POULTRY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22476, 22 January 1935, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES

An Extra

By Tekbob. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS "Health" asks: "What accommodation in house and run is necessary for a flock of 10 birds ? " —A house six by eight feet would allow the necessary four square feet floor space for each bird. The perches should allow nine inches per bird. The outer run should be large enough to allow 150 square feet per bird, 1500 feet in all. A run of 50 x3O square feet would allow this, but if it were divided | into two runs and the birds allowed to use them alternately \ it would be better.

Producers and Reproducers Trapnesting the birds is. the most accurate method by which one can identify the best layers, in a flock. When we talk of single penning the hens or pullets we have no thought for breeding purposes, the sole idea being eggs, and not reproduction. Birds for reproduction should have facilities for ranging so that vigorous constitutions can be maintained, and it is such- birds kept in flocks that require to be trapnested in order to find out which are the best layers. Trapnesting and pedigree hatching enable one to tell not only which hens are good producers, but also which are good reproducers —in other words, which hens are able to produce strong, healthy chicks and pullets that will make creditable records during their laying year. A hen that is a producer of a large number of eggs from which will be produced a number of healthy chicks, and later from, these chicks high-producing pullets and strong, vigorous cockerels, can easily be_ identified by the trapping and pedigreeing process and be retained as long as she lives as one of the best breeders. A hen that is a good layer, but is unable to produce healthy progeny, may be placed with the layers, but should not be used ag a breeder. An American authority treating on this subject says:—"l have not the slightest doubt but that one season's hatches may be made to average as high as 85 or even 90 per' cent- by removing birds from the breeding flock that continually lay infertile eggs, or eggs that contain germs of such low vitality that they will last only one or two weeks in the mlcubatoiv Breeders who have finished with hatching this season ought to know which of their hens laid tne eggs containing weak germs. If they have this knowledge they will take care that those birds are not bred from again no matter'how prolific they may be as producers. If all the eggs set in an incubator, though fertile, fail to hatch out, then the probability is that the male bird is the faulty one and he should not head any breeding pen in future. A hen with a low production record can easily be detected by the trap nest and consequently be discarded altogetherbeing no good for either the laying pen or for breeding. In small yards where the birds are kept both for eggs and breeding purposes the trap nest may not be needed in order to ascertain the best producers and reproducers as the owner, if he is observant, knows each individual bird. Fanciers who run small flocks and whose endenvour is to breed as closely as possible to the standard of excellence do not require to trap nest. They can always point out to you the sire and dam of their winning birds. Though they do not require to.trap nest, they take great interest in pedigreeing their birds. Pedigreeing adds the further advantage of bringing increased prices for stock and hatching eggs. Thousands of customers want pedigreed stock and are willing to pay for it if they can have some sort of assurance that it is pedigreed. It is well to remember that all customers are not novices. Experienced breeders often require a change of blood and when they do they don't buy at a produce merchant's auction sale. They go to breeders of tepute and pay the price .demanded.

It is well to remember that a fresh laid egg is an " extra," as the pullet or hen first requires a sufficiency of food for her bodily needs, the daily repair of tissue and general bodily development before any nutriment'can be spared for egg-making, and ovarian production. Feed generously, feed variety, don't overlook green food, stone grit, oyster shell and plenty of fresh, cool water. Duck Farming Problems

