DAY-OLD CHICKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19743, 16 September 1927, Page 17

DAY-OLD CHICKS.

THE USUAL SPRING DEMAND. SEASONABLE HINTS. SALE AND PURCHASE OF STOCK. BT G.H. There is a very great demand for dayold chicks of ail grades and breeds, during ! the spring months, by commercial egg ! farmers who by force of circumstances," j are not able to hatch their full requirei ments, by small poultry-keepers and by some for a change of blood. While there are many day-old chick specialists |in a position to produce the goods ! from their own breeding stock, , there are others who are not so fortunately placed. Let as consider the matter .from the seller's point of view. The chicks should be the progeny of first-class laying strains, not necessarily record-breakers, but from a flock possessing a good, useful average of from 200 to 250 eggs per annum. The stock should also be perfectly healthy, full of stamina, and not forced in any way for increased production. Every bird should possess the correct characteristics of its breed. Size and colour should not be overlooked, and size of egg should ever be in the mind of the breeder. The male birds used for mating purposes should be specially bred from hens possessing good records; texture of shell, size of egg, and winter records all being noted. The Breeder's Obligations. The main object of the seller is to give satisfaction and thus secure continued support and recommendation from those who make it a practice to purchase yearly. To accomplish this, he must be prepared to despatch sound, healthy, strong chicks as near to the required date as possible. The chicks should be allowed to get thoroughly dried before they are packed; one can usually reckon twenty-four hours from the start of hatching operations. The birds travel best at this period, for, just before leaving the shell, they have consumed the yolk, which nourishes them for forty-eight hours. It is a mistake to despatch before they are properly dry, and just as foolish to retain them after they have reached this stage. All chicks should be carefully packed in proper day-old chick boxes, and preferably in small consignments. A postcard, stating date and time of railing, should be sent a day or so ahead, so as to give the buyer ample time to prepare for the arrival of the chicks. f Points lor the Purchaser. ! The successful rearing of the chicks will depend very largely upon the treatment I they receive on arrival. The necessary arrangements for their comfort should be planned in advance. When chickens do badly it is not always the fault of the breeder. In most cases the blame rests with the rearer, who is not familiar with their requirements. Brooder or hen accommodation must be provided, and during the first few days heat is just as important as food for the. chicks. A temperature of 86 degrees I?- is high enough in the brooder, and for large numbers of chicks artificial methods are essential. A reliable broody will usually take a dozen chicks, and if she is allowed to sit on china eggs for three or four days there is no difficulty in persuading her to adopt the brood. ! On arrival the chicks should be placed 1 in the brooder which has previously been heated Small consignments of a dozen or so cai be placed on a sack or paper in front of a fire and allowed to get lively before being removed to their respective quarters. If they are to be given to a hen, they should be fed and watered and put back in box until evening, when two or three can be placed under the hen's wings Next morning the whole brood i and hen can be transferred to the coop, provided the hen is ready to accept the chicks. There is no need to be alarmed if I' the chicks refuse feed; fhey will be none the worse for this. Drink should, however, be provided in the form of a -little warm diluted milk Honesty and Commonsense. | Sometimes, owing to careless packing or to railing before properly dry, one or ' | more chicks may be found dead on arrival, i These should be promptly returned to the 1 sender, who is generally quite prepared to refund the value or replace them, i There should bo a mutual agreement bej tween seller and buyer to this effect, j Honest and businesslike methods must I prevail in this branch of poultry-keeping, j coupled with commonsense and the ability i to rear from shell to maturity. Success in natural hatching is due in a I large measure to careful, commonsense i management The conduct of a sitting hen can be influenced to a large extent by favourable management, by which we mean the provision of a comfortable nest in a cosy place, and regular feeding and j attention Hens vary in disposition, and i while some make ideal sitters, others are' restless or nervous and are the cause of eggs being broken There are also hens which apparently are so intent on their duties that thev will not feed, but simplv j squat down on thf ground when taken off ! the nest. In such cases it is a good plan j to take them off for feeding. ; On no accoum must hens be frightened I or roughly handled in any way while in i the nest or when being taken off to feqd. 1 If a hen is wild and nervous do not set | e ggs under her until she has settled down. and get her accustomed to being handled ! in the meantime bv letting her see that I she has nothine to fear from you. Above I all. do not lose yqtir temper should the ! ben act foolishly, and not in accordance | with what you'might consider the rules of the gam*.