Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 18 (Supplement)

Poultry Notes

THE FARM FLOCK. OUGHT NOT TO BE TOO LARGE. Although intensive poultry rearing has come to stay, natural methods should still be followed where possible —and particularly in the rearing of breeding stock. Fanners have the room, and they ought not to allow themselves to be gulled into copying the methods of some professional poultryman, who works on the intensive plan. The general farmer, in fact, though he should keep a good flock of birds, would not bo wise to concentrate on his poultry to tho neglect of his other business. Although on a farm several hundreds of birds may be raised, when tho numbers run into thousands a much greater measure of control over the birds is needed. This involves heavy charges both for equipment and labour without those compensating benefits possible with the smaller number on a wider range. The value of the pullet is greater for laying than for table purposes, although she docs not come into profit until six or ten weeks later than the cockerel. This is now generally rea Used, and attention is concentrated upon rearing pullets for the purpose of egg-production, at the same time disposing of surplus cockerels for table use. Rapidly-reared birds are far more profitable, and the differences in re suits under varied management are very striking. Cockerels of the heavier breeds and of the same strain, weigh ing on the average 31b at 12 weeks old, are found in one yard, whereas in another they will be only 21bs in weight. The explanation is not necessarily in the quantity, or even quality, of the food given as much ns the, method of giving it, and in general attention tc cleanliness. The cost of rearing on free range i less than upon the semi-intensive sys tom, provided that sufficient attentior is given in both cases, and the free range birds will be more vigorous and valuable as layers as wv.i as for breeding purposes. Whichever system is adopted, the great advantage to the chickens of fresh ground, and abundance of their natural diet in the shape of insects and fresh green food, should not be forgotten. PUTTING THINGS RIGHT. Tho breeding pen is the best place to put things right, and not t’lc show pen A breeder, for instance, makes a practice of removing the side-sprays from the combs of his growing chick cns. He merely deceives himself, for he loses touch with these birds he has doctored, and they become mixed up with those he has nut touched. The one thing must decidedly certain is that the defect, remains with him and in his strain. Tho remedying of defects by artificial me:)ns can never rid a strain of them. It is only by selective breeding that shortcomings can be blotted out. Not in one year, but season after season. The breeding season is ahead of us, and the inclusior. in the breeding pens of hens that are coarse-headed will not ten. to hand on neat and refined heads to the pryHINTS FOR BREEDERS. If there is a constitutional tendein v to crooked breastbone, the defe will appear whether the chicks roost or sleep on the floor. A test of wood shavings against, straw as nesting material at Cornell University showed 15 per cent, more dirty eggs from the eggs laid on straw than on the shavings. Dr. Henderson, the famous authority on food, speaking at a conference, stated that eggs as a basis of diet counteracted gastric influenza, says the youth Wales Evening Express. He added that although the caloric value of the egg is well-known, and its food value generally appreciated it was surprising that more eggs were not consumed, especially by those who had to take a cheap nourishing and economical meal in the middle of the day. Worms in a fowl give off waste products that poison the fowl in two ways: one destroys the red corpuscles in the blood, causing pale combs, wattles, etc., the other affects the nerves and shows in leg-weakness and wry neck. immature stock will not produce strong chicks, no matter how carefully they are hatched and reared. Young tender rape or silver beet may be substituted for lettuce as green feed for chicks at any time. Rape ialso a suitable daily green feed for layers and bvoders. That high production is transmitted from a hen through the cockerels to their pullets just as surely as high butterfat production is transmitted by a bull to his heifers is an accepted fact amongst breeders. Never leave dead chicks lying about, for once rats get a taste of them there will be endless trouble. Excessive copulation may cause in fertility, for which too few hens in a pen is often responsible. Grass hoppers have boon found l ■ contains species of worms common 1" fowls by tlie United States J><-pnft•••<• •' of Agriculture.