POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22193, 22 November 1935, Page 2

POULTRY NOTES

By “UTILITY-FANCY”

, GREEN BONE. A good many things enter into the question of egg production, but, ■ other things being equal, eggs are very largely a question of food. Green bone —i.e., uncooked bone—is an egg-mak-ing food. A hen cannot lay' eggs to meet the present-day expectations unless she has abundance of egg-making material supplied in her daily ration. This is one reason why fresh-cut raw bone lias proved such a boon to poultrykeepers; it supplies the protein and lime needed by the hen for egg-making, needed by the male bird for vitality and vigour, needed by the chick for building-bone and muscle and feathers. Fowls cannot flourish and be profitable without an abundance of protein. Raw bone supplies it in the most available and cheapest form. A single ounce of raw bone contains, we are told, more available protein than one-quarter of a pound of wheat, or three and a-halt pounds of maize. Moreover, the bone lends a variety to the ration, and- has a peculiar tonic effect upon the flock that tends to health and vigour. But good as green bone is, it must be given in moderation, because too much protein is poisonous. A celebrated physician once said at a conference of medical men that there were more deaths caused by eating too much meat than by drinking too much beer, by which he meant that too much nitrogenous food killed! . FEEDING TESTS. The results of a feeding test conducted at the Werrihee Research Farm show, some big figures, seeing that 500 birds were employed in the test. Messrs W. 0. Roderick and A. G. Clark, in a recent issue of the ‘ Victorian Journal of Agriculture,’ state some of the results, remarking that, wonderful as they are, they compare similarly with their own experience. The total amount of food per bird worked out (at Werribce) at 89.21 b, and the cost per bird 4s Hid. The average production in the test was 189 eggs, the value of which, at the average price, realised (Is 6d per dozen), was 16s 4jd, making the average prbfit per bird 11s 5Jd. These are really good results and wonderful averages, but it must be noted that the so-called profit per bird (11s s|d) has still to bear numerous other costs. Any way, many poultry farmers are making a comfortable living out of poultry, whose fowls are not, by a long way, producing an average of 189 eggs per annum. Of course, their overhead expenses will he much lower than those at a Government-owned experimental farm. TOO FAT TO LAY. Mr Hadlington is an Australian authority of great experience as a poultryman, yet he says, in the course of an article in the Sydney ‘ Morning Herald,’ that the saying “To fat to lay ”is a fallacy. 1 would point out that some fowls are so prone to put on fat, notwithstanding what their diet may consist of, that eventually a solid block of fat is formed internally which presses on all the organs of production that they cannot possibly produce an egg. These cases may be only the exceptions, but they are numerous. TREATING EGG BINDING. Egg binding may be the effect of two common causes—(l) lack of internal lubricant, and (2) an excessively large egg. An egg-bound bird walks with the abdomen and tail down, and becomes dull and listless; also she may be noted as often on the nest. The best treatment for egg binding, according to a writer in ‘Poultry’ (England), is to subject the fowl to heat, such as an -open fire. If the trouble still remains stubborn, inject warm olive oil into the oviduct, in an effort to add lubricant artificially. Cases should be treated at once by heating, or it may mean death and the loss of a most valuable type of fowl. What the writer (Mr Cyril

Contributions and questions for answering should be addressed to “ Utility-Fancy,” Poultry Editor, ‘ Star ’ Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each week. " UtilityFancy ” will only answer communications through this column. (Advertisements for this column must be handed in to the office before 2 p.m. on Thursday,)

THE FANCIERS DEFENDED

Grange) says about heating the parts is a method of treatment very necessary, but 1 have found that heating the parts over a bowl of steaming hot water, is the better way, as it has a tendency to soften, whilst a dry heat does the reverse.

C.HICK-SEXING EXAMINATION. The first New Zealand chick-sexing examination was conducted early this month at the Wallaccville poultry station hy the Department of Agriculture. In all, 15 students sat for the examinations, but only three gained certificates. These were Messrs' Hopkins, Morton, and Barnes, all oir the Wellington province. The minimum accuracy pass is 90 per cent., and this was only just secured by the former two, with Mr Barnes, of Wellington, securing 91 per cent. An amazing performance was established by Miss E. J. Wilkins, a poultry student at Massey College, who secured 96 per rent, accuracy, but according to the rules was disqualified because three of the chicks died. For accuracy this performance has never been equalled in an examination by any woman before, and very seldom by a man.' Several students missed by just a few points, including Mr J. Jamieson, an assistant at the poultry department of the college, who scored 87 per cent, accuracy with three dead chicks. Most, of these students will no doubt continue sexing, and probably succeed iu the next examination. No South Island students secured a certificate, and no first class certificates were awarded. It is unlikely that, another examination will be conducted until late in 1936.

