POULTRY YARD

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1930, Page 28 (Supplement)

POULTRY YARD

BY

G. H. AMBLER

COLDER WEATHER.

The poultry-keeper must expect colder weather. The time has also arrived when a large number of amateur poultry-keepers are faced with the necessity of doing all but the regular routine work at the week-ends. The majority, of course, are able to give their birds the morning feed and some can find time to do the cleaning out and other little jobs before sterner duties demand their attention; but as the afternoons get shorter it becomes necessary to hand over the feeding duties to someone else, or to adopt the dry mash system, which is admirably suited- to the requirements of those who cannot be with -their fowls all day long.

Important week-end work just now ifi to make the laying quarters snug for the winter. That has in many cases been delayed because the summerlike conditions have enabled birds to stay out of doors all day, and the scratching shed has been merely an adjunct. The time is at hand, however, when it may''be necessary to keep the birds confined during the greater part of the day, and in any case it is desirable at this time of the year to give the morning feed of grain in the scratching shed and to keep the birds exercising for an hour or two under cover. Coddling must be avoided, and where confinement is necessary the shed should bo kept as airy and light as possible. RECOVERY FROM THE MOULT. With hens that arc recovering from moulting and are again well feathered, it must not be supposed that eggproduction will recommence immediately. Although the new plumage may be complete, if these birds are handled it will be found that they, are soft and lacking in condition. If the birds are intended for the breeding pen I prefer to let them regain condition gradually and a good rest will restord vigour and fit them for their duties; but if eggproduction is the sole aim, a more forcing system can be adopted by giving stimulating food, which, if the birds are not x too much reduced by the moult, will bring them on to lay again within a few weeks. THE SMALL RUN. 'Where small runs have worn bare of grass the probability is that they will soon become trodden into mud when the heavy rains fall, and as mud is a bad thing for fowls the best plan is to lay down two or three inches of rubble or coarse ashes. Loose gravel will also answer the purpose, but : where the ground is heavy and badly drained it is necessary to raise the surface of the poultry run above that of the surrounding ground. When a small run is made it is advisable to build it up in this way at' once,, as it is impossible for grass to grow, and a mere bed of tnud is objectionable both to the fowls and their attendants.

YOUNG DUCKS.

K The young ducks, should now be getting on to lay at a rapid rate, for the weather has been very favourable, and no better conditions can be found for ducks in the autumn than free range of grass and access to a pond or stream. These birds, however, are generally more affected by frosty weather than hens, because they are deprived of their only means of exercise, and they have no use for scratching sheds. Nevertheless, ducks must have a cosy but well-ventilated house, and as they sleep on the fl or, shutters should be opened in front at the The floor must be dry and plentifully littered. COLDS AND PREVENTION. Colds will be prevalent at this time of the year, and any birds suffering should be taken in hand at once. Colds lead to roup, and as the latter is veryinfectious and quickly spreads through a whole flock, the poultry-keeper will see the necessity of attending to colds. ‘•'Prevention is better than cure.”

It is advisable to add a little permanganate of potash to the drinking water or a little of the well-known Douglas Mixture. This preparation is made as follows: —Take |lb. sulphate of iron, loz. sulphuric acid; dissolve these in 2 gallons of water. This should be bottled and used as under; — One teaspoonful to each pint of drinking water'used for mixing the mash every two or three days. If added to the drinking water do not put in tin or iron vessels. The poultry-keeper will now reap the egg harvest he has sown during the season. If he has been wise and followed the advice given in these columns he should have plenty of eggs.

Pains taken in housing, feeding and management from now onwards will be well repaid in eggs. Those who go in for early hatching will be busy getting ready their breeding pens.

