POULTRY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19453, 8 October 1926, Page 16

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

DRAWBACKS WITH BIRDS. DISEASES AND REMEDIES. SOME SEASONABLE HINTS. BY G.H. v ■ Only ono degree less annoying than birds which do not lay aro those which, after getting through a batch, go broody for an indefinite period. Birds which persist in leaving gaps in their egg output just at- the time when a full egg basket may reasonably be expected run up the cost considerably ans add to the difficulties which must be surmounted if poultry-keeping is to be made profitable. It is on this account that the Leghorn, the typical non-sitter, is nearly always at i the top in an all-the-season laying test, for dnring spring and summer its yield is practically unbroken, while some sitting varieties lay only in batches, often with long intervals between them. If production of a maximum number of eggs in the year were tho only consideration, sitting varieties would bo no more heard of and the Leghorns and their allies wonld bo the only types worth keeping. But other things weigh heavily against tho Leghorn. Any old bird will lay in spring and summer, and it is tho winter months, when tho price is high, that eggs must bo produced to bring in a first-class return, and except under the most intensive methods, Leghorns are not usually good winter layers. Another thing is the relatively high cost of rearing, on account of the flesh-making capacity of tho Leghorn cockerels. An average hatch produces about half of either sex, and if tho males cannot be marketed profitably, tho cost of the pullets becomes very high indeed. This applies also to the worn-out hens, which can seldom be got into that fat state which market men pay a good price for. Another drawback is the colour of the egg, for although a white-shelled egg is just as good as a brown ono, the averago housewife will not be induced to believe it, and this has to be taken into consideration. Thess matters aro not mero chance, but are striking examples of the law of co-relation of qualities. None of tho nonsitters lay brown eggs, nor do they, in a pure condition, make good table birds. So consistently aro thoso qualities that it does not seem likely they will ever be divorced from each other. For winter laying under reasonably practical • conditions, profitable rearing and production of brown eggs, such birds as Wyandott.es, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons and Light Sussex are therefore tho most generally useful and desirable. Broodiness and its Care. Broodiness can be controlled to a much greater extent than is generally supposed. The fact that it has been completely eliminated in tho Mediterranean breeds is evidence of that, and also indicates that chief factor in broodiness. This is nothing more nor less than heat. The effect of the weather depends largely on food and housing, and by adjusting these to the prevailing conditions broodiness can be very largely controlled. Heating foods, such as maize, especially in conjunction with close confinement and lack of exercise, will induce broodiness even in cold weather; and under mild conditions it will be found that if the grain ration is confined to oats, the soft food being largely albuminous, there will be not much tendency to broodiness. By regulating the quantity so that the birds are kept active in tho scratching sheds, the greater part of the day, sitting birds often pass through the season without any sign of broodiness. When the fever has actually started, cure is much more rapid if commenced at the earliest possible moment. Some birds will lay after the fit has begun, but they should not be allowed to occupy the nests all day. Immediately confine them to a coop with slatted bottom raised above the ground, so that a draught passes under them continually. Forty-eight hours of this should cure all but the most obstinate cases. A Troublesome Complaint. Among tho breeding stock females are occasionally found in an unclean condition, suffering from vent gleet. The skin will be found to be tender ar.d sore, possibly bleeding and "mattery." Since this complaint is naturally quickly conveyed, the male bird should bo at once removed from the pen, and thoroughly disinfected, afterwards being anointed with a good curative ointment. With the females themselves a cure is fortunately only a matter of time and cleanliness, though it may be unsafe to mate them up again for a month. They must, of course, be cleaned up and anointed daily, while the majority of tho feathers around and below tho vent should be cut and burned. I am not at all sure that an egg laid by a badly infected hen does not carry the germ of the complaint within it, and if hatched, that the resulting chick is not predisposed to vent gleet. However, I have no definite proof as to this. At any rate, once a hen has had a thoroughly bad attack it is quite likely to recur at unexpected intervals. Scaly leg is serious only on account of its unsightliness, and tho fact that tho mites that cause it speedily find their way from ono fowl to another. Like most other of the minor ailments common to poultry, it speedily yields to persistent treatment, which is best performed thus: — First wash tho legs thoroughly in hot water, using a soft nail brush, and carbolic soap, then dry and having made a thin pasto of flowers of sulphur and kerosene, put a coating of this all over tho shanks with an old tooth brush. Even the worst cases can bo cured in this way if the process is repeated every other day for a fortnight. Of course, tho old scales will como off entirely, leaving the leg tender and sore, so that a final coating of vaseline should bo applied before tho bird is turned out as cured. But new scales will probably begin to appear within a couple of months. The Cause of Staggers. Staggers is caused by pressure on the brain duo to high or over-feeding, and is, perhaps, more common in male than in female birds. At first tho afflicted one waves its head vaguely about from side to side, generally at feeding-time, though as the vertigo increases it will stagger about blindly, run round in a circle, or perhaps fall to the ground, getting up a little, later as though nothing had happened. The beginner should not be alarmed at these unusual symptoms, but should first of all hold the bird's head under a stream of cold water for a considerable time, then the patient should be removed to a quiet, dark pen, fed on a very low diet, and givon 10 grains of salts in his drinking water for about 10 days, at the end of which time ho may bo returned to his mates, and given another trial. Should tho same symptoms 'return it will be best to get rid of him, as the fault is no doubt constitutional. Eggs from all varieties of bantams should now bo sot. The little bantams will bo hatched out in October, which is an ideal month for young stock—they should make good progress. Silkies make very good broody hons for bantam eggs, although any' small, light hen will do. Heavy hens should not bo used, as tlmy aro apt to break tho eggs.