THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7852, 14 July 1911, Page 2

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

(By "GROWER.")

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. “Tertllitr.”—l have no doubt that as the season advances the roo.ster will show a greater partiality for the hens. Regarding fertility your best plan is to place a few eggs unde: a sitting hen and test them on the fifth day. There are different theories of telling whether on egg is fertile or not, but this is the only sure way. S. S- inquires why mangolds feci to laying hens produce light coloured yol.vs, and why carrots and beets produce yolks of a dark colour. Without going into the chemical analysis of the foods mentioned. the opinion is held by many practical poultrymen that, mangolds do not possess the necessary colouring matter, and when fed to excess have the effect of producing light-coloured yolks. Carrots and beets, on the other hand, are not so deficient in respect to colouring matter, and consequently impart a richer colour to the yolk. The same may bo also applied to certain cereals. Sulphate of iron is helpful when given in moderation. Watercress is one of the best of green foods for laying fowls as it contains a largo amount of iron. “J. McC." —Your query re black swans has been sent on to a learned outhovity for information, will be published as early cs possible. POULTRY IN IRELAND During Mav a conference of poultryincn was held at Dublin under tho auspices of tho Irish Department of Agriculture. A statement made at that meeting by Mr Edward Brown, as reported in the "N.B. Agriculturist/' will give local enthusiasts some idea of the growth of tho industry in Ireland, and its commercial value to the community. Mr Edward Brown -estimated tho world's annual bill for eggs and poultry at .£250,000,00ft, of which the United Kingdom accounts for between 8 and 0 per cont- Considering its size and population no section of tho kingdom _ had done so ranch as Ireland to meet this demand, and last j’cav the industry brought to Ireland a return something like .£1,000,000. He submitted that tho time had arrived when tho main effort should not be restricted so much to increases in the number of fowls kept, at any rate over those sections whore the most progress had been made, though tho United Kingdom could double if noc treble its stock of poultry. A good deal has been done in this direction, but much remains to be accomplished for improvement. Many farmers ' keep poultry in tho literal sense. It ought to bo the ether way, namely, that thcar poultry shall help to keep tho farmers. One of the main difficulties in respect to eggs is irregularity of supply, which an pears to be growing worse every year. Unless remedied, tho tendency will be to make eggs scarcer and dearer in winter, thus checldng consumption, and more plentiful and cheaper in the spring. IDs own view was that it was partly, if not mainly, due to late hatching, and to the selection of unsuitable breeds of fowls. The establishment of hatching centres should contribute to finding a remedy for the present state of affairs. The poultry industry could not have made such enormous strides had incubators not been brought to their stage of perfection, but many farmers could not afford them. If jire purchasable at a reasonable • price, oi ogvs can bo batched at one of tneso tree, that will so far to remove tho <mficulty referred to. Hero, a jam, uniformity of breed within a given area would go far to promote the, success M such a plan. However, hatching centres must he conducted on' commercial lines. OLD METHODS ABANDONED.

"Passed is the day when maintenance of a few fowls around the homestead or -■cottage can bo regarded as satisfactory. (To increase tho number of the stick -without totally changing tho ground is bound to fail, owing to the increased, hnanuiial constituents added to the seif., .What is known as the portable house! system has done much to secure distribu-t -tion over the land. Our ideas as to uio i houses or huts employed for poultry are (rapidly changing. Instead, of close, ill--veutilatsd, often overcrowded dwellings -for the fowls, what are termed openIfrontod houses, by which is meant that lone side is wire-netted, thus ensuring a ■regular a.nd systematic current of air to tlie many. Breeders can turn eggs, when low in price, into chickens saleable at a good profit. Purchasers can get what ithey require when the need is greatest. That is one direction in which much more may bo done.’ EGGS FOK WINTER To make a success of winter egg-pro-ductiou it is of the utmost importance that a good winter laying strain of fowls should be raised. Xt is no trouble to get hens to lay in summer or in the spring, but it is more or less unnatural for them to lay in -winter. The egg farmer at.the present time finds Jus egg ■production reduced to a minimum, and ■despite the laying competitions, tho da £h--culty of winter eggs remains unsolved. The best plan is to hatch out as far aj practicable in tho. winter months, and then the millets will bo ready to lay tbo following‘winter. It is desirable to obtain eggs for hatching from a good laying 1 .strain. Certain points can be observed in the way of inducing egg production in winter. See that the houses in which tho birds roost is warm and comfortable. On some poultry farms, the birds are not let out in the winter until sunrise. Whore the house faces an exposed situation see that it is well, protected on tho weather side. In giving tho morning mash, moisten it with warm water, anil two or three times a week add meat to it which can either bo run through the mincing machine or chopped up fine. Where a few fowls arc kept, and tha main source of the food supply is from table scraps, see that they are not given to the fowls in any haphazard way. it is a mistake te give fowls sloppy food. If bread is given, see that is mixed with tho mash, which should always be crumbly. Some peoolo mis m the mash at this time of the year mustard or pepper, but most practical men eschew all such ideas. Meat is a great help, especially sheep’s liver. One of these suspended in the fowl run, low enough for the birds to re&ch it b? jumping off the ground, -wRI provide exercise as well as nutriment. A little corn (in very, cold weather) mixed with the wheat in the evening -will he appreciated. FEATHER-EATING This Is one of the most annoying afrhetions of the poultry yard, particularly to those who are obliged.to keep tiieir fow~s in confined spaces; indeed, it rarely occur® in fowls that have free range. •The evidence of feather eating are. than one or more of the flock will be s°en to have bare patches, the denuded parte being usually tho neck, breast and thighs, but the baneful habit is such that instances are common where the birds have been plucked almost to the last feather, the peculiar part being that the subject usually lends itself to the cannibalistic habits of the culprit and seems to enjoy the operation. CAUSES. The causes are varied, sometimes due to overcrowding, when the fowls have to stand about all day with nothing to entheir attention; ono of them may See an insect on its neighbour, and peck-ixj-r it off accidentally brings a feather with it. If this bo a young, growing

