Notes for the Poultry Keeper

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 133, 8 June 1935, Page 7

Notes for the Poultry Keeper

By J. H. Kissliug, Massey College.)

June is one of tlic slackest months for the poultry-keeper as his stock should bo at a minimum and there is no additional work except that of preparation for the coming breeding season. All sorting up of breeding stock should be completed this month and the males placed in their respective breeding pens. Provision must be made for accomodating spring luitchings of chicks and growing pullets. There is liable to be a shortage of greeufecd, sinco few crops make much growth during frosty weather. Bee that the breeders have first choiee of the greens available and substitute rod carrots 01 red beet when short. Mangolds may bo used to supply roughage but they aro not to be compared with red carrots for feeding value. (Sometimes there is a seasonal shortage of bran and pollard, and reserve supplies should be kept iu hand, or on order, in case of a real shortage. J?rocure a full supply of wheaten straw for use during the rest of the yeui as prices increase shortly. Orders tor chicken feed should bo placed soon and poultrymen should take care to see that only the best quality freshly cut or mixed foods are used. Btalo chick grain from last season may be bought cheaply but will prove very costly ru the long run. Those who require hatching eggs, day-old chicks, or tcu-wcek-old pullets should consider placing their oidors shortly. Quotations should bo procured and the parent stock inspected, in most cases it pays to deal wrtlr a neighbouring poultrymun if possible, as then his services can bo availed upon for professional advice. Under no conditions should close in-breeding be practised and a change of blood every year is advisable unless a very careful breeding programme is followed and several distiuct blood lines are kept for this purpose. Juuo is an excellent month to take stock and review the financial aspect of the poultry flock. If any increase in stock is contemplated sufficient casli must be on hand to allow this and those that aro not financially sound this month should give careful consideration to their management. During the past three months the farm profits should havo been excellent as egg prices have been higher than many poultrymen expeetd. If one is not keen on book-work and getting out a balance, tho services of a qualified accountant should be employed. Just as long as an account of every transaction has been kopt he will sort out the details and give you excellent value for his charges. Generally speaking it is as well to have ten shillings in hand for every additional pullet that has to be reared and accommodated next year, though this figure should leave a very safe margin. Bar too many poultry-keepers who are not showing a profit aro of the opinion that an increase in their stock will result iu greater prolits, but as a rule they will bo disappointed. Less fowls and better management is the way to improve profits. Under tho Poultry Buns Act nil flocks of 25 or more fowls must be registered this month. Forms are obtainable at any Post Office and by remitting the fee direct to tho Secretary of the Poultry Board, Box 379, Wellington, a saving in expense to the Board will result, though registration may bo made at any Post Office.

Overhaul of Plant If not already completed, all sheds and appliances should be thoroughly overhauled this month. Once tho chicken season commences with the usual rush of spring work, little time will bo available for odd jobs and every effort should be made now to avoid additional spring work. Paint, tar, or creosote all woodwork; attend to leaking roofs; clean out drains; clean up any dirty yards; repair netting fences and see that all gates havo secure catches; have an ample supply of nest boxes ready for the flush seusou and carry an extra supply of egg crates; keep a supply of dry earth and sand available for chicken coops and nest boxes, and generally attend to any odd jobs. Do any hedge planting that may be in mind. Incubators should be thoroughly cleaned at the end of each season, but if any further work is needed attend to it right away. Keep a reserve supply of wicks and necossury spare parts. Have all thermometers tested with a clinical correct one. Order a sufficient supply of keroseno and give the machines a trial run to make sure that all is in order for the incubating season.

Check up on brooders und see to a fuel supply. Remember that plenty of space will rearing management, and endeavour to have every batch of chicks amply provided for in this respect. So often one finds a batch of chicks in a machine and no shed ready for them. Electric brooders provide every facility for good rearing these days and those who have permanent sheds should use nothing else. Do not worry about a slight break in the power supply. Unless it is for more than, two hours little harm will result and the authorities will give ample assistance if they are advised that you are using power for brooding or incubating pmrpose?. / Those that rear with broody hens should repair coops and runs and see that the grass is kept short in the rearing grounds. Ideal conditions exist in an orchard or other well sheltered place. Make an endeavour to web-mark more chicks this year so that lheir ogc and breeding may bo known. If dayold pullets are being purchased, and these will bo obtainable from some farms this year, see that provision is made for sufficient room. In the old days the cockerels were removed which made for more room for the growing pullets, but if the samo number of pullet chicks arc placed in a brooder then troublo will certainly result. There is considerable speculation as to whether it will pay to purchase dayold pullet chicks as they will be at least double the price and many argue that the cockerels do not eat much food

until they aro detected. Certainly on a large plant a decided saving would result but in smaller flocks tlic result is problematical.

Consider whether it would not .bo advisable to try out somo of tho dual purpose breeds this season rather than rely on tho popular White Leghorn. There is no doubt that tho Orpington or AustraJorp will produce more winter eggs than the Leghorn and there is the added value of the surplus cockerels, provided they are marketed at the right ago and before they consume too much expensivo food. A careful study of tho egg-laying competition results is always of interest and provides the names and addresses of breeders with good stock. If a breeder fails to put up a good score one year, it is not to say that his birds are declining in value since there is a great amount of luck iu establishing a high score. Those breeders who compete year after year and who frequently finish with good averago scores must have first-cluss stock to do so. The mere fact that a breeder competes in an egg-laying contest is evidence of his interest in stud stock and that he is not afraid of competing against the best strains in the country.

