POULTRY YARD

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1929, Page 28 (Supplement)

POULTRY YARD

BY

G. H. AMBLER

PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE.

If prevention were practised as universally as it is preached, all the doctors, fire departments and lawyers in the country would be hunting for other positions. They would have nothing to do. In line with that is the prevention tint should be exercised in poultry at this time of year to avoid sickness and disease. It* has all been outlined previously as eliminating dampness, sudden changes in temperature, and with sufficient sunlight and ventilation. There are three things that do happen too often and one should try to guard against them rather than treating after it has happened. Lock the barn before the horse is stolen. The three diseases or phases of the same disease are cold, roup and chicken pox. In too many cases the introduction is through the purena-so-of breeding stock that may have the disease in a mild form so that it can develop under adverse conditions such as are encountered in shipment. A safe rule to follow is the rigid quarantine of all stock for a few days after receiving and before placing with the Hock. The fowl can be kept in confinement to watch for symptoms. In one instance the production of a flock that had been laying around GO per cent, for the early winter months was ruined when some cockerels that were purchased brought chicken pox with them. These birds were bought from a dealer who had no respect for the buyer. It can happen with any reliable breeder, or while in transit, so ojie needs to be safeguarded.

THE USE OF REMEDIES.

At this time of the year, mix up a saturated solution of permanganate of potash. A small quantity of the crystals can be purchased at the chemist’s, place in a bottle and enough water to dissolve them. Each day or c ~ry other day add enough of this solution to the drinking water to give it a pink colour. This material is not a cure-all, but it is a disinfectant and acts in that way in preventing the spread of this disease to the rest of the flock, as the common drinking vessel seems to be a source of distribution.

Epsom salts should be given when the flock appears to bo in poor physical condition. Ono pound tu 109 birds in the drinking water is enough. Allow the flock access to this in the morning and in mid-afternoon throw out what remains and replenish with fresh water. With less mature fowls the amount can bo used proportionately to the development. . Follow the same rule as mother did with castor oil—-when in doubt, use it. — Colds indicate their presence by a watery eye. The fowl indicates a condition that is not thrifty, is not normally active, and has a sharp sneeze when roosting. It can easily be detected by tho sound in a flock. In a little more advanced stage there will also be a watery discharge from the nostril. If not very far advanced the permanganate will be satisfactory.

SEGREGATION NECESSAIIV.

Although little is known about roup it may be an advanced stage of a cold. The three diseases are supposed to "be caused by specific organisms, but have never been isolated. In all cases of roup one should separate the infected fowls from the flock immediately and either treat or kill and burn or bury. Rather satisfactory medicinal treatment can be followed. Keep the fowls in a warmer, well ventilated room. Three times a day the cheesy material can be removed from the eye and nostril and those sections dusted with boric acid powder. Keep the bird on a rather laxative ration, including some grain. Roup is indicated by a peculiar obnoxious odour, and it is only in cases of fowls of particular value that individual treatment is advised. In case of an outbreak one should clean out the litter and replace with fresh, dry, clean material. Some fault is also apparent in either immature stock, damp quarters or poor ventilation. Attempt to remedy this condition immediately. If one could just remember that sunlight and fresh air under control are necessary adjuncts to a good poultry house, a lot of grief could be avoided.

DETECTING THE DISEASES.

The last member of this unwelcome triumvirate is chioken-pox. A fowl does not seem to be as listless with this disease at the start as with roup. With roup the constant sneezing is a warning and the discolouration that is found on the wing feathers when the' fowl attempts to clean the discharge from the eye and nose are a help and the odour is a certainty. Pox can often be associated with roup, in which case the axe is the best treatment.

Chicken-pox is indicated by the scabs that appear on the comb, face and wattles. At the first these appear to be little yellowish spots, that later turn brown and seem to bo scabs resulting from injury. Oftentimes fights between males or between hens are the origin, the wounds caused being a starting point for the organism to enter. Possibly the fighting caused a lowered vitality and made the inroads of the disease possible. Separate the sick birds and paint the sore spots with either iodine or lysol. Use full strength and apply with either a small brush or a feather. Give a spoonful of castor oil to help carry away the poison and to z tone up the fowl. If this condition is detected in time and properly handled it is not the dreaded disease that poultrymen think. Although a serum has been devised for some of these, it is not generally recommended.

HINTS ABOUT LATE HATCHING.

