POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3467, 24 August 1920, Page 21

POULTRY NOTES.

By Tebeoe.

A correspondent writes asking how to rear turkeys. A paragraph, which appears this week will, I nope, give the iniormation required. "Poultry" wants to purchase Rhode Island red chickens. Any breeder able to do business in this line should advertise. The JN.Z.U.P.O. and tne Uhristchurch fanciers tendered Mr T. E. Conway a farewell social last Monday night. He left on Tuesday night lor his new home at To Tuke, where he has purchased a 250 acre farm, chieily for dairying purposes. He is taking most of his best breeding pedigree iowis.

—Mr P. Carolin has been confined to his bed in Wellington, but I am glad to say that latest reports state he is improving in health.

The return from the Papanui Egg-lay-ing Competition to the end of the fourteenth week, August 6, show: —Single pen ' heavy breed section: R. R. Christie, 8.0., J., bZ eggs. Light breeds: S. L. Beer, W.L., 1, 91; A. C. Goodlet 2, 80; Geo. Gee, 3, 79; H. Williams, 4, *7B. All these birds laid eggs during the week which weighed over 2oz. Single pen heavy breeds, three birds same owner: 1, T. E. Conway, R. 0., 69—67—72, total 223; 2, J. B. Merrett, 8.0. 46—69—67, total 182; 3, R, R. Christie, 8.0., 52—53—67, total 172. Light breeds: 1, S. Dick, W.L., 70—72—68, total 210; 2, H. Williams, W.L., 63—72—65, total 205; 3. G. W. Bradford, W.L., 75—59—70, total 204. Team test, six birds to pen, heavy breeds: 1, J. Gunn, 8.0., 222. .Light breeds: 1 E. E. Marsden, 378; 2. G. Bennett, 346;' 3, H. Ball, 320. Single pen three Indian runner ducks, same owner: 1, W. Knight, 92—98—88, total 278; 2, R. W. Hawker, 86—83—96, total 265. m Studholme Prize.—Points appointed for sample of eggs. The conditions for the Studholme test at Papanui provide for points to be apportioned at four different periods for best sample of eggs; and on August 6 Messrs J. G. Brown and Cussen (Government inspectors) visited the' egglaying competition and adjudicated on the eggs. Possible points were for shape 10, colour 10, texture 10, weight 10; total, 40f The highest points obtained were as follows:—W. Aldans, W.L., 34; H. Hunter, R.I.R. 34; Mrs F. Gorinski, W.L., 33; H. W. Beck, 8.R., 33, The following are the leading pens at the Southland "Utility Poultry Club's test at the e.ncl of the "seventeenth'week, August 13:—Single birds: G. L. Beer, 1. 102; A. Provan, 2, 101; Mrs F. Gorinski, 3, 98; D. F. M'Dougall (equal), 3, 98. Heavy breeds, six birds to pen: Stevens and Hunter, S.W.. 1, 279. Light breeds: Mrs M. A. King, W.L., 1, 460; Miss H. King,'W.L., 2, 455; J. E. Anderson; W.L., 3, 446; Andrew Love, W.L., 4 439. Ducks: J. C Wilson, W.1.R., 339; A. Peara, 1.R., 2 (one bird dead), 215. Messrs Meggitt (Ltd.), who manufacture cattle feeds, etc., in a large way in Australia., and who advertise them largely, are introducing mixed feeds for poultry, and have erected an up-to-date plant capable of a large and regular output. The Australian Hen, which devotes a good deal of space in advocating Messrs Meggitt's products, says: "All the 'tonic meals' and stock foods put ut>' by this firm are produced with a complete understanding of the fact that a variety of materials of known feeding value are essential to success Meggit (Ltd.) have been happy in the choice of a slogan : 'The standard of quality' seems to us a gped thing to tie up to." , The success of the well-known linseed meal put up by this firm for many years past is a good enough guarantee that .any poultry feeds bearing their name will be up to requirements in every respect." It is explained that no shell, grit, sand, or charcoal is used in Meggitt Ltd.'*s poultry feed mixtures—the specialists considering that these very necessary items should be fed separately in hoppers. It is claimed that the foods now under notice are nroperly balanced, and appetising mixtures of" grain meals, and that not only do they contain the necessary variety, but that the quality is of the best; consequently -that their use must result in economy and good results. Those who keep only a few fowls are justified in calculating their profit or loss as the difference between the value of the eggs oroduced and the cost of food; but it is not so where large numbers of birds are kept. It is important before venturing upon poultry-keeping on a largo scale to understand that there are other serious items to reckon with besides the cost of food. The following, by a well-known Home breeder, as regai-ds what is involved on a largo farm' under the solitary heading "Labour," will enlighten some.. He writes: "On this farm there are about 5500 adult stock, oared for by four poultry men who do nothing else. Four more are required to maintain the stock by hatching, rearing, and the care of young growing stock, for which they have a plant capable of holding 5000 head of all ages. Then there is a permanent carpenter always occupied, in keeping the plant in good repair and making egg-boxes. There is still another department —the egg-packing and clerical side. What an absurdity it would be. and what an awakening it would bring, if I were to estimate my profits to be the difference between the value' of the egars and the cost of food for the laying hens!" chicle in a hatch which does not feather or grow at the same rate as the others. As a rule, the slow feathers grow the fastest: seemingly they find it easier to do one thing well at a time. When a chicken neither feathers nor grows as do the rest, however, there is something wrong, and a little, boiled linseed in the mash or a. pinch of flowers of sulphur, is recommended as the best assistance to give. According to the Yorkshire Telegraph and Star, "all egg weighing 3Jroa, laid by a, 22-year-old common barndoor hen—so sayg the owner, a local shoemaker, —is being displayed in a shop window in Wick," ''A correspondent/' says & poultry paper> "who:

