POULTRY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 15

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

WORK DURSNG HOLIDAYS. FOOD FOR THE BIRDS. GREEN STUFF IN PLENTY. BY UTIXITS. TYhile the whole community is celebrating the holidays, it will only bring trouble if tho poultry yard does nob receive adequate attention, for when the egg supply falls off at this time of the year it is very difficult to bring it back to normal afain. However, most peoplo will be reluctant to spoil their holidays for tho sake of tho birds, and many peoplo make mi excellent arrangement with a neighbour, if 0110 can be found, to mutually assist each other. Tho great essential is that tho birds must not be neglected, but naturally, the owner will make tho work as light as jpossiblo by leaving everything in perfect order, with plenty of grain and meal to ensure an ample supply while away, and some green stuff that can be easily thrown into tho run each day. Green Food in Summer. For those who aro merely going away occasionally for tho day, there is nothing like exploiting the 'convenience of green stuff, for tho bird; will eat large quantities during hot weather, and '.f there is plenty in front of them they will not starve. A good plan during all the summer is to give them lawn grass, for it contains so many different varieties that there is always something in it that they will like. The most economical Hvav is to put it in a tin. partly open at, ono side, and let tho birds peck at it through the wire netting, so that ,verv little is wasted. On the other hand, •when there is a danger of getting home too late to feed iheni at night, it would "bo just as well to empty a lot of the J awn grass in tho slady part of the run ss well, for they will then interest themielves all day in turning it over to pick put, the choicest varieties. If it is customary to feed mash in tho jnorning and grain at night, it would be >vell to givo less 7 mash before leaving home, and make up with somo grain. If {his is done and tho green stuff is there in abundance, there will be no great harm /clone in the event of getting homo after dark. Many troubles are brought about through want of cleanliness. Dirt brii.gs lice, and also brings disease, and it is far easier to prevent disease than to cure jt when it breaks out. In fact, most diseases are not worth curing, the most «?conomical way usually being to kill and bury a sick bird at once, rather than incur tho labour and expense of cuiing It, with no certainty at the end. But prevention pays well, and cleanliness conies first, both in the matter of healthy birds and also in getting clean eggs of good quality. 4 Prevalence of Lice. Having regard to the amazing prevalence of lice during the summer, it is worth going to the trouble of turning over a little paten in tho run every day, in order to provide them with a dust-bath, for this is nature's way of keeping lice at bay. If the soil is dead dry, it should be slightly watered, for the birds have no liking for it when it is as dry as dust. Watering it overnight is a good plan, for then it i« not sticky next day, but just damp to the degree they like, and every bird will get into it at some time during the day. Those who have no yard, but keep their birds housed on the intensive system, will be reluctant to water the earth floor, for this takes away its very important use in. absorbing all the droppings. It is safest to leavo thd earth floor alone, and put n. box into the house, filling it with damp soil to a depth of six or nine inches. Ihey will use this regulaily, and it keeps much cleaner than the floor. Worms can usually be traced to want of cleanliness, a stale run being specially conducive to intestinal parasites. Eventually this will entail a large reduction ;in egg production, and some birds will probably dio, although some are so strong t as to continue laying for a long time after they are affected. < As might bo expected, seeing that the ,worms are devouring their food, a common nymptom is a big appetite, coupled with a steadv loss of condition, a pale comb and dull feathers. They also usually stretch out their necks a great deal, and eithor yawn or else make a kind of ecreecb tha + might be taken for croup. The Quickest Remedy. Tho quickest remedy is to starve the birds for ono day, to empty tho passages, and then givo them Epsom salts on the following day. Use loz. to 12 birds, dissolving it in water, and mixing with the mash together with loz. of flowers of sulphur, and half a teaspoonful of pure tnrpentine. Working on empty intestines, this will exfiel the worms. As the ■worm-laden droppings are dangerous, it is best to shut them up in a little patch in tho garden while giving them this treatment, so that it can be all dug under at once. Give the same treatment a week later if the birds are not cured with tho first application. It is just as well to disinfect tne house also, lest tho trouble should again develop. Scaly leg is another trouble that always makes headway in the summer. It gives a very bad appearance to the flock, besides being painful to tho birds, and anything that troubles them must affect the egg supply before long. However, it is not difficult to cure tcaly leg, the quickest and easiest remedy being to dip the legs into kerosene. Do not apply this during tho day, ;ib they •will probably g>?t a dust-bath, and thereby fill all the crovices with dust. Treat them at night, when they have gone to roost, and by morning all tho kerosene will havo soaked in, leaving the leg ■clean.