POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 261, 2 October 1940, Page 2

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) | - A writer to the journal Poultry says that in Great Britain every show opens its doors immediately judging commences. ’ He asks why this cannot be done in Australia. The opinion ot many of our local judges would bo helpful regarding the statement _ that “this man had yet to meet the judge who would - not welcome the public present when the judging is in Progress.” It is very likely that replies would indicate that some would not mind' at all, whilst others would strongly object. 'The consensus _ot opinion might decide that much depends upon the temperament of the judge. Others would _no doubt say that “we would not mind the general public, if exhibitors were excepted. However,' poultry associations might be interested to discuss the point. Blood-spots •on the yolk of eggs are very common. Perhaps the trouble is most in evidence amongst young pullets. There have been several complaints of this kind, this season, lo find the bird concerned is the great difficulty, but if this can be done she should be taken from the laying pen and induced to rest. Take her off the laying mash, feeding only grain, and not too much of that. The complaint is caused by some injury in the ovary. If chronic, then the bird had better go to the pot. If there are a number of eggs affected, some alteration in the food will be necessary, as, for instance, cutting down all meat or meat meal to the barest minimum. Epsom or glauber salts in the drinking water might also help. If anything, increase the green feeds. Not all your pullets are going to be profitable. 'The pullet with the small, lean body, is always suspect. The coarse bird was never a good layer; neither is the knock-kneed specimen with no back or body to speak of. A good pullet has a healthy appearance; the head is comparatively small and sparsely furnished; it is always active. An experienced poultryman says lie keeps his brood of chicks at night in small cardboard boxes, for one week at least. The corners of the boxes, of course, are rounded off. The birds have heated brooders during the day, but only during the first week, thereafter they go into cold brooders with hessian covers. This second period is for three more weeks, when the birds are again transferred to brooders much larger and with perches provided. He has few fatalities.