Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 183, 7 August 1935, Page 11

Poultry Notes

MATING FOR BREEDING. MANAGEMENT OF COCKERELS. The time is not far distant when poultry-keepers again will be considering the problem of mating birds for the breeding season. This, without doubt, is the most important task of the year, because upon successful mat ing depends the productivity and prolitability of the flock of the futhre. All birds eligible for Hie breeding pens must be handled to make certain that there is nothing organically wrong with them. Thin-breasted, suuKen-eyea specimens will never earn their keep, lu some jnstauces the farmer may hate to consider the egg records of the hen before finally deciding their fate, but, while admitting that records are .valuable, they should not be regarded as the reciding factor in mating. The male is most important, as he influences the whole of the progeny, in selecting suitable birds, early hatched, fully-grown specimens are superior to late-hatched ones, and should be given preference, and constitutional vigour must be kept right in the foreground. Often a bird will be attractive in the exhibition cage and quite the reverse when in natural surroundings. He should be judged when in a natural position. Cockerels selected should stand firmly on their legs, and not be cow-hocked, a fault denoting weakness which can be •noticed when the bird walks. Another feerious fauit is that known as “roach back,” which can always be detected by handling. Occasionally the poultry-keeper will come across excellent specimens with deformed breastbones and will debate whether or not such a bird should be used for breeding. Ordinarily tne re commendation would be against such u practice, but in exceptional instances, where he is vigorous and perfectly healthy, he might be used, but any of his progeny with crooked breasts should not be used as breeders. A strong and vigorous male bird will mate with many more hens than unusually allowed, and when a good bird is available he can be changed once daily into a second pen without running any risk of infertility in either. Alass or flock matings is often sue cessfuily practised on Larins, and con sists of placing about eight males with every hundred hens. When this method is adopted care should be taken that the males are kept together several weeks before mating. Should it become necessary to remove any of the males, the best thing to do is to introduce a complete new set. or split, up the hens into two sections. io attempt to return a male to the pen is unwise, because there will be a tendency for the others to fight it, and it is highly probable that the light will be general. It is important (hat male birds receive plenty of food, otherwise they may get out of condition and fail Io fertilise. Another cause of infertility is lice infestation. Il is advisable to keep a look out for these pests, auB efforts should be made to free both bens and males. 'This can be done quite

easily by painting the perches with nicotine sulphate, applying it about half au hour before roosting time. Poultry Diseases. Bronchitis is usually tho result of a bad cold. The treatment should be the administration of one drop of tincture of aconite every hour or two. The hens should be kept warm and fed on mash foods. Bumble foot is caused through the hardening of the skin on the ball of the foot, which develops into an abscess. The foot should be lanced and boric acid applied. In advanced cases, the foot should be bathed in warm water and the bird kept in a coop. Sometimes this compiaint is an outward manifestation of tuberculosis. When such is the case, the bird may as well be killed. Lameness will be noted and a shrinkage of the muscles of the legs will be in evidence. “Going light” is a complaint similar to anaemia or tuberculosis. It is the sign of wasting form, and is the. result of the c« ...iptive disposition of the'bird. When in advanced stages, the bird should be destroyed. Liver Complaint.—There are many losses each year through liver troubles Improper feeding and lack of exercise are usually the causes, and the complaint is not contagious. The external symptoms are not very marked. The comb usually turns purple, then dark, and finally goes black. The plumage is loose and rough, and the excreta brownish or yellow. The bird should be given oil and a half-teaspoon of sulphate of magnesia in water once or twice daily. Rheumatism. Symptoms: Stiff joints, muscles contracted, and toes sometimes drawn under the feet. The bird walks stiffly and lame. Inflammation of muscles and joints. Cause: Exposure and improper housing. Gout and tuberculosis cause lameness also. Control: Dry, warm, well ventilated houses and well drained runs. Keep healthy stock of high vitality. Intestinal Worms—Symptoms. Wasting away and loss of appetite; dull, listless appearance. Quite common in young stock in early autumn. Worms arc in droppings. A post-mortem shows the intestines full of worms. Cause: Surroundings insanitary, in-» fested soil, constant use bf the same ground. Control: Put on fresh gjond, plough and seed old runs. Fill or drain all puddles about buildings or yards. Give 11b. tobacco powder in 241 b. mash or two grain capsules of mixture of santon in 2J, calomel 2J, aloin 2J. and arecanut 10 grains. Follow treatment with Epsom salts. Tobacco tea eanalso he used.