Notes for the Poultry Keeper

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 9, 11 January 1936, Page 9

Notes for the Poultry Keeper

(By J. H. Kissling, Massey College.)

Milk for Poultry.

No experienced poultry man cares to bo without milk in some form as a supplement to his poultry rations. Farmers with a supply of milk by-products are in a most fortunate position and many poultrymen keep a few cows, moro for the purpose of having their own skim milk supply than for the profit from the butterfat produced. It is not only the value of the skim milk food itself which is so important but rather the fact that the addition of some milk by-product will release a greater proportion of digestible food value from the balance of the rations. Dr. E. V. McCollum, addressing the American Poultry Association supplied figures of an amazing trend. He stated that when cereals only were fed to poultry, they could digest only 25 to 30 per cent., but when some milk food was added the percentage increased to between 60 and 70 per cent. Skim milk can be used fresh for mixing the wet mash but it is most important that it be either fresh or sour all the time. If being used fresh, the containers for the overnight supply must be kept perfectly clean in the same manner as milk cans. Even in the hottest weather skim milk will remain perfectly sweet over night. If the supply is more than can be easily used in tho mash, then it is best allowed to curdle and the curds only fed out to the hens, the whey being used in the mash. Using a 40-gallon drum as the main container, a continual supply of good curd can easily bo procured. A tap should be insorted in the bottom of the drum, to draw off surplus whey, and once the original milk is curdled the fresh skim can be added twice daily. Before adding the skim, scoop off the dry curd from tho top of the drum, placing this in tins for feeding out. Then draw off somo of the bottom whey, which can be discarded if ample is available. Noxt add the fresh skim and stir thoroughly. If'.this procedure is followed a continual supply of really dry curd will be obtained. When fowls have ample free range, they can be fed a mash of curd and pollard in equal parts, with maize or barley as a grain ration and they will lay well. Buttermilk Powder.

For thoso poultrymen wio cannot procure a cheap supply of skim milk, dried buttermilk powder makes just as good a substitute. This can bo procured from any poultry feed agent and sells at about 3d per pound. Large quantities can be procured in sealed tins, which is the best method of purchase since tho fine powder is inclinod to go into hard lumps with exposuro to air. This powder can either be dissolved in the water used for mixing tho mash, or it can be mixed dry with the,mash. If just a little is used, the beneficial results Will soon'be noticed.-' Most-'poul-trymen feed a protein level of about 6 per cent., many using meatmoal. It is suggested that 5 per cent of meatmcai be used and 3 per cent, of dried buttermilk and this mixture will give much better results than all meatmcai. For all growing stock milk will be found an excellent supplement, and it has tho added advantage that w’hen a very high protein level is desired to. be given, no scouring will result as will occur from an excess of meatmeal. Monthold chicks can bo safely given up to 20 per cent, of dried buttermilk powder in their mash without harmful results, though this level is only used as a pick-me-up after, say, an attack of coccidiosis.

Whey powder and whey paste can be used, and aro particularly helpful as a control of coccidiosis as the lactic acid content is high. It is not as good a supplement as skim milk or buttermilk powder however, and is not easily obtained in this .district. There is no advantage in giving whole milk to fowls, as this is sheer wastage. Separating only removes the fat, and it is. easy ,to supply, sufficient fat to poultry. . When skim. . milk or curds are given ad lib.,, a supply of clean drinking water should always bo available as we 11,.. particularly for laying hens.

Curds left too long will go bad and in this state should not be fed to poultry. By continually adding fresh skim milk, the bacterial action will bo . continued and tho curds kept in a suitable feeding condition. Better production and growth will follow the use of milk in some form and poultrymen not using it at present are well advised to give it a trial. Often skim milk can be had very cheaply, since usually it is only a question of cartage. Intestinal Worms.

Where fowls are kept in. fairly largo numbers, intestinal .worms will usually be troublesome. They exist in several varieties from the common small cecal worm to the large tapeworm. Not every intestinal worm is easily recognised, except by a laboratory examination, and it is not always the large worms that cause the most trouble.

Good feeding practice and general sanitary, precautions. will go a long way to control infection, but there is an easy and effective meahs of preventing heavy iinfestation. ' This is •'by. adding just 2'per cent, of, tobacco,-dust, to the daily mash. If none has ever been used) the- dosage.’should be slightlty less td commence with, gradually increasing up to the 2 per cent. Take care mot to. add too much, and the dust is best first mixed with a little bran and then mixed through a week’s supply of mash. It is the regular daily dose that doestho good, and although supplies of tobacco dust-are not always easily obtainable, poultrymen-all over the-world are novj, using this methods of • control. ■ Ordinary dried- tobaccQ leaf docs' not seem as eft fectiVe as the dust which is prepared ■in- a special maimer/W .. - .. | j- Dnifins,-. both the bulb: and the leaves) a'ro a good-tonic, for fowls'and will help to prevent* worm'infection .and many poultrymen make*a'.habit giving at least one feed a day. Leeks are easily

grown and tho fowls will greedily eat ovory particle of the plant. Any internal poison used to kiil worms may also do material harm to the stock. One poultryman in the Wellington district lost nearly 50 per cent, of his pullets last year by using an internal disinfectant in an endeavour to control worm infection. Birds on free range, with ample succulent greenstuff arc not so subject to infection. The chief source of infection is stale, muddy runs, though certain worms require an intermediate host to carry infection. For this reason it is not advisable to topdress the greenfeed plots with fowl droppings, excepting when no crop is being talcen at the time. If losses from worms are suspected, a laboratory examination should be sought, with a view to finding out the best treatment.

