THE POULTRY RUN

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12394, 13 March 1926, Page 19

THE POULTRY RUN

SOME UTILITY HINTS * WORK FOR THE MOMENT (Written for the “Times” by G. H. Ambler.) When we get into March we look forward to dry and bright weather. February has certainly belied itself, as, instead of being one of the hottest mouths of the year, it has been cold and. wet, with the result that poultrykeeping has been a, very unpleasant occupation, and little has been done outside. Much leeway will have to be made up during this month in preparation for the winter. All painting, creosoting, or tarring should be completed. Renew all i rotten woodwork, look to spouts, eaves, and general drainage. Repair scratching-sheds, and v get in all necessary material, sand; grit,: and other useful things fot winter Use. Straw, chaff, sawdust, all come handy, and should be stored in readiness. Fix up drinking fountains and bottles properly protected for the winter. There is not much daylight now, so that all tEft necessary work just mentioned, should he ' pushed along as speedily ns fjpssible. All ..grass, runs should now..He mown over and the cuttings taken tout,. while if the run is not wanted lor a few weeks it can-be dressed with slaked lime very thinly, so as’ to. sweeten when the rain and frost come. ■ . ' YOUNG STOCK AND INSECTS Where there are - young, growing chickens they should. be put into sheltered runs. ' Care Should; he exercised at this .season of the year with housing, and it is important that, crowding should -be avoided.- An- abundance - ofventilation, too, is onosk necessary., and the larger docks should’be divided; as manyt times as .accommodation will allow.. Cleanliness’should -be’most'carefully attended to,'coops and brooders cleansed regularly, and well disinfected with Yama disinfectant, which is an excellent germicide. In' these days of high price of feed, labour, and equipment, it is necessary for the poultryman to look 'into the question of efficiency, to stop,-the leaks in the business. It is not .over-estimating the importance of poultry parasites to say that they are responsible’ as the greatest single source of loss to the, rearers of poultry in New Zealand. In thinking .of our losses we are -jnchneft/rto consider only yie actual;' death of fowls, when, as a matter of fact, this is infinitesimal as compared with, the less apparent, though no less certain, damage produced by these parasites by retarding growth, lowering vitality, reducing egg production, and the time lost in caring for such stock, and often in applying ineffective remedies. These leaks should not go on. Poultrykeepers must not' continue to feed a horde of unwelcome ' guests, or they will see what’.might be reasonable profit turned thereby' into actual losses.

TIfSg'RED MITE

Now is the time, even with every care, that red mite makes us appearance, and careful watch should be kept for this troublesome visitor. These minute blood-sucking animals vary considerably in size'. and colbur, according to their age - and'the amount of food they contain. When well starved they appear grey, and when freshly fed quite red, and a little later they become a dark bluish colour.. They are strictly, blood-suckers, remain hidden’ »n the.cracks of poultry-houses during the 3ay, feeding on the fowls only at night. A few mites, however,' remain in the feathers of . the birds during tho daytime. Actual death loss due” to mites is considerable,- .especially in’ backyard flocks and on the farm when hens are set on eggs in infested buildings. There is, of bourse, much irritation and blood loss-produced, among these fowl* qn -the perches. _ This-injury' is shown in. the . jnSturns in growth . and ’ ’ egg production. The red mite is distributed throughout the Dominion. In attacking ,awL destroying red- mite pn« 'of the-main difficulties ft to apply mp- . ferial which will be very penetrating Sand also persistent IonJS .enough to destroy mites which may emerge from the deeper cracks. Disinfectants and Wood preservative have been found best to fill these requirements. A bucket pomp is satisfactory for the application, but a 4-foot lead of hose usually sold-.with these pumps is not sufficient •—6ft'is much better,, and a Bordeaux nozzle is preferable. Before spraying the entire interior of. the building, the " old roosts and nests- should be re--moved and then spYayed. along with the rest of the building, including, the floors. In fighting mites, and, of course, this applies to other vermin which hide in the cracks of ?Vv building, it is .important to have the roosts constructed so that thqy will be easily examined and treated. I have always found that, it is desirable to keep-the roosts detached from the walls. After the initial spraying, it is usually, necessary to paint ‘tne perches and supports' with Yama at occasional filter-' vala. One painting with this preparation will usually result'ln the complete destruction of the mites. NEXT SEASON’S BREEDERS Although it is now too late to hatch stock for next season’s breeding it is not too soon to look out tne birds wherewith you can mate up your pen. The number in the pen will depend upon the breed, space, quality, and pocket. All the light breeds can do with more birds in the pens, eight or ten hens being frequently used, and yet every egg comes out. fertile. The heavy breeds will not take so many,’ and while Rocks, Rhode Island Reds or Orpingtons can have six to eight hens, _ anything heavier should have a less number. Of course, much depends upon the condition and vigour of the cockerel, for some will fertilise more eggs than others, and in view of the ever-increasing demand for poultry and eggs, it is essential that even egg from the breeding pens should contain a germ full of life and vitality.

Every man must be governed -by his stock and the condition they • are in and then must take into account space as to whether he can conveniently run the number. Do not overcrowd the house or run,, or allow a run of only a few square yards, because ,shis only means a loss of fertility, and you must not waste eggs. The occupants of the breeding pen must be allowed ae much liberty a» possible. I have .also said that the pen will depend upon quality and pocket. These .two can be put together and perhaps get near the mark. It is perhaps telling a man he must have six birds -in i a pen when his pocket will - only allow four, because >- he must have ’an idea of quality if the ohioks are to be a success. It is f false policy to mate up .anything just because they are hens' and expect to breed - good- stuff. Better to only I breed from a few and those good than to hatch a lot of chickens which will not bring you credit. When first I entered seriously upon ray poultry career I went to a reliable dealer and paid (a goodprice in thpse days) for a trio of exhibition White Leghorns, These birds proved to be tho foundation of one of the most successful studs of White Leghorns in England.' You may say that you need only eggs and all fowls lay, so that is enough; but remember that if you . raise a -nook from good layers there is a chance of. each pullet laying 60 or 70 more eggs in tho year than 'if the chioks come from .poor stock, so that even-if only for eggproduction see that the hens in the pen have same good points about them. For the head of all breeding pens from which you expect . to produce good layers, see that tbe cockerel is from first-class stock. There 13 no doubt that the male has a great influence upon the progeny, and he should be from a sound, reliable strain. If he is bred from a. Hen which' was a noted layer your chickens will probably make good layers, despite the fact that the hens may not have a great record. Another thing, tbe male is half the pen, and therefore; the chief factor that it cannot pay you to have a cockere) lacking in the necessary qualities for, which you are breeding. Be wise in time, and purchase all your birds before the season is here. You will be able to obtain them at -a less figure now than you would by waiting until the middle of May, because then everyone is wanting stock, birds. Apart from this, you will, if'you buy now, be able to have your pick, while later it may mean having to take-anything on hand. HINTS Throw open all poultry-house doors and shutters on sunny days. Sunlight kills germs and purifies the air. Put nest boxes in the darkest corner of the poultry-house. Not under tbe perch unlees there is a dropping board*