POULTRY COLUMN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 73, 9 November 1911, Page 8

POULTRY COLUMN.

WHY THE EGG RECORDS 01'' AM Will CAN HENS HAVE DECREASED.

The following veracious account of the American Poultry Association’s Denver meeting appeared in the “New York Herald’’

Old and young hens in all parts of the city went up on their hind legs yesterday and chicked a vigorous protest against the chcarge thpt they had formed a conspiracy to keep down the supply of eggs. 'i tic charge was made by the American Poultry Association, the national league of ilia poultry business, now in session at Denver. Experts who have been compiling the batting averages of the millions of hens throughout the country declared that each of the feathered players is at least seventy eggs behind i lie schedule, which requires every lieu to surrender 150 eggs during the year. To say that the hens were boiling is putting it mildly. Every coop was the scene of an indignation mealing, and the united cackle that rose above the roar of traffic indicated that the egg census will lie depleted btill farther unless apology is forthcoming. Here and there an old lien could no found who was willing to admit the truth of the charge, but with few ex-

ceptions the statement was branded as a base slander. “The next tiling you know they will have ns punching time clocks so that they can keep track of our movements,” said an indignant young hen. “As it is I know a man who keeps a register in ids coop, and his liens have to ring up every time they complete an egg. it may he true that we are not laying as many eggs as wo did formerly, but conditions have changed. In years gone by we could drop an egg in the road without worrying about getting hit with an automobile or an aeroplane. Now it takes us a whole day to select a safe spot in, which to deposit our eggs. You don’t know how disconcerting it is to ha ready to drop an egg and hear a ‘honk, honk’ directly behind you.”

“I’vc spent all my life dodging the fricassee,” said another hen, “but from now on I shall encourage my offspring to sidestep the egg business and study to bo broilers. Why don’t they put taximeters on us and be done with it? Sure, we are laying fewer eggs, but look at the extra work we are doing. All up-to-date coops are stocked with those paper boxes which hold a dozen eggs, each in a separate compartment. After laying the egg the hen lias to stamp the date on it and then deposit it in one of those compartments. The lien that lavs- the last egg has to seal the box.” ‘ '

“Ton can’t blame the young liens for getting peevish over the criticism, but as a matter of fact it is right,” said a weather-beaten old hon. “These youngsters don’t know when they are well off. One hundred and fifty eggs a year is a picnic for a healthy hen. That requires them to lay an egg every other day, and permits them to lay off on Sunday. "When I started laying eggs during the Civil War I had to lay an egg an hour. The boss stood over me with a hatchet, ready to swing' if I failed to make good.”

“How do you account for the falling off in laying?” “It’s another symptom of the woman’s suffrage movement. T.ouag hens refuse to stay at home and lay eggs. They insist on mounting the stump and cackling about their rights. They object to hatching out large famines. Much of this woman’s uplift literature finds its way to the barnyard, and this has served to make the younger set restless. Then, again, they are breeding the hens too fa'll. They are so far away from the ground that when they drop an egg it breaks. This has a tendency to discourage them. Then, again, the egg merchants are responsible for the falling off. 'They had a "habit of coming round about twice a season and telling the liens to slow down until the cold storage eggs were graduated. This had a tendency to make the hens lazy.” CHICKENS. < (From an Exchange.) Wo h ave to-day received a letter from a correspondent concerning some troublfe he is having with his birds which were hatched a month ago. “They are making no growth at ail,” be writes, “are no bigger than when they wore born, but are fairly active and seem strong enough.” They have been led from birth on chick food dry only, and raised in a foster-mother where the temperature has been regulated in a correct manner. Our correspondent concludes: “The chickens have no lice on them and their quarters are perfectly clean; yet some have no feathers or fluff on their heads at all, quite bare, while others have few feathers on their bodies, too.” We have all to live and learn. Towards the middle of August is quite lata in the year to hatcii chickens, since the eggs then collected must be from breeding stock which lias been together for some months, and which is practically at the end of its tether for the season. That may account for tiie poor growth. Then, again, the excessive hot summer we have had tin's year may have something to do with the trouble. But, apart from these considerations, we are greatly inclined to think that the prime cause of it is wrong feeding. “Chick food dry only” from hirtii may he well enough in certain circumstances, but it seldom makes for rapid growth, and certainly not during a long and dry spell of hot weather such as-dve have bad recently.

V* r c must look then, for a remedy; and it is simple enough ; Give the birds soft food. This is of two kinds, if chick “feed” must he used have it soaked or steamed overnight, and in the morning it will he well softened and in a lit state for the birds, and they will cat it with a relish. Or use the ordinary meals and see that they are well prepared. Lot the birds have soft food for breakfast and throughout the day, with the dry seed and grain mixture as the last meal to keep them going until morning. A pinch of flowers of sulphur nifty he added to the breakfast each day, granted fine weather, and since the mornings are likely to be chilly now let their breakfast ho supplied to them in a warm state, and see that it contains meat in some form. A teacup of greaves snaked overnight will be ample for fifty or sixty chickens to begin with, nr meat scraps of such a quantity will do. Then, again, there should ho a good supply of fresh green food, and if there is a shortage of young stuff dandelions chopped up finely may he added to the mash, or nettle “tea” v. ill prove a good tonic. Ar; a rule the blood is out of order when the chickens do not feather in a satisfactory manner. We like to add fat or dripping to the chickens’ soft lend at this time of .the year, and coilliver oil has proved beneficial when leather troubles arise. Our correspondent also asks ns to enlighten him as to the distinguishing of cockerels from pullets about two or throe months old, and mentions such breeds as White Wyant!ottos. Aiinorcas, light Sussex, While Orpingtons, _ and Leghorns. Those fowls are oi two classes, sitters and

non-sittors. Perhaps the most simple way is to leave the birds together until they are “lug enough to eat,” until the cockerels become troublesome'. However, as a rule, the cockerels of the early maturing kinds, suc h as Minorcas and Leghorns, shoot their combs and wattles much earlier than the pullets, and often spring their tails well in advance, while those of tha sitting class, Wyandottes, Sussex and Orpingtons, may also be clistinguished by their headguar, but in addition the pullets invariably furnish up iu tails first, and the cockerels have a “rnmplcss” and shorter-bodied appearance for some months. There are other signs that those of us who have been “years at the game” are able to see, but for the novice the “heads and tails” guide will lie quite good enough.

N. UTILITY POULTRY CLUB’S COMPETITION*. Pullets. T. Kennedy, S.W. (27) ... ... 875 Misses Bradley (28) ... ... 809 O. H. Robinson (26) ... ... 819 A. 11. Browne (35) 8-13 Herctaunga Poultry Co. (27) ... 810 Heretaunga Poultry Co. (37) ... SOI \V. Nixon (37) ... ... ••• 802 A. 11. Browne (30) ... ... 800 Ducks. Herctaunga Poultry Co. (37) ... 895 \V. Knight (35) ... ... ... 877 A. 11. Browne (32) 1 ... ... 836 I’. J. Keller (28) ... ... ... 752