POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20996, 9 January 1932, Page 19

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.]

Contribution* sad questions for answering should be addressed to M Utility-Fancy, ” Poultry Editor, ‘Star* Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each week, “ Utility-Fancy M will only answer communications through this column. Advertisements for this column must he handed in to the office before 2 pja. os Friday.

“ Orpington.”—Yes, milk poAvder is a suitable substitute for fresh milk to serve young chickens, I cannot say that it is cheaper, because the cost depends on circumstances. For instance, a farmer Avho kept coavs Avould not buy milk poAvder. There are no charts used by judges at slioavs. What you should get is the Utility Poultry Standards. If you send Is to the Government Agricultural Department one Avill be posted to you. “Minorca.”—The trouble is termed slipped, loose, or dropped Avings, terms which imply that/ the outside Aving feathers droop instead of being tucked up. The bird is not ill. This trouble usually applies to cockerels, and is generally regarded as a sign of some bodily Aveakness. The treatment should be a little more nourishing food. Give thirty drops of Easton’s syrup betAveen them in the Avater Avith Avhicb their soft food is mixed. Also a teaspoonfnl of cod liver oil, also in their food. Feed well, especially a feAV bits of cooked meat from the table. If you notice in a feAV days’ time that the Avings are being carried in a better position the treatment should bo continued. There is a Avay of tying up the Aving feathers, but birds hate Avearing anything, and it often annoys them so much that they lose condition. The method is to make a sort of jacket for both Avings. A piece of cloth is laid over the bird’s back, and the place where the Aving joins the body is marked out, and a hole is cut on both sides. The wing is folded and slipped through the hole, which leaves the cloth under the wing and OA r er the back. Then turn up the loose ends of cloth to the cloth on the back, fold up the flight feathers as they should be normally, and seiv the loose ends of cloth to the cloth where it crosses the back. “ Barbei’.”—-I do not Icuoav of any local fancier Avho keeps Silver Campines. An advertisement might put you in touch with a breeder of them. I reproduce a paragraph regarding them in this Aveek’s notes.

“ Major.”—l have heard of your theory. It was tested, but it was a long time ago, and nothing satisfactory seems to have come from it. A French scientist published his observations on the subject. As adult male birds are larger and heavier than females, he claimed there is a difference between the two sexes of the chicks when hatched, varying from over ioz to nearly loz in favour of the male. This led him to the assumption that there must also be a relative difference in the weight of eggs from which they were hatched. To test this theory a flock of Leghorns was selected, the average weight of eggs being 62 grammes, slightly_ over 2oz. The variations in egg weight amounted to 16 grammes (over £oz), the smallest being 51 grammes, and the largest 70 grammes, few laying eggs of less than 58 or more than 66 grammes. Sixty eggs from this flock were selected out of 350 laid, weighing between 59 and 70 grammes. Forty-eight chicks were produced, of which 37 were cockerels (or 77 per cent.), and 11 pullets. That, however, is only one test, and to conclude, as does the author, that it solves the problem would be more than a mistake. Evidence is necessary upon a much more extensive scale, even though it may be assumed the theory warrants favourable consideration. Other factors may have an influence. It should, however, be remembered that the relative size of egg is only at the time and for the individual layers, not the average over an extended period. It is generally recognised that the influence of the parents on the progeny differs, and as a rule the male bird sways the shape and outward appearance, while the female controls the temper, habits, size, and constitution. It is, perhaps, in the two latter points that her influence is mostly felt. A hen of good constitution will breed chickens that will soon surpass the progeny of too young or too old birds. Toe-picking is one of the most troublesome happenings in rearing chickens. This trouble can be avoided to some extent by a moderate use of common salt in the wet mash with which the chickens are feu for the greater part of the day. The right quantity to use is loz to each 51b of mash. The salt must be thoroughly dissolved in _ the liquid with which the mash is mixed, and there is no danger of salt poisoning if this is done. If milk can be used for mixing the mash it will be much more effective. Hens sometimes have a tendency to make use of one nest and to ignore the others. The best way to avoid this is to place one or two china eggs in each nest, for hens like to follow where others have been. Each nest should be well built with straw or similar material, and it is a good plan to put half a spadeful of dry earth into each box and mould it well into the corners. Whenever an egg is broken in the nest all litter should be cleaned out and renewed. DISEASE IN THE POULTRY RUN. —Prevention is Better Than Cure.— The art of successful poultry farming lies largely in the prevention rather than the cure of disease. Careful management, wholesome and adequate rations, and the provision of suitable housing accommodation, combined with sanitation will minimise sickness in the poultry yard. Yet, in spite of the precautionary measures that should be practised unceasingly, no poultry plant is entirely immune from occasional outbreaks of disease. It is necessary to be continually on the look-out for trouble* so that the moment a fowl looks off colour ft can be immediately removed from the flock. Isolation is an urgent matter, because so many of the ills to which the hen is heir are infectious. A single neglected case can easily lead to a serious epidemic, resulting m endless trouble and considerable loss. Once disease is allowed to spread, the process of eradication may Be lengthy and tedious. In the meantime egg production will fall off and profits will diminish rapidly. In growing stock, sickness is a very grave matter. Not only are the deaths okely to be much more numerous than with adult birds, but the affected pullets are likely to suffer a severe setback which will retard their growth and have an adverse effect on their productivity.. While every possible precaution should be taken to prevent disease, we must at the same time be prepared to deal with any sickness that may occur. It is advisable to keep on hand a supply of the necessary medicines, so_ that treatment can be carried out without delay. It is always easier to effect a cure in the early stages of disease than after it has been neglected. Ailing fowls should. always be isolated, and as far as possible should be attended to by someone who does

