POULTRY NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 16

POULTRY NOTES.

MISTAKES WITH BROODER CHICKS. It is sometimes difficult to say in what direction the mistakes lie, unless one is acquainted with all the circumstances. The natural mother knows all I those conditions, and in a measure sue-! coeds in supplying them, but we have! no instinct to guide us, and until wej learn from experience, by one failure after another, it is not strange that we make mistakes.. With small chicks the temperature seems to be the most im- , portunt matter, no strict rules for which can be laid down absolutely, varying as it should with that of the outside air, and also with the age of the chicks. They should not he hampered with too much heat, but have enough so they will rest quiet at night and not crowd together. Experience will enable the operator to tell whether the chickens are too warm or too cold without the use of a thermometer, although I generally make a practice of : having one placed in the brooder., The arrangement of the hover is im- I portant, as well as that of the heater. \ I prefer the round or circular hover, placed in the centre of the brooder proper; this gives the chicks a chance to get away from the heat in any direction, while if the hover is in the corner or on one side they are much injured by the heat, if not trying to avoid the heat, and bunch up in the corner or on the side, consequently they are much injured bv the heat, if not killed. There are brooders on the market that are nothing more nor less than death traps. However, I believe more chicks are killed by crowding than by the use of poorly constructed brooders. I have never seen any brooder yet, rated for 50 chicks, that I would put more than 35 in, if i wished to have them to do thoir best, and 25 would be better. And I would not place more than 60 in a 100-chick size. In fact, my experience has led me to believe about 50 or 60 will thrive better than a larger number together, no matter how large the brooder. Leg weakness has been a common ailment of brooder chicks in years past, but during the last year or two I have not heard so much about this complaint. It is claimed by some that the cause comes from dry and hot floors in brooders. The heat drying out the oil of the log, and cramps, followed by leg weakness, occurs. This may be the cause in some instances, but I think the' majority of cases are brought on by high feeding of a poorly balanced ration and lack of exercise. Brooder chicks require a great variety of food, for, unlike those that run at large with the old hen, they have no opportunities to make up our deficiencies in feeding. Insect life and fresh, tendevegetation is their most natural and wholesome food. This the early broods are entirely deprived of. Some fresh bone ground fine will come nearer taking the place of insects than anything else we can supply.—‘Tasmanian Mail.” SGRATCHINGB. A writer in the "Indiana Farmer” says that for the past three years he has had plums only in his poultry yard. Other trees outside, in similar soil, with like culture and of same age, yielded only a little, wormy worthless fruit, while those inside were loaded. He feeds his flock under the trees. .

At no time of the year are colds in the head of both man • and bird so prevalent as now. We are reminded of the fact by having ourselves just contracted the “good old annual.” Guard your fowls better than we have guarded ourselves, or there will be a death or two in your feather family.

If you are going in for pure-breds, decide how much you are going to give, and ask the breeder for the best he can give you for the money. Then you will be likely to get a satisfactory article.

Don’t worry breeders with long letters of inquiry unless you intend to .buy. If you are out after information, step this way. That’s what we’re hero for, and guess we can satisfy you. Breeders advertise for business—they are not information bureaus.