POULTRY NOTES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 72, 21 March 1912, Page 8

POULTRY NOTES.

THE PRODUCTION OF FERTILE EGGS IN COLD WEATHER. We have now reached a time of the year when strongly fertilised eggs are ahoslutely essential to almost every large poultry keeper, since it is well known that if winter eggs have tc be obtained it is impossible to get along properly without early pullets : and it is seldom these can be purchased except at extravagant prices. Those poultry keepers who are do termined to be on the safe side must, therefore, look out for themselves it. good time. There are many little things that can upset breeding operations, and nothing can bo more provoking than producing a large percentage of in fertile eggs just at a time when tin other kind are badly needed. It if even more important for the poultry farmer who is selling eggs to custom ors for hatching purposes, since hi: reputation depends on the results ob tamed; and it is generally aeknow lodged that when there are few fer tile eggs from a pen of birds, thost tOiat bappqn to be. fertilised are of ; weakly nature, and seldom hate] strong chicks. Those who by circumstances an compelled to keep their 'breeding steel in limited quarters, will probably fim greater difficulty in obtaining tin right sort of eggs than those who an able to give their birds entire fret range, or at least large grass pen; to roam over. Yet, if the stock bird; havo boon selected with care, and tin management is of the best, it is pos sible to obtain eggs that will hatci well from small pens; but such egg: do better when incubated by natura means. Excellent as some incubator: are, they cannot hatch eggs well Iron stock birds partially confined. i have often tried them, but have give: up the business as unprofitable. Housing and feeding play an im poitant part during the breeding sea son, more especially the early poi lion. When we get farther into the year it is natural for fowls to lay eggs that will produce strong chick ens, but at the present time it requires skilful management to accom plish the feat. Some people give too much sofi food. No doubt the birds like it, ant will not each much corn if they cai get enough warm soft food, but i is not very good for them. I havo oft en noticed that when hens have besi fed m this way for the purpose o. encouraging increased egg produc tmn, the percentage of fertility ha: gone down considerably ; s’o really tin poultry keeper is worse off than be foie. It is no use having a large num her of eggs when one cannot witl safety set them. If a man is going h solely for eggs for consumption lu could not do better than feed liberally on soft food; but he must take care that if any soft-shelled eggs appeal to give more grain rations. If hens could have just as mud soft food as they could eat, no doubl they would consume two ’ ounces r bird more than they would if grail, fed. I his extra food has either t( go for increasing the number of eggf or else the weight of the birds. One meal oi soft food a day is plenty for breeding stock. This should be giver, early in the morning, but the supply should bo curtailed, for it is a mis take to gorge the birds with fo'od ai breakfast, since when given in this way it has a tendency to make birds hazy, and instead of roaming ovei the fields in search of food they will lurk together in corners awaiting patiently for the next meal. There is nothing better than plenty of exercise for making hens lay tlu best eggs for incubation. We have bul to take a lesson from the small wild birds. It is rare indeed for any of them to produce infertile eggs; true they have not as many mates as ordinary fowls, but it is the great amount of exercise they get that onnhles them fo produce strongly fertilised eggs that will hatch out vigorous birds. lire second meal of the day should consist of a portion of vegetable food and green hone, while a little of the ebarser kind of dry chick food is excellent for promoting exercise. In winter, when there is little nourishment to be derived from the land, it is only by scattering the food broadcast or else burying it in the scratch-ing-sheds that exercise can be provided, for hens do not seem desirous of working of their own free will, so forcible methods are necessary. In order to obtain good eggs for hatching purposes too much importance cannot bo laid on the selection of the male birds. Unless they are of the right type it is no use expecting, or trying to force, good results. In the case of heavy breeds like Orpingtons and Hocks, it is a very serious mistake to select birds that arc exceptionally large, as size alone is of no avail unless it is for show birds. It is riot wise to have any of the male birds exceeding 101 b in weight, and there will probably be more fertile eggs if the cock weights only 91b. I havo often seen poultry keepers who would not look at a cockerel unless it was extra large. This is not what il have learned during many years’ experience with practically all the popular varieties. With non-sitters the same remarks apply, but they do not carry as much weight, and it is generally tlio combs and lobes that arc too large, these being answerable for frostbite and other complaints. Minorcas and Leghorns with large combs and wattles should lie dubbed. It is rather strange that this practice does not seem at all popular with utility people, though few exhibitors would think of going through a breeding season without dubbing some of their host birds. It is an operation that can be easily learned, and it cannot be said

that there is very great danger at-. tached to it. The number of liens to a cock undoubtedly affects the percentage of fertility, but it is not always the pens with the least number of hens are found that turn out best. I have often seen when one cockerel has produced more fertile eggs if mated with twenty hens than another apparently quite as vigorous mated with half the number. During winter, or at least until the end of March, it is hardly safe to trust more than ten females to a male, and those who try more are running great risks. It is often noticed that certain males appear to do very well for a week or two, practically all the eggs being fertile, and then all of a. sudden there comes a. change, not half the eggs are fertilised, and some of these become addled before they have been incubating many days. This is a trouble that is sure to be experienced in almost every yard sooner or later, and is one that should always be prepared for. It is often caused by poor condition of the cockerels, duo to allowing hens to eat more than their share of food, until insufficient is left for the male. It is, therefore, a good plan to place a box of corn in.the inside of the lio.u»e, nailed just out of the reach of the hens, but just so as to be at a nice height for the cockerel to get at any time he may feel inclined. If disease happen to break out all affected specimens should at once be removed, if not the egg supply will fall off considerably, and the percentage of fertility will suffer. There are many other reasons which account for'infertile eggs, but in nine cases out of ten they are duo to improper management or bad selection of stock at:the beginning. It does not matter how well the birds are attended to, there will always be a few infertiles where a large number of stock birds are kept. Generally the first few eggs laid by pullets are not fit for hatching purposes, and often the last egg is of little use ; but where everything is as it should be, and the poultry keeper takes an intelligent interest in the welfare of his flock, it should be possible to average ninety per cent fertile eggs, even in winter. H. HEBRON.