IN THE POULTRY YARD

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19668, 9 December 1933, Page 15

IN THE POULTRY YARD

DRY-MASH FEEDING. The question of labour becomes important on the poultry farm in the middle of the chick-rearing season. An experienced poultryman urges that much labour and time can be saved by dopting the dry mash system of feeding for the summer months. This, he states, can be done without adversely affecting egg production even though the birds have been accustomed to wet mash. Many poultry-keepers regard wet mash as essential to heavy winter production, but contend that it is not essential to heavy summer production or to rearing chickens. The best way- of introducing dry mash is to give it in the first instance as an addition to wet mash, and then gradually reduce the quantity of the latter till in a fortnight or so the birds have only dry mash. Any sudden change in the method of feeding or in the foods used is very liable to cause an upset and adversely affected production. Ample feeding room should be available at the hoppers. One feed of grain a day should be given in addition to the dry mash. It may be given early in the morning or in the evening, but most experienced men favour the evening.

GENERAL NOTES. Cockerels should be separated from the pullets as soon as they can be distinguished. This is particularly the case with Leghorns and other quick growing breeds of cockerels because they develop sexually very early in life and begin to annoy the pullets. Monotonous methods of feeding do not give the best results. There should be seasonal slight modifications, but sudden changes must be avoided. Hatching on an extensive scale is now over for the season. The only circumstances which may justify prolonging the hatching season for egg producers for a short time are where chicks are to be run on new ground all through the various stages of rearing, and can be given free range on grassy runs. Late hatched chickens sledom develop as do those hatched early.

A hen that is to be treated for worms should be faster for twenty-four horns and then given ten drops of a mixture of equal parts of olive oil and oil of turps. Follow this an hour afterwards with a teaspoonful of Epsom salts.

Chickens kept for any length of time on a hard floor such as wood or concrete are apt to suffer from leg weakness. To obviate this trouble, thickly litter the floor with chaff, oat husks, or short straw.