POULTRY YARD

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1930, Page 28 (Supplement)

POULTRY YARD

BY

G. H. AMBLER

THE INTENSIVE SYSTEM.

FEEDING AND MANAGEMENT. y Some years ago the American system of intensive poultry-keeping was introduced into England (and later into New Zealand) on a large scale. Demonstrations were given at shows, where a great measure of public attention was attracted by the large, open-front-ed, electrically-lighted houses, containing very big and very active flocks of White Leghorns. The activity displayed by the birds as they picked up their living, corn scattered among the floor litter, seemed very hopeful in days when most poultrykeepers were afraid of their birds becoming over-fat. It must be admitted that the appearance of the stock exhibited left nothing to be desired in health and vigour. The intensive system on a large scale did not prove, however, as profitable as many had hoped; but in spite of failures, poultry-keepers generally benefited by the introduction of this method. Several very important improv - ments in general management followed. For example, cleanliness, an essential to success in egg-production, is an absolute necessity to the intensive system, and its value was demonstrated thereby. Since that time greater attention has been paid to this point, no matter what" the method of poultry-keeping may be, and the improvement can be attributed in large measure to the introduction • of the intensive system. It also taught the use of dry, light, and well-ventilated houses, affording epace for exercise under shelter during in-, clement weather. These requirements are now recognised as essential to maintain both health and egg production ; during the. winter months. Another point emphasised by • the intensive system wa«s that of the need for exercise. At first it was rather • over-done, but at length poultry-keep-ers realised that occupation rather than vigorous exercise is the indispensable thing. In addition to those important principles, many small details of man-, agement were established, but as a whole the system conducted on an extensive scale had a short life, largely because of the too artificial conditions it imposed on the birds. The renewal of stock, or of a great proportion of stock, due to the waste under intensive conditions, proved too expensive, and this system of keeping considerable flocks has now been superseded by semi-intensive methods. For the towns man, who has but a limited space at his disposal, and desires to keep a moderate number of birds, intensive methods are not regarded as unprofitable, or in any way to be condemned. FEEDING COSTS REDUCED. iSuch poultry-keepers are not obliged to incur heavy expense in the annual renewal of stock. The .cost of eggproduction is greatly reduced by feeding the birds on material which would be° wasted otherwise. Labour is no charge, seeing' that attendance on the fowls is regarded as a relaxation, and the many little details which add to success are rather a pleasure than an irksome duty. Where the operations are on a larger- scale the pressure of more important work leads sometimes to the neglect of that thorough care necessary to the health of the birds. Poultry kept on the intensive system, have no open run. It is well to remember that a run is an advantage only if it is a run, and not merely standing room in a mire. The advantages of open air exercise are undeniable, and the provision of an outside run is to be pref?, red if the necessary space tan be found, otherwise the intensive system is the only one to adopt. Where small flocks of from four to twelve birds are kept the allowance of ground should not be lees than six square feet per bird, and the whole of. the floor space should be available for exercise. Common sense will guide - the prospective poultry-keeper in the design ; of the house most suitable to his own special conditions. Dryness; good ventilation, and-, ample light must be provided for-in the- selection. of a site, andin the planning. The question as to whether, roost, and shelter should form separate compartments, or be combined, depends largely upon the situation. The two compartments give greater change for the birds, and are to be preferred on this score, but a slightly larger area of ground'is required, and the cost of building i« generally-higher. • Many poultry-keepers Working- on a small 'scale err in their methods of feeding ■ in two main respects, overdependence, or under-dependence upon the household waste. . In the absence of meat scraps a poultry-keeper should include meat meal .in mashes wet- or. dry to the extent of 15 per cent. Too much house waste with-too little concentrated food, each as corn, is detrimental to egg-production. Corn—that is wheat, oats and maize—is valuable, in moderate quantities. It provides ‘‘scratching” exercise for the birds, but the value of dry mash (brao and meal) is not yet sufficiently recognised by small poultry-keepers. DRY MASH FEEDING. The industry would gain many recruite if dry mash-feeding were practised to a larger extent. There are two reasons for this. The method is labour saving, and requires little skill and judgment. Dry mash-feeding is a happy medium between corn and wet mash,'and may to some extent replace either with great advantage. Composed largely of bran and fed in hoppers so constructed as to avoid waste, dry mash proves a most economical food. The birds, once accustomed to it, may be left unattended for 24 hours at a stretch, provided they have sufficient dry mash, and supply of watci. If stock be kept intensively, annual renewal is advisable, although not absolutely necessary. The artificial conditions render the birds generally less productive in the season than those kept more normally. The townsman poultrfeireeper' can seldom rear stock < *‘ther conveniently or economically.

