POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3395, 9 April 1919, Page 39

POULTRY NOTES.

By Tekhob

nostrils alternately till all matter is discharged and then syringe, or apply with a feather, kerosene up" the nostrils and to the roof of the mouth and throat. If very bad add a few drops of carbolic acid to the kerosene before applying. This is a remedy I know to have proved effective in preventing further devlopment. Another remedy recommended by an Australian is for simple cases to dissolve a piece of sulphate of copper (bluestonc), say the size of a hazel nut, in a gill of water. Two or three drops should be applied with a syringe in \hc same way as kerosene. _ The affect, however, is different. The liquor .converts the discharge into a thickish. matter of a white colour. This ehould be squeezed out of the nostrils, and the syringing and the pressing should be repeated until the secretion oeases. To prevent roup spreading to the other fowls float a little kerosene on the top of the drinking water in all the vessels.

Mr Hanson, of Harrow, street, who is entering the black Orpington fancy, has secured the winning cockerel at the last Dunedin Young Bird Show from Mr H. I/. Sprosen at a good figure. For those who can procure them green stinging nettles are said to be a capital feed just now —i.e., during.moulting time. They should be boiled until tender, and both water and greens mixed into the soft mash. Tin's is said to act as a wonderful scorbutic for the blood (on which feathergrowing so largely depends), and is certainly, where procurable, an inexpensive addition to the food supply. Speaking of the moult, one cannot help being reminded that this is the time to see that nest-boxes, etc., are kept clean. The birds during their moult shed a lot of dust from their bodies, and this is favourable, if it accumulates, to the breeding of parasites. Kerosene the boxes after cleaning them. Then, again, moulting time is the time above all others when birds want goocl, clean, and dry dust-baths into which some sulphur has been sprinkled. A Home paper cites a so-called interesting experiment, in which oyster-shells and mixed sea-shells (without oyster-shells) were composed. Two lots of birds, full sisters to each other and hatched at the same time of year, were housed alike and fed alike, with the single exception of the shell supply. The birds getting crushed oyster shell laid 50 per cent, more eggs than did those getting mixed shells. I don't consider this experiment to be, as claimed, interesting; and certainly it was not conclusive. It is strange to find English experts considering it so. Birds of the same family, housed and fed alike even to the grit and shell supply, will not lay exactly the same number of eggs per bird, and it is quite possible that one or two birds in the non-oyster-fed pen laid more eggs than did the best layers in the winning pen; also that one or two of the oyster-shell-fed birds laid less eggs than did the losing pen. Birds must have grit suitable for eggshell-making, and some descriptions of shell may be better than others, and perhaps 50 per cent, better, but that would not result in 50 per cent, more eggs. With regard to the feeding value of dried anorns, it is said that, roughly, they contain about 8 per cent, of albuminoids. 4£ per cent, of oil, and 47 per cent, of carbohydrates. This being the ease, it will be seen that they do not contain quite such a high proportion of proteins as does wheat, but that, in effect, the analysis works out similarly to a mixture of oats and mai/.e. As acorns are slightly binding on the birds, a small addition of fish meal —pay 3 per cent, more—will counteract the effect, and will also restore the percentage of albuminoids. The writer from whom I g-ather the _ foregoing information Rays:— "Now this is not a mere theory. It is the result of practical experiment on 17 laying birds. The hens were being fed ' in the ordinary way with each of grnin per day in addition to the usual meals, and vegetables. In the first Week of the experiment the corn reduced to- loz r>er bird, and -loss of kibbled acorns was added. In the second week no corn was given and lgoz of acorns was fed. In the ithird week another ioz of acorn meal was 'added to the mash and onlv of sharps were (riven in the soft food. In this way the birds were now getting 2oz of acorn food per day, or about one half of the total. It is interesting to note that the birds did not attempt to eat "the husks; they ate the kernels only. The birds were very carefully watched for anv_ ill-effects, but none appeared. They picked up the kibbled acorns eagerly from the first, and throughout the exoeriment appeared to relish them. What is also very important to note is that the new food had no adverse effect on the eg<r production, and. a* Mr Cranfield says, although one cannot draw too hasty conclusions from a brief experiment, vet it is quite certain that if this food had possessed unsuitable properties, or a very low feeding value, the ecrc; production would have suffered. As it had been stated that a«orn-feeding results in a discolouration of the yolks, the eggs were carefully examined, and they were not distinguishable from those laid before the arorn-fceding commenced, both as regards colour and flavour. These experiments, coupled with