not go near the poultry runs. There is ahvays a risk of carrying disease germs on one’s clothes or boots. For this reason an odd bird falling sick should be killed at once. It may be cheaper in the end. Another consideration is that a ben that has been sick is often a poor producer after she recovers. SILVER CAMPINES. From a utility viewpoint, the Silver Campine is a splendid foAvl in that it is a grand layer of large white eggs. It is active, and l of hardy constitution; the hens are non-sitters and the chickens feather fairly quickly. Though apparently small, the breed carries a lot of succulent flesh, and is quite the best table foAvl of its kind. The Sih’er Campine thrives Avell in confinement, consequently it may be kept with success semi-intensively and in small spaces. As regards general characteristics, the body is close and compact; tho comb is of medium size, single, and evenly serrated, the cock’s being carried upright, and the lien’s falling on one side. The ear-lobes are Avhite and l the face is red. The carriage is graceful, the bird having an alert appearance. As to colour, the neck hackle of the Silver Campine is pure Avhite, and the remainder of the plumage is marked like a mackerel, rich beetle-green pencilling evenly distributed on a Avhite ground, forming regular bands or rings round the body. Some authorities state that the Campine foAvl belongs to the races of Eastern Europe, a not unlikely contention, since it cannot be disputed that the breed in many respects resembles the Hamburgbs of old. Hoavever, be its origin Avhat it may, English fanciers first saiv the breed in Belgium and Holland —at least, it was from those countries that the stock was_ obtained from Avhicb the present British type Avas produced. The cocks average about 61b weight, and the hens 51b, rather under than over. TWENTY-SEVENTH PAPANUI EGGLAYING COMPETITION. Leading Pens, 38th Week Ended December 25 (265 days). Test I.—J. H. Shaw Memorial Challenge. Light and Heavy Breed*.

