Notes for the Poultry Keeper

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 74, 28 March 1936, Page 7

Notes for the Poultry Keeper

SEASONAL LAYNG AVERAGES. WHAT MAY BE EXPECTED. Seasonal fluctuations in egg returns are anticipated and understood by experienced poultrymon, but thero are become concerned when the seasonal low rate of laying sots' in and embark on changes of rations and experimentation in different directions with the result that they frequently make bad worse. Every poultrykeeper should have an idea of the expected average of laying in the different seasons of the year, and of the different units of the flock in terms of age.

A study of seasonal laying averages has been made by the New South Wales authority, Mr. Jas. Hadlington, who gives the following information in the Sydney Morning Herald: “The average production of pullets in tho early part of their first season of laying is an unknown and unstable factor until about the mouth of June. Tho erratic laying of pullets prior to that month is perhaps best seen from laying competition returns for April and May, because all these pullets are approximately the same age, at any rate, to within a few weeks, and to all appearances in the same condition, yet some pens will head the list while others of the samo breed will be found at tho bottom. Furthermore, it is tho experience of most poultrymcn that in some years they will havo pullets laying well into the autumn, and in others the reverse is the case. Nevertheless, tho general average of the flock will usually work out as at about four dozen eggs above that for second season layers, which for a farm averago is about 11) dozen. Reasonable Expectations.

It would lead to much more contentment of mind and prevent much futile experimentation in feeding if poultrykeepers, and particularly beginners, were better versed in the averago expectations of laying at different periods of tho year. Dividing tho year into quarterly periods enables 'one to get much nearer to actuality in returns than by taking monthly averages, because it bridges some of the inequalities occurring on different farms and in different seasons. The tables given below therefore turn more on a regular seasonal basis. Taking first the mixei flocks, say half and half, with an objective of 12 dozen eggs for the year, and commencing with tho lorvest quarterly production, we expect to get the following approximate result:—

April, May and June 16 eggs per hen July, Aug. and Sept. 45 eggs per hen Oct,, Nov. and Dec. 52 eggs per hen Jan., Feb. and March ol eggs per hen

Yearly average .. 114 eggs per hen Taking tho pullets competing in the Hawkesbury College laying test for 1934-35, as an example of first season laying possibilities, and reducing them to a general laying average, and at the same time remembering that these are selected pullets where 90 competitors Math 510 pullets have supposedly done their best in the way of both breeding and selection to pen six pullets each that they considered most likely to mako a big record, we get the following results (first column representing light breed section, second column heavy breed; figures being per pullet):— April, May and June .. 39.0 49.8 June, July, Aug. and Sept. 55.4 57.2 Oct., Nov. and Dec. .. 59.4 51.0 Jan., Febry., and March . 38. S 34.2 Average .... .. 193.3 192.2 . It is worthy of note in connection with the general averages of laying that in the last test carried out at the Hawkesbury College with second year hens, 120 in groups of six birds put up' an average production of 156.8 eggs per bird. This was in the year 191 S-19, during which a similar low average of laying to that shown in the table above was put up by the first year section. Averages of Second Year Layers Per Quarter. April, May and Juuo .. 24.5 per hen July, August and Sept. . 47.7 per heu Oct., Nov. and Dec. . .. -IS.B per hen Jan., Feb. and March .. 34.8 per hen There is no later official data available on the average production of second year hens, but since these figures represent the best that is likely to be done by even doubly selected birds, it may convey some idea as to tho relative laying of pullets and hens, and as regards tho latter represent tae best that can be expected after the most severo culling of the best of flocks. This will be better understood when it is stated that the first season pullets from which these 120 were selected to compete in the second year section had put up one of the best performances in the tests, the average being for light breeds 202 eggs per bird. It will therefore be seen that the -whole lot were above what would be regarded as fair average of hens. A POULTRYMAN’S CREED. A FEW POINTS AND SOME DON’TS. Don’t expect to get something for nothing. A good hen will lay 10 dozen eggs in a year, equal to about 241bs. in weight, or four to six times her own weight. She cannot do this unless carefully looked after and well-fed. Don’t keep hens after their second laying season unless specially required for breeding purposes. Old hens do not pay for their feed. To keep a cneck on ages get a supply of strong celluloid coloured rings in three colours, say red, green and yellow, and put a different coloured ring on your pullets each year when they aro about five months old. Rear pullets each year to the number of about half your total flock to replace hens culled out towards the end of their second laying year. Hatch or buy your chicks early—-

heavy breeds in August-September, light breeds in September-October, so that they will be laying in the autumn and winter when eggs are dear. Don't expect to get the top price for stale, doubtful or dirty eggs. Gather eggs, every day earn a reputation for quality, demand the best market and see that you get it. When eggs are cheap reserve enough for home use in the winter. You can then sell nearly all your fresh eggs when the price is highest.

