POULTRY NOTES

Northern Advocate, 13 June 1931, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES

J HOW TO SUCCEED. ■ MANAGEMENT OF BREEDINGBIRDS. ! The late-moulting liens previously j selected for this season’s breeding|]>ens having jiassed through Mie moult, (it is important, that from now onward they be carefully fed and managed in order that they may come to the breeding-season with the vigour so necessary for the production of healthy stock. In the first place, it is a mistake to let these birds get too fat, and while it is true that the hightype layer, when in a laying condition, eannot be overfed on a proper eggprodueing food, it is possible to make a bird overfat and in an undesirable breeding-condition, when she is on a diet such as that which is suitable for breeding-birds. Only a small amount of forcing ingredients should be included, and rich foods, such as meat or its substitutes, should therefore be sparingly supplied.

It should be remembered that very often poor fertility and the production of chickens that cannot be reared result from fat hens or from their being provided with a rich ration. This is not to say that the birds should be placed on what might be termed ,a starvation ration, but rather that they should be well fed but not overfed. The aim should be to keep Ihom in a healthy lean condition just before and during the time when they are producing eggs for hatching purposes.

It will generally be found that better fertility and stronger chicks will result from feeding the breedingbirds a whole-grain ration, such as a mixture of equal parts of wheat, oats and maize, no mash mixture being supplied. The greater the variety of ingredients included in the ration for breeding-birds the better will be the results from the hatching and rearing operations, and also in the quality of the stock reared. Of course, nothing can take the place of free range for breeding-birds, by which a great variety of food and natural exercise is made available to them. When, the birds are kept confined abundant scratehing-material should be provided, in which the birds should be made to work for practically every grain of food they receive. This will prove an excellent means of inducing exercise, which is essential for maintaining birds in a proper breeding-condi-tion.

In the feeding and management of breeding-pens many lessons can be taken from birds that live under natural conditions and are not interfered with by man. It will be /found that the great majority of birds under natural conditions commence their breeding operations after the most lean period of the year, the winter, when foods are scarce. In addition to this, the work of making their nests tend towards preventing an accumulation of body-fat. It is an old saying, and no doubt a true one, that nature's methods cannot be improved upon; so that if vigorous progeny are to be secured from our fowls the natural methods must be copied as closely as possible in all things pertaining to breeding.

The Time to Mate, In order to obtain pullels to commence laying in the month of April, light breeds should be hatched during September and the heavy breeds a mouth earlier. Naturally, some strains mature earlier than others, and this should be allowed for. Where it is desired to secure a good egg-yield in the autumn of next year, the breed-ing-pens should bo mated up during the coming month. This will give the birds an opportunity of being in a condition to enable chicks to be hatched out in July. As the great majority of ihe adult birds in the average flock will not bo laying at this period of the year, and in order to secure July-hatched chicks, the poultry-keep-er ax'i 11 be forced to use pullet eggs for incubation. Breeding from pullets is not generally recommended, but for the production of early autumn eggs an exception must be made. When using jmllots for breeding special care should be taken to see that they arc well developed (bred from liens the previous season and not from pullets) and possessed of strong'’ points which indicate constitutional vigour, such as bright prominent eyes, well-developed crop, tight feathering, land generally an active businesslike j appearance. When pullets arc bred from they should be mated, where possible, Avith an adult male. Breeding from cockerels and pullets should be avoided wherever possible. GENEEAL NOTES. I I j Eggs that are to be used for hatching should be from birds that are full of health and stamina. Never take breeding eggs from a peu of birds i that lack vitality and virility. Health 'and vigour in the breeding stock are . followed hv the same in the chicks.

To obtain good egg production during the winter months young pullets should now be pushed forward by ex•. tra feeding, and there is little fear of overdoing it with developing birds. If this is not done the egg basket will not be full at the time eggs are most wanted.

i T>i assist moulting birds provide ' them with plenty of fresh green food land give them a good nourishing ■ mash, in which is incorporated a good i quantity of biscuit meal aud a little 1 of each of linseed meal and flowers of j sulphur. They should also have a | good tonic in their drinking water.