POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3617, 10 July 1923, Page 47

POULTRY NOTES.

By

TERROR

— ‘'Turkey Breeder.”—One gobbler to six hens. One service fertilised all ihe eggs till the hen becomes broody. Turkey eggs generally show good fertility. If you have only one male bird you should separate six of your hens and the gobbler from the lest of the birds, making a breeding pen. “W. W. 8.,” Oamnru. —It is not surprising that your 11 pullets have dropped from producing eight and nine eggs per day to about half that number; but with Oamaru’s climate, better weather generally, and your present method of feeding they will soon come on again. I know nothing about the special mash you speak of. Some i weeks back I advised my' readers of tlte great successes achieved at the Gee-

long (\ ictoria) egg-laying competition by Mr R. R. Christie, and in parenthises added “or rather Rogen and Christie.’’ It was not the first occasion in which I had associated die two names, led to do so by what I had seen in Australian newspapers. Mr R. R. Christie writes me repudiating any connection with Mr Rcgen, and in consequence 1 have to say that the association of the two names in the paragraph referred to was my own act, and was not at the suggestion of Mr Rcgen or anyone else. In the interests of the poultry industry 1 am always pleased to record a great success such as that of Mr Christie, if only that my readers may see what the birds (irrespective of their owners) are capable of. In mentioning names I am simply advertising the breeders’ own interests, ■ and in this instance, unfortunately, and quite unconscious of error, 1 was only too glad to include the name of a gentleman so long recognised as a successful breeder and showman in New Zealand. Of course, 1 regret my mistake. - A poultry lecturer in Scotland gives a wrinkle woith, he says, “its weight in gold.” At three days old, he reminds us, “chicks are qualified to eat pretty nearly anything,” but he warned his hearers against the practice of feeding chickens on soaked bread. The plan to adopt was to fill a linen bag hall-full of rice, put it into water and allow it to boil for five minutes. The bag should then be _ taken out, and the water allowed to ciram off. This would leave the rice whole and the grains separate. A handful of oatmea should be mixed with double the quantity of rice, thus absorbing all the moisture. The mixture should then be given to the chickens, and the results would be found satisfactorily in every respect. I have always advocated m these notes the breeding from hens rather than from pullets, but a Home writer says: My experience tells me that it: matters not which is used, but in the case of pullets it is always best to use a two or more years old male bird.” Evidently this writer has his doubts, seeing that he advocates fedmaturity oil one side at least.. “matters not,” why should not cockerels boas serviceable as cocks, particularly m view of his further remarks? Ho says. “Comparing fowls with other ammab or even wild birds, it may be said that what is sauce for the goose is sauce foi the gander. Wild birds, dogs and caU are bred from when young, but no d. = eneia Hon in size or stamina can he noticed. If it is done successfully with these I have quoted surely the same can be applied to poultry-'’ The writer seemingly overlooks 'the fact that wild birds dogs, and cats at the present day are jn~t “S were long ages ago. They may not have degenerated, but certainty here has bee no nrogress. Domesticated fowls, dogs, and 'cats, subject to . man’s f treatment are verv different propositions from vhat «ei 'nee--tors were The fowl lias increased in sbe In egg production, and in beauty; the dog’ in*beauty, docility, and usefulness; and the cat-well. I’ll leave the enthusiasts of a„ feline tribe to speak fox them. 1 ner Q no sense in boasting that our pets ourselves are not degenerating; we want P T g time has arrived, and in bKS wdU e be b cSf«f to^scUct^e 1 Wrds fthi.h •>>« h „. big &%&&&& bow large her Vg* may "be her daughters may be poor 'what'the Experienced L f X a wl°do the Tnexperienced should imitate. Cannibaligm in the Poultry Yard.—Professor E. C Foreman say^that cannibalism among- J? often "reatly onfaulty nutrition, and s often y couragecl when the bud. •> fined. Ordinarily when W* are range this habit stops unless * b, 6 developedJ. lh. entt« habit is indicated by tnePicm g another . Vein. B C "J, k : s u;e d as part of the ration the mash should contain about .10 peahen 40 to°5 e 0 m Fer 'cent, production. T-f skim mill is not available, the protein content of the mash should be increased to from 15 to 20 per cent. Professor„ F< 7jiw £ gests the r'\ an t^o g da°y S “ 'Phis immediately information re balanced rations given in his Issue I should add that though. Pro-les-Li Foreman is referring more particularly to chickens in coops than to laying henl his remarks apply m both cases; but S" that it is lack of protein that causes cannibalism, an addition m any form in dry or wet mash or otherwise of food rich in nitrogen should prove a cure. Further, the cure would be more quickly brought about if the birds most addicted to the habit were cooped separately whilst beingr treated r hive found that buds once addicted to feather-picking are hard to cure, notwitnstanding treatment, unless segregated from the flock for a. time. An unbalanced diet wi!) frequently bring on log weakness. In such oases it is probable that too much fat-form ng food has been used and too little of the bone and muscle builders. Feeding by Ratio. —To work out a ratio, first obtain the analysis of a gram or food, and (1) multiply vats by 2*; 2 add the total to the carbohydrates; (5 divide the whole by the albumen. -o feed scientifically the ratio for all the food fed for the day must be taken into account. Add up the various constituents and work out the sum as mentioned above. Where two parts of a certain food or gram are used, multiply its analysis by two. It half part is used, then divide by two. To feed correctly, the foods should be so balanced that the feeder gets his daily menu to work out at one part albumen to four and a-haif or five parts carbohydrates and fat. Remember, a good sample of grain will bring in more results than a bad sample. When purchasing corn be guided by taste and smell. Avoid any grain that has a peculiar taste, or is mildewed. Maize is a useful heat-producing grain, but it must be used in moderation. Reilly’s Central Produce Mart, Ltd., advise that turkeys were in better demand at- their sale on Wednesday. Good young cockerels also realised high prices. There was a good yarding of hens and ducks, a number of muscovy ducks being forward. Pullets unfortunately are not realising their values, though prices were a little better at last Wednesday’s sale. On Wednes-

day we received and sold :—Hens at 2s 6d, 2s lOd, 3s, 3s 4d, 3s 6d, 3s 8:1, 3s lOd, 4s, 5s 2d; pullets at 3s 6d to 15s; cockerels at 2s lOd. 3s 6d. 4s, ss. 5s lOd, 6> 6s 4d, 6s 6.1, 7s. 7s 2d. 7s 6d, 3s. 9s 10s 6d, 11s; ducks at 4s Bd, ss, 5s 2d, 5s lOd, 6s, bs 2d, 8s 2d, 8s 6d; bantams at 3s, 3s 6d, 4s 4d; pigeons at 2s 2d ; all at per pair. Turkeys • —4 gobblers realised lljd per lb, 5 gobblers lOjjd per lb, 4 gobblers 13id per lb, 2 gobblers 91d per lb.