THE POULTRY RUN.

Waipa Post, Volume VII, Issue 339, 11 August 1914, Page 3

THE POULTRY RUN.

FEATHER-PLUCKING.

When fowls acquire the featherplucking habit they become possessed of one of tho worst vices to be met with in the poultry-yard. Many a valuable bird has boeu rendered unfit fox the breeding- or exhibition pen through having its plummago pulled out either by itself or its companions. It is generally supposed that lack of animal matter in the rations is the chief cause of tho mischief, but such a supposition is, in nine cases out of every ten, based on theory. The) feeding of animal matter, unless moderated during periods of hot weather, is liable to account for, rather than prevent, feather-plucking. By feeding meat in conjunction with other stimulating and heating foods during tho periods of hot weather, the systems of tho fowls become heated, and this heated condition sets up skin irritation. The birds become peevish, and peck at the roots' of their feathers in their vain endeavour to allay the irritation or itching, and in doing so the feathers are extracted and eaten. The animal matter secreted in tho roots of the feathers is tasted, and being palatable to tho birds, the latter soon, become confirmed feather-eaters.

Other Causes. Idleness, insect posts, or quarrelling on the part of the fowls will cause the habit of feather-plucking to break out. When fowls havo nothing to do but congregate together in some corner of the run they soon got into mischief, and 1 idly peck at each other's plumage. On the other hand, when the birds have a good range to forago ovor they keep well apart, and are active, and featherea/ting is seldom met with among them. Fowls kept in limited quarters should bo kept occupied. Grain buried in deep litter, and bundles of green food suspended from the roof of the day shelter will do much towards attracting the attention of the birds from one another. Insects on the birds cause irritation and feather-plucking, and such pests should be kept at a safe distance by the provision of a dust-bath containing fino ashes, sand, and an addition of flowers of sulphur. Feather-plucking is sometimes the result of quarrelling. A bird gets its comb torn, and the blood trickles down and lodges on tho neck hackle, and proves tempting to the other birds, and soon feather-plucking commences. It is unsafe to allow a wounded fowl to remain with its companions. It should bo isolated and kept in quarantine till cured. Remedies. Tho best remedy for feather-pluck-ing lies in the prevention of such a vice, as it is more easily prevented than cured. If only a single bird is found to be the culprit, and that bird is not valuable, tho speediest cure lies in dislocation of the neck. By taking this course the habit will be prevented from spreading among the flock. If) the ha'bit has become general, an, 'attempt should be made to make it distasteful to the fowls by wetting the plumage of tho latter with a solution of quassia, prepared by boiling quassia chips in water and straining off the liquid. This is bitter, and disliked by fowls, whilst it has the advantage of being non-injurious to the plumage. It is essential that the fowls should bo fed on nourishing, rather than heating, foods when confinod to limited quarters, and that their rations be composed of a good proportion of vegetable products. A sprinkling of flowers of sulphur added to the mashes occasionally during spells of hot weathei will do good in cooling the system. The birds should be provided with litter to exercise themselves among, as exercise is a great factor in the prevention of feather-plucking.

DON'T IN-BREED. Sometimes the poultry-keeper has no option but to in-breed. If he is making a new breed, introducing a new color, or establishing a new feature, sometimes ho must use related parents. This should never be done, however, if it can possibly bo avoided, for in doing so one is running a grave risk of reducing tho .value oi one's stock. Tho utility poultry-keeper—the man who is more concerned with the eggproducing or table properties of his birds, than with tho outward features, such as feathers, comb or wattlesis very foolish if he in-breeds, for he has not the same excuse as has *he fancier.

The results of careless in-breeding are both numerous and serious. They may not become apparent all at once, but sooner or later they are bound to tell. Eggs-from related parents are very frequently infertile, representing-, perhaps, a considerable loss early in the season; the chickens are delicate and difficult to rare; they* grow slowly and never attain to the same size or stamina as do the progeny of unrelated stock; and the hens when they reach a laying ago are generally unprolific. A few years ago, when the reliable utility poultry-keeper was comparatively small, there was some excuse for in-breeding, but to-day this excuse no longer exists. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance to enr sure tho parents being quite unrelated to one another. If they are related there is bound to be trouble.

When you intend killing a bird give it no food for 30 hours previously. The fasting will cause the "drawing" process to become less disagreeable, and the quality of the flesh will be imj proved.