POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 127, 2 May 1925, Page 10

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) Mr R. D. Whyte, a well-known poultry j enthusiast, is in hospital and recently underwent an operation. He is now making satisfactory progress and hopes soon to bo about again. The Black Orpington bird which Mr Pinker, of Vogel street, has entered in the laying competition at Masterton has nine eggs to her credit for two weeks’ operations. The ovrner of the bir.d is very confident that she will improve on this, which to say the least i 3 a fair performance. Seldom do birds strike form right from the jump. Change of environment and feed often upset them a little. However, all will wish Mr Pinker a. fair measure of success in hie efforts to revive local interest in egg-laying competitions. “It is easy enough to throw n grain to fowls and imagine that they have been fed, but personally I do not favour too much com for poultry, certainly not if I wanted eggs. Never overdo this grain feed. An adult fowl should not have more than 2oz. a day, preferably less, and then it should bo chiefly as a means for promoting exercise by throwing it into the litter so that the birds have to scratch for it, It is not unusual for me to get enquiries from correspondents asking wliy their birds are not laying, and I quite frequently find that, although dry mash is open all day to the birds, they are not eating it, because too much grain is thrown to -them. Dry mash is not always preferred by fowls, in fact they will always go for the corn, but if the latter is not overdone their appetites will be keener, they will eat more of the dry mash and more eggs will result: that is, of course, assuming that the dry mash is a properly balanced food. The mash provides the necessary nourishment in a much more nutritious and digestible form.”—Bostock Smith in the N.Z.P.J. That there is truth in the foregoing lias been proved many times. For some reason, known only to the fowls, it is found that good, hard feed is preferable to them. In many cases the dry feed is used only as a stand-by, that is, if the birds do not procure enough grain they make it up from the dry mash hoppers. Otherwise, the mash often made up with foods to induce laying is left uneaten and mice have it'more or less to themselves. Correct feeding comes with careful observation and, when it is discovered that birds show little desire to partake of the dry mash, it is safe to assume that they are being too plentifully fed with grain. In these days of costly grain, the poultry-farmer would be wise to consider how far he can profitably curtail his expenditure in this direction. Gi e an eye, therefore, to your feeding jperations and watch carefully the inclinations of vour birds. In so doing, you will most likely discover many points on how to get the most from thou. With b rds moulting, and pullets now getti lg into their stride, there is just the temptation to let things slide, but the thoughtful poultryman looking ahead sees much to be done. Perhaps ho remembers that last year he w'as well-nigh rushed off his feet, because at hatching time he had left undone and forgot to prepare for this ever busy season of the year. Besides, with the good weather we have witnessed for weeks past, when birds have been able to get outside, he may have been guilty of not giving enough time to conditions within. This work should be undertaken at once. In a few weeks the birds will probably have to be kept outside more or less tho whole of the day and the more inviting you can make the conditions within the better. As to tlie hatching season, well, brooder houses, brooders, incubators, etc., always require preliminary attention. It may be, perhaps, that through oversight one had not everything ready for the chicks when they arrived last season. Such hampered tne work and probably caused loss. One can avoid such this year if he takes in _ hand the work when there is more time to do it. The story of a dog and an egg comes from East Leake, in Leicestershire, where a large retriever belonging to a local farmer has shown a partiality for a pullet whilst being on bad terms with the rest of the feathered tribe of the farm. Every morning the pullet walked over the dog’s back to the end of its kennel and laid an egg. Tho dog immediately ate it, shell and all. When it was found out un attempt was made to cure the dog by substituting an egg filled with mustard. The dog, however, ate it, and was not cured.—N.Z.P.J. *