Sometimes worms are blamed when coccidiosis is the real cause of the lack of vitality. Both parasites do not necessarily cause deaths, but simply attack tho weaker birds , and these carry infection to others. As a rule infection is gained when the chicks are young, in the late spring since warm, moist weather is favourable to the incubation of the coccidia eggs. Many poultrymen now confine their birds in such weather, as a means of controlling infection. Coccidia are present in nearly every poultry yard, though some forms are worse than others. Only by strictly hygienic methods can control be effected and all droppings and cleanings from sheds should be sold off the property, not left lying in a heap outside in a run or odd corner to promote further infection. Dryness is essential in assisting control but the average disinfectant is quite useless to kill coccidia eggs. Extremo heat, such as tho flame of a blow-lamp, or boiling water, is effective. EGG LAYING CONTEST 41st. WEEK’S RESULTS

Section D. Mrs R. Willers, 8.0. 191 180 x 197 13fix 196 x 16G (15) 1072 R. H. Morrison, 8.0. 189 x 15S 195 183 x 159 x 174 x (25) 1058 F. A. Dewhurst, R.I.R. 173 155 188 14S 160 1(50 (24) 98-1 W. A. Larsen, 8.0. 142 135 203 x IGS 128 199 x (24) 975 G. A. Edge, R.I.R. 153 103 169 17G 188 171 (24) 960 Mrs N. 11. Short, 8.0. 118 r S4d 122 x 165 r 198 164 (14) 851 J. B. Duthie, R.I.R. 163 97 187 114 134 143 (17) 838 W. E. Jones, R.I.R. 126 182 r 166 x 127 54d 153 x (15) 808 A. Wood, Lang. 161 87r 162 x 97 71 113 (14) 691 M. L. Boyce, 8.0. 167 112 r 106 d 56 190 58 (10) 689

Section C. M. Stephenson, W.L. 175 203 156 r 215 208 194 (35) 1152 Miss ;H. Keddell, W.L. 148 x 214 150 153 16S 203 (2S) 1066 A. J. Davey, W.L. 160 199 ISI 187 18S 119 (21) 1034 "E. B. Wainscott, W.L. 171 183 1446 x 111 207 x 172 (25) 990 H. A. Lucas, W.L. 186 143 168 202 167 110 (IS) 976 H. Poison, W.L. (No. 2) IS4 191 161 179 128 109 (26) 952 S. D. Morris, W.L. 161 113 88d 190 190 154 (17) 896 C. J. Hubbard, W.L. (No. 1) ISB 153 139 151 171 96d (25) 88S J. Graham, W.L. 201.129 130 x 173 95 157 (22) 885 Miss Moreshead, W.L. 63d 147 x 207 144 195 IOOx (16) 856 Mrs R. R. Cannon, W.L. 145 110 145 175 138 139 r (34) 852 Mrs M. L. Williams, W.L. 73 126 190 153 . 83d 194 x (17) 819 C. J. Hubbard, W.L. (No. 2) 111 187 96d.110 114 116 (14) 764 H. Poison, W.L. (No. 1) 132 75 121 145 150 156 (22) 779 “r” Replacement. “d” Bird dead. “x” Disqualified; egg weight clause.

Single Pens. Section B. T. Dowthwaite, B.O. 1 (5) 223 3 (6) 211 W. A. Larsen, B.O. 1 (2) 198 Mrs D. M. Waddell, L.S. — (1) 136 Miss E. T. Somer, R.I.E. 3 (2) 183 V. J. Billington, B.O. — (3) ISO T. Dowthwaite, B.O. 2 (0) 165 E. Hansen, B.O. — W 155 Miss E. T. Somer, R.I.E. 2 (0) 144 1 (0) 140 W. A. Larsen, B.O. 2 (0) 121 K. Mouldey, E.I.K. — (0) 59 F. Seymour, B.O. — (°) 37 Section A. H. Poison, W.L. 2 (6) 242x H. Moreland, W.L. .— (5) 222 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 2 (7) 221 Whenuapai P.F., W.L. — (5) 219 A. J. Dudson, W.L. — (4) 210 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. 2 (5) 209 Miss E. Ladd, W.L. — (3) 200r A. J. Davey, W.L. o (3) 199 J. A. Annan, W.L. — (6) 198 H. Poison, W.L. 1 (4) 192 E. B. Wainscott, W.L. — (5) 189 F. Lang, Anc. 2 (4) 181 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. 1 (5) 180 J. Reilly, W.L. — (4) 178 F. Lang, Anc. 1 (5) 175 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 1 (0) 173d H. Poison, W.L. 3 (5) 171 A. J. Davey, W.L. 1 (5.) 171 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 4 (4) .168 Emery Bros., W.L. 2 (6) 141 1 (0 )114 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 3 (1) 86 Team Eeults.