Fatten and sell cockerels when not more than four to five months old. They bring the best price at that age. To keep them longer is sheer waste of money and time. Don’t keep mongrels. They cost as much for food as high-class laying strains.

Don’t expect your hens to do well if they and their house aro infested with lice and other parasites. You can’t afford to feed millions of such vermin. Treat them as public enemy no. 1 and wipe them out. Cleanliness is tne keynote.

And —don’t forget—that the returns to you will depend upon the class of fowls you choose to keep, the care and attention paid to their housing, feeding and general welfare and the marketing of eggs and poultry to tho best advantage. Put your poultry-keeping on a business basis. OLD BIRDS. A POINT IN CULLING. “It is poor policy to discard a layer solely beeauso of its age, especially on a breeding farm,” states F, C. Atkins, writing in “Poultry” (Eng.) on- the question of culling older hens. Quito a number of the hens will bo obviously worn out by, or before, tho end of their second season; but the carefully selected cream of the two-year-olds will pay their way for a third season and equal the performance of most younger hens. It is sound practice to cull the oldest hens most severely, but any among them which seem too good to discard ought to bo retained. Once rid of the idea that a hen is necessarily worn out at a certain age, it becomes possible to weed out the wasters among the younger layers with greater determination, without too greatly reducing the strength of the flock. The more worthy old-stagers will fill the gaping ranks and genuinely contribute towards maintaining the standard of quality. For breeding purposes, good old hens are a first-rate asset. It stands to reason that a hen which has stood the racket for more seasons than usual has a potentially high breeding value. Not only should it produce progeny of high fecundity, but it may bo expected to hand on some of its own exceptional stamina.

l’oultrymen who automatically discard their layers when they reach a set age-limit are apt to be too lenient in culling the more youthful portion of the stock. They prefer to deal in wholesale methods, clearing the old hens out in a body at tho end of their season, and when the house they occupy is required for the new lot of pullets. This :s certainly a very simple method; but it is doubtful if it is good business, It is preferable to get rid of unproduc five stock as soon as they cease to lay, and not before. This means that culling may start, on a small scale, in the late spring and continue well into tho autumn. Almost always it will leave a residue of hens which have resisted all attempts to catch them out of lay. These are the ones which have earned a reprievo and may be kept for another season with considerable advantage. If these are added to the flock of younger hens, it is a more profitable proceeding. GLASS AND FISH OIL EFFECTS. In an experiment carried out at the Ohio Agricultural Experiment station, U.S.A., hens confined in houses with ordinary glass windows laid an average of 39.2 S eggs each during the winter months; those in houses in which, the windows had been replaced by highgrade glass substitute laid 72.2 S eggs each, and those supplied with 2 per cent, of cod-liver oil in their feed laid 86.79 eggs per fowl. Tho fertility of the eggs laid was 31.5 per cent, in the window-glass group, 65. S per cent, in the glass substitute group, and 67 per cent, for the fish-oil group. Such differences should not be found in the more temperate and sunnier winter climate of New Zealand, especially in the North Island. POINTS ABOUT FEATHERING “I would always back the tight-feath-ered pullet of any breed to beat the loose feathered bird in laying,” says \V. Powell Owen, writing in the "Poultry World.” "The tight-feather-ed pullet handles sleek and silky, is firm and solid in body, with full abdomen; the loose-feathered one feels light in comparison, has partly or entirely empty abdomen even when in lay. Such a pullet—if of tho real feather-duster type —will look large, but can be squeezed in tho hand almost to nothing. Excessive feather can be seen -when the pullets are moving about and are viewed from tho rear. The cushion feathers will be long and give a rather full appearance to the back near tho tail, the thigh feathers, too, will protrude outwards and beyond the line of the abdominal fluff. In the close-feathered pullet the front appears full and rounded, tho cushion feathers lie down instead of being upright, and there is a distinct line of the thigh fluff an inch or so in front of the outline of the abdominal fluff. The pullet with excessive fluff usually looks a broody type about the head, with rounded skull, low-set eve. thick neck and sunk-

en eye from too prominent brow. The ideal tight-feathered pullet has a refined skull and neck, highly placed and an outstanding eye, smooth face and absence of brow.”