POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 29

POULTRY NOTES.

By

Terror.

“ Novice ’’ writes to say, that he hears different opinions respecting the proper time for giving mash and grain respectively, and asks what system of feeding do I recommend. I have consistently declared in favour of mash in the morning and grain at night, and my idea is that those who recommend the reverse procedure do so because it is the easier—i.e., it is simpler, for instance, on cold winter mornings to throw down a meal of grain than it is (after its preparation, whicli takes some time) to serve mash. I cannot do better than quote Louis Wright in order to show that, whatever

trouble it may cause, there is strong argument for the morning mash and for the evening feed of grain. Louis Wright said i “The first feeding should consist of soft food of some kind. The birds have passed a whole night since they were last fed, and it is important, especially in cold weather, that a fresh supply should as soon as possible be got into the system, and not merely into the crop. But if the grain be given it has to be ground in the poor bird’s gizzard before it -can be digested, and on a cold winter’s morning the delay is anything but beneficial. But for the very same reason, at the evening meal grain forms the best food which ean.be supplied. It is digested slowly, and during the long cold nights affords support and warmth to the fowls.’’ Notwithstanding the foregoing, I would suggest to “ Novice ” that regularity in feeding is of special importance. and consequently if he finds it impossible to give the morning mash feed regularly and at a given time, then he should -give grain in the morning and mash at night. Good results are obtained under both systems, and the owner’s own convenience must be studied, even at the cost of a few less eggs. At the Burnley egg-laying test, conducted by the Victorian Government, six Khaki Campbell ducks beat the world’s record for winter-test laying by producing 697 eggs in 122 days. The previous record was 685 eggs in 122 days. In the Burnley test the same team was first for three years in succession.

Incubating Duck Eggs.—The main requisite is moisture during the last few days of incubation, - coupled with a steady and not too high temperature. In addition to the usual quantity of moisture supplied, one expert says he makes a point of syringing the interior of the machine and eggs with hot water during the last week. This, he says, has a wonderful effect on the membrane, and in many eases prevents the duckling from dying in the shell. Excessively high temperatures should be avoided, these being more harmful than low ones, and the eggs must not be cooled during the whole period of hatching. This does not mean that the drawer must not be opened for turning the eggs, but merely that the drawer should then be closed and not left open for the purpose of actually cooling the eggs. Reverting to the question of moisture, the attendant should realise that in very wet .seasons the air is heavily charged with moisture, and consequently less attention in that respect is necessary.

Poultry Saves Canadian Farmers. — Professor F. C. Elford in his capacity as Canadian Poultry Husbandman, after a visit to the western provinces, says : “ I found things in the west in a rather unsatisfactory condition. Times are not good, and the only consolation which some of us can take out of the condition is that poultry again h-.s become a ‘lifesaver.’ We were on many places where the farmer said the only tiling between his family and want was his poultry plant. Though prices were not high by any means, it meant that the rc.urn from eggs each week were about the only thing he had between his family and starvation. Many a farmer is sticking to the job because his poultry is carrying him through. Once again poultry is demonstrating the national asset we have in this industry.” The Care of Goose Eggs for Hatching.— The goose eggs whilst on hand should be laid upon the side and covered over with a piece of blanket. They should be turned daily. A temperature of 55deg Fahr, is a suitable one for the keeping of goose eggs intended for hatching. Ordinarily the germ is strong in goose eggs, and hatching out is not impossible even when, the eggs are kept for a month. The proper and most paying plan is to start the hatching when the eggs are as fresh as possible. Care of Goslings.—For the first week or ten days after hatching the goslings should be confined to a coop in the ordinary way with the hen, giving them a small wired-in run for ex-ercise, but after that they may have almost free range, provided you look after them when shutting up. Goslings require green food from the very start, chopped fine and mixed in with chopped egg and breadcrumbs for tlie first day or ■so. About the third day they may brought on to small wheat boiled and mixed rather dry. with barley meal or Sussex ground oats', but always adding cooked greenstuff, potatoes, or -other vegetables. Drinking water is best supplied in a fountain with small lip so that the goslings can only get their bills into it, otherwise they will foul it directly. Hot sunlight "without shade is definitely bad for them, so if the run is open cover it with a sack damped occasionally in very hot weather. The goslings soon become strong on their legs and forage about, and can do without the hen after three weeks, while when they have passed the month-old stage they can sleep out in the open without harm at this time of year. Keep the hen free from crawlers before hatching time, and don’t forget the constant necessity for green food during the whole period of growth. Swimming water is not a necessity, but without it the water supply must be well maintained and the vessels kept clean and in a cool place. Keep the Water Clean. —If care is not used ducklings and goslings both quickly foul their drinking water. Water for ducklings and goslings to drink should always be in troughs protected by vertical slats so that the youngsters can get all the water they need, especially at mealtime, yet cannot get into the trough or spill much of the water. After the hatching season is finished the breeding ducks (at least those which are to be kept over for next season) may be given free range, and under such conditions will pick iip much of their food, thus cutting down the cost of keeping them, and will store up good health for next winter. Cod Liver Oil for Layers.—More and more poultrymen are coming to the confinement of layers the year around instead of only in winter. This confinement keeps the layers dose to the feed supply, and results in a greater feed consumption and therefore a greater egg production at a time when the average farm flock is going out of production. Because of this it is wise to have cod liver oil in the ration, since full benefit cannot be had of the ultra-violet rays of the sun. Also, there are many cases of ovarian disorders in summer that will undoubtedly be corrected by including cod liver oil in the feed.

