IN THE POULTRY YARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18518, 15 March 1930, Page 14 (Supplement)

IN THE POULTRY YARD.

LEG WEAKNESS. Leg weakness in half-grown cockerels is often brought about by over-feeding rich foods such as meat, meat meal, table scraps, milk, etc., also where insufficient exercise is provided says the poultry writer of the “Dominion.” These influences tend to force the body of a growing bird to a degree that is beyond the strength of th# undeveloped legs to carry. Plenty of fresh air and natural exercise will always be the fundamental requirements for raising vigorous stock. The modern high-type i layer is a more or less artificial proI duct, but if her kind is to be reproduced jin good numbers from generation to j generation the demands of nature must be observed. The higher the type of j bird the greater the need to provide i against the weakening influences of | close confinement and lack of exercise. ! On the first sign of leg weakness all I forcing food should be eliminated from the ration. In addition, where possible ; the birds should be provided with a ; good range, preferably on clean ground. I quite realise that all poultry-keepers do provide a good range and natural | exercising space for the growing stock. In such cases the next best thing is to keep the birds busy by compellng them to scratch in deep litter for their grain ; food, and above all to provide an 1 abundance of green material. In the i case of the light breeds, such as Legefr. leg weakness is often accompanied in growing cockerels with _ condition which j is always encouraged by subjecting the ! birds to confinement. Especially with ' cockerels from which it is intended to ' breed, a free range suggests the best assurance of healthy development. Of course this should go hand in hand with sound breeding, good feeding, comfortable housing, and efficient management generally. DO EGGS BREATHE. “The mystery of how eggs come into being is one of the most profound, if not the most profound, with which the biologist is concerned.” says Professor Barcroft. The changes which take place in the egg apart from the actual development of the chick were, he added, of two kinds: Those which took place whether or no the egg was fertilised. and others incidental to the life of the developing chick. Typical of the former was the loss of weight. Typical of the latter was the degree of respiration of the egg. Eggs breathed. Like their parents, they took in oxygen and gave out carbonic acid, but only to a small extent until about the end of the second week. SOFT-EGG LAYERS. Considerable doubt usually exists as |to the causes of soft or thin-shelled eggs. It s well known that over-fat hens first lay bad-shaped eggs, then thin-shelled products, and finally soft eggs. Then egg-eating commences. If the trouble is general one may suspect faulty feeding or routine. But it would : I be injudicious to treat a flock drastic- I ! ally when only one bird is to blame, i I Far better to locate her and to send her ! Ito table. Many a bird as an individual j lays soft eggs or thin-shelled eggs and I will continue to do so even after a j moult and a rest. The culprit is often j very short in the breast bone with I floppy abdomen in consequence, j As soon as the cockerels can be dis- | thaguished from the pullets the sexes | should be separated, because it does i neither of them any good if they b? j allowed to run about together. The ! age when a chick's sex can be defcer- ! mined varies greatly in accordance with I development and breed. Cockerels of non-sitting varieties can be told when five or six weeks old; those of the heavy varieties may be anything from! eight weeks to three months or more , before this is possible. As soon as the rpale birds can be distinguished they J should be kept quite apart from the* | pullets. By doing this both lots grow J more rapidly and are better in every