After the , earlierj, etages the chickens

require more space than is generally available, and the tie of the poultry sometimes interferes with the household’s holiday. So it is better as a rule to buy pullets than attempt to rear them. Twenty years ago it was a good investment for the townsman to buy pullete at 5/- to 7/6 each during the autumn, then get full returns for these in eggs, and thereafter kill them off for his table as production lessened. By holiday time the poultry yard was practically empty, and would not require attention until a fresh batch had been introduced. This practice is still economical with pullets at 21/- each, and might be followed with advantage to a much larger extent. The time may come when our New Zealand farmere will book regular orders with customers for an annual supply of from 10 to 20 pullets, and such a practice would prove good business for both parties. ' EXERCISE FOR FOWLS. Let fowls scratch for a part of their grain, but do not make them work for all their food. You do not want to, burn up a considerable part of the food in unnecessary, excessive exercise: that is not economy. Neither should you get your fowls out of condition by failing to keep their digestion in good order. Exercise is a good thing; it is necessary, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing. - GENERAL NOTES. The New Zealand Rhode Island Red and Orpington Club has decided to hold the club show in conjunction with the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon' and Canary Club’s show on June 5, 6 and 7. The club has nominated Mr. Thomas Kennedy, of Rangiora, as judge for all Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds, in both open and utility sections. His nomination was approved of by the Christchurch Club at its last meeting. At the last meeting of' the Council of the 'South Island Poultry Association, Master Bull, a junior member of the Canterbury Bantam Club, had on exhibition three bantams, which he considered were not value for the money paid and which he had recently imported from a Sydney fancier. The Council considered the birds were poor specimens of the breed they were sent to represent and decided to take the matter up with the New South 'Wales Poultry Association.

On a number of occasions I have commented on the poor quality and condition of birds received from overseas and have warned fanciers not to import stock from' breeders other than those of known repute. I, therefore, never depart from my rule of declining to comment on birds which I have not been able to inspect when imported from unknown breeders. I have seen arrive in this country a good many birds which were not worth the freight paid for them.

Mr. J. D. Cobbe, Christchurch, has been elected judge of all classes of poultry and bantams at the Gore Poultry Club’s annual show. Mr. Watson, Dunedin, will judge pigeons and canaries.

Mr. Tracey King, Christchurch, -has been elected judge of all poultry classes at the Waiau Club’s annual, show. Mr. Geo. H. Ambler, Glen Eden, has received ah invitation to judge the utility poultry clashes at the Onehunga Club’s annual show.

Fanciers, will regret to hear that Mr. W. Cummings, the well-known White Leghorn specialist and son of Mr,- J. Cummings,Christeiiurah, is ill, in hospital, having undergone, a serious; .oper-ation,-All jvill join me iii wishing Mr. Cummings, a speedy recovery. Owing to business reasons, Mr. Whittle, Herne Bay, Auckland, has had to remove nearer , the city and, consequently, has been compelled to dispose ,of all his poultry and pheasants. Mr. Stokes,-.the well-known., flying, homer breeder; . who recently • removed to Glen Eden, has. taken up the breeding of Light Sussex. He. has already a gopd. flock of this breed, and is contemplating going in for .'Black Orpingtons. As Mr. Stokes is a great believer in having nothing but the best, I am looking forward, in the near future tohis debut as an exhibitor in both Light Sussex and Orpington classes, Mr. Alec. Daieley, Glen Eden, who a decade ago was associated with Mr. A. Wood iii the breeding of Old English Game, when they bred.; some of the best fighting game in the Dominion, has a select lot of White Leghorn and Black Orpington pullets, - Mr. Daisley’s poultry houses are all up-to-date, several novel ideas having been introduced. 1 was particularly interested in his method of supplying 'water, to the birds. The drinking vessels usually found on poultry plants are 1 kerosene tins,' but here we find concrete troughs worked on the ball cock system, with a plug at the bottom to enable the troughs to be thoroughly cleaned. Hinged covers prevent the birds from getting more than their heads into the water. Canvas shutters are fixed to keep out the jam, a large sheet of glass being let in to admit the light. All houses have com Crete floors and are fitted with diy mash hoppers and dust baths, Mr. Crowhuret, the well-known Auckland homing pigeon enthusiast., appointed judge of the . flying classes at the Wanganui show to be held iu June. - ANSWER TO COPvRE'SPONDENT. White iu lobes, (Stratford): ! am afraid you cannot do anything to cure vour bantams of the defect of white in lobes, except what would come undei the heading of faking, a remedy .1 cam not countenance. Exposure to a r andwind is the natural .remedy, and iub- ■ bing the lobes with capsicum, vaseline is sometimes effective. A tome of one "rain citrate of iron and ten grams citrate of potash is helpful. If the defect is, however, hereditary y strain your only course is to try and breed .it out.