POULTRY NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, 9 June 1932, Page 16

POULTRY NOTES

UTILITY BANTAMS

SILKIES SPLENDID LAYERS,

(By

G. Ambler.)

Frequently I am requested to naW Ves. - splendid injers, 'bill " ‘ ed as bantams, either for y exhibition Purposes. For J nd T I kept one pure pen <» found, as hens, their eggs brown e<nrs, and the Blacks, Colum Wans, Partridges and Whites ar? 'all suitable for utility. The WhiteS, course, are the most popular for. both exhibition and utility, and breed of recent years has held the pub lie so strongly for such a long time. Scots Grey bantams appeal to many who are in exposed positions, as, do also Barred Plymouth Rock Both are good layers if not inbred too closely. Why egg-production diminishes, in bantams is 'because one breed gets into few hands. This also accounts, for the lack of popularity. October, November, and December are good months in which to hatch utility bantams, for such fowls do not require to be out of their shells too early or too late for egg production. NEW BREEDER'S. It is <snly by securing crowds of new breeders that bantams' can regain and retain that position which they held in pre-war times. Many new breeds of bantams still want developing, such as, for instance, the Rhode Island Reds, the Orpington, and the Leghorn. These three, when properly introduced to the New Zealand public, are bound to have a wide vogue because of the same reason that gained popularity for the larger varieties.

A small, broody 'Silkie, or SilkiePekin cross, or a 'broody bantam, is the best medium for hatching bantam eggs, for this means more chickens, too.’ It is preferable to -adopt natural methods, because bantams as chickens are never robust. .They do not mind’extreme cold weather if it be dry, but they must be properly housed and fed, and be supplied, with plenty of clean water. Foul water for both chickens and adults' is often the cause of much disease in the flock. ..

The prospects of bantams for .utility are very 'bright, and will become brighter if this section is properly handled, because it will create an honest commercial bird, in contrast with the inflated value of the exhibition bantam.

CAUSE AND CURE. OF FAVUS. Favus, or white comb, as it is usually called, cannot be classed as a common poultry disease; on the contrary, it; is very rarely met with. It is, however, an extremely virulent disease, and, 'being highly contagious, if not taken in hand in good time will spread from 'bird to 'bird in an alarming manner until the entire flock is , attacked. . A novice should become conversant with the symptoms and treatment of favus. In common with many , other complaints, this disease owes its origin to insanitary surroundings, arid is, therefore, more likely to break out amongst the birds kept’in confined spaces. The first signs of favua are small, irregular spots usually appearing first upon the comb and later upon the‘wattles. As these spots grow they 'become covered with dull yellow crusts, which thicken 'as the patches spread. If the disease remains unchecked it next attacks the neck. There the feathers becorhe dry and brittle. Finally they fall out, disclosing the patches of' this crust-like fungus on the naked skin. . At this stage it usually ends fatally.

An attacked fowl should be isolated immediately it displays the symptom's, and 'be given a mild aperient. The comb and wattles should be thoroughly washed with carbolic soap and water, carbolised vaseline being afterwards applied to the affected parts. In the initial stages of the disease such treatment, if given about twice a day, will usually effect a cure; failing which a dressing composed of tqfpierie (one part by weight) mixed with one part of coconut oil will have the desired effect. During treatment the food should be of a nutritious character, and a supply of greens must always be within the fowl’s reach.

PROBLEM OF WORM'S. Where many birds in a run are. infested with worms, either there must be something wrong with the feeding, or else the ground is tainted. In the latter case dig the runs over if they are earth runs; but 'before doing so, give the surface a covering of powdqred unslaked lime, and let this remain on the surface for a few' days, having first removed the birds, of course, .to another pen. Having turned the surface over, let the run remain unoccupied for another week and then turn the birds in. As cure for worms, the dose of Spirits. of turpentine is from 10 to 12 drops in a teaspoonful of sweet oil an hour before breakfast and the last thing at night for four or five days for adult fowls. Chicks from three to six months should have eight or nine drops. When given the oil the birds should be kept in a pen by themselves, and the droppings swept up and -removed twice or thrice a day, and in a week a cure should be effected. If hens are made to exercise themselves for their grain, and are in good laying condition, . there is not much danger of their 'becoming over-fat. In fact., it is rather a difficult matter do over-fatten the laying hen. It is when she slacks in her laying and becomes iazy that the fat seems to start to increase. It should be remembered that wv ing J’ ens J' equire a va riety of food. When they have free range in the summer they, of course, practically find it fi §lven dailyPullets should, be induced to work for their living, in order to develop an appetite that will put their system in a m working up to the fpll ration. It is impossible to . lay down tn J n< ar / ai t d f9Si rule as to the fqed-hai-mJ fn\’ S; * S ? 0 n,any circ unistances hamn e to be taken into consideration. Against one thing, however, you must always be on youp guard-that is, feeding damaged or unsuitable grain. It does not pay to doctor a fowl that is hopelessly ill, or sufferin from a contagious disease. The 'bird is never ' 7 T ed and wil l transmit its weakness to its offspring. Wellkept, well-ventilated and thoroughly clean houses should be proof against ■ disease of any kind among the poultry