local experience 0/ my own, make it certain that no bad effeots whatever need be looked for from acorn-feeding. Besides they should bo equal in feeding value, and much more digestible than the low-grade oats and damaged wheat that we are paying prohibitive prices for to-clay." The following particulars upon restriction by tho Minister of Food (England) shows that there is a desire to protect the English poultry breeders in the matter of moat and other food mixtures put upon tho market. Rgg Circles out here would do well to seek similar protection:—"Poultry mixtures must consist of not less than three principal ingredients, of which at least one must be bruised, kibbled, or split. Tho constituents are restricted to grain, seed pulse, locust beans, and products thereof. Dried meat unfit for human food may also be included. The addition of stones, dirt, or worthless rubbish is an offence. It _is impossible to prescribe a standard quality or to fix a maximum price, because of continual fluctuation in and in prices of ingredients. Maximum prices of most of tho permitted ingredients are fixed, but (short of subsidising the poultry-keeper) it is impossible to do so in the case of peas, vetches, pulse, dari, millet, and many other ingredients, which from time to time bocome available. Tho. profit of a manufacturer is limited to Is 6d per cwt. on fiost of ingredients, and of a distributor to (according to quantity) from Is per cwt to £d per lb on the manufacturer's price. Therefore no honest manufacturer or dealer has any interest in the price of the mixture sold. Every manufacturer or dealer must keep accurate records, which are at all times open to inspection by any duly authorised person. Therefore, specific cases of irregularities as regards the composition of poultry mixtures or of prices charged for them, should be reported, with samples and full particulars, to the local food committees for the attention of the Grain Officer."

Reilly's Central Produce Mart (Ltd.) report:—A very keen demand is being experienced for eggs, stamped and guaranteed realising 2s 6d and preserved Is lOd per dozen. A good yarding of poultry camo forward for our sale on Wednesday, and hens realised Is 7d to 2s 8d eaph, ducklings 3s to 4s 6d, geese 4s to 5s 3d, turkey gobblers from 10£cl to Is per lb. A special Easter poultry sale will bo held on Wednesday, the 16th. There is a keen demand for all pullets, especially white Leghorns, black Orpingtons. Rhode Island reds and Minorcas, and those having supplies can secure high prices. Good ducklings are wanted for our Easter poultry sale.

Messrs Fraser and Co., produce merchants, auctioneers- and commission agents, 146 Crawford street, Dunedin, report:— < Eggs: Market firm, fresh 2s 3d, Egg.-Circle,, eggs 2s 6d. Poultry: We held our. usual auction sale .on Wednesday at 1.30, and prices for all lines were exceedingly good. Wo sold a lino of .30 odd pulets, and prices for same were exceedingly high. The following prices were realised :—Hens —24 at _

Is 7d, 30 at Is Bd, 50 at Is 9d, 82 at 25,15 at 2s 6d; pullets—4 at Ift', 3 at 8 9d,' 8 at 8s 6d, 11 at 8s 3d, 4 at 8s; cockerels—--15 at 3s, 10 at 3s 3d, 18 at Is 6d, 17 at 3s Bd, 18 at 4s; ducks—B at 3s Bd, 17 at 4s; geese—4s 6d to 5s -6d. All at per head. Turkeys—Cobblers lid, hens lOd per lb livo weight. RUNNER DUCK'S FOR PROFIT. "Silver Badge," writing in the Bulletin. issued by the Propaganda Section of the Ministry of Food, states: There are many reasons why runner ducks are more profitable to keep than hens, and I will set down a few: 1. Suitable land is more easy to obtain, for though they do not need water, except to drink, there are many marshy places unsuitable for other agricultural pursuita, that give the duck a happy hunting' ground. 2. Very little in the way of housing accommodation is required for the ducks, as they prefer to live in the open for eight month's in the year, and for the remainder prefer a warm shelter to an elaborate house. ' 3. While the vagaries of our climate stop hens laying, runner ducks lay right through the winter in all weathers, when hens' eggs are scarce.

4. They lay a larger egg. six to the lb instead of eight. 5. They live on cheaper fod than hens, and do not absolutely need grain. One good meal at night from March to October will keep them in full lay. A good mixture is as follows: —Three parts sharps, two parti clover meal, one part fish meal, one part cocoanut or palm kernel meal, one part damaged rice, oats, tail wheat, barley, or maize, half-part malt culms or brewer's grains. Also scraps from house and garden, minced fine, and all mixed with hot water in the morning to form a nice orumbly feed for evening. In the winter they should receive this night and morning. Ducks are almost immune from disease? and much easier to rear than fowls, a far larger proportion of eggs hatching. Ducks require less capital outlay, and hold the world's record for egg-laying. It has been estimated that a hen will lay five times her own weight in eggs per annum, a runner duck 10 times. . .

If starting in now. it is hest to buy birds fully grown and ready for laying in a month's time, but the cheaper plan is to buy dav, week, or month-old ducklings in the early spring. Keep them warm and dry in winter, and for the rest of the year thoy will take care of themselves. POULTRYMEN AGREE. WELLINGTON, April 3. The long-standing differences between the North and South Island Poultry Assocation and the New Zealand Championship Association have been finally adjusted, and there now remain only minor details before an agreement is complete. The restrictions on*exhibitions at shows will now be removed.