POULTRY NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 65, 18 March 1937, Page 5

POULTRY NOTES

POULTRY KEEPING FEEDING FOR PRODUCTION At the present time the older birds are apt to begin moulting, and remembering that early moulters are usually a long time out of prolit, it is advisable to pay particular care to feeding, in order that moulting may be delayed a little longer. Hens at this period of the year are naturally apt to take a spell and they need Just a little more attention than was necessary earlier in the season.

The usual mash of bran and pollard is not sufficient at this period, and tne addition of 20 per cent, of barley meal or wheat meal, will do much to improve the quality of the ration. Maize meal is an excellent food provided it is used in moderation, but the price of this feed makes its use at present too expensive. It is not easy to prescribe a hard and fast ration, because of the variation in the quality of pollard, but provided the pollard is of fair average quality I would suggest that the following is a simple yet suitable mash for this period of the year. Quantities by measurement: Three parts pollard, one part barley meal, one and a-half parts bran. The actual mixing of the masa is important. It should be mixed dry before the moisture is added. Do not use too much liquid; the mash should be of a crumbly consistency. It is a good idea to add about 20 per cent, flnelychopped green feed to the masn, and also skim milk can with advantage be used for mixing. The milk has valuable nutritional value for poultry, and it is well worth while arranging ror a daily supply for mixing purposes. In feeding laying pullets great care must be taken; sufficient good-quality mash should be given to promote good production, but if the mash is too highly concentrated protrusion may be the result. All birds at this season of the year require an ample supply of green feed. Shelled oats are particularly beneficial to growing pullets, and as this cereal is at present lower in cost than wheat, it is an economical feed. Many poultry keepers are averse to using new season’s wheat until the end of March or April, as the new grain is usually soft and has been said in some cases to cause a certain amount of scouring. This year old season's wheat is practically unobtainable, and poultry-keepers are therefore compelled to use the new gra.'n. So long as the wheat is hard ani dry it is quite safe to use. Moulting. I have been asked by several keepers of poultry whether or not birds now shedding their feathers are suitable for use as breeders, or should they be culled? I would say that as a rule the poor layer replaces the body feathers early in summer, tne neck and back feathers shedding so last that the fowls present an unsightly appearance. Under good routine management and with a flock in a good state of health, the early moulters should be treated as potential culls. On the other hand, any change in the system of feeding, a chili, removal to new pens, absence of shade from sun, or insect pests, will induce an early moult, so that the value of a layer can only be estimated by a thorough knowledge of the breeding, by a comparison of the average condition of the flock, and by a knowledge of tne body points relative to laying. The date of hatching has a bearing upon the value of a layer. A late-bred pullet may break into a partial moult, thus pausing in production for several weeks, and then moult early in summer. This early moulter, being latebred, would not be classified as a cull. On the other hand, early-bred pullets are subject to partial moult unless care is taken to ensure good management. The Late Moulter. In a flock of well-managed layers It is usual to see a percentage of tnem moulting the feathers a few at a time, ' the neat, clean, new feather growth making a striking contrast against the old, soiled plumage. This type of layer is invariably in good condition ana laying during the early part of her moult. It is this type of bird that the owner should look upon as of value ! for the breeding pen. Any yearling and two-year-old hens still laying in March and at the same time renewing the plumage slowly, also presenting a compact, tightly-fitting appearance, should be "forced" into a moult if re- i quired as a breeder for the 1937 season. This can be effected by stopping : the mash, feeding them on grain only, i and, it necessary, change their quar- i ters and slightly reduce the water ’ supply. General Management. | Good routine management is essen- , tial during the moulting season, for j fowls are particularly susceptible to , any change in the ration, or shortage ■ of green feed, grit, and water. With j hot weather still ruling, insect pests must be kept in check. A weekly , clean-up of the yards to collect old | feathers, and a persistent use of wood- , preserving oil on the perches and fit- i tings will prevent the development of lice and red mite. The life-cycle of < nearly all the body parasites is with- ■ in a period of 14 days, therefore to ; make a complete sweep of them keep i a close check-up on routine cleaning. : Sailed Eggs. Most egg producers realise that it is : not sound business to market soiled eggs, and do their utmost to keep their eggs clean. ‘ It is a difficult matter to keep eggs , clean in wet weather, but good hous- ,

ing and efficient management go a long way towards solving the problem. In ail classes of weather two of of main causes of dirty eggs are to be found in the housing and nesting. With semi-intensive housing there should be the minimum of soiling, that, however, depends very largely on how the plant is managed. The principle of this class of housing calls for six or eight inches of clean litter to be kept on the floor as scratching material, and, further that the houses be not stocked with so'many birds that will prevent their being confined to the house in bad weather. Again there is found an absence of suitable litter, and too many hens are Kept in the average house. For all practical purposes the whole principle of semi-intensive housing is departed from. The cost of this class of housing is twice as great as that for perching

<"dv. and unless the principle is adhered to, the extra expense might

as well have been saved. Another fruitful cause of soiling is the use of narrow yards, for the most part necessitated by the building of a continuous long shed for housing the layers. On this plan, what there is a failure to realise is that unless the shedding accommodation is much too long for tne number of birds to be housed, the yards attached are so narrow, as to result in congestion at the point of ingress or exit. Whether that be at the front or back of the housing, the result is a quagmire in showery weather through which the birds must uaddle when going to lav.