POULTRY YARD

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1928, Page 12

POULTRY YARD

BY BS3OESSS

G, H. AMBLER

SEASONABLE THOUGHTS. We have been complainirig of too much rain and sighing for fine days, and drying winds that generally come along in September and October. Nature has, however, a way of restoring a balance, and after last summer’s drought a wet spring seems to be a natural consequence. Moreover, -it is replenishing the springs, and creeks, and giving the earth a reserve of moisture that will stand it in good stead during the summer, should another drought come to pass. However, while it lasts it is decidedly unpleasant. There is mud in every run, especially round about the gates and doors of houses; the laying and breeding stock have to be more or less confined to the scratching shed more than we like at this time Of the year. Litter gets damp and clogs very quickly, and among the chickens there is continuous renewal of litter and removal of coops and brooders to. a dryer spot, or one that has not been trampled, while it is noticeable that eggs get rather dirty, owing to birds coming in to lay with dirty feet, so that they need to be washed before they are sent to market. Much of the. unpleasantness attending work among the poultry during wet and dirty weather can be relieved. In the first place, we should never allow a run to become muddy, even round the gate. A barrow load of scoria will put things right, or, if you cannot get scoria, you may find some fine slack in the coal shed, too fine to burn, that will help to make a path or fill up depressions near the gate or door. As a matter of fact, every small run that will not grow grass ought to bo built up with scoria or gravel so that rain water drains quickly away, carrying impurities with it. Litter in scratching sheds can only be kept dry by means of efficient shuttering. Hinged glass or celluloid material shutters are perhaps most suitable in winter and wet weather, because they can be adjusted at any angle, and they will prevent rain beating in, although they will permit ample ventilation. The up and down sliding shutters are better in hot weather, but they need a wide weather-board to keep rain out when they are opened. TO ENSURE DRY LITTERS. As regards the chickens, it is always a wise precaution during showery weather to keep coops with their backs to the wind, which will ensure dry litter inside, while frequent removal of the coops is very desirable where it is possible. If there is not enough room to move each coop a yard or two every day the only plan to avoid churning the ground up into mud is to put down a light layer of scoria to walk upon. An improvement in the weather is welcome just now to facilitate the usual spring work about the poultry houses. Leaky roofs are becoming apparent, and wood-work reveals the need of paint, tar or creosote. The leakiness is doubtless due to the waring out of the iron. Tarring, painting and creosoting must be done in fine weather when the wood is dry, and as for old iron it is a hopeless job to patch it up, so that the only satisfactory plan is to strip it off and put on a fresh covering giving it a coat of paint to complete the job. The majority, of farmers were form-

crly ii» the habit of delaying hatching operations until a spell of really fine weather came along in the spring, but nowadays one finds more enterprising methods on most farms, and often one eftn pick up some useful ideas. The other day we saw a number of chicken coops protected by thatched hurdles. A couple of posts were driven into the ground, standing about 3ft high. A rail was nailed across these, which formed a support for three hurdles, thus providing a lean-to shelter. True, these shelters were built to afford protection against southerly weather, whereas lately the worst conditions have come from an easterly or south-westerly quarter. The lengthening days are helpful to the poultry-keeper at this time, though the dewy mornings do not provide the best conditions for letting birds out at sunrise. The scratching shed is still the best place for layers and stock birds in the early mornings, and those who want to get the birds busy as early as possible hi the morning should scatter corn among the litter overnight, provided rate and mice cannot get in, or give the ‘grain at sunrise, when the shutters should be opened, according to the state of the weather. This will keep the hens busy until about nine o’clock, when they can be let out if the weather permits. As for the chickens, early releasement from coops and brooders is desirable, though, as with the adult stock, it is necessary to keep them confined to a sheltered run till the early morning chill has passed. Do not forget that scratching is as beneficial for chickens as for adults, and the best way to start the day is to let them have a couple of hours in a well-littered, sheltered run. I SE Ob’ BROODIES. Full use should be made of odd hens 1 that fall broody, because they will help | to swell the number with their broods. Even where incubators are used, these old hens should be brought into use to fill tlie gaps. A few early broodies can be made to play a very important part. They can act, for instance, as guides to fertility. When pens are mated up it is desirable that eggs from each pen should be tested for fertility before the main hatching proceeds. Under an old broody then, we can place eggs from several breeding pens, and test them for fertility and on the seventh day. Especially w-here eggs are sold as sittings is this preliminary testing desirable, as it will result in better satisfaction for both vendor and buyer. As I have on more than one occasion stated, mating up does not end when the cockerel is put into a pen of hens. The male may fail, even though he appears a most likely breeder. The proof of mating, therefore, should always be in the testing. It is sheer waste to place a large number in an incubator from one pen without knowing for certain whether fertility is good, bad or indifferent. If incubators are in use, then a trial run of one is recommended, a few eggs from each mating being taken and tried. There is no need to wait till the end of the hatch, as testing can take place on the seventh day. If eggs from a given pen prove clear or unfertile, no more should be set for a reasonable period, when a few more can be tested. If, on the other hand, certain pens prove very fertile, eggs from these should be utilised in the main until improvement in the others takes place.