POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3036, 22 May 1912, Page 35

POULTRY NOTES.

By Tbebob.

—ln reply to "Meat Scraps": Experiments in Australia at one of the egg-laying competitions showed that birds fed without (meat did almost as well as birds fed with meat, the extra profit from the meatfed being 3A pef bird for the 12 months. This result, however, should not be taken as a guide by everyone, for locality will make a great 'difference. I should say that in Central Otago meat would be almost indispensable during the winter months if eggs are to be obtained in payable quantities. The same remark applies to maize, which, though too heating on the seaboard, is perhaps the best of all grain food inland during the most severe weather. Forty-two eggs is the possible score of a pen of six pullets. It is a curious coincidence' that on no occasion has this number been reached during any official week. Pens of birds have laid 42 eggs in seven consecutive days, but part of the possible was laid in one week and part in the next. The South Australian weekly score, on several occasions, has stood at 41. —-Before placing a hen out with a brood of chicks it is always advisable to run your fingers into the hen's feathers and make sure that there are no feathers entangled or stuck together, which is caused by a broken egg in the nest, or the sticky substance from, the shells when hatching. Should there be any feathei-9 stuck together, and they are overlooked, it is a sure death trap for any of the little chicks which should have happened to put their little heads into their mother's feathers for warmth, which they very often do after being fed ■ and by the time you get round to give them their next feed you find a nice strong, healthy chick hanging in the hen's feathers, dead, which you plight have saved had you just given the hen one minute's grooming before you placed her out with the chicks. A matter on which the novice sometimes desires information is the extent to which eggs arc injured by the absence of the hen, for some considerable time, from the nest during incubation A sitting hen, after being taken off her eggs to feed and stretch herself, may, by accident, not go on the nest again until the eggs are cold. Many beginners think that under . such circumstances all hope of a brood has gone. So they break the eggs and do away with the nest. There are, however, many instances in which cold eggs have been persevered with, and the result has been a satisfactory hatch, the chicks living and being healthy. As a rule the eggs are less likely to be seriously affected by the absence of the hen during the latter part of the incubating period than when she has sat for about a week. In one case a hen that had sat for 19 days was accidentally shut out from her nest for 15 hours, but at the end of two days she brought out a strong brood. In another instance a hen was placed on 13 eggs. The second morning she deserted the nest, so at night another hen was put on the nest. This hen on the fourth day remained off for more than an hour. On the eighth day she was absent for an hour, and on the seventeenth day for three hours. Yet on the twentyfirst day she hatched every egg. These instances do not prove that a hen can be allowed toff heir eggs for an indefinite period, but if by chance she is absent long enough for the eggs to get cold it may be worth while to persevere, especially if they aro valuable.

Another question often asked is with regard to giving assistance to chicks that are unable to hatch out unaided. It is decidedly necessary in some cases. It is a pity after the little things have- matured that they should be allowed to die for want of a little help. During a period of dry and cold winds lack of moisture will cause the lining membrane to become tough and hard, and sometimes prevent the chick breaking out. The egg will in some instances be chipped, and the beak be seen, but it gets no further. After it has remained like this for two or three hours itis advisable to assist the little prisoner. If the beak shows, the shell should be broken away carefully with the finger nail, beginning near the beak and gradually working 1 downwards, not drawing blood if it can be avoided. If the hen is quiet the egg can be replaced under her when a third of the shell has been removed. It will tlnen probably hatch after a while without further trouble. But if the little bird cannot force itself clear the remainder of the shell niust be removed in the same way. If the ben is wild and restless the egg can bo kept near the fire until tho chick is free, and then the bird should be returned to its mother. If there are chicks in the eggs, and the eggs do not chip they should be opeined with' a penknife at the large end and operated on as in tho case of the chipped eggs. Though tho period of incubation is 21 days, it is not unusual for the eggs to take longer to hatch during cold weather. So if the hen has sat well and has not broken any eggs, and no cfr'cks are out by the twenty-first day, she should be allowed to sit for a day or two longer. Almost every one of the American .States now conduct poultry experiments at their agricultural colleges or stations. One of the latest of these took place at the Maryland Agricultural Station, when 60 white Leghorns were tested to find out their productiveness in relation to age. In the first year the average of the birds was 171 eggs per hen, the profit over the food being a little over 8s each. In the second year the profit fell to 6s 6d over the food bill; and in the third year the production" had decreased to 112 eggs, the profit being 4s 2d per hen. The conclusion arrived at concides with what has been proved in tho Commonwealth. The best results will always be obtained from first and second 6eason laying hens.

