IN THE POULTRY YARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19578, 26 August 1933, Page 14

IN THE POULTRY YARD

SOME BROODY! Broody hens, as every poultry-keeper knows, will sit on anything round or nearly so, dummy eggs, stones, door knobs, etc.; consequently the following, which is,going the rounds of the English poultry Press, will not appear astonishing:—“A Rhode Island Red hen belonging to a coffee planter in Kenya was discovered sitting on two small grapefruit, which she was trying to hatch. The planter told Reuter that the same hen had previously tried to hatch four onions and two potatoes.” Tire foregoing suggests the remark that however stupid the hen may appear to be the poultry-keeper should realise when setting her to her three week’s task of incubation that to a great extent the sort of chicks she will hatch out depends upon the sort of eggs placed under her. She will sit with equal content on undersized eggs, abnormally large eggs, thin-shelled eggs, stale eggs, or cracked eggs as she will on carefully-selected eggs—i.e., eggs laid by birds of a good laying strain, eggs fertilised by a rooster the son of a good average producer, strongly-shelled eggs, and fresh eggs. Further, it is well to remember that a sitting hen likes privacy, and will do her best in a well-made and clean nest. EGGS IN LONDON. Official reports to hand state that the 5264 cases of eggs (30 dozen each) exported to the London market last year opened up in generally excellent condition, and were favourably commented upon by buyers. One complaint received, however, will have to be attended to if the good name of New Zealand eggs on the London market is to be retained. The complaint referred to is that some of the eggs shipped contained pale-coloured yolks. Every effort should be made by producers to see that no opportunity is given for a repetition of this complaint in connection with eggs shipped during the forthcoming export season. Yolk colour is largely influenced by the food supplied to the birds. When birds are on free range and under natural conditions generally, there is very little likelihood of the production of eggs with pale yolks, but where birds are kept under confined conditions, and are not supplied with sufficient vegetable matter and animal .food, pale yolks are common. A rich yellow yolk means a good deal in any market, but it is of first importance when eggs have to face the keen competition found in a world market like London.

Feeding and management should be such that eggs with rich-coloured yolk will be produced, and the inclusion in the ration of red carrots, yellow maize, lucerne, water cress, clover, and meat will tend to provide the desired result.

While rape is a good green food for young chickens, it should not be fed in large quantities to laying hens, because it may impart an unattractive dark colour to the yolk. This peculiar colour is frequently commented upon by consumers, and is usually traceable to feeding on rape.