feather, tho blood in tho quill s end attracts the fowl, which eats it, finds it palatable, and the habit commences. It is sometimes due to unsuitable dieting, particularly where tiiere has been an insufficiency of vegetable and animal matter. Many experienced men are of the opinion that the true cause, is the presence of a small mite, which causes irritation at the root of the feather. It 13 also sniggered that the bird.s are craving for some form of animal food that is not being -supplied in their daily retiou, but which is obtainable when fowls have a free range, and is not supplied when in confinement. REMEDIES. Observation will soon determine whether one or more of the flock have the habit; if it is confined lo one or two, tho simpl-ust plan is to remove them from confinement and give them a large range, and they will soon forget the habit. If a number arc addicted, to xho vice, then the runs should bo thickly strewed with chaff, hay, rdraw, or litter of 3ome sort, in which the grain food should be scattered, to induce exercise* A good plan Ls to distribute the grains in tho litter after the birds have gone to roost, so that it is available for them. ■ the first thing in the morning. Should ; these natural remedies fail, tho most satisfactory plan is to remove tho book end of the up|>er part of the beak with a sharp knife. This will prevent the bird from securing a grip of the feather sufii- : cient to puli it out. COLDS AND ROUP Roup may be called a disease of the ail* passage’s. The first causes may _ho brought on by a neglected cold, roosting in draughty bouses, drinking foul water, qt from insanitary conditions, while tho ; introduction of an affected bird from, another yard may bo responsible for tine trouble. By this means the whole flock have been known to become affected. The disease, however, attacks fowls in many wo.vs, but most frequently commences by a cold and is noticeable by a thin watery discharge from tho nostrils. If net taken in time the discharge thickens, and acquires an offensive sracU. The nasal passages then become blocked, thus affecting tho bird's breathing, and. it then begins to cough and sneeze, and following this there may be a. rattling in tho throat, caused by breathing through tho blocked windpipe and nostrils. The faco and eyes then become swollen; matter collects under the skin. Tho mouth becomes reddened and the mucous membrane inflamed. After this there is a most offensive deposit of a cheesy nature, of a tough consistence and firmly adhering. The deposit becomes thick and. yellow in colour, and the bird is obliged to breathe through its open beak, and tho swallowing of food is difficult. TREATMENT. In this, as in all other cases o-f poultry disease, prevention is the safest course to adopt. When the disease mentioned has become established the causes should be looked, for at once. Tho birds affected should be isolated in fresh quarters, and in severe cases killed and burned. Immediately the trouble makes its appearance the whole of the house should he well disinfected with sheep dip or other strong germ killer. The front of tho house should be opened up to the sun, care being taken that there are no draughts on the side and hack wal^s. When fowls an© observed to show Any of the symptoms indicated, put half a teaspoonful of Condy's crystals into a pint bottle of water, add one dessertspoonful of the mixture to. two quarts of the drinking water three times a week, and on such days give no other water to drink. Should this fail, inject with a Syringe, into the nostrils and mouth, •equal parts of peroxide of hydrogen and water. ■ $ WHITE LEGHORNS POR ENGLAND. THE UTILITY BIRD. Th© fact that the white Leghorns have achieved such marked success in laying competitions in Australia has attracted the attention of English fanciers. , Th© English poultry press often refers in laudatory tones to these performances, of which tho following is a sample, from the ; "Feathered ■World"; —"The marked head- 1 way that Leghorns have achieved 'down below/ and such is the fame of these layiug strains that English fanciers ar© now Importing from our colonial cousins. It remains to be seen how the English climate will suit the Australian 'egg machines.* and whether we shall bo ablo to obtain individual records of 285 eggs in 12 months, or pen records of 256 eggs per bird under our gloomier skies." N.Z. UTILITY POULTRY CLUB SEVENTH EGG-LAYING COMPETITION. APRIL Ist, 1911, TO MARCH Slab, 1912. Official report for the fourteenth week, ending July sth;