sends this cutting asks our opinion. After consideration we can only express admiration for the courage and devotion of a man who kept a hen for 22 years!" —•Purchasers of poultry, either as day-old chicks or adult fowls, may be sure that although birds of the barn door type are" the cheaper kind to buy, those of good laying strain are the more profitable. A good way to make a nest for a broody hen is, first of all, to put 2in or 3in of earth in the bottom of the box, and then draw it up well into the corners, leaving the whole saucer-shaped, but shallow, and then place some hay or broken straw on the earth to hold the eggs. There is a good deal ot correspondence going on in the Old Country poultry journals in reference to the "Problem of Sex Predominance." One writer says: — "Wherever a shortage- of food had- taken place for a prolonged length of time, the male sex greatly predominated in the births taking place shortly afterwards. I concluded that the same results would be found, under similar conditions, in any class of animals, and I predicted a preponderance of cockerels in the- times following the food shortage caused by the war. There is no doubt that my prediction has proved true. I have so far no very extensive and at the same time reliable records of poultry breeders to quote, but such as I have entirely bear out my point. As a sportsman, my own recent experience is valuable, and this gains corroboration from ah sources of information. For a long time past pheasants have not been "fed." They have had to find for themselves. The result is that this season cock birds have greatly predominated. The poorer condition of the breeding birds has resulted in the offspring being mainly males. It seems that it takes more to produce a female than a male, (yet we are being daily drilled about "the equality of sexes" !). Well-conditioned parents produce more females; ill-conditioned parents produce males. This is beyond dispute. I would, therefore, urge all those who intend to breed . chickens to follow my example and give the producing parent stock the very best food that money can buy. Get the parents in first-class condition, and pullets will come from their eggs. This plan will pay the "back-yarder," the mainstay of our egg supply, and it will more than pay the professional supplies of hatching eggs, for he will find, as I have done, that the same contomers will come year after year for hatching because they find that eggs bought from him produce, in a most striking way, a preponderance of pullets." Kerosene and soap emulsion is recommended as safer to use for curing scaly legs than pure kerosene, which in some cases has proved harmful, poisoning the' whole system. The emulsion is made as follows: Take a pint of kerosene oil and a pint of, water, and boil together for ten minutes; add half a pound of softsoap, and allow to simmer gently until thoroughly mixed. The mixture, when cold, is ready for use, and may be applied to the abnormal scales with a feather or soft brush. If the legs are very' bad they should be gone over twice daily for a- few days, and then once a day until better. The mixture at once kills the insects, the scales begin to peel off, and the legs become as perfect as before they were attacked. Great care must be observed in mixing the kerosene and, water, especially when it is boiling. Another remedy recommended as a capital thing is: Two ounces each of flowers of brimstone, turpentine, and whit.e spirits of tar, and four ounces of sweet oil; mix well and apply to the legs on two alternate days, washing the legs three days after the second dressing. Keep the birds on a grass run if possible, but do -not on. any account allow them to scratch among ashes and the like. If in a small run remove the earth to the depth of six or eight inches, or even one foot, and fill in with fresh mould. A change of diet will be beneficial; and the addition : of sodium sulphate (Glauber's salt) to the drinking water is advisable to clear the blood. Fresh preen food in abundance should be allowed if the fowls have not the benefit of a grass run. The scales on the legs should be allowed to drop off, since if they, are puhVd away the skin underneath will come with them, and the place will resemble an ■ open sore. < Never use an immature pullet in thd' breeding pen. and if you use mature pullets discard their first eggs. Some poultry men make it a rule never to use for hatching any of the first 40 eggs a pullet lays. This . is an extreme measure*, however, and most who use pullet eggs for hatching at all would not hesitate to us 9 the eggs after the first dozen the pullet produces. Everyone who keeps well-bred stock and has facilities for mating them for breeding, should look for oportunities_ of celling eggs for hatching, and at the prices for market' egos fall by reason of increased supplies, the' balance may be more than maintained by selling sittings. Many amateurs may be able to find customers locahy among those who are iu" L incr to keen poultry; and in th'' they will be helning to give other= start on the right lines with well-hred stock, and at reasonable cost. Many a successful fancier owes his commencement to a sitting of eggs procured from a neighbour who possessed:' some good egg-layers of a wellcultivoted strain Messrs Fi*aser and Oo>,, auctioneers, produce merchants, commission agents, and r>. rents for the Otago Egg Circle. 146 Crawford street, Dunedin, report:—EggsMarket weak, and sales difficult to make. Quotations are nominal; fresh. Is lid to 2s; Egg Circle eggs. 2& to 2s 2d. Poultrv.— We h«*ld our weekly sale on Wednesday, when prices ruled as under: — at 6a 4d' 25 at 8s 2d, 30 at 7s; cockerels—lo at Bs-.' 16 at 8s 2d, 12 at 7s Bd. three at 10s lOd, three at 8s lOd. ono a| lis. o : "0 at 14s j pullets—six at 7s Bd, six at 12s.