HOUSING WINTER LAYERS. It is important that the pullets from which we expect to produce eggs throughout the autumn _ and winter should be settled in their permanent quarters before they commence laying, so that this task must be undertaken at once. There can be no doubt that housing conditions exercise an influence upon winter egg-production; and though slatted-floor houses may be economical and very suitable for farm stock, we prefer to retain .con- 1 fidence in the effectiveness of the scratching shed for stock kept in partial or total confinement. Previous to the introduction of scratching sheds, _ many people considered winter laying to be unnatural and impossible, so that a system which has produced such good results is not likely to be lightly discarded. _ The advantage of the scratching shed is that, apart from providing protection from cold and wet, it enables the hens to take exercise in all weathers and to keep themselves warm and fit.Exercise is assured by spreading dry litter ou the floor and by scattering the morning grain feed among it, so that the birds are induced to scratch in hunting for their food. If the scratching shed has previously been occupied, it should be thoroughly cleaned out and disinfected before the pullets are installed. If this work is done well the place can be kept clean throughout the season. The shed must-be well lighted_ and ventilated, since it provides living quarters throughout the greater part of the year, if the stock are closely confined. The windows and shutters should be adjustable to facilitate lighting and ventilating. Above the windows and shutters in the front of the scratching shed ? if is usual to leave two or three inches open, with a covering of wire netting, and protected by an overhanging weather hood, to prevent rain beating in. . A well-littered floor is essential to promote scratching. Straw is the most popular material for this purpose, while peat moss is the most durable, so that if the two are mixed, one will have a durable and economic litter. Country dwellers can obtain cavings from a threshing machine, consisting of chaff and broken straw; and this will make a very good litter _ when mixed with peat moss or dry soil. In the autumn we can collect dry leaves and bracken fronds, which likewise make good litter when mixed with some heavier material, and cost practically nothing. Pullets should he installed in their laying quarters two or three weeks before production commences, go as to avoid any check subsequently. It is undesirable to disturb layers when production has commenced, which is a point to be noted by those who contemplate buying pullets for winter egg production, for it is important to get these birds settled down in good time. , In purchasing pullets for laying it is advisable to ascertain limy they have been housed and fed, so that similar conditions may be continued, as far as possible, to avoid any check through strange quarters and food. The scratching shed,_ whether for in < tensive or semi-intensive use, is suit j able for all classes of stock; and r) should be understood that this styb i of housing is specially suitable for fowl; that have to be kept in close confine ment. , . ■ . When such a shed is built on low. lying ground it is necessary to raise the floor well - above the surface, so that the litter is not affected by damp. In such cases a wooden floor ,is always The cleaning out and disinfecting of a shed should be undertaken during fine, dry weather, before the pullets are brought in; and similar weather is necessary for repairing roofs and applying preservative to the timber. The ideal should be to provide about four square feet of floor space for each bird in the scratching shed which necessarily makes the cost or housing in this way heavier than with ordinary roosting houses, where only perching space has to be considered,--‘Poultry.’

—Black Orpingtons.— Week’s Weight. Eggs. oz. drs. Tl. J. Campbell ... 5 11 3 225 H. oCtton 7 14 1 206 —White Leghorns.— H. Williams 7 13 5 235 L. Roache 5 11 8 221 I. Ibbotson 6 12 2 217 A. C. Goodlett ... 6. 13 14 211 T. S. Dove 3 6 5 206 Miss M'Kechnie ... 3 6 11 203 Test 11.—White Leghorns. Single Hen. Owner enters three birds. Week’s Grand Totals. Totals. A. J. Maclaine 6 6 6 228 185 201 W. M‘Intyre ... 5 5 6 223 184 206 W. L. Donald 6 0 3 200 209 195 H. Williams ... 6 5 4 177 108 217 I. Ibbotson ... 6 6 5 209 215 173 T. Bond 5 6 5 198 194 200 Test III.—Black Orpingtons Only. Week’s Grand Totals. Totals. J. Campbell ... 4 4 7 217 149 139 R. M. Cookson 6 6 '4 166 166 159 B. Cotterell ... 0 7 5 90 205 166 E. G. Cliffen ... 3 7 5 190 137 89 Test IV.—Any Variety Light or Hoary Breeds, other than White Leghorns or Black Orpingtons. Week’s Grand Totals, Totals. Mrs Williams (L.S.) 4 6B 200 213 194 S. H. Mitchell (A.) 5 4 6 162 174 172 A. W. Pritchard (Buff O.) ... 3 B 4 162 180 174 B. Wilson (B.L.) ... 5 1 6 170 110 203 Test V.—Flock Teams (six birds). —White Leghorns.— Week’s Weight. Eggs. oz. drs. Tl. M. C Craig, No. 2 35 71 9 1,092 M. C. Craig, No. 1 23 48 12 1,036 W. Knight 19 41 2 1,027 H. Williams ... 26 51 13 1,007 L. lloache 20 ,40 6 972 Verrall Bros. ... 23 47 14 966 There were eleven birds entered for this test. Three are now dead and four broody. Test VI.—Single Duck*. Owner enters three birds. —Indian Runners.— Week’s Grand Totals. Totals. J. W. Thomson 7 5 7 215 219 254 G. S. Heath ... 6 5 2 204 246 150 H. A. Dawber 3 6 3 165 256 209 Test VII.—Other" than Indian Runners. Week’s Grand Totals, Total*. H. A. Dawber (p.) 2 4 2 184 169 217 F. Ashworth (K.C.) ... ... 7 6 0 189 203 0