The Show Soason. Poultry shows aro now being held almost weekly in different towns. Entries for tho Manawatu Jubilee Show closed last night but there may still bo time for a lute entry if immediate application is made. Much can be learut from a study of the winning birds in tho utility classes and only by exhibiting can ono judge tho value of one’s own stock. At the show many expert breeders collect and the majority are ever ready to offer advice and assistance to tho novice breeders. * Poultry Producers’ Federation

The first district council meeting was held in Palmerston North last week with delegates from several branches. The conference was ably presided over by Mr W. T. Jones, president of the local branch, and actually the proceedings were as well conducted as those of a full Dominion Conference. On .Juno 25 and 2U the annual Dominion Conference will be held iu Wellington and twenty-four delegates will attend from all over New Zealand, representing no less than fifty branches. Details of tho remits to be presented from tho Manawatu district fiavc .already appeared in tho press and it is expected that great strides will be made with organisation proposals after the Dominion Coonfcrenec. EGG LAYING CONTEST 10th. WEEK’S RESULTS Single Pens Section B.

Mrs E. E. Cannon, W.L. 19 1 10 10 9 16r ( 5) Go H. Poison, W.L. (No. 1.) 3 0 0 5 20 21 (11) 51 “r.” Beplacemcnt,

T. Dowlkwaite, B.O. 3 W 58 E. linuson, B.O. — 18 T. Dowlkwaite, B.O. 1 (til id Miss E. T. Sumer, K.l.L*. 1 (0) •15 Mrs I) M. Waddell, L.S. W 11 T Dowtkwaite, B.O. 2 (7) GG W. A. Larsen, B.O. .1 W 33 K. Mou.ldey, 11.1.11. — (0) 31 1’. Seymour, B.O. — (3) 25 V. J. Billiugtou, B.O. — (3) 22 W. A. Larseu, B.O. 2 (7) 22 Miss E. T. Somcr, 11.LB. 3 («) 15 Section A. - (A) 1

11, Poison, W.L. 11 (0) 51 J. Beilly, W.L. — (33) 51 Wlienuapai P.i'., W.L, — 03) 51 H. Poison, W.L. 1 («) 50 L, B. Wainscott, W.L. — ('3) 50 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. 2 (5) 40 H. Moreland, W.L. — (5) 40 i 1 . Lang, Anc. 2 (5) 45 Emery Bros., W.L. *> (5) 44 A. G. Munlby, W.L. 1 (2) 44 2 (33) 42 J. Davey, W.L. (5) 41 J. Hudson, W.L. — (5) 41 P. Lang, Anc 1 (3) 41 J. A. Annan, W.L. — (6) 30 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. 1 (5) 30 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 3 (1) J5 Miss L. l.add, W.L. — (5) 27 r A. J. Havey, W.L. 1 («) 25 H, Poison, W.L. li (3) 23 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 4 (33) O Emery Bros., W.L. Team Results 1 (33) 17

Section D. K. 11. Morrison, B.O. 42 56 45 54 J. B. Dutliic, li.I.lt. 54 35 (30) 2S6 25 46 50 35 M. L. Boyce, B.O. 24 45 (23) °21 48 4r 51 32 F. A. Bewhurst, B.I.E. 34 35 (24) 202 44 16 47 42 Mrs 11. Willers, B.O. 27 22 (19) 198 47 19 39 31 Mrs K H. Short, B.O. 44 17 (34) 197 •IS 17 31 23r A. Wood, Lang. 3S 34 (24) 191 42 3r 47 28 G. A. Edge, ll.I.K. 47 13 (13) ISO 2o 2 i 8 o2 W. A. Larsen, B.O. 25 31 (23) 118 32 0 35 30 W. E. Jones, K.I.B. S 21 (IS) 119 5 37 11 0 Section C. 5 0 ( 7) 56

A. J. Davev, W. L. 40 52 38 43 2S 27 (19) 234 Mrs M. L. Williams, W. L. 30 15 53 20 o2 49 (20) 225 E. B. Wainsoott, W. L. 12 40 20 3 8 5.1 47 (22) 200 Miss H. Deddell, W.L. 31 52 15 46 11 43 (21) 198 S. D. Morris, W.L. 29 21 34 51 47 S (31) 190 c. J. Hubbard, AV.L. (No. 1) 13 S 33 21 3S 37 ( 0) 180 HA . Lucas, W. L. 37 2S 34 42 25 7 (28) 173 J. T. Hazelwood. W.L. 46 42 22r 12 2621 (25; 169 M. Stephenson, W.L. 20 S3 7r 43 42 22 (26) 167 J. Graham, W.L. 45 9 26 25 19 25 (10) 149 Miss Moreshead, W.L. 0 11 47 36 47 0 (14) 141 C. J. Hubbard, W.L. (No. 2) 30 58 0 0 21 13 (IS) 122 H. Poison, W.L. (No • 2) 32 35 10 30 2 1 .(IS), 110