POULTRY NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 806, 8 September 1923, Page 10

POULTRY NOTES.

(By "Brooder.") Eggs are now being collected and despatched to Wellington for export to the Home markets, No doubt every care is taken to ensure that these eggs are of the type required, for such is indeed very necessary. Competition is now as keen in the egg trade as in any other kind of produce placed upon the London market and if our eggs are to stand a chance they must be of good quality. A Government circular issued to poultrymen is to the effect that an egg for export should be fresh, of 2oz. in weight, unwashed, but clean, and what is most important, infertile. The first three essentials can easily, be determined, but tlie fertility or otherwise of an egg cannot bo proved. It must be left to poultrymen and their organisations to see that only infertile eggs are selected for export purposes. It is well known that fertile eggs will not keep as well/'as infertile eggs and when wo think of phe time wbich must necessarily elapse ere tbo eggs reach the other side, it -will readily be seen and understood how necessary it is that only infertile eggs should be sent .forward for export. It is unfortunate that these eggs are to be collected right in the middle of the, breeding season; but tlm cannot be uvoided. The difficulty is thereby increased, but it must, if our shipment is to come up to standard, be overcome. Though I heard Vt stated the other day that sufficient care was not being taken, J have reason enough to think that enthusiasts locally for an export trade are not Ijkely to do anything which will endanger the prospects of making the first collective venture a success.

Chicken-rearing is not by any means an easy matter. Even where the broody hen is employed it is not always a success and thero is always a certain percentage of deaths .rom trampling and sometimes the viciousness of the bird itself. Of course, if everybody could have the very up-to-date appliances which aro to be had, it would be more or less simple to get the youngsters on their feet. But appliances arc often costly and to those rearing a few birds it would not pay to instal them and hence it is that many have to use brooders of simple structure. Perhaps the highest mortality in chick life is recorded during the first weeks of the brooder stage. In the desire to give warmth many coddle, the .chicks and deprive them of one of the most important essentials —fresh air or ventilation. Even where there is no overcrowding, lack of fresh air has been and is the cause of the loss of innumerable chicks. If ventilation is neglected, it means that the air in the brooder becomes foul and to compel the birds to live for hours at a time in such an atmosphere is asking too much. Besides, there is the sweating tendency; dampness is provoked. Or maybe the chicks become overheated and when allowed to. come out into the fresh air a chill is more likely than not to ensue. Consequent loss of chicks follows soon. However, simple the it can and should be capable of cleanliness and comfort. Keep it clean; have it so that the chicks can breathe a pure atmosphere throughout the Jong nights when they must perforce be shut up. The best brooders are those which allow the attendant to view the chicks without disturbance. Dark and inconvenient corners should 'always be avoided. The brooder should be so situated as to be free from outside dampness and special care should be taken to prevent molestation from rats and other vermin. These rodents aro a terror to all chicken-rearers, and many .a fine, healthy hatch has gone "west" as the result of visitations from these pests. As already stated chicken-rearing is not easy,! but the risks can by care and proper treatment be reduced to a minimum.

Leg Weakness. —In some notes written a few months ago by Mr F. C. Brown, chief Government poultry instructor, I read that "if chickens are going weak in the legs and developing a wobbling walk, it indicates that they are huddling at night and require more warmth. The trouble is often intensified by the lack of sufficient bedding on the floor, especially where the floor is very smooth—tho constant slipping on this surface weakening the delicate legs. On the first sign of this condition being observed, additional warmth should be applied by way of extra flame in a heated brooder and extra covering in the case of a lireloss system." This information will be of value at the present moment.