POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 45, 21 January 1928, Page 11

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”)

No matter whether a man has 50 or 500 fowls, there comes the time when culling is necessary. It is very nice to be able to say I have 1000 layers if it is certain they all are layers to the extent that they are each one profitable. But he is a very exceptional man who has 100 per cent, profitable birds. Generally, in every flock there is the slacker, and the bigger the flock the greater the percentage of culls. Culls, or what should be culls, reduce the percentages of the other workers and sometimes mean the difference between profit and loss. We are nearing theend of another season. An increased number of feathers on the fowl-house floor and in the yards indicates that moulting time is here. Now, usually it does not pay to carry these culls through a moulting period and then throw them out. Also, it must be remembered that, when right in the moult, it is seldom possible to dispose of them. Hence, it means that poultrymen must take this work in band at once. In any case, the early moulter must go. These are birds usually weak in constitution: they cannot stand a prolonged period of laying and they have every appearance of falling to pieces long before they have repaid their owner for the expense of rearing and keeping them. But the shedding of feathers is not always a sign that a bird is finished laying. Many birds do not cease laying until they have almost finished moulting and have begun to grow their new coat of feathers. In a few rare cases birds have not ceased laying, but have gone on right through to another laying season without stopping. What, then, is a sure indication that birds have finished laying. This can only be determined by handling the birds. If it is found that there is not sufficient room between the pelvic bones for an egg to pass, then it is safe.to say this bird has finished for the season. All that now remains is for the owner to decide whether she is to be kept or not. Of course, where trapnesting is in vogue, and it should be in eveiw yard, owners are helped considerably ; otherwise, the owner must rely upon his or her own judgment whether it is advisable to keep the bird for another season. About. one thing no poultrymen needs advice, and that is where good strong constitution is not in evidence, there need be no doubt or hesitation. Such birds must bo culled out. It does not pay to keep tliom. Will Hooley states “that it is an undisputed fact that culling pays many times over. Farms that have seemed to have done well, when balancing time came, proved to be failures, owing to the want of culling. In other words, the unproductive have eaten up the profit made by the productive. All poultrymen, therefore, are urged to l take this work in hand at onto, if inexperienced in such work, it will pay to seek some reliable outside help, making sure, of course, of their helpers and not entrusting the work to all and sundry. The season is getting on nnd nopoultryman likes to keep surplus cockerels too long. Like the unprofitable cull of the hens, these are a drain on resources and it pays not to delay the final selection for next breeding season too long. Look over the cockerels at Qiicej therefore, for they should by now be big enough to show evidence of their suitability or otherwise for heading the 1928 breeding pens. Of course, one cannot bo too careful, for the male birds wield the larger influence over the chides hatched out. If there are sixteen hens and one male in a breeding pen—one poor hen will net cause very much harm; for there are others in the pen to counter-balance it. Not so on the male side. There is only one male, and if it is an ill-chosen one, then there will be grave trouble at hatching time or very soon after. However, ■ the surplus cockerels, as shown, I must go. In the final selection, as with i the hens, look for constitution and look for type. Discard the birds with the crooked breastbone or with any other deformity which in nine cases out of ten are sure signs of weakness.