POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 6 September 1929, Page 8

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

BREEDING, HATCHING AND HOUSING. LECTURE BY MB GAYCARD A lecture on subjects of interest to poultrymen was delivered by Mr (». L. Gaylard on Monday evening, bis subject dealing will) three* matters essential to success in any poultry yard. “Breeding, hatching and housing." He said it- was necessary to have first the right stock, good housing. suitable food, and regularity in feeding hours. WORK OK BREEDING. For breeding a man must have good healthy chicks bred from strong stock, with a record for heavy production, the male a virile bird and the females well grown and developed. The best age at which, to breed' was two years for flic liens and 111 months (or the undo birds. The hens must, be* such as can average five eggs tier week, a good marketable egg not under L|<>z. '‘Breeding of poultry,” he* .said, “is HD doubt one of the finest and interesting as well as profitable, that- one can take up, either as tv hobby or from a. commercial view, but, it is also difficult* and one. where it is easy to secure indifferent results." He advised beginning with* six or eight hens and a good young cockerel and gradually learn from experience the best and most practical knowledge* oi the industry.

Mr* Gaylard .said he approved of the morning mash, and: he* got the l idea from one of the most successful breeders in England, who said* that fowls did not require* a hot mash, which was liable to give them had livers and to upset, their laying. The mash consists of fine pollard, with fish meal added and buttermilk—24 oz of pollard per bird, stirred well in boiling water, with doz of fish meal, and doz of an egg mash. A pinch; of table* salt is added, and helps to digest the food. It is mixed in the evening and fed cold and 1 crisp in the morning. Mr Gaylard lias seemed good results during the*-five years he has used this mash. His birds are kept on the “intensive" system, and are given a. little wheat- in the scratching litter at midday. and wheat and maize in the evening. Fresh clean water, grit and green food* are* given every day, and ithis is as important as regular feeding. Carrots, beet or mangolds bung up for tlie birds to pick at arc found to be an excellent food and give exercise also. . HATCHING OF EGGS. Thu first need is a broody ben, and when she is secured the nest must be prepared, and great care should bo taken with ibis operation. Get first a sheltered spot away .from the other fowls, in box or coop, loosen the earth, and scoop a little hollow, in which place pine needles or dry grass. Try out the lieu with a couple of ‘•dud” eggs, placing her on them at night after dusting her feathers with insect powder. M hen she has settled down place the hatching eggs under her. 12 to 1-3 of medium size, taking out the “duds." The hen should then he left alone, and islie will arrange the. egg-s under her. She will come* off for feed and a dust hath when she is ready. The* eggs may lie tested on the, eighth day for fertility and the infertile eggs taken out. She should be watched, and when she. is off the eggs can be examined .regularly in case of breakages. . On the twentyfirst day. if none are chipping. it would be wise to lest them by feeling them lightly, but when the hatch is over the lieu should not be disturbed for ai least 24 hours, when the shells should be taken away and the ben made as comfortable as possible, shifting her to a. rat and cat-proof coop. Dealing with incubators. Mr Gaylard said lie preferred the* hot- water type, but whatever kind is used it will he necessary to find its peculiarities. remembering that the breeder is dealing not with the* natural method of. hatching but the nearest thereto which lias been invented by man. The utmost care is required, for probably 100 or more eggs are- being treated. In starting the machine see that the lamp does not leak and that it is clean. A new wick should be used every season. Fill the lamp three parts full with a good grade of kerosene. Let it soak through the wick, then trim the wick slightly oval to give us even a flame as possible. Do not allow the flame to smoke. Then run the machine several days until it has a, temperature of 102 degrees, with the damper slightly raised. It i„ now ready for the eggs. Care must be taken to sec that none are cracked, and they must all he marked on each side, which will help in letting the breeder know whether they have been turned. The machine should then be closed for 00 hours. Up till the eighth day the eggs must be turned night and morning. and thenceforward. after testing for fertility, they should bo turned once- a day until the eighteenth day, when the machine should be closed and not opened until 24 hours after the batch. A word of advice to breeders on receiving the eggs may lie given. The eggs should not lie kept on end before setting, but laid flat. especially if they have come from a distance. Do not neglect tile wick of the lamp or allow it: to smoke : do not handle the eggs roughly; see that hands are clean and untainted with kerosene. Do not expect every egg to hatch, and if the hatch is not successful try again.

Renmve t lie chicks from the incubator. taking great care they do not: get .chilled, and place them in the brooder, which should he kept at a

Itemperntuer of about 95 degrees. The floor of the brooder should lie. covered /with sacking, on which is placed dry ) ssaml. No food is to be given until I the chicks are 30 hours old. because I file yolk absorbed bv the chick just I. before emerging from the shell will flood it for that time. More chicks are killed through getting food too soon than from any other cause. The first food should lie day old chick grit. j then lukewarm water, and two hours j later rolled oats: give the chicks food ] every two hours. because growing | chicks need an ample supply, and will always, if strong, he chirping for food. The chicks should get no green food until eight days old. hut a little mincemeat or a few worms will do no harm. Dry pollard or bran in equal parts should always ho in front of them, aiul this will often stop “toe picking” and give a needed variety. A pinch of Epsom .salts in the water will keen them healthy, and charcoal should always tie in front of them. | Diarrhoea is one of the most dan- | genius troubles with chickens, and is caused mostly by a chill, and if care is not. taken many will lie lost. Rice boiled fairly dry in milk with crushed charcoal is a good remedy if the trouble has not gone- too far. j At about four weclcsold whole wheat I and hulled oats may he added to the raiser, and Inter a little crushed' maize ami nollard and bran cooked with boiling water. At six weeks old the I chicks should be receiving adult ra-

r iions and growing last, and then the sexes should he separated.

HOUSING. The best type ol' house is that with the open front, providing plenty ol fresh air, and Tt should he in a sheltered spot. facing away from the prevailing cold winds, that is. looking to the. north-east. It should get the son all the •day. and fresh air and sunlight are two of the most potent protections against disease and weakness. All the •best breeders arc. said Mr Gay lard, strongly opposed to the house with the little opening for going in and out. It gets hut, little sunshine, and cannot be so fresh and sweet as the openfronted house. Constant, and scrupulous- care is essential. and the house should he cleaned daily, the dropping board under tiie perches making such work easy and exnodiiions. Great- care must also be taken with the perches in order to keen lice and mites aw.vv from the birds. The perches need to be 'regularly disinfected, and an excellent arrangement is* to have a. little socket at each end in which can be* .kept a. fluid, which will prevent pests getting on to the perches and so- into the feathers of the birds. A scratching litter is essential to health and Client v of clean ashes for tv dust hath. Rv attention to these details the-fowls will he kept in a state of perfect health and lie free from the- nuisance attaching to dirtv conditions.