THE POULTRY WORLD

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 February 1930, Page 16

THE POULTRY WORLD

A PUZZLING TROUBLE CRAMP IN PULLETS (By “Tight Feather.”) A correspondent writes re a weakness in some growing pullets which were purchased as day-old chicks. The weakness which lias developed appears to be either cramp or paralysis. Alley can neither stand nor keep up wings or tail, and have lost the power of nection ox claws. From the letter a understand that they have had access to plenty of gravel grit, but not oyster or otner shell grit, and plenty ox toou in tne form of mash in the morning and a little wheat, but no oats at night. 'They have also had plenty of green food. I further gather they have oeen Kept in a good large run, with free range outside for about an Hour in the evening. Their sleeping quarters consist of a small wooden house, raised well off the ground with a wooden floor.

i My correspondent lias set me somewffat of a task. There are a number ox reasons which would account for this trouole. Without a knowledge of tiie parent stock, conditions of hatching and finally the rearing one cannot just state the reason. My first ■, thought was weakness of constitution of parent -stock, I have before to-day (seen a male bird down with leg, weakIness, then patched up for the breeding season, and the owner wondered why he hatched only some weakly chickens, while of the remainder of the fertile eggs the chicks died in the shell. However, I have since visited and inspected the stock on the farm where the chicks were hatched, where I saw a fine healthy lot of young pullets, sisters of the afflicted ones, there being no visible signs of weakness or sickness of any kind. And as about eight dozen eggs are being gathered daily from approximately 130 first and second season hens, it will be realised there is nothing much wrong with the breeding stock or its environment, consequently' I am of | opinion the fault probably lies in the J conditions of rearing. Not knowing | what the mash fed consists of one is left guessing. But absence of shell grit and oats is not conducive to strength of bone. Judging by the description of the complaint, it appears to be a case of ovarian cramp, a condition in which the afflicted bird is unable to rise, o.w'ing to the fact that a sort of temporary paralysis has seized its legs. This most frequently occurs to young hens when they have only been laying a short time. Although it is commonest for this malady to appear in young pullets, it also sometimes occurs in young pullets which have been laying too rapidlv and consequently have weakened themselves.

There is no guaranteed curb for this ailment. It is necessary to keep the pullet perfectly quiet, paid a dose of castor oil may he given by way of clearing the system eenerally. In most cases the cramp will gradually disappear. Possibly it may return when the pullet commences to lav. when the same treatment should be applied.

TARANAKI LAYING COMPETITION. The 1930-31 competition at Normanoy is alreauy assured of lull entries. in some quarters there was a bit of a growl because the committee raised tne entry fees for the ensuing competition. However, on second thoughts, it will be admitted they could not well do otherwise. To attract entiies from far afield good prizes mast be the order of the day. To this end it is necessary for the competition to pay its own way before mu eff can be done in the way of offering many prizes.

When the competition was first mooted “Tight Feather” was asked his opinion of the chances of success. Having been interested in a number of similar ventures, he expressed the opinion that the time was not opportune. pointing out the difficulties in the way. Not to be disheartened, my friends said they would “give it a go,” and I am pleased to write I was mistaken.

The schedule for the third competition shows what willing minds and enthusiasts may do. Under the supervision of Mr Don. Stewart, the president and caretaker, the two first competitions have returned some high egg yields, In the first year’s run an Indian Runner duck put up the fine score of 322 eggs; and the second competition, now nearing its close, has some remarkably fine figures. Mrs Waddell’s Black Orpingto-n hen on the 44th week’s return, has laid 308 eggs for the period, being an egg a day. M. Scanlon’s White Leghorn hen had laid 282, and J. W. Carrick’s Khaki Campbell duck had laid 293 eggs in the same period. If lam not in error, no other competition conducted in the Dominion has achieved quite such good results in its first two contests.

For the third competition a. big list of valuable trophies has been donated, being the more valuable inasmuch they are all to be won outright. The list includes Gibbons Cun for heavy breed team; Williamson Cup for heavy breed pullet; Taplin Cup for White Leghorn team; Chrystal Cup for White Leghorn pullet; Renwick Cup for best light breed' utility exhibition standard pullet; “Well Wisher Trophy” for best heavy utility exhibition standard pullet; “Well Wisher Trophy” for best New Zealand (utility! standard exhibition duck; society’s trophy for duck laying most ego's; society’s trophv for light breed pullet, other than White Leghorn. Apart from this the society has provided a liberal list of trophies for autumn, winter and summer tests, supolemented by certificates for both clucks and fowls over 240 eggs. By the records already established the society has amnly justified the optimism .of its Mr Stewart is a very keen judge of a fowl and knows how to obtain the vow best results from the birds placed in bis charge and, what with many breeders counts “muchly,” return the entries in a healthv good condition that thev may be used to breed from the following season. To owners of comoeting birds, especially winners who advertise, this is of nrime imoortance.

The schedule for the test commencing on April 3 (single r>en test only for both sections pullets and clucks, ourc-jrline for both single and tliroebi,,d teom test in fowls’) may bp obtained from the seeretarv, Gavlarcl, Hawera.