Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 108, 9 May 1931, Page 20 (Supplement)

Poultry Notes

HENS MUST EAT TO LAY

The more you can get a hen to oat the more, eggs you will get from ntre provided the feed is of the right kind and property balanced, states Professor J. C. Bell, manager of Georgia State College. In order to get the birds to eat as much as possible, dry mash is kept before the hens in our contest at all times in hoppers, so that they can help themselves without wasting it. In addition, the hens are fed five times a day. At 5.30, when the lights come on. the hens find a light feeding of scratch grain composed of equal parts of cracked yellow corn and wheat waiting for them in the litter. This is put in the night before. At 7 o’clock germinated oats are fed in the litter. The third feeding is at noon, when the birds arc given a wet mash in troughs—all they will eat up in a few minutes. This wet mash is prepared by mixing buttermilk and water with some of the regular dry mash. 7 1 2 p.m. they are given ah the fresh rape they will cat. (Some other succulent green feed would probably serve equally well). At 5 p.m,, as the final feeding, the birds are given all the scratch grain they will cat- At this feeding the grain is given to Leghorns in troughs, and the Leghorns get all they will cat. Heavy breeds get a more limited amount of grain in litter, as they are inclined to get too fat if they have an unlimited amount of grain at this time.

CAUSE AND CURE OF BUMBLEFOOT

Bumble foot is the name given a hard growth which forms on the sole of the bird’s foot. It is generally caused by fowls having to jump from high perches on to a hard floor. It will also make its appearance where birds are kept on a hard run without sufficient scratching material for them to exercise in being supplied, blight cases of this complaint may be cured by painting the hard swelling with iodine. If not treated at an early stage the swelling may become so serious that the bird will not be able to walk. In such cases as this the swelling will have tn bo lanced, the hard substance removed, and the wound thoroughly washed and treated with boracic ointment. It is sometimes necessary to repeat this operation two or three times before a complete and last cure is brought about. The best thing to do is to employ means to prevent bumble-foot. Low perches, bedded floors, and an ample supply of scratching litter is the best preventive. Where runs are composed entirely of earth, dig them up regularly.

GENERAL NOTES

Writing in the “Poultry World” of January 16, “F.G.W.” states that ho has a Redcap pullet just turned seven months which laid three eggs in one day. About 11 a.m. she laid a normil egg; about 4 p.m. the same day sinlaid again, quite a normal egg;; ant the third egg was found about 10 p.m. when fastening her up for the night All the eggs were normal in size and shape with the exception of the hist, which was a soft shell. The pullet, missed laying the next day, but on lh<; third day laid an extra large egg. The bird, according to the correspomh n'. was shut in a house by hcr<c’f at th • time of the performance. • * • • • The successful poultrymm of to day is the cue who is tliorougj ami us-f*: every help to sanitation. Largt? -nd small flocks need proper loedi.ig and proper care, but these in Ihem.se! are not enough to ensure su'*< ss. Buildings a id plant must b * -ib-oiir • san’ tary. and this can only be done tl.rough the use of good Ji infectauts *i<i 1 clou • liness. BlUt’rs are ; metimes found in t’i • breastbones of young stock. They arc caused by friction on the roost. \ tin'needle threaded with worsted should be passed through the blister, and the ends of the worsted should then be tied in a loose lop; this provides drainage and prevents the blister filling up again. Rhode Island Red chicks showing conspicuous striping at hatching arc likely to develop into adults with under-colour of inferior quality usually carrying considerable smut and white, according to authorities at the KansuExperiment Station. Keeping the fowls on a small piece of clean ground is preferable to let tin;; them run on double the area of neglected impure ground. To keep birds on the same ground year after year vyith out any systematic cultivation or purifying of the soil and expecting to avoid trouble irom diseases is practicallv ini possible. When cutting a bird’s wing to pre vent it Hying has tu be resorted to re member that it is only nccessaiv to clip the flight feathers (those that are fold ed underneath) on one side. It is verv unsightly to clip the whole wing. c> peeially on b >th sides. The object of cutting one wing is to put the bird off its balance when attempting to fly. Every male bird should have a flat back which runs level to the “parson’nose,” thus giving the tail a graceful ‘•weep «is regaids carriage. When the tail is carried in squirrel fashion. i.« upright with the sickles poin l :ng straight in the air, instead of *we<.; ing away nicely, you may suspect dcfoim ed back. If the tail'is thus < armed nr.i the back is rounded toward the “pa: son’s nose.” the pelvic arch will alto be rounded and the bird will be short of abdominal capacity. Nearly all breeds are hatched ruth red lobes, but those on the Lej-lioru.. for instance, will be larger iliac on. Orpington chicks. Where whiw arc necessary, there is often ;1 le d tinge, but chicks should not bi. 'ejected on this account. Traces of red 'on whit# lobes usually disappear: .he : , 12 , u lobe develops with the eontb, ..ed the lobe often double, itself in siz< in the few weeks before laying commence.'.