THE POULTRY YARD.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 761, 1 October 1886, Page 14

THE POULTRY YARD.

PERSISTENT LAYERS. NONSITTERS-

In the course of breeding of poultry, especially of fowls, the selection of those which laid the most eggs has naturally produced fowls in which the egg-laying tendency overpowers the tendency to s : t entirely, so that they lay and do not sit. In the case of very old bens, the brooding tendency sometimes becomes dominant for a short time. The many breeds of fowls which have sprung up, having this quality of laying and not sitting, may be classed in four groups—all layers of white eggs. Firs-. Single-combed fowls, including the Black Spanish, Minorca?, Andalusians and Leghorns in variety. These are all distingu’shed by large, erect, single combs in the cocks, and drooping comfca iu

the bens. Second. —The rose-combed fowls of the Hamburg group. Third.—The true topknots White-Crested Black Polish, HolderSpangled Polish, Silver-Spangled Polish, White Polish, all of which have split or double combs, or the rudiments of such combs. Fourth. —Th 6 Q-alic group of fowls, some of which, like the Crevecceurs and the Houdans, have crests like the Polish ; others, like Gelderland fowls of Holland, La Fleche and La Bresse of France, show the split or bifurcated comb or the rudiments of it. Among all these the most useful, simply as egg-producers, are to be found in the singlecombed group. They lay eggs of the largest size and pure white of course. The Minorcas are like them but with red faces, and the Andalusians are blue. The Lsghcrns—and there are several other breeds —are by no moans so hish bred as the Spanish, yet they are hardier, and the eggs, though smaller, are more abundant, so that so long as eggs sell hy the dozen, rather than by the pound, they are very profitable fowls to keep. Success with fowls kept exclusively for their eggs, is gained only hy constant care for their cleanliness and comfort. They must have a variety of food, a good large run, with opportunity to exercise, or be forced to take exercise in scratching for their feed, as upon a floor covered with chaffed straw. They may be kept safely in flocks of seventy to one hundred, but the larger the flock the more danger there is from disease and from thieves. The free use of crude carbolic acid is a great safeguard. Tt may be applied in sawdust or clay, the dry material being moistened by the carbolic acid thoroughly stirred into it. The less of the carbolic acid that is used the better, provided every particle of sawdust or of dry clay has its quota. The disinfectant thus prepared, may be used in the nests, in the dusting box, upon the floors, under the roots, etc. It is fatal alike to parasites and to tendency to disease in most cases. It cannot be depended upon in dirty houses, for fermenting manure, receiving fresh additions constantly, will overpower almost any disinfectant that could be safely used.

By spading or plowing up a portion of the runs frequently, fowls gain healthful exercise and find a few grubs and worms, and with these breeds of fowls, which are all very active by nature, exercise means eggs, and incidentally, perfect health.

KEEPING FOWLS IN CONFINEMENT.

The principal difference between hens in confinement and a flock having the privilege of a large field or orchard, is not that the free fowls derive more food, or a greater variety, for everything necessary to their comfort may be supplied them when they are shut up in yards. If there is any advantage in the keeping of the two flocks, it is with those that are confined, for these are under the direct watchfulness of the owner, and have no •wants unsupplied. Admitting that the flock in confinement is supplied with plenty of food, of a varied character, pure water, warm and dry quarters, and everything necessary to prosperity and production, it must be acknowledged that the flock having free range, if it receives equal care, or even partial attention, will give better results than the other.

