POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 253, 22 September 1933, Page 5

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) Toe pecking, feather pulling, and other vicious habits of chickens are said to be caused through lack of certain mineral matter in the food supplied. It may be so. Many poultry - men are inclined to think that the lack of plenty of food is the chief cause. It has been noticed that the chick with the full crop seldom displays a tendency to tear the toes of its companions. It is true that the sight of a spot of blood is the beginning of grave trouble unless checked, and should a chick be seen to be suffering a torn limb, then it should be immediately isolated before the trouble be-comes-general. Excepting by accident, however, there is little fear of toe pecking developing to any marked degree, if the checks are given plenty to eat. Especially is this so if activity or work is encouraged. Chicks are naturally very active and all the time they are securing the food they need viciousness is seldom seen. But deny them the food and there is trouble. It is among chicks confined to the limits of a brooder house that the trouble is most prevalent. It is not so much the absence of food, perhaps, as no chance to get it which leads to trouble. Were these same chickens out on an extensive run, with the. freedom of hunting for meagre morsels, there would be no time for toe peeking or other distressing habits; the chicks would be too busy. But confine those same chicks and underfeed them, what happens? One day the attendant is perturbed at the sight of many bleeding feet; a trouble has begun which i 9 hard to suppress. The best way to deal with this is as already suggested. Feed well, and make the chicks work for the food. Contrive to keep the birds busy. On plants rearing hundreds of chickens annually, where they -are well fed, toe pecking and feather pulling are almost unknown. Starve a dog sufficiently and he will do anything for food. The same applies to chickens. If the lawn mower is the only chaffing machine possessed, then use it pretty frequently and thus while keeping the lawn well shorn a fresh supply of good green feed in a form the birds like will always be at hand. Chicks want a plentiful supply of green food continuously after one week old. Deny them this and a very essential food is withheld. Watch the birds devour the fresh green leaf of a cabbage, or of silver beet. It will soon be realised how much they want it.

A good, well balanced mash fed at frequent intervals will keep chickens growing. Chicks eat readily dry formula, but seem to display an eagerness for wet mashes. Where skim milk is available it will be found a splendid aid to rapid development. Feed often, but not so much that every scrap cannot be cleaned up in a given time. • Take away —hat is left and reduce the ration accordingly. If a shortage is apparent, then increase the supply. A full crop and a satisfied bird is the way to encourage rapid growth Cull out all cockerels immediately sex can be ascertained. A great saving in food is effected thereby. Of course with the heavy breed type—these can be turned to profit if fed for table purposes with a good quick fattening ration. Not so the Leghorn type—a few are kept for breeding and show purposes—the rest are disposed of. EGG-LAYING. MASSEY COLLEGE CONTEST. The following are the results in the twenty-fourth week of the Massey College egg-laying contest:—SINGLE PENS. Section B.

TEAM RESULTS. Section D. (All B.O.) M. L. Boyce 82 121 147 69 114 108 (35) 641 Mrs Hcllaby 41 83 110 56 87 129 (31) 506 Larsen Bros. 83x 71x 92 69x 76x 87 (35) 478 Mrs Warren 52 53x 85x 94 66 37 (37) 387 Mrs Scarrott 49 42 48x 67 45 64 (32) 315 Section C. F. S. Allen, W.L. 11l 89x 125 123 67d 132 x (30) 647 P. B Harrison, W.L. 125 x 111 128 102 100 81 (30) 647 Mrs G. Hillman, W.L. 94 98 95 105 x 105 120 x (34) 617 H. A. Lucas, W.L. 112 97 118 113 42 88 (31) 570 E B Wainscott, W.L. 94x 114 115 76 60d 104 (27) 563 Mrs Hellaby, W.L. 75 75 92 118 126 x 37d (24) 523 F. T. Wimble, W.L. 61 104 74 64 96 119 (29) 518 J T. Hazelwood, W.L. 70x 87 62 74 -llOx 94 (30) 497 Miss Mitchell, W.L. 98 92 69 89 59 85 (30) 492 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 89 69x 62 78 69 78 (19) 445 A. Strawbridge, W.L. 56 92 103 45d 49x 71 (25) 416 S D. Morris, W.L. 65x 91 19d 89 43d 103 (21) 410 W G. King, W.L. 57x. 64 29 50x 76 63 (27) 339 G E Maiming, W.L. 25x 65 36 74 38 53x (23) 291 W F. Stent, Min. . 62 13 26 74x 34 73 (23) 287 “x” Disqualified, egg weight clause. “d” Bird dead.

Mrs Diinant, B.O . — (6) 94 T. Doufhwaitc, B.O . i (6) 118 2 (5) 134 A. G. Frankham, B.O. .. . — (V| 81x Mrs Hellaby, B.O . i (5) 135 2 (t>) 94 Larsen Bros., B.O . 1 (71 144 2 (0) 46d 5 (ft) 117 Mrs Scarrott, B.O . 1 (ft) (6) 100 2 130 Mrs Waddell, B.O . 1 (V) 124x 2 (ft) lift W. E. Watson, B.O .• (ft) 111 Mrs Davey, L.S . (2) 74x Mrs Youngson, Bk. W. .. . (0) 77x K. Mouldoy, R.I.R Section A. • (ft) 100 Chas. Barker, W.L . 1 (6) 138 2 (S) 72x A. Strawbridgc, W.L . 1 (5) 71 Airs Cannon, W.L . (ft) 128 G. H. Cross, W.L . (7) 69 E. AI. Galvin, W.L . 1 (6) 121x 2 (6) 130x 3 (ft) ftl J. T. Hazelwood, W.L . 1 (ft) 124 2 15) 113 Mrs Ilollaby, W.L . (ft) 131 Airs Dimant, W.L . (ft) 68 J. Ibobtson, W.L . (4) 101 W. J. McAtoon, W.L — v7) (ft) 96 D. Kruse, Anc . 1 110 2 16) 102 Aliss Mitchell, W.L . (5) 126 A. G. Murnby, W.L . 1 (6) 121 2 (6) 107 Mrs Stewart, W.L . 1 (ft) 111 2 (ft) 134 A. Strawbridgc, W.L . 2 (4) 97 3 (ft) 60 W. H. Barker, W.L . 1 (ft) 82 2 ; 5) 91x 3 (ft) 80 J. Smith, Anc (5) 81 2 (ft) 51 W. F. Stent, Min (ft) 48 2 (ft) 52 A. R. Watson, Br. L . 1 (ft) 104 2 •'ft) 69x Airs Youngson, Bk. L. ... (6) 87