THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9717, 20 July 1917, Page 2

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

WHEAT NOT NECESSARY. Though substitutes are being largely used by poultry-men at the present time, such as maize and oats, the fact remains that wheat is generally regarded as tho host food for domestic poultry. But an even more serious hadicap than tho high price of wheat is the prohibitive price of pollard, which in many cases is unobtainable even at an excessive price; and where this foundation of tho morning mash is procurable the Quality is of a very inferior character. A practice being adopted by many poultrymen who are keeping poultry on a large scale is to buy the whole grain and nave it ground, using the complete grain for the morning mash and for drymash purposes. It is not the cheapest method of feeding poultry, but the men who do it believe that it is more economical than using interior pollard purchased at fancy prices. It would be interesting to ascertain the result of only using bran for tho mash, eliminating pollard altogether. It is difficult to get the bran to mix well with, say- chaffed lucerne, but those who have any- skim, milk available would find this a great assistance in making the bran adhere to the other constituents of the mash. Where the hot mash is fed and vegetables are cooked for tho purpose, the bran would be found to mix better than where the materials are mixed in a cold condition. A fact to be remembered is that whore grain is in short supply an abundance of green stuff and good range (where this is possible) assist materially in making good the shortage. A good supply of meat (fresh meat if procurable) is also necessary under these conditions if tho egg supply is to be maintained. According to the finding of the chief poultry expert, as a result of the feed tests conducted at Milton Poultry Plant wheat, and even pollard, are not indispensable in the dietary of the heavy layer when oats and lucerne meal are substituted, and that even on this diet, ary birds in their second year may be made highly profitable. Tho remarkable fact is disclosed by- these tests that a pen of brown Leghorns fed bn lucerne meal (1101 b), bran (401 b), maize-meal (301 b). crushed oats (771 b), meat and boneeal (2Ilb), meat and bone-meal, fed separately (271 b), and oats (1921 b) returned a higher profit over cost of feed than the three other pens, two of which were White Leghorns, the profit per bird over cost of food being 18s 4o in the case of the birds in question, the second pen of Brown Leghorns (fed cheat in the evening, but no pollard in the mash) giving 16s 4d profit, the pen of "White Leghorns having pollard, hut no wheat 14s lid. and the pen of White Leghorns having both pollard and ' heat 13s _sd only. The results in favour of substitution of wheat and pollard are cv tainlyconvincing, especially as the eggs Lid by tho Brown Leghorns receiving neither pollard nor wheat in their second VI ar and no wheat in their first year, la'd on the average 1449 eggs in the first y<ar and 1211 eggs in their second year. This is great lay-ing. It is assured by an encouragement to poultry keepers to maintain their flocks irrespective of the cost of wheat and pollard. It was even more instructive had crushed cats bten eliminated from the morning mash. It is something to have proved that wheat is not the indispensable item, of fowls dietary it has been considered in the past. As this idea has been exploded, it is highly probable the idea that maize is too heating and fattening for laying stock could be also proved to be mA POLLARD SUBSTITUTE. Pollard is now high in price and unsatisfactory in quality. The New South Wales poultry expert; indicates how a low-grade flour, might be used in .the manner described below, as Was advised during the feed crisis of a. couple of years ago. At this time, as, a result of some inquiry in regard to mixing flour and bran in the absence of pollard for ■ the morning mash, an experiment was carried out to determine what quantity of flour would bo to mix with bran to make it of a fair mechanical consistency, and of much the feed value as in the case of using pollard. Several proportions were tried and in different ways. It was found by using flour in its raw state, quite 49 per cent, .was required to “bind’’ the bran, but by boiling the flour and making it into what may be- described as “bill-sticker’s paste,” made into, a) thin state, a much smaller quantity was necessary- That is to. say, by gelantising tho flour, about 15 per cent, is required to achieve the same- result, ranch depending upon the class of flour. The food value of the resulting compound would be much the same as that of the usual mixture of pollard and bran. It is not contended that this mixture will meet the requirements of poultry-keep-ers with the same facility as when using the medium to a fine class of pollard. but we have to face conditions as we find them. RED MITE.