•"-The American practice of housing large numbers of fowls in one house is a growing one, and other countries are following" the example. In South Australia the laying competitions have been taken as a general example, as to methods of feeding and the keeping of the layers in small flocks. As a . rule the competition yards are of adequate dimensions, but the house provides practically only roosting and laying quarters. .In the American system now coming into vogue there is an important alteration in principle. Under the old method in America the large houses provided little more than sleeping and laving quarters. The new method is practically the scratching shed system invented by an English breeder some 25 years ago. The dimension's of the modern large American house to hold 500 layers are: Length 100 ft, breadth 17ft, height at back 4ft, height in front 9ft. The floor is raised by constructing an earthen platform sheeted with stout timbers. Round the platform is a sill of 9in by 3in hardwood, held by holding down bolts. On this sill the house is erected, and studs about 3 x 4 or 4 x 2 are used, and 3in x 3in or 4in x 4in corner posts; On the earthen platform a flooring of concrete about 3in thick is laid. When the house is in use a thickness of 6in to 9in of soil is spread on the concrete, and on this again is placed a 9in layer of straw. The perches axe along the back of the house, and under these are,dropping boards about 4ft wide. The mash and water vessels a*re opeu little platforms about a foot high, so that no straw, etc., is scratched into them by the fowls. The front of the house is also closed, but there are alternate glass windows for ventilation, and other openings covered with oiled muslin to admit light. The windows are all such as can be opened as much as required. Ventilation cam be well controlled by these windows, and by louvres at the back. The nests are along the front, just under the windows, and are all protected and private, which the hens appreciate.

A South Australian returned traveller says that while he was journeying through Egypt he found the natives (fellaheen) did their work ou hard-boi'ed eggs and bread. He had to live on the same diet himself* day after day, and found he cculd get up plenty of steam on the food. When he got to Italy, he noticed largo heaps of hardboiled eggs at the wayside refreshment rooiiis, piled like shot in an ordnance yard, and soon found out that the people on the train got through the day on eggs, bread; and v.-nio—a satisfying diet, with body in. it. He says it was a very common thing for the travellers to buy a dozen eggs, a few roils of bread, and a flask of wine; get back to the train, and do themselves well for a day or more. Ho did it himself, and found ho was living well and cheaply. In the country districts of South, Australia,' at one time —before the 6heep. begin to oomo on the farms —the fencers and labourers generally would at lunch time bring out a dozen hard-boiled eggs, bread, and salt, and a pot of tea, and make a' satisfying substantial meal, on which the/ were able to sustain great physical exertion. On most farms now the staple breakfast dish is the good, old-fashioned bacon and eggs—the Englishman's breakfast, —j 'that gives a good start for the day's work. Before the sheep and pigs arrived on the farms, pcoiltry largely supplied the animal food, and the farm fowls, .what with the meat and eggs they furnished, were of great value. There is a big production of eggs and poultry in South Australia, and a big consumption, too. Two eggs cut of three produced are used up one way or another by the local people while of £200,000 worth of poultry produced annually, over 70 per cent, goes into local stomachs. So far as the egg is concerned, it is übiquitous—it is surely everywhere, is used in several manufactures, and is consumed every day in • one form or another, by everybody. A good deal more animal food is required by ducks than is the case with fowls, and if they do not receive this in adequate quantities, then their power of egg production is very considerably reduced. When they have plenty of run space to forago over there is not so much need to supply this artificially as when th< y are confined within a restricted area. It is surprising what an amount of ariimjil feed ducks are able to pick up in the form of worms, slugs, caterpillars, etc., whsn they have their freedom If a pond or stream is within their reach, eo much the more of this kind of feeding is, as a rule, obtainable. Where it is necessary to supply animal matter to ducks a very good method of doing so- is t ogive it in the form cif groutnd-up green bones. Soft, uncooked bones, as supplied by butchers, if broken up finely., answer this purpose admirably, and assist very materially in keeping up a good supply of eggs Even in the case of young ducklings," which are betner reared for killing, a supply of meat will "be found of great advantage in promoting rapid growth and flesh of good quality. In this case lights, or other animal offal which can be obtained from a slaughter-house, is most suitable. This should bo boiled and chopped up finely and mixed in with the soft food with which the young birds are fed. Some poultry-keepers go even a step further than this, and, durr ing the last fortnight the birds are being prepared for the tabic, scraps of fat are added to meal foods. Barley meal, maize meal, pea meal, and sharps should all bo used together or turn about in the fatten- '■' ing of young ducks. All food thus sup-' plied .to them should be placed in troughs, which, before a second meal is piovided in their., must be thoroughly washed out. An American poultry scribe writes: — " A man bought some fancy stock, and, being well known to the seller, was allowed time in which to pay a part of the price. The buyer expected money already due, with which to settle his own debt. It was a straight case of good figures, and he knew where the money was coming from. But, unfortunately, it did not come— ab least not when expected. The matter wen:| on, till it involved the tax list in one State, the manufacturers of a paper folding machine in another, the publishing department of a big supply company in another, the publishers of poultry paper, a town water company, an express company, and no one knows how many more, just because one honest poultry breeder's figures lined up with a cypher on the wrong side of them, apparently, "for the love of heaven," wrote ono man in the chain, "send me a check by such a date. If you can't get it otherwise, go out and commit highway robbery. I • hate to trouble you, but I simply have got to have it." All this because a "good" debt was not paid, and because some good specimens of American poultrydom did not lay according to advance figures. The biros will make it all right in time, but the in-

oitlent should not fail to teach us all to make sure of our facts, no matter how insignificant, they may appear. And to make sure of our figures, no matter how carelessly they assure us that it, will be ail right. Let us make sure on which side of the cypher they stand, or whether or not they are all cyphers, if we possibly can."