It is quite true, says Jas. Hadlington, in the ‘ Sydney Morning Herald,’ that, the purely exhibition poultry breeder, known as the “ fancier,” has beeii responsible for the ruin of many good breeds, but in extenuation it should not be forgoten that he, also, has been the “ creator ” of them, and also the breeds now run on commercial poultry farms and from which thousands of poultry farmers make their living. And, furthermore, it can truthfully be said that the sin of the “ fancier ” in spoiling some breeds' appear venial in comparison with what would have happened to others had the “ utility men ” been left to their own devices during the greater part of the past 30 years. The fact fs that the skill and general knowledge of the standard and fancy poultry breeders are more than ever necessary to counteract the levelling-down influences of modern mass-production methods if only directed in the right channels. FOODS FOR CHICKENS. Whqn you have well-developed chickens you need a frame-making food for them. You will find good-quality bran a great framemaker, and it should be regularly supplied from the start. There is nothing better than ground grain (wheat and barley) to which add an equal bulk of bran. This is the foundation of a good mash fed wet or dry. Chickens generally do well when they have a box, or hopper, of bran always before them, just as they have the grit box. Milk, or milk by-products, if obtained cheaply, should be added instead of water in mixing the wet mash, and a little salt should .be added. One ounce of salt for 100 grown fowls is enough, or for 300 two-months-old chicks, if the chicks are on range they will obtain all the green stuff that is good for them, but in confinement it must be supplied. Do not stint the food; let them have all that they will eat, but see that none is left over to become soiled or sour. A SUMMER TROUBLE. Force-fed birds are prone to attacks of heat stroke or apoplexy. , In the former case the bird, generally a heavy layer, is found prostrated on the nest during a heat wave. Apoplexy generally occurs in an older bird in the

run, when it will be found to have lost the use of its limbs, and will be lying either still or twitching. In both cases remove the bird to a cool, dark room, and if they recover feed sparingly for a few days, and make the proper adjustment to housing as regards shade and ventilation, so that no others become ill. Give a strong dose of Epsom salts on alternate days for a week, and four-grain doses of sodium bromide twice a week. If the comb and wattles arc pale, anaemia is indicated, caused by heavy -inl'ectaUon from lice, etc., by faulty feeding, by worms, ,or by coceida. if the flock as a whole are pale give a good tonic, a mineral mixture, plenty or fresh, green food, and see that they have access to the sunlight; Excessive infectation by lice will put birds off laying, so examine the abdomen‘fluff closely-for these pests. From a distance a ragged appearance denotes lice attacks. The quickest way to get rid of lice is to paint the perches with 40 per cent, nicotine-sulphate solution just before the birds roost at night. SELECT ONLY HEALTHY FOWLS. The early-hatched birds now will be at a stage when selection can be done with very fair accuracy. Before one looks for type or egg records one must assure oneself that the bird is thorouglily healthy, has not earlier been affected adversely by disease, and is free from any deformity or abnormality. i Points to note for health arc: Clean combs and wattles free from warts, sores, scabs, or floury deposit; mouth clean and free from warts, “ false ” membrane, cheesy'deposits and bumps; nostrils clean and large and showing neither running nor dried-up mucus; feather complete and clean (both especially below the vent and around the abdomen) ; vent clean without signs of yellowish matter around the lips; legs fee from scaly leg or ankle inflammation ; wings held high and tightly to the body; eye pupil distinct, clear, full round and black; eye iris red or orange or the proper standard colour, free from areas of other colour. Not one single deformity can be permitted. These ought to be searched for: awkwardly carried neck or head, curled (frizzle) feather, slipped wing, unequal thigh, wry or squirrel tail (the latter particularly m light breeds), knockknees, bow-legs, or bent toes. —‘ Poultry.’ PRODUCTIVE ENERGY. It simply amounts to this: If the pullets are to give a good return, much less put up high laying records, they must have a store of energy to draw upon, and that energy lias to be built up before they begin to lay. Breeding is not everything. The inheritance of fecundity is a real tiling, but W'e can ruin the best bred birds bv forcing them into lay before they have stored up energy. Productive energy varies in individuals, even from date of birth; but actual production will depend upon the manner in which the birds are fed and managed during the growing-on period, MILK-NO CURE FOR COCCIDIOSIS There is no especial virtue in the feeding of buttermilk, milk, or lactio acid cultures in the treatment of coccidiosis. This is stated in a paper which appears in the July issue of the ‘ Veterinary Journal,’ as a result of research work conducted by Messrs W. R. Kerr and R. H. Common, of.the Northern Ireland Ministry of Agriculture. Any advantages that these supposed remedies contain lie iu their nutritive value. In other words, any good rearing mash containing cod 'liver oil or milk would have equally good tonic qualities.