Much has been written about the keeping of poultry free from insect pest and tho -germs of' disease—by fighting the red mite with kerosene applied to the perches, tho interior of the house sprayed with disinfectant, and occasionally. it is advised, the birds should be dusted with insect powder. Tho best way of fighting insect life and disease germs, and the really only effective method, is to prevent them. And the best way of preventing them is to provide no place in which they cam breed or hide. This necessitates the absence of all cracks and crevices. Where the interior of the buildings are such that nooks and corners and cryvices abound, the best means of closing up these hiding places for vermin, especially the deadly red mite, is to give the whole of the interior a good coat of tar. SETTING EGGS.

When setting hens it is desirable to move them to a separate pen or house where other hens cannot laj r in their nests or otherwise disturb them. By following this method annoyance and disappointment from disturbed nests and broken eggs is largely overcome. It is advisable to move the broody hens at night, as they are more liable to take readily to the nest and their- new quarters. Suitable nests should be provided, about 14 inches, made of clean, dry straw or chaff, and made saucer-shaped to receive the eggs. When possible two Or more hens should be set at the same time. This method simplifies the cue in rearing, as one hen can brood the chicks of two hatches, and the one system of feeding the young chicks can be adopted. Special care should be taken that the setting hens are entirely free from lice. Before setting thoroughly dust' them with some louse powder or flour of sulphur. It is better to repeat this treatment tea days after the hens have been set. KAFFIR COEN. Providing fowls ace furnished with grain in separate compartments in order to see what article is most preferred, the Missouri station found that wheat was the more relished, Kaffir corn coming next. The use _ of the latter grain is rapidly increasing in this State, and, with the writer, as with hundreds of other poultry keepers, it proves very satisfactory. There are sections of tnis State where this grain, also Eg.p'-i'n corn, can be profitabily raised. Preference is giyen by many to “Hypt” corn. We have found oats to bo one oi the best grains for young and old fowls, although this grain contains a high percentage of fibre. We like plump white oats, either soaked for 24 hours before feeding, or sprouted, which takes three or four days. Earley, also, has considerable roughage and many fowls will not take - readily to it-at first feeding, but its gradual use"'especially after sprouting for five days will, as a rule, prove satisfactory.” " BUY THE BEST:

If a poultry breeder desires to obtain good birds let him go to where good

birds are bred, and nay a P nc ® ° oia " raensurate with their value (says “Chanticleer" in the "Australasian' ). i-’Oi then one will not only get what suits one’s individual taste, but a bird which is bred for a distinct purpose. It will, coming from a reputable yard, be so and in health and constitution—matters ot great moment in establishing or m Strengthening a breeding stud. Health and robustness in the breeding stock is the one great essential. *lype and quality are worthless if not accompanied by a sound and vigorous constitution- Wanting that jui other excellence fails. In looking for breeding stock, therefore, make sure that the selected birdshow every sign of vigour, 'then loo*, for tyue, quality and :f need be With such birds the poultry breeder will it a fee -sure of rais ng lusty chickens, that will in a measure defy ordinary weather conditions even during a sever--winter and a spring to follow, with its every varying conditions and temperatures. Not so if. the parent birds are lacking in v gour. The progeny in that case will give endless trouble and anxiety. Many chickens will assuredly die in the shell and the more fortunate unfortunates those that do make their appearance, may hang on. trembling m the balance between moderate health and valetudinarianism. They may arrive at maturity, but in the reproduction of their species they reproduce the selfsame unhealthy, and therefore unprofit-

able -progeny that their own parents begot. Therefore, if good fowls are wanted go to a breeder with a reputation for good birds, and with a character for honest dealing, paying him the full value of the stock wanted. _ If it does not matter whether the birds wanted are good or bad, well, get the cheapest you can. You will, however, even with the cheapest, get no bargain. Birds are advertised for a few shillings, -which frpm the description are certainly worth a pound or two. Buying such birds is like buying a purse with a half-a-crown in it for a shilling from a "Cheap-Jack." The '-hilling will be worth something more ’than what is handed over—except for the experience—that will be valuable. POINTERS. 1 Cleanliness good fording and good, iiou.-iu'- ore necessarr to success in poulry breeding. Only the v-tv best and most promising cockerels should be selected for stock: the rest should be fattened and killed for the table. House the pullets well. Supply plenty of litter, such as grass, straw or bracken ferns. Pullets and first Tear birds should receive careful attention. Harket all hens past their second year. Don’t overlook the male birds; feed them separately during the cold weather. They require animal foc-d as much as the hens do.