Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 201, 28 August 1935, Page 11

Poultry Notes

HOW CHICKS BECOME CHILLED. It is less the actual cold that is the cause of chills than the crowding that takes place with the chickens seeking to become comfortably warm, and the spreading out which follows after the crowding. At the first break of dawn, following their natural instinct, they move forward to the light still wet with the condensed moisture on their bodies, a result of having been packed together. Many operators of brooders are scared that their brooders should become too hot; what they should fear more is that they may become too cool. There is little to be afraid of in overheating at the centre if the brooder is constructed, so that the chickens can withdraw to a cooler zone without contact with the main body of the radiated warmth. Operators should beware of any impediment to the withdrawal or re-entry of the chicks to the warmer zone. The of a curtain too low so that it can bo trod upon will often cause a block, and the chickens will bo found outside the brooder. Sometimes even an inch of an abrupt rise in the floor at the entrance of the brooder will result in the same thing. In big aggregations of chickens run in one brooder, the inner group will sometimes become too hot, but cannot spread out because of the pressure of the outer rings, which are perhaps too cold. When, however, things become too uncomfortable a change of places will occur, and the overheated chicks wil be forced into a cold zone. The Setting Hen. When selecting a broody hen choose one that is quiet and can be handled. Avoid using a wild and nervous bird, and also avoid the hen with scaly logs, as this trouble is likely to be transmitted to the chicks. All setting hens should be treated for insect pests by dusting with insect-powder, care being taken to sec that the powder goes well down to the skin. Another good method of treating insect pests is to dip the end of a feather into nicotine sulphate and draw this under both wings, or among the breast-feathers. If no insect-powder or nicotine sub phate is at hand, a suitable mixture can be made my mixing equal parts of lime, dry earth, and sulphur. The best place to sot a hen is in a coop from other hens where she is not disturbed. A coop about 2ft. 6in. square with a run about 6ft. long, and the same width as the coop serves the purpose. It is not wise to place coops close to tables or buildings, which are apt to attract rats. Tho nest should be made saucer-shaped and is better on the ground, while care should be taken to sec that it is not too deep, or the eggs are apt to pile on top of one another. Have the nest, flat on the bottom, and just sufficiently deep to cause the eggs to have a slight tendency Io roll towards the centre when the hen turns them. The use of plenty of nesting material r important Io aid the he i lo keep the eggs at a desired temperature, and soft, line straw, hay, or pine needles are. suitable materials. The number of eggs to set under a hen will depend on the size of the hen and also on the size of the eggs. It is, how ever, always wise lo set, too few than too many. A hca uf the average size of the Orpington, Rock, Rhode Island Red, or Wyandotte breed covers 13 eggs comfortably. It is always well to remove the hen it is intended to set at night, and place her on a few (lummy eggs until she gives evidence of seilling down. The. silling hen is best fed on grain'

alone, as mashes, meat, or green feed are apt to have a laxative effect, where the sitting her is concerned, which may cause the eggs to become soiled, and in the event of this taking place the eggs should be cleaned and fresh nest-ing-material provided before they are put back in the nest. Grit and clean water should be within reach of The hen at all times, and a box containing some dry earth should be provide.l as a dusting-place when she comes off the nest. Do not disturb the hen at hatch ing-time, but when the hatch is completed it is well to remove the empty shells and those eggs that did not hatch. It is seldom advisable to help chickens out of the shells, for if they are not strong enough to get out on their own account they seldom develop into profitable stock.—C. -I. G. Cussen, Chief Poultry Instructor, Wellington. QUALITY WHITE LEGHORN’S ANO BLACK ORPINGTONS VOR Egg Production. Egg-laying Competition Winners. W'ite for our illustrated price list of Chicks, Day-old Pullets, Perch ng Pullets’. Eggs, Hen and Chickens, etc. Estab'.she I 33 years.—ll. LEGER. 'l’he Villnge Egg Farm. Weraroa, Levin, N.Z.