POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3763, 27 April 1926, Page 60

POULTRY NOTES.

By

Terror.

“Lex.”—lt is not possible for me to say what is actually the cause of the death of your turkey pullets, because you do not describe how they are housed and fed, nor do you say anything about the symptoms before death. However, it is well to understand that turkeys do not do well in confinement. They require range and plenty of it. If confined to a house at night they are peculiarly prone to acquire colds, and deadly ones at that; while if roosting in trees or in open barns and exposed yery much to the elements they are immune to such trouble. The turkey requires attention and considerate treatment from the day it is hatched till it is fit to roam, or for the market. They are liable not only in the early stages to be affected by changes of the atmosphere and climate, but later on troubles may break out in a flock (as in yours) spasmodically and so exterminate quite a number of birds. A wellknown and successful lady breeder once told me that the constitution of many flocks is enfeebled through inbreeding, and she attributed her own success over many

years to the fact that she periodically imported new blood from America. The constitution, however, can be kept up by constantly weeding out from the flock all birds showing the slightest signs of weakness, and keeping only the strongest and most robust birds, and only such should be allowed to breed. A most important thing with turkeys is cleanliness. They want pure air and dry quarters if confined at night. Lacking these essentials, particularly cleanliuess, they will not only acquire every disease turkeys are liable to, but will become infested with vermin far more readily than do ordinary fowls. When turkey chickens are brooded under the lieu at nights in coops, the coop should be moved daily to clean ground, otherwise vermin will be sure to infest them and sap their strength. Use insect powder freely with turkeys that are housed.

The Dunedin Utility Poultry Club members spent a very pleasant evening socially on the 10th of the month, the occasion being arranged for the purpose of suitably recognising Mr F. G. Hansen’s achievement in winning with a black Orpington the £lO 10s trophy awarded by the club for best bird iu heavy breeds. Air H. L. Sprosen occupied the chair. Misses Campbell and Echoff and Air E. VV. Jowsey rendered items, and after a supper enjoyed by all present. Air Sprosen, in presenting the plate which is to be attached to the clock trophy, gave Air Hansen great praise for his win, but expressed the opinion that Mrs Hansen had done her part as well as her husband. Air Hansen, in responding, thanked the members for the trophy and for their kind expressions on behalf of Airs Hansen and himself.

To show the value of heredity in producing layers, it is recorded that at a recent test in America (the particular test is not mentioned) a bbrred Plymouth Rock laid 366 eggs in a year; her dam also laid 305 eggs in one year. A white Jjeghoru pullet that laid 300 eggs in the year had a dam that laid the same number in a previous year. Seeing that the reported 366 eggs in one year were produced by an American bird, it is surprising that the performance has not been broadcasted in the usual American manner. A world's record achieved in America would be heard of direct—i.e., through American papers, or, even more likely, the news would be cabled to the ends of the earth. As it happens, I am indebted to a paragraph in an Australian weekly for the news 1 have recorded.

If your breeding pens are not already made up, the sooner they are made up the better. You want the birds to settle down comfortably and companionably before setting their eggs. There is no greater mistake than leaving this makingup of the breeding pen to the last moment. No matter whether it be for fancy or utility purposes, the latest moment for mating up is this or next mouth. The composition of the breeding P should be of uirds in sound health, chosen from good average layers, mated to a male bird bred from a good laying hen. It k quite possible that the progeny of such mating will'produce more eggs than did their parents, and very littL likelihood of their doing worse. Every record-breaking bird has been bred from a bird less capable! Select liens for the breeding pen rather than pullets, and if pullets must be included by no means use late-hatched ones. An argument in favour of mating up the breeding pen early is that, although an egg may be considered fertilised seven days after mating, experience has shown that the chickens are more likely to be strong when the penned birds have been together for a month or two.