At a recent Harper Adams Conference Mr A. N. Dickson, who is known as a successful breeder of Khaki Campbell ducks, read a paper on' " Duck Farming Problems." He said that his experience proved that washing water was undoubtedly beneficial, but swimming water was not so important. The real value of clean water, lies in. the improved vitality of stock as a result of clean condition of its plumage. Ducks, when supplied with deep Idrinking vessels, do not often iinmerse their heads, although their eyes and ears require to be kept clean. Ducks regain their normal glossiness and buoyancy after short bathes. Obviously the effect of water quickly induces in ■ their feathers some condition of oiliness which can be obtained, in hardly any other way. The only factor that could vary to any degree in management is the feeding and foods. Duck breeders are experimenting with various foodstuffs to keep up the normal condition of plumage together with prolific egg laying. 'lt is possible to give foods.containing oils, such as cod liver oil, also linseed meal in the form of ground linseed cake, as a valuable addition to wet mash,. The effect of water upon egg yield •vyas proved in many ways. This breeder made reference to his visit to' Holland, where he found on successful duck farms running along the foot of each range of pens a continuous concrete gully about 18 inches broad and eight inches deep. This was filled by a large turncock at one end and could be flushed and refilled by removal of a plug at' the far end. A narrow trough like this gave ample room for washing owing to its length providing space for many ducks to drink from and to be kept sweet and clean. Egg size was also dealt.with, and it was agreed that large eggs were most important, but moderation in breeding was necessary. No breed could maintain its, popularity if it was not profitable. A large output of fair-sized eggs was infinitely more profitable than a lesser number of super eggs. He found 3Joz eggs rarely commanded better prices than 2Jpz ones, apart from the extra cost of production. In breeding for high egg yield (he concluded) there was no great risk of reducing stamina if care was exercised. Feeding Goslings

An Australian authority says goslings should be fed on wet mash which includes a lot of well-chopped, tender, succulent green food. The ground wheats or barley, or a mixture of these; scald half with hot water or hot separator or skimmed milk—add' the chopped green food, mix and then dry off to, a moi6t or crumbly mash with the balance of the meal. Failing ground grain use pollard and bran in equal, parts. Feed three or four times daily for 10 days, then three times, and give as much additional green food as they wilr eat. At a fortnight at least half of the mash should be chopped green food. Stamina "Stamina" is described in the dictionary as "strength, vigour, power of endurance." It may be elaborated by saying that birds which lack stamina have poor reproductive powers, offer weak resistance to disease, and are short-lived. It follows that in selecting birds for breeders those lacking every evidence of stamina should be rejected. No matter whether a bird has proved itself productive, if it has lost stamina it will prove to-be not reproductive—its eggs will show poor hatchability, the chicles hatched will be weakly, and any actually reared if not discarded in the culling will be unprofitable. Begin culling now and watching for stamina. ' Continue culling all the year round.

High Mortality " Rufus," a regular contributor, to Poultry (England), in the course of an article in a recent issue of that paper, Bays: — "In the cause of high mortality at laying tests, that very practical writer on poultry topics,"' Whytorp,' contributed an excellent article recently to the Yorkshire Herald. "Many and varied reasons are being put forward, stated this authority, in an attempt to explain or excuse the high mortality at many laying tests. "Nevertheless, he added, most, if not all, fail to give a really convincing answer to what is tending to become an accepted

but unprofitable accompaniment to the poultry-keeping business. "Is it, he asked, this high mortality the just consequence of breeding for prolific production of large eggs, out of season laying, mass production with mammoth incubators, battery brooding, and the host of other unnatural methods adopted by the present generation of poultry keepers? "Possibly that is so, but, as I have more than once asserted, and which I still assert, the rock bottom of high mortality is the stupidity of breeding from pullets at a time when the stamina of such birds is taxed to its utmost by heavy production. "Out of season laying, mass production with mammoth incuabtors, and battery brooding have little to do with it in my experience. Far too many birds of the wrong sort are being used in the breeding pens, while chickens which should be killed at birth are allowed to exist. "As ' Whytorp-' so truly remarked, until quality takes pride of place at all breeding establishments and is acknowledged the primary essential necessary to raise and maintain healthy, vigorous, and productive stock, the mortality rate on the farm or at laying tests will not show any appreciable signs of diminishing. " It is as true to-day as it was many years back, when the author of 'Poultry for the Many' stated that the treatment of the layers and the breeders must be distinct. A great winter layer, wrote that authority, rarely makes a good spring breeder, while a heavy layer should not be used as a breeder until her second season. " Nowadays, he said, it is too much the custom, after pullets have gone through heavy winter laying, to run them on for spring breeding. It is folly to expect birds to do all this in a satisfactory manner, and the sooner it is understood the better for. the industry." The salt in " Huia" is iodised for health. It is the butter recommended by doctors.—l7/3/34; Although far from being common, cases have been known where persons have grown a third set of teeth. In oue such case, reported recently, a 76-year-old woman not only boasted a third sot of teeth, but improved eyesight and darkening hair as well. .