Poultry Notes

Hutt News, Volume 11, Issue 13, 25 August 1937, Page 5

Poultry Notes

(By "Silkio.") BROODING AND REARING- CHICKS. If there is to be any profit for the . poultryman it will come largely as a result of his success in raising chickens, and whether he has" success or not will be determined by the methods he uses and the v attention he gives to all the details of the business. There is an intimate connection bothe vigour of the parent stock and that o,f the thicks, and it is abso-: lutely impossible to secuM good, healthy youngsters from mature fowls that are not up to a high standard of health and vigour, or from those that, have been ,inbred. If the breeding stock is pooi 1 , from inbreeding or other causes, the' chicks raised from them will be weak, and if the breeding is continued into the third generation, there will be such a marked decrease in vigour that all hope o,f securing any profits must be abandoned. It is possible to raise to maturity a good percentage of <chicks hatched from vigorous stock. The appliances now in use make the Tesults more satisfactory, and foods can be • prepared in such a way as to make feeding easy, so that with proper equipment and the right food, all in the hands of the careful and intelligent people, there should be satisfactory results. In the last analysis it will be found that the two things that bring succcss are: first, painstaking and conscientious work, and, second, a thorough knowledge of the business. There are two ways of acquiring such knowledge; first, by personal experience, which may be long-continued, and sometimes discouraging; and, second, through the experience of other people who have spent time and money in gaining their knowledge. There are many such people, and 'some are ever ready to help others with advice. - This column is for that purpose, but it is unfortunate that very few use it for their benefit. From time to time the writer has under his notice dozens of instances of failure that may have been avoided ,had the advice tendered herein from week to week been heeded, or the particular problem been submitted for consideration by those contributing articles to this or other publications. Tho thing which troubles the beginner is that there are so many different theories advocated, and he is often bewildered. It is for the purpose of helping oveT this confusion and bewilderment that we give them somewhat in detail practical advices that are the result of the writer's own years of experience as a breeder and exhibitor. What is said here .from week to week has all been thought out and arranged in such a way as to be of immediate use to the reader in his work. Nothing is written from the standpoint of a mere theorist, but everything is the result of his own careful, painstaking and long-continued experience, and the readers ,|iay rely upon it with the utmost confidence. , BROODING BY HENS. For many years the usual way of taking cbtc of newly hatched chicks was by the use of the hen as mother. No other way was tried, or even thought of. To be sure, many chicks were trampled to deatli by the hens, thousands died from the raids of lice, but still the eld hen was allowed to act in the capacity of brooder. No one even cared to try brooding chicks in

other ways. There are lots of people who arc small poultry keepers who like the old hens as mothers, even to-day with all the improvements that have been made in brooding chicks artificially. To be sure, -where one is keeping only a few fowls and sets but a few hens each year this method is acceptable and may be used advantageously. After the lien has hatched the chicks, and they have dried off and are fluffy and lively, it is time to change them from the place where they have been hatched to their brooding quarters. When doing this, see that the place where.you put them is perfectly clean. If it has been used at some previous time ,for this purpose, disinfect the coop with a solution of crude carbolic acid and kerosene, or with any standard 'disinfectant. Get it into every crack and crevice. Also see that the hen is free from lu-e. Should you discover auy, dust her with lice powder. Here is a good recipe for lico powder: Take one part crude carbolic acid and ihree parts motor spirit. Mix together and sth into it plaster of Paris, a little a-t a time, until the mixture comes to ! be a perfectly dry powder. Not only is it well to keep the coop where tho hen and chickens arc placed in a perfectly clean condition, but if they are allowed any run the yard should bo kept free from unclean and impure matter. TheTC are many kinds of coops used for this purpose, and almost anything that will protect them from the storm and dampness will answer if sufficiently •.roomy for the hen. Always keep a lookout for lice. Evsry eight days sees a fresh, batch liakhed so sprinkle only the hen each week. The First Food. After the chicks have been properly hatched, the success in raisjng them depends largely upon the care they get during the first week. Many writers say, "Starve the chicks after they are hatched," seme going as far as 72 hours before giving. any food. This is not nature's way, neither it is the 'best way. As soon as the chicks aro old enough to run about and pick for food they should be given something nourishing. to eat and also seme-thing to ,/Jrink. Jt is generally claimed that if chickens are fed before they have digested rthe absorbed yolk of the egg, the fooid »givep will be used in place of the egg,

and the chicken will run down and die. The facts are that when the yolk is not digested it has been baked or hardened by improper incubation, especially over-heating, leaving it in a hardened state, causing it to bccomc indigestible. Although the chicken will live six or eight weeks it ,will dwindle and die in spite of all that can be done for it. The yolk must remain in liquid form until it has been entirely used to build up the system of the chick. It matters not how much ifood the chick receives, or how sotm it is fed, the yolk will be used if not rendered indigestible before being absorbed. The first food should be breadcrumbs j slightly moistened with milk. Hardboiled eggs, rolled in the dry breadcrumbs, will add variety to the ration. Dry oatmeal or rolled oats should be given as soon as they will cat them, and fed once a day till three weeks old. After the first day give a little chick food twicc. (daily, and increase the amount until 'they are given all they will eat twice daily for the first three •weeks, and longer if you can afford it. Dry bran should 'be placed before them the first day and kept replenished constantly. When educated to eat bran from the start it is surprising how much they will consume. Fine grit is given from the start, although very sparingly at the first. After the first week 'the bread and milk could be discontinued. Commercial chick food is composed of several small grains but it must not be fed too heavily or the chicks 01 ay get indigestion resulting in bowel trouble and leg weakness. At the Jir*rt signs and leg weakness cut out all rich heavy food, and feed only coarse bulky food, plenty.of green feed, unless in case of bowel trouble when less green feed should be given,. After they are two months old and well 'feathered, it is safe to give much heavier and richer foods. I should be glaid to answer any query on feeding chicks'if addressed to me care of the "Hutt News."