POULTRY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20480, 4 February 1930, Page 4

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

•SOME SUMMER CARES.

THE VERMIN PEST.

MEASURES FOR CONTROL.

Br UTtLixr,

The sudden change in the, weather, after a most unusual spell oE rain, at an unusually low temperature, will not be welcomed by tho poultry flock unless due provision is rnado for countering the yarious disabilities which trouble them in warm weather. If they are on freo range it will hardly be necessary to lake special precautions, except to see they have access to fresh water that is sheltered from tho sun. A few minutes also, might bo spent in digging over a little patch of soil, for tho birds are even more anxious for a dust-bath in warm weather, and they like it all the better if tho soil is slightly damp. It is only necessary to make an experiment in this on a hot day: tho birds .will bury themselves at once in the damp soil, whereas they may have been previously paying little or no attention to the dry surface. There is so much dust about that it becomes all tho moro necessary to givo regular attention to their drinking vessels, for dust soon contaminates water. It is preferable, if convenient, to renew the water at night, rather than in the morning. If done in the morning there is tho disadvantage that in a few minutes the dust and other impurities will be-' gin to get into it. lit addition to this, they will have to drink in the evening, and again early next morning, from water which has been heated all day, however carefully it is sheltered. Protection in Small Runs.

If the birds are kept in the small runs that are/so common, usually all tho smaller for the sake of saving a few extra yards of wire-netting, more attention is necessary at onco, lest they suffer such harm as would put them off laying. If this happens it is very unlikely they will begin again before they are over tho moult, and that means losing eggs at the very time when they are most valuable. At present eggs are so cheap and food is so dear that there is little if any mai-gin of. profit and unless they produce a fair number during the next two months, or until the pullets begin to lay, it will be very hard to carry <jn. Tho change into real summer has been so sudden that the birds must feel it all the more, and they will naturally pine for tho cool shade. This must bo given to them at once in all cases whero they cannot find some shady placo in the run at all hours of the day. Trees are ■what they like best, but a fairly good substitute is a few branches put together in such a way that they can walk about tinder them. Supply ol Greeo Teed.

If nothing of this sort can be done the next best thing would be to suspend a few sacks in the same fashion. That .would bo better than suspending them on end, for tho lattgr method would make a kind of breakwind, and birds are by no means averse to a little breeze cn a hot day. It is a long time since green feed has been as plentiful at this time of the year as it is now. Don't sparo the green feed, for it will keep on growing, and it helps to maintain the condition of the birds. Fruit is very plentiful now, and windfalls in thousands are in every orchard, so these might iust as well be utilised for feeding the fowls. If they can be allowed into the orchard itself, even for an hour or two, it is better than gathering up the fruit for them, for they can also get the numerous insects on the fruit with great advantage for themselves/ and probably with advantage to next year's crop._ In the meantime it is not wise to rest on our oars, lest the winter should arrive with inadequate Those who planted succulent greens difring the recent wet weather are now safe for the winter, but if there is not an assured supply this is the time to plant seeds of lettuce and cabbages, for they will then transplant in time to give a' good return all the winter. Numerous Insecticides.

„ Red mite has not been so troublesome this season, doubtless on account of the low temperature, but these pests are sure to make their appearance, now that it is warmer. There are so many insecticides on the market that it ought not to be necessary to advocate any one particularly, so lJng as it is sprayed liberally, or spread along and near the perches. Kerosene will kill mite, if sprinkled round the perches. # Body lice can usually be kept in check by shaking a little insect powder into the feathers, but if they onoo become established they must be treated _ more drastically. Most likely they will be seen in tho bird's head, getting right into the skin. An effective treatment is a mixture of sulphur and lard, rubbed gently into the feathers. For all kinds of insect pests the easiest treatment is to tricklo a little Black Leaf 40 along each perch. The urgency of this cannot be too strongly stressed, for the birds will otherwise suffer very much during the hot weather. Lacking these precautions the bird? will not only lose condition, with a subsequent reduction in the egg supply, but also they will enter the moult under a severe handicap, probably decreasing their laying powers during the wholo of next season. As for this season's pullets, which ought not to go into a moult at all, it would be very unfortunate if their development were retarded by insect pests Under every consideration it is most essential that severe methods should boj adopted ixi making war upon vermin.