POULTRY NOTES.

Hutt News, Volume 9, Issue 9, 7 August 1935, Page 5

POULTRY NOTES.

(By "Silkie.") Freshly grbund bono meal supplier nil the essential minerals, so this combined with its other qualities makes it it most, valuable adjunct to the mash. Chicks on Wire. We are learning that we can go a long way towards overcoming the heavy losses in brooding chicks, due /•to diseases and intestinal parasites that arise from coatuet- with contaminated droppings, if the chicks are not allowed on the ground during the first three or four weeks of their life in the brooders. They must get out in the sun, of course, but to permit this and still not allow them to run on contaminated soil, there should be built in front of each brooder section or colony brooder house, a small platform the full width of the house and about six feet wide, the floor of which is of 1-in square mesh window wire netting stretched over substantial frames. Set boards round the sides with one inch mesh wire netting over the top. This furnishes a good sunporch. The droppings fall through the wire netting to the ground, where thev can be cleaned up. When the chicks are three to six weeks old '.lie porch can be removed and they can be given the use of the run. They go out on uncontaminated ground with every ili a nee of resisting parasites and disease infection. A small outdoor mash hopper and_ water fountain should be kept on the platform, in addition to those in the house, to encourage the chicks to come out of doors as much as possible. Worm Prevention.

"Worms are com in g to lio more Mini more a scourge each year. The ]> ri 11 <-ip:il cause of worm infestt(tion is n:i 111 pools !•:' water in the poultry van! or on the five run go, or muddy spots around wafer pans or in natural depressions. Mere conditions are favourable for the development of the intermediate h<---ts of intestinal parasites, such as snails, worms and Hies. Keep the poultry runs dry and clean and losses from worms will lie greatly reduced. Water spilt fi'i'.ii drinking receptacles keeps the "-round more or less damp. To avoid contamination from these spots, it is desirable to put ihe watering pan or trough on a frame' elevated above the ground, surrounding the frame with wire-netting so that the birds cannot dig into the .nud beneath the receptacle. W onus can be kept in check or avoided if 5 per cent of ground garlic is added to the mash. Another remedy i., as follows: A dessertspoonful of powdered pomegranite root per .100 fowls, For the morning meal only give half the usual mash; hold the remaining half till evening and feed instead of grain after adding Alb of Lpsom salts dissolved in the mixing water. Some breeders feed to advantage rcoularlv Ito '2 per cent of tobacco dust mixed with mash. When birds are suffering from worms the following symptoms will be noticed: — I nthriftiress pale about head, loss of flesh, ravenous appetite, perhaps lameness.. stunted growth, hens not laying, worms found in bowels on holding post mortem. Worms cause pounds worth in losses lo poultry raisers yearly. Round worms, tape worms, and pin worms are t hi' 111o>t common. In niv visits to the auction marts I 11;x\ e ni'ticed many birds sent in tor di.-posal that showed very clearly thai their trouble was worms. These birds ii purchased by back yarders, become a prolilic source of infection. At this time, my advice to backyarders is to watch carefully any bioodv hens ;hey may purchase. Only last vear a neighbour had bad results willi his brooding through this cause, mi,l (I),, whole of his flock became infected.