Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 97, 26 April 1930, Page 8 (Supplement)

Poultry Notes

FEEDING FOR WINTER EGGS Particularly at thia season of the year when the egg-yield nun be regarded as more or less artificially prolure lhat° t ?° U ' try . kec l >er make -v hc foo '’ su *P’>ed is of th. best possible quality, quite irrespectiv! tor'". ’,a a> n the Chief Poultr y Instruc “With C Dc P arlmc ‘ lt °f Agriculture. With any class of poultry it is a i. ways poor economy to feed damaged or musty food because it is chean v peeially is this the ease with which are being looked to to produce dear-season eggs. They will simply xe su°t USly At th e e lininB ess ' "‘H rethe best, and as much of it as tho birds can consume. There is no ger of overfeeding the hvi„“ w J With food of the rightqua’i A ng ro b ‘ i r d d etrcVse“ gIVGn ami ’' C o PP°«onity for parJof X!" 6 ” ay COns!st of °»e Part of finely ground good-quaPtv shrndd”! 11 t 0 > tW ° par ' S 01 bru “- T his should be made as appetising as possible by moistening it with meat, soup Skmi-milk, etc. When these iqui.ls are not available, boiling water "hoi a be used A mash moistened rtVY much bcttcr relished by TV.L bird ? lha 1 !‘ When cold water ‘s used Feed only what the birds will pick ’ in say, twenty minutes. If IH ash is left before them at all times they will eat th.s and rail to take the neXary exercise by scratching for the grain ihouM l” n ht - tcr > in which there should be odd grams for the bird., f 0 bXre f°v T " thc evenb '*' a '"> well before dark, give a full meal O f traius such as equal parts by measure of ii oooA T' ZC . a " d ° ats - His a! «avs a good plan to give more at this meal than the birds require, as what is”“i Will induce them to scratch and keen biisy. If it i s observed that one of tho grain foods mentioned is being left it should be fed in a reduced quantity. !n order to secure a high winter ega. yield a forcing dement must also be hifrb U< n't ration. This denotes high nitrogenous substances such as meat, meat-meal, milk, etc. If, howtr V « r ki UIS °^ served that ovarian troubles are making their appearance, and that many shell-less or doubleyolked eggs are being produced, the orcing diet should be reduced accordingly, as these troubles indicate that the birds are eating more of the forc-ing-food than, is good for them. If the birds are to do their best, sharp gravel grit, crushed oyster shell, clean water and a Jiberal supp ] y of grecn food should also be provided. Everything possible should be done to prevent the pullets bred to lav in winter going into a false moult. This is usually due to .insufficient or inferior food, and to changes in the system of feeding, as well as that common cause, change of Quarters. Obviously no experimenting should be attempted, but rather should uniform and regular attention be observed in the poultry-farmer’s methods.”

HOW TO TELL A SHIRKER The hen that produces consistently usually carries ragged, worn plumage; is a late moulter; has a red, sleek, and plump comb, and white, thin, aud flat shanks. Thc beak and ear lobes are white, while the pelvic bones are pliable and wide apart, and the skin is thin and loose, and shows no hard fat. The space between the pelvic bone and the end of the breast bone is wide. The breast bone is soft, pliable, and prominent. Shirker hens are characterised by neat, clean plumage; early moulting; a pale, small, and shrivelled comb; creamy ear lobes; round and full shanks; yellow beak; and heavy, rigid and close together pelvic bones. The spread between the pelvic bone and the end of the breast bone is small, while the small bones on either side

of the breast bone are hard and well covered with flesh. The skin is thick, hard, and underlaid with fat.

In examining fowls lor production, says the Auckland Sun, hold a hen with the breast bone in thc palm of the hand with the fleshy part of tho legs held firmly on either side of the forefinger. The feeling of the breast bone in the palm of thc hand will indicate the quality of the skin, while with the other hand you can measure the distance between the pelvic bones and from the pelvic bone to the breast bone. As you hold the birds you can also examin the plumage, comb, shanks, beak, and car lobes, thus accumulating information for a diagnosis of conformation and production. It is essential that you consider all points in respect to their importance, and not place too much dependence on one or more prominent charactcris-

STOCK DISEASE

NEW REGULATIONS

Further evidence of the Government’s determination to prevent the introduction of ajock diseases into New Zealand is provided in regulations under the Stock Act. 1008. which

were published in the Gicotte issued on Thursday. Under the regulations the int •)luction into ’bn Dominion from any *.iiling f»om o»

countries of any organic refuse, garbage, galley scrap , or other waste is absolutely prohibited. The regulations, it was explained to a reporter by an official of thc Department of Agriculture, are principally aimed at the prevention of the introduction of the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease and swine fever into the Dominion. Similar regulations arc in force in Canada. It will now be necessary t 0 have all garbage destroyed on the ship. In the past the Harbour Board has carted a certain amount of the ships’ garbage, to the destructor, and other garbage has been taken from ships for the purpose of feeding pigs. Both these practices will have to cease. Thc regulations come into force forthwith.

Only one entry for the Imperial Fruit Competition will bo forwarded from Poverty Bay, the entrant being Mr J. Haskins, who aspires to place the culinary apples of his orchard on exhibition. Notice of the competition was received too late for preparation of a representative entry of table apples.