Knowing such to be the case, as a ruie, the question is, What is the cause ? It is due to the fact that when fowls are confined they are overfed. Being accustomed to have their food brought to them instead of seeking it, they have no inducement to exercise. With them, it L, wait, and during the period of idleness they soon learn to pull feathers, and engage in all the vices arising from laziness and enforced idleness. If they are so fed that they must always seek the food in some manner, by being compelled to work for it, and not eat all they wish in a few moments, they would have but little time for leisure. All food should be given in a way to compel the fowls to scratch for it, for exercise is essential to egg production. It matters not how mnch space a flock may work over, for the bens of some of the large breeds do best on a small ranse, provided they are kept busy, and this should be done, even if no food is given during the day, by allowing them all the grain just before they go to roost. Keep them in full exercise, and avoid getting them fat, unless they are intended for market. RAISING CAPONS. It is not intended at this time to describe the mode of caponiziDg, as that has been done previously ; but as instruments for the purpose are now made that greatly simplify the operation, no doubt the opportunities for raising capons have been largely increased. The mistakes made by some who have endeavored to make capons an object for market, are numerous, tire greatest fault being the supposition that all kinds of cockerels would answer the purpose. A capon should be as large as possible. It is considered second only to the turkey, and size not only adds to the profit through extra weight, but also increases the price per pound. The poaltryimn who desires to ciponize. should use special breeds for his purpose. Crosses give the best results, the superior capons being produced by mating Dorking cooks with Brahma or Cochin hens, which secures not only the size pertaining to the Asiatics, but also the close, compact body of the Dorking. If the pullets of this cross are retained, and then mated with a large, pit game cock, the capons so produced will possess all the excellent qualities of Game (really tbe best table-fowl), with the size of the first cross. A capon of this kind has no superior hy any other cross. Among the other valuable crosses, is that of crossing the Brahma and Cochin together, a Houdan with Asiatic bens, and the Plymouth Bock with crosses of the Houdan and Brahma. Avoid fowls with large combs, as a capon should have as small a comb as possible. The Brahma crosses show to best advantage, as the combs are small and low. Such birds as Leghorns, Black Spanish and Hamburghs, are useless as capons. The object should be to attain large size, compact form, small combs, as much breast meat as possible, and fat condition. If these qualities are bred iu the capons, the price secured will be much larger than when cockerels are used without regard to their breeding. Good breeds and crosses are essential adjuncts to quality in capons and to realise the highest prices.

THE VETERINARIAN. CHOKING. The Field. Everyone is familiar with the possible risk of getting a bone in the throat, or of a piece of food or a mouthful of fluid going the wrong way, The last named accident is fortunately a very rare one, although it does sometimes occur that, during a spasmodic inspiration, a portion of food is drawn into the larynx, and causes violent contraction of the muscles which closes the opening into the windpipe. Suffocation is the natural and almost immediate result of the stoppage of air, and ths only remedy which can be used effectively is the operation of cutting into the windpipe below the obstructions, so as to allow the air to pass into the InDgs by an artificial opening until the obstruction can bo removed from the natural one. The operation is of no use, however, unless it can be done at once, and the accident happens usually where no skilled assistance is at hand, and the sufferer will die before the neceasay aid can be obtained. An accident of less serious import than that above described is the partial swallowing of a bone, which becomes fixed across the back of the throat, causing much alarm and spasmodic coughing and breathing, but no immediate danger to life. Sometimes the obstructing body gets half-way down tbe swallow, and is there retained, in consequence of the contraction of the muscular walls of the tube, or the shape of the body swallowed being of a kind to prevent its free passage down the canal. Some time ago, an apparently hopeless case of this sort was relieved by an ingenious operation. A person, by accident, swallowed with some food a number of false teeth, with the plate to which they were attached ; the wires and springs which formed part of the mechanism rendered the removal of the piece very difficult, but the surgesn was at last successful in get ing firm hold of the bidy by means of a horse hair loop, which he fastened to an elastic probang and passed down the patient’s throat.

Choking in the lower animals occurs from causes which are similar to those to which we have referred. The nature of tbe obstructing body will, of course, depend on the character of the food which the animal consumes. Dogs are liable to suffer from a bone getting fixed across the throat. Horses are less liable than other animals to be choked by their food; but it does occasionally happen that a rapid eater, especially after beine kept without food for some time, will bolt his feed so quickly that a quantity of half masticated oats will become impacted in a portion of the swallow, and cause severe distress. A ball, being the common form in which medicines are exhibited to horses, is one of the causes of choking ; and now and then an egg with the shell unbroken 'a specific of some stablemen for producing a fine coat) becomes fixed in Borne part of the swallow.