eight at 10s; ducks—2o at 9s lOd, 10 at 9s &d; geese—four at 10s 6d, four at los> 11 at 9s 6d; all at per pair. Turkeys—three gobblers at Is 4d per lb, six hens- at Is 2d per lb, live weight. Relay's Central Produce Mart report: —A small yarding. Some very nice f young ducks realised extreme values; pullets, turkeys, cockerels, and hens all in very keen demand, and realised values equal to last week. Eggs.—The'market is fully supplied, and prices have eased. Stamped and guaranteed, 2s 2d to 2s 3d; preserved, 28 to 2s Id. The following prices we secured for consignors :, —Poultry: Hens —six at 12s, eight at lis, six at 10s 6d, 28 at Bs, seven at 7s 4d; pullets—five at 21s, four at 20s, three at 18s, seven at 15s, three at 14s, 10 at 13s, six at 12s 6d_. six at 12s, five at 10s; cockerels—two at 13s 2d, four at 12s, four at 10s 6d, three at 9s 6d, three at' Bs, 11 at 7s 6d, seven at 6s 6d; ducks —five at 15s 6d, three at 15s, five at 14s 6d, four at 14s, two at lis. All at per pair. Turkeys, Is 2d to Is 4id per lb. HOW TO RAISE TURKEYS. A mature turkey is hardy, but the young turkey is delicate. They require a wide ran.sye, and should not bo raised where spaca is limited. They attain full size at two_ or. three years of age, but two-year-old birds make, the better breeders." A good turkey ' hen will lay about 30 eggs in a season if not allowed to become broody. Her nest should be destroyed to prevent' her becoming so. The little ones should be left in the nest from 36 to 48 hours after hatching, without being disturbed. Do noli feed in the first 24 hours. Later, feed every two hours for a week. Curds from scalded clabbered milk, squeezed dry, and mixed with onion tops and a little black pepper, make a good! first food for turkeys. Bread_ soaked in sweet milk and squeezed dry is preferred by some. Others mix hard-boiled eggs with; stale bread and crumble. This should be fed for two weeks, and the young turkeys! allowed to run on fresh ground, with plenty, of nrreen feed. Use insect" powder freely. Give plenteous water, charcoal, and' grit. After two weeks table scraps, and cracked corn may be fed, but the curds, if convenient, should be continued. After six weeks they may be fed grain only and allowed their run. Feed! them eveninjrs, to keep .them coming- homo to roost. "When fattening for market give them sound, corn, not too new. Never let the young tin-key get wet. It i« said that nine-tenths of the young turkeya that perish die from lice. Greasfe their heads, necks, and vents with lard after the first 48 hours.

Keep them on clean sin-faces. Water them in such manner that they cannot get wet above the beaks.

A high roost in an open shed, open on' the south, is desirable for the growing l turkey.