Expensive Chickens.—ln announcing that the Cumberland Foxhounds Club had met claims totalling £llß, the secretary said: “Poultry gets more expensive every year. Every bird is a prize bird, and lays 365 eggs every year. The Three R’s of Poultry-keeping.— The right breed, right position of farm, and right management. So says a Home writer. He might have added a fourth—viz., right number of birds to area; but perhaps that, he considered, came under the heading of right management. Awarding a prize for the best bird in the show can never give satisfaction, or at least can do so very seldom; but the difficulty in doing so may be considered slight in comparison with the awarding a prize to “the best exhibit.” A case in point, mentioned in a Home paper, is when the judges crowded round the table with a mouse, a rabbit, a Rhode Island Red, a Jacobin pigeon, a canary, and a buff Rock cockerel! The Gizzard Acting.—One may learn a good deal by examining a lean young fowl, when, on moving the feathers from the side of the belly nearest the gizzard, the action of this wonderful organ can be felt, seen, and heard. On pressing with the fingers the muscles of the gizzard will feel as hard as stones to the touch 'When they relax the grain upon which they were then then working passes on, and a further supply, as in the case of a mill, passes under these natural rollers. These actions succeed each other, and on placing the bird close to the ear, as the food and stones relax under the pressure of the muscles of the gizzard, a sound not unlike the notes of the tide rolling upon a shingly shore may be distinctly heard at intervals. During all this process the gastric juice slowly flows in from the lower part of the gullet or second stomaelL and mingles intimately with the digesting food. The price of egg 3 in Christchurch lias been erratic during the lust few weeks. There has been a change practically every week. Of. course, with the decreasing supplies this is not un unusual experience at this season, but this year there was an unexpected drop in the price liter the middle of March. This was du_ to the unusually warm weather resulting in greatly increased supplies. It is not sufficiently realised that fine salt given to fowls assists their digestion, and is absorbed by the blood changing it into tissue and eliminating waste matter from the system. It acta this way with humans and with animals, so why not with poultry In order to lay egga all the organs of the lien’s body must work harmoniously, and as salt is found to facilitate digestion, stimulate the secretions, and promote the general good health of fowls, it should undoubtedly be supplied to them just as we supply it to cattle, horses, sheep, or to ourselves. ,

What Some Grain Alixtures are Composed Of.—The interest at present being focused on poultry nutrition and poultry diseases has led Professor R. G. Lintou, of the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College, Edinburgh, to inquire into the composition of the mixed grains that are offered to the poultry-keepers. It is not uncommon, he says, to find grain mixtures containing over 10 per cent, of weed seeds, sold at 16s per cwt, so that out of a ton of “ mixed grain ” 2cwts of weed seed may be purchased for 325. There was a time when green food was used only with the idea of providing a substitute for medicine to keep the internal organs in good order and conditiou. The worth of green food as an egg producer and flesh former was not generally known, but during the past few years green food has been found to possess many properties which are necessary in keeping a hen in laying condition, and it is now used more or less by every poultry keeper. Mr 1). F. Laurie, the South Australian poultry expert, says: “ From October to Alarcli our normal wet mash at Parafield poultry station (where the South Australian laying competition is conducted) contains 60 to 70 per cent, by bulk of chaffed green lucerne. During the 1914 drought I fed up to 80 per cent. Our egg production is always good. From April onward the green food is gradually reduced to 30 per cent, during the cold weather.” Mr J. Hadlington, the New South Wales poultry expert, is also a strong advocate of green food, and I can add my own experience, extending over 40 years, in backing up their opinions. The cost of producing green food is much less than that of grain or meal. While not favouring quite as high a percentage as Air Laurie (with all due respect to that gentleman), I am satisfied that at least 20 to 25 per cent, of green food can be added to the mash with satisfactory results. Air Cusseus our own Government expert, says one-third of the food supplied to a fowl should be green food. Reillys report penning and selling:— Hens: 39 at ss, 43 at 4s lOd, 53 at 4s Bd. 22 at 4s 4d, 47 at 4s, 23 at 3s lOd, 41 at 3s Bd, 91 at 3s 6d, G 4 at 3s 4d, 74 at 3s 2d, 33 at 3s. Pullets: 2 at 7s 6d, 8 at 12s, 12 at 16s, 5 at 20s. Ducks: 28 at 9s, 34 at 7s lOd, 29 at 5s 6d, 15 at 5s 4d, 18 at 5s 2d. 16 at ss, 13 at 4s Bd, 10 at 4s. Cockerels: 42 at 8s 6d, 22 at 6s 6d, 5S at Gs, 16 at 5s 4d, 38 at ss, 10 at 4s lOd, 15 at 4s Bd. 28 at 4s, 3at 3s 6d, 10 at 3s 4d. Cocks: 12 at 5s 2d, 8 at 4s, 2 at 3s 4d, 3 at 3s 2d, Bat 3s. Drakes: 24 at 8s Bd, IS at Gs, 26 at-5s Bd, 11 at 4s 6d, 2 at 3s Bd. Chickens: 13 at 2s Bd, 6 at 2s (all at per pair). Turkeys: 2 at Is 2sd per lb, 7 at Is 2d. sat Is. Purebred Poultry: Three Black Orpington cockerels at 12s Gd each, 10 Rhode Island Red pullets at 10s 6d each. 8 White Leghorn pullets at 12s Gd each, 4 Black Orpington pullets at 10s each. Those having surplus pullets or stud cockerels should advise us immediately. Eggs: These have been in short supply, and we have been securing as high as 3s 2d per dozen for new laid.