POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 49

POULTRY NOTES.

By Tkbkob.

subject of the high cost of poultry feed, a local utility man said: " I don't believe in all this faddish nonsense about giving fowls a balanced ration. My fowls are fed chiefly on boiled potatoes —small potatoes, which many people .throw away,—and I make it tasty by throwing in a little fat and salt. I get eggs all the year round, and ye't people say"—he looked at the moment very hard at " Terror"—" that potatoes are not an egg-making food." As the conversation progressed, I ascertained that this poultryman's fowls had the range of an extent of well-cultivated ground planted with fruit trees, and /gooseberry bushes; and I ventured, very timidly, for he is of a somewhat aggressive disposition, to suggest that possibly his fowls balanced their own ration by adding to the potatoes and fats he supplied a rather larger proportion of worms, grubs, insects, etc. (which ho was unconsciously yet constantly exposing to them whilst cultivating his ground), than he imagined. I asked him, too, if ho had ever tried to prove his 'theory by feeding a few fowls, kept under otherwise similar conditions, but with a balanced ration—say, his present one with a little meat add.'d? He said: "Certainly not; I am satisfied with mv own nrcsent practice." I then asked: "Do you know how many eggs your birds each lay per annum?" He did not know!- My next question was a rather daring one, and I took a stop back before asking it. It was, "How many fowls have you?" My gentleman was not quite sure whether it was 30, 40. or 50; but he had a "pood squad." and they laid their eggs all over the orchard ! I mention 'this conversation because it is tvpical of many another I have joined in. It shows ho_w_ little'value need be placed upon the opinions"expressed by many who talk in the most positive manner. Such opinions are worth nothing to people who are after facts.- Egg-laying competitions. Government experimental stations, and the experience of fanciers who have tested feeding theories by feeding on alternative plans similarly bred birds, housed and otherwise cared for under equal conditions, all go to prove that the balanced ration stands the test of experience, and consequently it is from such sources you got facts. In these days of high prices for all foods rich in egg-making elements wo are compelled to substitute poorer food; but if Doultrykeepers would try and improve the range conditions by constantly turning over the ground thoy would enable

their fowls to do a good amount of foodbalancing on their own account; and it is well to remember, even if a few less eggs are laid, that the price of those- eggg is almost certain to bo high. A handful of meat meal added'to a mash of potatoes. will certainly increase the egg production. Minorcas are being inquired for,-but fanciers find that birds of laying strain ara hard to procure. Mr Sprosen has, I learn, been able to supply Mr James Ormsby, of Waihemo, with four hens and a cockerel, and may think himself lucky in getting into such good stock. The cockerel is off the Tlrst prizo utility pullet a't the last Dunedin show in a class of, I think, 17 birds; and although posing as a utility bird there was not the slightest doubt in any mind capable of judging that she would havo been entitled to similar honour in the open class. A cockerel from euch stock should certainly give satisfaction.

I am informed that although the millers are forbidden to sell wheat for poultry feed it is still possible to buy what is termed screened wheat. Wheat pollard is also now obtainable, but as the cost is almost double what it used to be oaten pollard is possibly 'the more profitable of tho two commodities. It would be a good plan, I think, if fanciers generally purchased only oaten pollard, for if the wheat pollard were to accumulate its price would certainly come down.

—Dr Woods, a noted American poultry expert, says indigestion and intestinal irritation are common summer troubles with chickens. Tho chicks get weak legs, wobbly, droopy, and mopo around or nave fits. Should trouble start, first etop feeding, then try to find the cause and remove -it. .Fasting for a few meals will not hurt the brood of chicks a bit. Beforo giving, the chicks the regular ration again, keep them for a few days on a diet of scalded sweet milk thickened to consistency of cream with wellboiled white bread flour, and seasoned with just a little salt. Return 'to the regular ration gradually. Boiled flour is prepared by putting good white flour into a muslin sack, tying it up tight to tire flour, then plunging it into boiling water, and boilina vigorously for six hours. Take the ball or N boiled flour out of the sack and dry it in tho oven, but do not scorch it. Grato or pound this up, and use to thicken the scalded milk. Prevent chicken troubles by common-sense management. Keep your chicks comfortable. Provide cool, shady, clean quarters in hot weather. Feed plenty of greens and a variety of good, whole- . some food, and. supply cool, clean drinking water frequently. Do not allow the chicks to get very hungry; feed often, and only a email amount at a time. Do not permit food to lie about to get stale and dirty What the chicks need most can bo summed up in one word —comfort. An egg-bound fowl will betray her condition by haunting tho nest-boxes for long periods without result. If it is suspected that a fowl is egg-bound she. should be caugh't and examined, -when the presence of tho egg can often be detected. The condition is caused either by an uifusually large egg or bv a contraction of the oviduct. The first remedy to bo tried is that of holding the fowl's vent close to boiling water for a quarter of an hour. If this does not aid tho expulsion of the egg, the vent and egg passage should be well lubricated with oil. For the next few davs the fowl should bo sparingly fed in order to check further laying, and no _ food of a stimulating nature should be given. Messrs Fraser and Co., agents for Otago Egg Circle, report:—Eggs: Market firm, fresh eggs Is 3d, stamped eggs I 3 4d Poultry: Market easier, hens 3s to 3s 6d, cockerels 5s 6d, geese 6s to Bs, ducks ss. , turkey gobblers hens 9j>d. e The Co-operativo Fruitgrowers or Otago, Ltd., report:—An exceptionally heavy yarding of poultry for our sale on Wednesday, all of which met a keen demand ac prices slightly in advance of those ruling the,preceding week. For Wednesdaynext we are advised of a very heavy yarding of dupklings, goslings, young roosters, turkeys, and hens for Christmas trade, and anticipate good values. Eggs havo been in short supply, and stamped and guaranteed g havo been readily sold at Is 5d per dozen. The following wore prices at our sal« on Wednesday :—Hens: 26 at Is Bd, 38 at Is 3d, ■, 97 at Is iOd, 93 at Is lid, 82 at 2s, 64;afc 2s Id. 45 at 2s 2d, 17 at 2s 3d, 5 at 2s 4d, 5 at 2s sd. 8 at 3s 6d. Ducks: 3 at, 3s 3d, 3 at 3s 4d. Chickens: 10 at Is lOd, 9 at 2& lOd. Chicks: 23 at 4d. 20 at sd, 31 at 6d. 3 at 9d. 9 at lOd, 12 at Is Id, 10 at Is lOd, 9 at 2s lOd. Hen and chicks: 2 at 9a 6d, 2 at lis.