house, water pumps, fans for ventilation—especially in the newer system of battery brooding—feed mixing and other chores, to say nothing of household uses, all are places where the poultryman in any section can use electricity. Power is available in many sections, but in other sections it is not. The farm, however, can enjoy the benefits of electricity by the installation of a home unit, such as that manufactured by the Delco Light Company and the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. The Poehlraan Hatchery is another hatchery with all electric equipment. This hatchery has 400,000 egg capacity. It 's interesting to note that all tin hatcheries in this district have, up to the present time had sectional incii bators—tremendously long, ones—thn were either manufactured by comine ciafe concerns in California or wc: made by the hatcherymen themselve Mr Poehlman, however, is the fir man to install electric cabinet incbatoia in this section. He had tv last year foi the first, and bought so) more this year. Mr Poehiman has done quite a hu. ness in selling turkey poults. Last ye; he shipped between 40.000 and 50,0( poults, and expects to hatch close i 100,000 poults this year. One thing that was of particular interest to me here in California, to which I called attention last month, is the fact that all year round hatchin. is done on a larger scale than is done in the eastern part of the country, i have mentioned that the Must Hatch Hntcery had approximately a quarter of a million eggs in their incubators in midsummer; the Pioneer Hatchery here in Petaluma, operated by Nisson Brothers, run 100,000 eggs capacity the year round in their 500,000 egg capacity hatchery. YEAB ROUND HATCHING. This hatchery begins its operations in a large way the latter part of November, and runs at full capacity until the middle of May. Hatches for last year, according to Mr Otto Berger, averaged over 69 per cent. —practically 70 per cent. The heat for the sectional incubators in this hatchery is provided by gas. Mr Berger stated that over 100,000 hens were mated to get the eggs for the machines. These were not, of course, on one farm, but were scattered among a number of small ranches. Ihe Pioneer Hatchery, however, has a tarm of its own—a breeding farm, whore 10,000 chicks were brooded this past spring. This farm raises its own males to distribute among the farms supplying the hatchery with eggs. Last year 3.500 males were put out on farms. . Other plants aro described, all showmg big production, in Petaluma.