Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 237, 6 October 1928, Page 26 (Supplement)

Poultry Notes

FEEDING GRAIN 70 FOWLS INDUCEMENT TO EXERCISE Grain has always been regarded as an essential part of the laying hen’s daily ration. Recently, however, it haa been urged by a few feeding experts, both in England and in America, that equally good results can be obtained on a mash diet alone, an< experiment* in that direction are now being carried out. In the meantime it is difficult to see how, in the nbscnco of grain-feeding, it is possible to induce hens to taka the necessary amount of exercise needed to keep them in good health, and laying condition. To produce eggs in the large numbers expected ol them hens must be fed very heavily, and they cat far more than is good for them. To overcome the ill-effects of thia over-eating, and to prevent the surplus food being converted into flesh and fat instead of into eggs, the present view is that hens must be made to take plenty of scratching exercise in throwing their grain feed deep into litter. It is generally recognised that want of occupation is a common causo of hens indulging in vices, such a» feather plucking and eating, and it certainly would appear that absence of the interest aroused in the search for food is likely to accentuate those troubles. Why Wheat is the Best Grain. Of the several grains in general us> ~f for poultry feeding wheat is the most commonly used, and as a sole grain is also the best as it comes nearest to being a balanced ration. Oats, provided they are heavy and vhin husked, are almost on a par with wheat, but they should weigh not less than 421 b. to the bushel, for the long, thin and husky oats are of little value. What are known as “clipped” oats are the best for the purpose. Maize is now recognised as a very valuable poultry food, but as it i> eficient in fibre it is best fed in ■ it bination with oats. It is a large grain and should always be fed lin.ly cracked. Wheat, oats and maize in equal proportions make an ideal gram mixture. Barley, the only other cereal Jar- ly grown in England, is comparati \ »•!y cheap, but there is a prejudice aga* it as a poultry food. There is reason to think this prejudice is m. Lily due to the effects of its excess' c<> use in the past in the bar!ey-grox\ iug countries. It is not a complete gr *i'(. food, but. its unsuitability when fed in combination with other grains has ). been proved. During the war it was largely u- • I with success in America, and exp' i raents in its use as a poultry food •» at the moment being carried out i Norfolk, and it is understood the r suits arc most promising. VEGETABLE FOOD In order that fowls may thrive ta the greatest advantage and yield sMisfnetory profits to tlieir owners, it is necessary that foods upon which th< are fed should be animal, vegetab. 4 and mineral. But, broadly speak’’._j fowls are vegetarians, and the ainoui.l; of animal and mineral foods whicii they consume is but small in com pa. ■ son with the quantity of vegetnb i» foods of which they partake. It is generally recommended that hens sh I not be allowed more than one ounce . r day of fresh meat or bones, ami in ordinary circumstances half that quan'i’.y is sufficient to supply deficienti - ia the vegetable diet. Mineral food is consumed mainly in the shape of the grit, and may be kept, always before, the birds, as they will not eat more of it than is good for i them. Its object is to aid in the digestion of other foods, and also to supply material for the making of shun, bones, etc. It is apparent, there lon, that the food of fowls, is almost entirely of the vegetable kingdom. But in dealing with the question ot vegetable foods for fowls, the term vegetable is not taken in its strict meaning, but is merely used to designate from their chief food —cereals. Ju other words, corns and meals of various kinds are not classed as vegetable foods, when speaking of poultry foods. What is meant by the term vegetable foods, in relation to poultry feeding is, broadly speaking, green foods an<X roots. These include such common ar«« tides of diet as grass, clover, lettuces, turnip.-, beetroot, mangold) wurzels, etc. When fowls are allowed, free range on a farm, it is not necessary to supply them with these socalied vegetable foods, because they v can find all they require at all seasons 1 of the year, except when the vegeta- *r tiou is parched by the sun or in tunes ’ of drought. Fowls kept in yards or pens throughout the greater part of the year need a supply of vegetable foods as badly as tney require their regular feeds of corn and meal and their allowance of meat ami grit. Nowadays a large proportion of the poultry of the country is kept under restraint for one rcasou. or another, and it is therefore advisable that the poultry-keeper shouid give due consideration to th matter otsupplying vegetable foods at all seasons of the year. Fortunately there are very many things that can be cheaply grown or purchased, and at no season is there any reason why poultry should be left without all the vegetable food that is good for them. A regular and varied supply will be helpful in keeping them in a healthy and thriving condition, no matter how limited their quarters may be, and the matter is therefore worthy of consideration of all poultry-keepers who wish to succeed. Vegetable food is necessary, not only to the keeping of fowls in good health, but also for other reasons, and chief amongst these is the production of strongly fertilised eggs. It has been proved beyond doubt that succulent vegetable diet regularly supplied is an imperative necessity for fertility, and, for this reason breeders who sell eggs for hatching, or who want strongly fertilised eggs for hatching at home, cannot he too careful about the supnlv of green foods and succulent roots. There is seldom any difficultv about proctir- k ing a supply of green foods during the A seasons of summer nnd autumn, but in ■ winter and in earlv spring one must depend more on roots than on g.cen stuffs.