THE DREADED "BLACKHEAD" DISEASE OF TURKEYS. (By Mrs Chas. Jones, Paw Paw, 111.) I have been asked, as a. breeder of many years' experience, to give my view of tho cause, prevention and cure of "blackhead" in turkeys. We may eliminate the question of cure, because after the disease has reached the point when it is unmistakably blackhead; it is beyond cure, and the patient should quickly be put out of its misery. Blackhead evidently is a misnomer. This trouble should be called liver disease, and it is brought on by injudicious and overfeeding. The first symptoms are a languid appearance of the bird which walks slowly and oft-times drags its feet as though it could hardly pull them around. Even at this stage a great many more die than oan be saved; in fact, if their heads turn black one would better follow the advice of. Miller Purvis and cut off the heads of all those that reach that stage. When I make the assertion that blackhead is not contagious, there will probably be. a storm of protest, but if my readers had been studying this matter for 20 years as I have, I believe they would be willing •to admit that the reason the disease appears to be contagious is that one after another dies and a great many have the same symptoms and 90 out of iOO of those attacked die. If you hold a post mortem on them, you will find the enlarged livers very badly diseased, so badly diseased in fact that often you can run your fingers through them and thev are more than twice the norma] sue. The gizzard is often full to bursting, and it is a great deal too large, while the heart is correspondingly small, weak, and flabby. All the remedies the medical faternity could mix cannot reduce this enlargement of the liver or restore the heart to its original strength, so that every pulsation will send life-giving blood to the most _ remote parts of tho body, cleansing the liver of its impurities, and reducing it to jts normal size. By constantly feeding the birds, the_ gizzard gets a chant'j.i to discharge its contents and rest. So all the agents of 'ife nid •rowth (ire in a constant turmoil, and the most greedy eaters soon begin to droop. Then when you go out among your turkeys you will find from one to four perhaps humped, up and their heads turning black. They move about in the characteristic slow manner and you see it is a clear case of blackhead. In a little while they die, and you bury or burn them, and very likely pronounce it a contagious disease. "What makes it appear contagious is that nearly all- the birds are afflicted alike, and you do-not go deeply enough into tho mait-Ur to realise that being ail handled and fed alike, they are under the same conditions, *nd what affects om adversely is liable to affect the whole flock in the same manner. —Follow Nature's Way.— The way to learn about turkeys is to Study the way that turkeys raise themselves In their natural wild state. When they were discovered in America they went in droves, and as there was no one to feed or care for them, they, picked up a precarious living, subsisting on insects and worms that they found under the trees and such weed seeds as they could get. They were probably hungry a good deal of the time, and their digestive organs were never overtaxed. Unless caught by wild animals or they became the victim of Indian arrows, they lived to a good old age. A bronze turkey is not fully matured until it is four 'years old, ana then it begins to do down hill and loses vitality. Some years ago we heard nothing about this , dreaded disease, blackhead, but there came a time when a demand arose for heavy turkeys, and it was weight that sold the breeding stock. Everyone began to feed their little poults in order to rush them along and. acquire size, knowing _ that if they could raise the biggest, heaviest turkeys the public would be willing to pay a big price for them. Then came this disease. The poults do not care for food for two or three days after they are hutched. Then they develop a ravenous appetite, and if they are about the size of quails they soon begin to droop and move slowly about, and when they are tho size of prairie chickens a great many die. If one holds a post mortem at this stage, he will fincl the liver covered with small white spots. which is the first stage of liver disease. A solution of the difficulty is to go back to Nature's way and turn the mother turkeys into the fields as soon as the poults are strong enough to follow her. Only a turkey hen knows how to raise them. In a good season she can raise 100 per cent. There was a good demonstration of tho correctness of my theory during a recent season. When the insects were all gone, I began to worry about the turkeys not getting enough to eat, and so fed them wheat in moderate quantities. In very short time they began to "go slow," and show signs of blackhead. The feed was stopped immediately, and a little later we had a large self-feeder made and kept it full of bran. They had free access to it all that winter, and there was never a sick or ailing turkey. Grit and charcoal were kept where they could get at it any time. This season a farmer came to buy a turkev hen. stating that all his had dkfl Inquiries brought out the fact that his turkeys had free access to the corn crib all the time, and in addition they had access to the place where the stock was fed. Bran is a bulky food, and they can ont all that they want of it and it does not hurt them. It is also a good muscle grower and a good food to produce a big frame. We have proved that it does not give them blackhead, even when they eat all thev want. On the contrary, corn is a concentrated food, and if turkeys have free access to it you will soon have plenty of liver or "blackhead" trouble. Boiled corn can be fed to turkeys about 10 days before they are marketed and perhaps a little longer, and they will put on good weight in a short time, but breeding stock needs only to be kept in a good, healthy condition, because the eggs of fat turkeys do Bot hatch well, and produce weakly pcults ttiat soon die. . ' I : am giving my experience with this fata! turkey disease, because I am so often questioned about it, and it is my earnest desire to help all turkey-raisers to have a aaccessful and prosperous season.