Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 124, 27 May 1936, Page 11

Poultry Notes

VALUE OF SUNSHINE It is often not fully realised how much, depends on the sun. It aids in the production of eggs to a yery great extent, and help in the number of eggs laid. It also has something to do with the quality tha-t is in the eggs, and the production of strong, healthy birds. The maintenance of ‘.he health of the laying flocks depends upon it to a large extent, and, since we have learned through our scientists of Ihe impo lance of vitamins, sun>m:ie las been more t han ever apprec'. ii ?■! ior i'.s vitamin D supplement. Thcjv are practical values in sunshine which have been pr»\el by carefully-conducted experiniejis in various parts of the world. F<>" ii.sc’nce, the use of glass was foe a long time disputed, although in colder regions it was most necessary to allow light to enter closed sheds and to exclude cold and foggy air. .It was found that birds kept in a shod with a glass front laid a far greater proportion of soft-shelled eggs. The experiment was persisted in until the birds laid nothing but soft and weakshelled eggs. This was due to the fact that although glass let in the light it did not permit the beneficial rays to enter. Glass,- it was found, filered out the good of the sunlight. Then it was found that various glass substitutes were necessary, as they permitted the ultra-violet rays of the sun to enter. The next experiment was to make comparisons with birds having plenty •of sunshine and those without sunshine. Consequently, some were put into sheds which only allowed sunshine to enter through glass, and the resultant production was low. A similar number of birds on a grass range, in open sunshine, not only grew in size but increased their egg production. The fertility and hatchability of those birds on the open range also proved, beyond doubt, the benefits to be derived from the sun’s rays. Another effect on the egg which perhaps some farmers do not consider, is the quality of the egg and the strength of the shell. Egg yolk contains very appreciable amounts of vitamin D. In fact, this content has been proved sufficiently strong to cure rickets. Vitamin 1) is a material which can be stored in the body of the birds, though not continuously. If they are kept in sheds where the sun’s rays are unable to penetrate the eggs become poorer in quality, especially in the vitamin. D quantity. It may be that eggs for human consumption will, at some future time, for a specialised section of the poultry industry, because of their high food value for weak and delicate children and invalids. With the coming of winter ’ the flocks will spend much time inside the semi-intensive sheds, and will naturally draw heavily on the stored vitamin D, which, unless otherwise provided, will become exhausted. It is at this time of the year that the value of correct housing conditions prove their worth by letting in as much available sun shine as possible. If the weather is such that little or no sun prevails, cod liver oil should be given as a subtitute for the beneficial rays of the sun, but even this, although exceptionally good in every way as a substitute, does not. equal nature’s supply. The rays of the sun are very necessary for the utilisation by the bird, of calcium. Extra supplies of calcium do not do any good if there is a lack of sunlight. There is a very close relation between the two, but with the assistance of the rays the most use is made of calcium, for both eggs and bone formation. Sunshine is the cheapest and best medium for keeping the birds up to their best. form. It is health-giving and ensures correct functioning of the body. Keep the Birds Laying It is much harder to get hens into pre-duction and keep them laying at this time of the year, than it will be as spring comes nearer. However, it is essential to got a relatively high winter egg production from each hen if a fair profit is to be realised from your poultry. Bear in mind that it is not natural for hens to produce many winter eggs, but that the owner of a matured and well-bred flock of pullets will have eggs to sell in numbers and at fair prices if he will hut go to the trouble to provide the birds with com- • fortable quarters and a balanced Feeding Troughs On some farms at feeding lime ii is not unusual to see the birds lighting and crowding over the mash Hoppers and troughs. For a small outlay an extra trough may be bought. Every bird in a shed must have from six to ] eight inches of feeding space, and if there is not sufficient room, then some birds will not get their share and consequently will not lay eggs. It is not always the fighting hens which are the best layers; in fact, they are invariably very modest layers. although they get more than their share of the food. Where there is insufficient space, these birds take more . room than they should, and not only do they give less in return, but. 'they rob the birds which otherwise would prove to be the most profitable