THE EGG MARKET. The latest quotations show a still further decline in prices, with a flooded market. Fresh eggs in Wellington yesterday were worth from Is 2d to Is 3d for special brands. Preserved were quoted at Is Id. * • . THE SYSTEM OP FEEDING According to the ideas of mony farmers "any sort of feeding" does for hens, says a Home writer, and here, he evidently feels, is the farmer's greatest error. Healthy food, fresh water, and clean, well-ventilatod houses are the essentials he claims necessary for good and satisfactory results. "How can an egg bo expected to taste sweet and fresh if tho hen has been drinking dirty water?" he queries—a statement we cordially endorse; and, we might add also, how can similar results be expected if the food is stale or otherwise unsuitable? The qualify of an egg depends greatly ‘upon the‘matcriai of which it- is made, phis tho conditions under which the birds arc kept, not on the colour of its shell. And, as a rule, the new-laid egg produced by a hen having the free range and fresh air of a farm will, if the birds are properly kept, be of finer quality and flavour than that of ono laid by fowls kept in closely confined runs. SCRATCHINGS When a bird is noticed to be running a littlo at the nostrils, these should be squeezed out, Tho proper way to do this is to insert the index finger inside tho mouth, holding it close to the roof of the mouth, and squeeze down on th© nostril with th© thumb. Do not squeeze with tho thumb without putting the finger in the mouth, otherwise you will be pushing the deposit into the bird's mouth. When a bird has a cold in a pen isolate it at: once. Theu put a piece of camphor about th© size of a. walnut in th© drinking water, and keep it there. It wall last some time before it is all dissolved. This will prevent tho bird from drinking too much water, and also prevent the spreading of the cold.

Ono of tho most common mistakes maclo by the amateur in rearing chickens is to neglect tho older ones for the sako of those just hatched, the general belief 'being that when chicks are a few weeks old they require much less looking after, ami on this account, to a certain extent, they are allowed to do very much as they like. A greater or more serious mistake could not be made. Growing chicks should he fed both liberally and well, os the progress they make during the first few weeks will decide to a very largo extent how they are going to turn out. Givo a chick a good start .in life, and one half the battle is won. On the other hand, neglect it during the first few weeks and all the attention it is possible to give it afterwards will not make up for what it ought to have received before.

The growth of tho day-old chick business has been remarkable in other parts of tho world, and commenting on it the "American Poultry Journal" states that "baby chick farming has a future all its own as an avocation for town and village dwellers or suburban residents whoso work with poultry must be governed by tho conditions of small ground area anti time limited to th© requirements of their regular business. The elimination of tho vexations and uncertainties of th© hatching period, allowing this time to be devoted to tho chicks, greatly increases the chances of success, making the care 6f poultry but a pleasant diversion, which not only pays definite dividends in health and recreation, but, unlike other hobbies, yields a revenue which not only makes it self-sus-taining but profitable,"