The hens must not be too fat. This is one of t'he chief causes of hens not laying. Exercise they must have, and this is where the use of the scratching shed comes in. They cannot lay if they are so fat that to move about is a trouble to them, and it is quite useless expecting eggs from them when in this condition. Handle the birds which are selected- for feeding for eggs, and if they feel too heavy and too much like a bladder of lard in the rear parts, put them on one side as unfit foe the purpose. They must not be too thin either, for if they are they will take too long before they are in a laying condition. A bird which feels plump without being fat and with tight, glossy plumage, bright eyes and a rosy headpiece, is the bird to select. Once a bird is in full lay it is impossible to over-feed her. EXCHANGING IDEAS. In the poultry industry a very important feature is the exchange of ideas and opinions. We must remember that the, manwho has nothing to learn has no right, tp -the name of poultry-keeper. The ;opem mind will always find willing 'friendh to' ins tr act and impart news, but'

the know-all, who pretends to teach his compeers, will soon find those who would be useful, shut up like oysters. Those who will be wanting birds before next breeding season should look out for. what they need. It may be early yet to purchase for mating, but just now nearly every poultry-keeper is wanting to sell, and he will take less now than in July, and, what is more important, you can get a better selection at once. Usually not enough attention is paid to the family history of fowls for breeding purposes as regards their health. Constitutional weakness, even though it be apparently overcome, should never be allowed to enter the breeding pen. GENERAL NOTES. The principal winners of the Papanui laying test are as follows: —Studholme Test, first, Studholinc Certificate and Gold Medal, M. C. Craig. Liggins Leghorn Shield (donated by Mr. J. Liggins), M. C. Craig. Orpington Challenge Shield, L. F. Hawke. Duck Challenge Shield, J. W. Thomson. J. H. Shaw Memorial Challenge Cup and Gold Medal, E. Dunstan. The average number of eggs laid per fowl, 361 hens competing, was 217.16. The average number of all hens and ducks, 391 birds competing, was 219.7. Mr. W. Hart, Hastings, has left for England, where he will attend the World’s Poultry Congress, and he also intends visiting several of the loading bantam fanciers’ yards before beginning the return journey in September. Mr. W. A. Hanson has been appointed judge of all classes of poultry at the Whangarei poultry show, to be held in conjunction with the W'hangarei Winter Show in May.

The following judges have been appointed to officiate at the Wanganui poultry show to be held in conjunction with the Wanganui A. and P. Associations Winter Show: —Messrs Don. Stewart, fancy poultry; T. Bruce, Utility poultry; H. Crowhurst, flying homers: IT. Melville, coloured classes; 11. Hail. fancy pigeon--; W. Upton, canarMr. 11. C. West, Christchurch, the weii-known Leghorn specialist, who has not been enjoying good health for some time, is an inmate of the Hamner Hospital. All will join me in wishing him a s.peedy recovery. The following have been appointed judges of the Onehunga show, to be held in June:--Fancy poultry, all classes, Mr. W ,G. Mason; utility poultry, all classes, Mr. G. 11. Ambler; fancy pigeons, Mr. E. Gilbertson; homing pigeons, Mr. N. Hanson; canaries and cage birds, Mr. T. Mason. A GOOD JUDGE. The American and Canadian poultry papers have been laying stress upon the importance of adequate remuneration for the judges who officiate at their shows, and, in summing up this subject, Mr. Robert H. Essex, Editor of the “Canadian Poultry Journal”, says; “A capable, expert honest judge with backbone is worth all that any association can afford to pay him.” With ■that opinion most people will agree, and there are indications that American shows are putting that policy into practice.

It, would be unwise to generalise because there are a number of show societies in New Zealand that are prepared to pay their judges at a rate that will command the services of the best men, but there are some that cannot afford to pay more than a small fee, and others that, presumably, regard economy in this matter as the wiser policy. It is to these last that we owe the too common custom of writing to several judges and choosing the one that quotes the lowest fee, irrespective of reputation and personal qualifications. With so many show societies whose revenue is drawn entirely from then’ members and from the exhibitors, this tendency to cut expenses is inevitable,, though it is a dangerous one, which must react to the disadvantage of the shows themselves. We sometimes hear it asked how so and eo can afford to judge a show for a fee that will barely pay his expenses, and various ugly rumours get spread about, which, whether true or not, react to the disadvantage of the shows and the fancy generally. There are many judges who will not undertake a show unless they are paid an adequate fee, and they should hold to their resolve. If they are to remain independent, and if men of high principle, and expert knowledge, and capable of sound judgment, are to be pressed into the service of the exhibiting public, they must be adequately indeed, generously rewarded. To put up judging engagements practically at public auction, and to knock them down to the lowest tender, is to drive away the best men, to disgust exhibitors and encourage bribery and corruption. The good judge is cheap at any price, but some would be dear at a gift.