It is not possible for every poultrykeeper to hatch his chickens early in the season, and those who are compelled to delay operations until the present time should not regard their chances of success as necessarily ruined on that account. Though their late chickens will not catch up with the earlier ones, they will serve a useful purpose, and the financial result should ba nearly as good. There has always been a disposition to regard late-hatched chickens as unprofitable, but -I think that means in the comparative sense, for the reason that earlier pullets come into profit' in less time, and produce eggs when prices are highest. But whether the later broods really pay their way depends mainly upon the manner, iri. which they, are

reared. If they have to make shift with little attention and inferior accommodation, or if they are run along with older chicks and bullied and badgered day after day, their development will be slow, and there is an element of doubt whether they will pay their way. However, late chicks are better than no chickens at' all,’and late hatching should appeal chiefly to those whose earlier operations have failed, and also to those who contrive to produce eggs all the year round.

GENERAL NOTES.

The results of the Taranaki Egg Laying Competition to theNjnd of the thirtythird week show that M. Scanlon’s White Leghorn still' maintains her lead in that section and her total now stands at 211. A. J. Lacey’s Rhode Island Red laid seven eggs for the week and has now 179 to her credit. Gibbons Bros/ Golden Wyandotte heads her section with IG4, followed by the same breeders’ No. 2 and No. 3 birds with 1(11 each. Black Orpingtons still top the whole competition, D. M. Waddell’s No. 1 bird having now laid 234. White M'yandottes are headed by Gibbons Bros.’ No, 1 bird with 167 eggs. The Light Sussex and Langshan sections are not doing so well just at present. Brown Leghorns are laying fairly well and their leading total now stands at 164. In the Fawn and White Runner duck section V. L. (Jane’s duck, although not laying so well just now, heads the list with 181. White Runners have not laid so well, and D. M. Waddell’s duck is leading with 148 eggs to her credit. J. W. Carrick’s Khaki Campbell again laid seven eggs for the week and her total now stands at 215. In the three-bird team test, light breeds, R. Cannon’s White Leghorns are leading with 563 eggs. The three-bird team test, heavy breeds, is headed by Gibbons Bros.’ White Wyandottes with a total of 486. i

During the past show season the North Island Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association issued new championship certificates, wfliich are not only a work of art but far ahead of the ordinary plain cards issued to championship winners in the past. At the last meeting of the executive of the Association it was decided for a 'fee of 5s to replace all old championship cards with new certificates. As there are quite a number of fanciers in the Auckland and Taranaki provinces who have won championships, no doubt many will avail themselves of the opportunity of obtaining a championship certificate worth taking care of.

UTILITY POULTRY STANDARD.

At the annual conference of the South Island Poultry Association, held last week, plates and suggested alterations as forwarded by the North Island Association were discussed and adopted, with the exception of the one referring to “whsb •in face’’ in old birds in light breeds. The North Island Association wished to insert the following in the new standard: “That white in face shall be a disqualification for both young and old birds, with the exception of Minorcas, in which breed it shall apply io old birds only.” In the present standard white in face is permissible in old birds of any breeds. Most fanciers will congratulate the South Island representatives on their opposition to the suggested alteration. At the annual conference of the North Island Poultry Association the writer, supported by Mr. Wilson, fought most strenuously against the suggested alteration, pointing out that it would practically mean the’deletion is seriously considering the addition schedules; in fact, in the endeavour to carry my point I went so far as to tell the meeting it was encouraging faking, as, did I wish to do so, I could, without any difficulty, remove the white from the face of any exhibit without its being detected. The only concession, however, that Mr. Wilson and 1 received from the meeting was that in regard to Minorcas. Prior to my leaving England I admit I saw quite, a lot of faking, but since coming to New Zealand I have seen it on very few occasions, and it is useless encouraging it.

POULTRY AT A. AND P. SHOWS.

I. am indebted to a Christchurch fancier for the information.that the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association is seriously considering the addition of poultry and pigeon classes to next year’s schedule. This will be welcomed by Christchurch fanciers as the A. and P. Association has been approached on several occasions during the past few years. Although the Canterbury event would bo too early for, young birds, it would be held before old birds went into moult and would, in all probability, receive a larger entry than the Auckland show, which is held midway between seasons. -It is to be hoped other A. and P. Associations will follow the example of Auckland, which, for the first time, is having poultry and pigeon classes at its summer show. The more shows the more fanciers we get.

THE WEIGHT OF LEGHORNS.

The American Poultry Association, which has been revising its utility standards, has increased the weight of all Leghorns by half a pound. For several years I have been advocating an increase in the weight of utility Leghorns, and on more than one occasion have been severely criticised. Evidently my judgment has been on correct lines as practically every country in the world is increasing the weight in the new standards for Leghorns. Standard committees are at least realising that one cannot bantamise a breed and still retain stamina and constitution. When touring New Zealand Mr, House, the well-known English judge and authority, warned several of our breeders against another weakness —the short breast-bone fallacy. Breeders took note, with the result we do not see so many sagging abdomens as formerly. The motto of all breeders should be to lift up the standard, and it is gratifying to the writer at least that something is officially being done regarding weights.