THE POULTRY WORLD

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 20 April 1935, Page 16

THE POULTRY WORLD

U$E OF WOOD CHARCOAL HIGH MEDICINAL PROPERTIES '**TIGHT FEATHER.’’

‘Like many' common, medicinal reme-dies-the; user of wood charcoal in animal'and • poultry diet Was established by observation- long before science had advanced to appoint where'it would' detfrid and • ineasurc . the why domestic preatures: apparently had- a craving'jfor it;’,. Most poultry-keepers will have' 7 noticed the eagerness with which fowls will eat ’charcoal, either plain or mixed with foods. In eating it "the. birds are simply following a haturah. iustiiict r to > Supply ; something ordinarily-lacking in the'diet, or need- . .edi to .correct: the /abnormal. condition mhdeiappdtSnt , by‘this ■ craving.. The judicious - feeding of -wood charcoal wUI,-/according, to an article circulated for the information of poultry keepers in the official organ of the New Smith. Wales Egg Marketing Board, assist , materially in maintaining that high degree of health so necessary to, enable the poultry flock to stand up to* the task of producing large numbers oi. eggs over the greater part of the productive perio.d, .while in the rearing of chickens, a better standard of health will be maintained by incorpory ating charcoal in. the mash, and by keeping the ingredients always before the-chickens. Charcoal will not compensate for the evils of faulty ; brooding,- nor will 'it/prevent the ravages of- disease arising ,f roin insanitary or bad living conditions. . Provided the adult flock, young and old, is kept under - reasonable conditions, the feeding of - charcoal will go far towards gaining for-the producer the best possible return "in egg production and reouced mortality. According to scientists -the best charcoal for use in feeding is the type made from sound solid wood in'modern airtight heat retorts which are under, perfect heat control. Such charcoal is high in fixed carbon, is porous and superior in absorbent qualities* One ton. of completely carbonised wood charcoal is stated to be one and . onerhalf , times greater in volume than a ton of charcoal of other types. It goes further in feeding, and does not. impose a dead weight on the crops and gizzards of fowls.

MASH PERCENTAGES. Wood charcoal for poultry should be mixed with, the feed or mash. It should also be placed unmixed in a pan or trough so that the birds will have access to /an unlimited supply if the; amount mixed with the feed does not satisfy their individual heeds. If birds appear sickly, dull or mopey, or if bowel movements are too frequent or loose, a slight increase in the amount, of wood charcoal fed will tend to cor-i xeet this condition. In America charcoal grinding mills have standardised their sizes which are designated by the numbers 4,6, 10, 20, 36, 80 and powder. The smaller numbers indicate the- .-larger - sizes. ~For poultry the percentage of charcoal included on the ;bhSiS Qf. weight of the total feed consumed. isT--Young chickens—Sizo No. 10, 3 pe-r cent; pullets —-size No. 6, 3 •per cept.; laying hens—sizes 0 or 4, 34 per cent.; chickens being fattened for market—size No. 4, 4 per cent.; ducks —si2es No. 10 or-6, 2} per cent. These recommendations are for mixing wood charcoal with feeds, but it is always well to keep unmixed charcoal available to the birds, and, they should have at from the time of hatching. Wood charcoal is not digested by poultry—it passes through the digestive tracts unchanged except for its absorption of poisonous gases, bacteria, etc. It is not a drug, but according to scientists, performs within its own sphere of action better than any drug and without danger to the birds. Its action is 'mechanical not chemical. Properly carbonised wood charcoal is stated to have amazing po wers' of absorption—it literally sucks up poison gases, -fermentative bacteria and the acids of diarrhoea, carrying them outside the body when ' excreted from .- the ’ intestines. Thns. it .'stops ~discomfort from' gds pressure, and soothes inflamed stomach and 'intestinal linings. .

Nature provides birds with a, quick digestion, and. to get the full benefit of food this digestive system must be in perfect ,• working order, otherwise only part of the food, is taken up and food-wastage and sickness result. The importance of proper digestion is apparent wbeii profits are counted. Sick birds are poor layers and swell the mortality - total Wood charcoal provides an easy, inexpensive means of insuring proper digestion. Nature put's body-building requirements ahead of egg-production. lit is necessary that thd- -bosy get /endugh food to meet physical -heeds as well as ‘to supply egg-making materials.