THE POULTRY RUN

Southland Times, Issue 19294, 12 July 1924, Page 11

THE POULTRY RUN

(By

“Leghorn”’).

The entries for the Greymouth Poultry Show close to-day. A new society has been formed in Greymouth, and everything promises that the first show will be successful. One of the secrets of keeping the fowls healthy is to be continually dn the watch. But this vigilance does not mean a constant coddling or pampering. It means watch for lice, watch for slight colds, watch for idle hens, watch for bad habits, watch for droopiness, watch for the first signs of ailments. The moment the signal is given is the time for action. There is more virtue in that kind of poultry care than all the remedies for disease known in the world. If there was more prevention there would be' fewer sick fowls, more rugged offsprings and more cash in the pockets of the poultry keepers. While visible cases of avian diphtheria can be isolated and treated successfully, there is danger of birds affected in the larynx being overlooked and their deaths attributed to anything but the real cause. Roup in all its varieties is at the present time very prevalent. The catarrhal cough, with wet nostrils and slimy discharges, oneeyed swellings, and cankerous growths within the oval cavity or in the respiratory tract, are symptoms which should lead fowl-keepers promptly to isolate any bird showing them. Ramshackle old buildings are most difficult to disinfect, and it has been proven that dried discharges of roup or chicken-pox retain their virulence after five years. The delicacy brought about by the high laying has rendered the more improved breeds more susceptible, but this is being realised by our leading breeders, and hardiness is being cultivated by improved methods of rearing. The barn-door fowl and the fancy bird of high class breed come within the definition of gallinaceous birds, that is birds which are naturally adapted for scratching for their food. They have a gizzard and it is in the gizzard that the grain and other foods they consume is masticated and rendered in a fit state to be properly digested and absorbed by the blood. Therefore, if they are confined within a small space where gravel is absent, it is essential ~that they should be provided with a constant supply of grit. Bone grit and shell grit are two of the most useful ingredients for the purpose, especially to the egg-laying birds, because from them their system will draw the necessary supply of lime for the formation of the shells of the eggs which they lay and at the same time the grit will form a masticating element in their gizzard and assist them to retain that health which is such a desirable factor where flocks ate kept. If a healthy fowl be killed and the contents of its gizzard be examined it will be fpund to contain mineral particles of all sorts. So don’t forget to supply them with grit where necessary. Winter rations, to the poultryman whose fowls are handled more or less the year round, mean no particular change except a little heavier feeding, an increase in the fat-forming elements, and some addition to the animal food secured. There should also be greater attention to exercise, thus to prevent any tendency on the part of the fowls to turn their richer rations into fat instead of eggs. Exercise is most important now because of the short days and the long, lazy nights. If the flock consists of pullets that are well enough matured to lay, but are not productive, it is nearly certain that they have not been sufficiently well fed. It takes a good deal of feed to meet the physical requirements of birds that are still putting on weight, also to keep them warm in cold weather, and there will be no eggs until all of these needs are fully met. If the pullets are not laying and the entire day’s ration does not’ now equal or exceed 4oz to per bird, try increasing the quantity and let the increase be in the form of mash—dry if you can get them to eat enough in that form; moist if necessary. As a rule, the grain part of the ration does not need to be increased, as the shortage in consumption is almost always in the mash. Sometimes this is directly due to the fact that the mixture is not sufficiently palatable. Study your birds and their rations, and depend upon it that when fowls that< ought to lay are not doing so, it is strictly up to you—and it is mostly your feeding that is at fault.

TIOR SALE -A GOOD FARM. Jj 250 Acres; sub-divided into 12 or 13 paddocks; all in good heart; recently limed. Crops: 21 Acres Oats, 1 Acre Wheat, 15 Acres Ridged Turnips and Rape, 20 Acres Ridged Turnips and 18 Acres Ridged Turnips, Rape and Grass. Now carrying 45 to 50 cows, 22 head dry stock, 8 horses, 20 ewes and lambs. All the crops are good. Balance of farm in English grass, 1 to 3 years old. Buildings: Firat-class Dwelling, comparatively new, six rooms, bathroom, h. and c. water, scullery, pantry, boiler and tubs with water laid on; cowbyre, 60-ft. with 4-cow milking machine. Stable, six-stalled bam, trap shed, loosebox and shearing shed, implement shed and men’s hut; good fences; good water supply; windmill. Factory 2 miles, school and telephone a mile, 5 miles to Riverton; all good roads. Tliis is a really fine farm and first-class proposition at the price asked. Price: £l7 per acre, including all crops and milking plant. £lOOO down; balance on mortgage. J. HOLLOWAY, LTD. Riverton. ’Phone: 53.