Reference to the successful incubation of a sitting of hen eggs after a journey from Canada to New Zealand has attracted the attention of a Whangarei cor* respondent of the Auckland Star. “ Some years ago,” he writes, “I made several experiments to see how long eggs would keep for hatching. I packed a dozen White Leghorn eggs in a biscuit tin in a dry packing of my own making, and the result of hatching after four months was 11 chicks.”

Reilly’s Report.—Table poultry short ot requirements and commanding good values. We sold:—Hens—7 at 8s 2d, 2 Bs, 2 7s 6d, 3 7s 2d, 5 7s, 6 6s 6d, 2 6s; cockerels—2 16s. 214 s, 2 Us 2d, 4 10s, 2 9s Bd, 8 9s 2d, 10 9s, 3 8s lOd, 2 8s 6d, l n Bs, 2 6s Bd, 2 6s 6d, 2 6s 4d, 2 6s 2d, 2 5s 6d; ducks—3 9s 6d, 3 9s; pullets—3, 7s 4d; all at “ per pair.” Eggs have again eased in price, selling at Is to Is 2d per dozen.

TWENTY-SEVENTH PAPANUI EGGLAYING COMPETITION.

Leading Pens 20th Week, ended August 21 (139 days). TEST I—J. H. SHAW MEMORIAL CHALLENGE. (Light and Heavy Breeds.) Week’s Weight eggs. oz. dr. Total. Black Orpingtons—

MARKETING OF EGGS. SHIPMENTS TO GREAT BRITAIN. AUCKLAND, August 27. _An r effort to place large quantities of New Zealand eggs on the market in Great Britain is to be made this season, and already two shipments have been arranged. The Somerset, which is scheduled to leave Auckland on October 10, ■will carry 1600 crates, each containing 30 dozen eggs, and the Corinthic, which is to leave Wellington 10 days later, will take a further 1000 crates. In all probability these shipments will be entirely from Auckland and Canterbury. Other shipments, it is expected, will follow at regular intervals for some months. Mr A. J. Joughin, manager of the Poultry Producers’ Products marketing branch of the organisation, which handles considerable quantities of eggs from the Auckland province, said it was imperative for local producers to ship their eggs overseas this year owing to the very low prices ruling here at the present time. The Auckland producers were receiving from 19d to Is per dozen For eggs, according to the grade. If the eggs were sent to Great Britain probably 2s per dozen would be received.

J. Campbell . . G 13.4 128 H. Cotton .. 5 10.3 113 White Leghorns— H. Williams . . . . . . 6 11.13 124 L. Roache . . 5 11.2 115 J. Ibbotson . . 4 8.3 113 Miss M'Kechnie . . 6 13.6 109 T. S. Dove . . 6 12.5 106 F. G. S. Chapman . . . . 5 10.10 101 Master Heazlewood . . 5 10.11 99 M'Kechnie and Nancarrotv 5 11.7 98 A. C. Goodlet . . 9.14 96 TEST 2—WHITE LEGHORN, SINGLE HENS (Owner Enters Three Birds.) Week's eggs. Totals. W. L. Donald 5 5 5 103 109 110 A. J. Maclaine . . G 5 5 120 94 101 E. J. Cliffen 6 6 5 103 110 91 J. H. Jackson 6 5 6 105 88 110 A. M. Espie 6 4 6 102 92 108 D. Christie . . 5 6 6 73 111 116 TEST 3—BLACK ORPINGTONS ONLY. (Single Hen. Owner Enters Three Birds.) Week's eggs Totals. R. M. Cookson G 4 6 99 94 87 B. Cotterell 1 G 2 76 109 83 D. A. M'Kee 16 3 40 97 SO J. Campbell . . 7 6 5 119 51 42 TEST 4 —ANY VARIETY LIGHT OR HEAVY BREEDS OTHER THAN WHITE LEGHORNS OR BLACK ORPINGTONS Week's eggs. Totals. Miss Williams (L.S.' A. W. Pritchard 4 7 6 4S 124 112 (B.O.) .. .. 3 5 G 94 100 109 S. H. Mitchell (A.) 4 5 5 90 90 90 B. C. Wilson (B.L.) 4 2 5 83 72 106 L.S. stands for Light Sussex. B.O. stands for Buff A. stands for Ancona Orpington. B.L._ stands for Brown Leghorn. TEST Z— FLOCK TEAMS. (Six Birds.) Week's Weight eggs. oz. dr. Total White Leghorns— W. Knight . . 30 67.4 60S M. C. Craig . . . . .. 30 65.0 520 L. V. Couch . . .. 24 51.0 499 H. Williams . . .. 28 60.4 493 L. Roache .. .. . . 25 55.2 481 Verrall Bros. . . 20 42.3 480 TEST 6—INDIAN RUNNER. (Owner Enters Three Birds.) Week's eggs. Totals. J. W. Thomson . . 6 5 7 103 129 133 H. A. Dawber 5 7 6 "- 77 137 116 G. A. Heath 7 7 7 S3 135 42 TEST 7 —OTHER THAN INDIAN RUNNER. Week’s eggs. Totals. H. A. Dawber (P.) 6 7 G 118 89 115 F. Ashworth (K.C.) 5 7 3 77 85 81 P. signifies Pekin. K.C. stands for Khaki Campbell.