Last Week’s Tl. to Total. Date. Misses H. and M. Bradley (Papa- ‘ 388 nui) W.L 19 G. H. Robinson (Chch), B.0 19 367 T. Kennedy (Bangiora*). S.W 26 326 Heretaunga Poultry Co. (Silver3)7 stream). W.L 17 Raruduru Egg Ranch (Otaki), W.L. 18 299 A. E-. Wilson (Shirley), W.W 2 290 A. Tisch (Dallington), W.L 12 289 A. 11. Browne (Gpce.nm’dows), W.L. 2 2*8 Edgar Hall (Lower Hutt), B.0. ... 23 284 A. B. Browne (Gr’um’d’ws). W.L. 11 250 W. Nison (Burwood), W.L 20 277 D. Y. Gibson (Herbert.), W.L. 4 275 Urs E. W. Hawke (I’apanoi), W.L. 9 256 N. Solomon (Westport), W.L. 18 255 Thomas Frethsy dtartinbor'). B.L. 12 251 T. Collins (Waiwetu), W.L 19 256 Master Gordon Wilson (Shirley), W.L 17 243 Herelaunga Poultry Co* (Silverstream), W-L. 16 248 Verrall Bros- (Swa.nna.noa), WX. ... 17 246 T. Kennedy (Rangiora), W.W 13 227 W. Halmn. (Greenm’dows), W.L. ... 20 218 A. E. Wilson (Shirley), W.L. 5 230 J. W. Green (St. Albaais), W.L. ... 23 200 B- Willis and Sans (Now Brigh207 C. M. Peek (Avondale) B.0 15 205 G. Pina (Wellington), W.L 4 204 0. Hammond (Ruakura), W.P.R. ... 20 2 : 2 C. L. Bridges (IV aneanul). W.L. ... 7 202 W. Nixon (Burwood). W.L 16 200 A. H. Padman (Adelaide). W.L- ... 15 200 (1. H. Barnett (Lesion), B.L 12 199 James Ashton (Hainner), S.W. ... 12 198 K. Willis and Sons (New Brighton). WX. ... 12 194 A E. (Adelaide), W.L. ... 12 192 187 O. -M. Peek (Avonda’o). W.L 20 135 Domin'on Pc-nEry Plant (Coro- • 184 W. Kni-ht (Fun), WJL. 20 191 W. G. Goodwin (Thames). W.L. ... 4 178 Mrs J. Mdls (Dnne'Hn), W.L 10 A. B. Menzies (Addington), B.G. 176 169 WL : 15 A. E. Kent iSh'r'ey). W.L. 8 165 P. J. (Bol'estou), W.L 10 159 W. Scull (ChrMohurcb), B.W. 15 159 A W Adams (Sheffield), S.W. 21 158 K. Meadows (Sureydon), W.L. 7 136 W. 0. Sail (Cost), W.L 12 152 H T-ecer (Werarca). W.L ....... 1 151 A. W. Irvine (Eneom). W.L 18 141 W Dalch (Belfast). W.L 9 117 A. W. Irvine (Em'om), W.L 12 114 G. H. Robinson (Obrist’cb), W.L.... 8 313 A. Stevenson (Wellington). W.L. ... 11 100 D Stewart (Normandy), W.L 24 71 H. M. Bannehr (Siccarton). W.P.R. 0 70 G. H. Bradford (Onstl. W.L 2 40 T. Dowthwaite (Auckland), W.L..,. 31 40 Jamc- Q Maxwell (M&sterton). B.0.... 7 39 A. F. IT. Sutherland (Wellington), W.P.R 4 30 P. J. Keller (Uolleston), C 0 25 Totals 781 11,733

LEADING PENS FOE WEEK ENDED JULY 12. Total to Date J IV. Green (St. Albans), W.L. ... 27 227 \V. Halnin (Greenmeadow?). W,L. 25 A. E. IVilson (Shirleyi. 'A ,\V 25 G.K. Boblnson (Christ ch), B.O.... 2d \V. 0. Sail (Oust), W.L 2S 177 \V. Knisbi (Hntt), No. 1, W.L 24 T. Kennedy (Eangiora). U.\t 24 251 SECOND DUCK EGG-LAYING COOTETT* TION. U ALL INDIAN RUNNERS.) Official report for the fourteenth week, Last Total Week':-; to Total. Date Poultry Co. (Silverstream) 34 4C1 W. Knight (Hntt) 23 560 A. E. Browne (Greemneadovrs) ... 23 305 P. J. Keller (Rollcston) 21 502 'W Hodgson (Cheviot) 5 253 T. R. Hall (Weraroa) 7 246 S. 31. Scott (Oaehunga) 0 125 W. Knight (Hntt) .... 21 120 C. Hammond (Rua-kura) 22 101 T Siren.*? (Doyloston) 14 74 B, A. O’Brien (Waihi) 21 35 S. 31. Scott (Onehungra) 6 6 F. Webb (Levin) 6 6 Totals 213 2355 LEADING PENS FOR WEEK ENDED JULY 12. Total to Date Ueretnunga Poultry Co. (Silverstream) c,0 451 C. Hammond (Rualcora) 30 lot T. Strong (Doylestou) 20 103 P. J, Keller (Rollcston) 26 328