Cattle are more likely to be choked by a piece of turnip or mangold than by any other sort of food; and when roots were cut by hand, choking was a very frequent event. Now, however, that the use of machines for cutting or pulping roots secures uniform results in regard to the size of pieces, choking is compare.tivelv rare. The effects of choking, as the word is ordinarily used, indicating an obstruction in some part of the swallow, are not immeiiately serious. An animal may be choked for some time and yet recover ; but there are always to be apprehended certain secondary consequences, which may involve loss of life. Ruminating animals, for example, are almost certain to experience the complication which is known as lioven—that is to say, distension of the rumen, or paunch, with gas derived from the food which is contained in it. It may be concluded that the pain and alarm which the choked beast suffers will for the time interrupt tbe digestive process ; fermentatioi occurs, and as the gas cannot escape up the ceiophagus (swallow), which is the only direct channel through which it can cscepe in ruminants, the piunch quickly becomes filled, and, pressing on the diaphragm, prevents the dilatation of the chest and the expansion of the lungs. Under these circumstances, the amount of air which enters them is not sufficient to support life, and the animal is suffocated sometimes before any assistance can be rendered.

Horses and animals with single stomachs do not suffer in the same way as ruminants do, probably becaust when the swallow is closed gas can readily escape into the intestines ; and although some inconvenience is caused by the distention of the internal tube, there is no fear of suffocation.

Symptoms of choking are generally very well" defined, although they vary in different animals. Dogs, of all animals, are most successful in conveying to the observer a tolerable idea of what they are suffering from in these cases ;in fact, it is difficult to misunderstand the meaning of the signs which they exhibit. Tho animal makes violent and persistent efforts to cough or vomit up the offending agent, and uses his paws as though ha were trying to dislodge something from the mouth. Horses suffer from convulsive fits, which are apparently due to fear and excitement, rather than to any mechanical effects of the pressure of the impacted body. The head is drawn into the chest, the muscles of the neck contract spasmodically, and the horse occasionally shrieks with pain or alarm. These fits are succeeded by an interval cf quiet, during which the borso will make an effort to eat, but does not attempt to swallow. Cattle remain usually in one position, with the head extended and saliva flowing from the mouth. Occasionally an effort is made to expel the gas up the oesophagus, and frequent cough is also a symptom, which is more marked when the obstruction is situated high up near the larynx. Treatment of choking must be prompt in its application, and will have the best chance of success when it is carried out with a full knowledge of tbe nature of the obstruction ; and if any idea can be formed as to its position in the swallow, it will greatly assist the operator in his proceedings. Two methods of procedure present themselves for the relief of an animal which is choked. Under certain circumstances, the proper course is to drive the obstructing body downwards into tbe stomach, while in other cases the obvious plan is to remove it, by the mouth. The first method of treatment applies to all cases where the obstruction is situated

beyond the entrance to the swallow, and tbe second to caseß where the body is fixed at the back of the throat, and can be seen or felt.

In order to push an obstructing mass downwards, it is usually necesssry to use a flexible probang of a size to suit the kind of animal which is to be operated on. For cattle, a thick piece of rope with a wooden cup at the end was commonly employed ; but tho proper apparatus is a combination of indiarubber and wire which is sufficiently strong, and perfectly elastic and flexible.

Passing the probang is a very simple affair in cattle, but difficult m tbe horse, and it is not likely that the tyro would succeed. In fact, the important thing for tbe stock owner is to be able to recognise the existence of an ob truction in the oesophagus, in order that he may obtain veterinary aid without delay.

If the situation of the impacted body is such that manipulation is possible, much may be dme by the hands in moving it downwards by steady pressure, and the slightest change iu position will often be followed by its passage into the stomach.

When the choking is caused by the impaction of an egg—an accident which occurs sometimes in the horse—and the body can be detected by the projection which it causes, tlie most effectual method of disposing of it is to puncture the shell through the skin of the neck and the walls of the oesophagus by means of an awl, after which the she! may bo crushed without difficutv ; but until a small hole lias been made in it, an egg will resist strong pressure and a heavy blow without yielding, although the ekm and wall of the oesophagus may be seriously injured. In all cases of choking it is necessary, after the animal has been relieved, to keep it without food for some hours, and then to feed on sloppy food only, as the muscular walls of the oesophagus, in their irritable state, would be likely to contract on any solid body which the animal might attempt to swallow.