Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 243, 13 October 1937, Page 11

Poultry Notes

DETERMINATION OF SEX Several inquiries as to whether sexing is injurious have been received. In this connection it may be mentioned Slat in order to test out the effect of this operation the department had a batch of chickens sexed on September 2, 1935. The sexed pullets were reared separately. The average weight of the 2()4 one-day-old sexed pullets was 1.330 z., as against an average weight of 1.470 z. for 274 one-day-old mixed White Leghorn chickens, which would indicate that one-day-old cockerels are slightly heavier than one-day-old pullets. At six weeks old the 126 pullets which had been reared with cockerels averaged only 10.390 z., as against an average of 12.660 z. for the sexed pullets; thus showing that the sexed pullets grew better when reared by themselves. It would also indicate that sexing had no ill effects. The approximate cost of feeding the chickens up to six weeks old was 2Jd each.

Forty of the sexed pullets, which were reared on a dry mash, were kept separate, and comprised one of live pens of forty pullets each. Each pen of birds was fed on a different ration, and the pen of sexed pullets laid more eggs during the test than any of the other four pens, which were made up of pullets that had not been sexed. After the test was over some of the birds were culled on account of their not being up to standard, just as any flock requires to be culled.

The rest of the hens are now ing their second laying season and they have shown no ill effects from the action of sexing. It may be of interest to mention that the cockerels sexed from the batch of chickens in question were sold as day-olds. The purchaser reared them and kept the best for breeding purposes, and the results were quite satisfactory. Judging from these tests, together with reports from poultry-keepers who have had large numbers of chickens sexed, it may be said that provided the work is done by careful, experienced operators, there is little danger of any ill effects. In order to diagnose the sex of one-day-old chickens accurately and quickly, a person requires to be in practice, have good eyesight, plenty of light, and a retentive memory. It is quite possible for an inexperienced person, especially if the light or eyesight is not too good, to cause injury by applying too much pressure when sexing, and for this reason poultrykeepers would be wise to see that competent certificated persons only are engaged to do the work. At times, if ovarian trouble is experienced amongst sexed pullets, there is a tendency to think that the birds were injured while being sexed. Experience has shown, however ,that if injury is done while diagnosing the sex the injured birds do not live long.

Vent-picking Vent-picking is usually started by one hen picking the vent of another whilst it is in the act of laying. The picking causes bleeding and laying keeps the wound open. Protruson of the oviduct often follows, or the wound becomes septic, when a whitish discharge comes from the vent. One bird will often start the trouble and cause almost an epidemic in a flock, for once birds acquire the taste for blood they seem to watch for other birds laying and then attack them. Treatment of victims is of little value. The best plan is to remove the culprit at once, if possible darken the nests, and keep the birds busy by increasing the depth of litter and scattering a little scratch feed about during the morning. The Season Getting On On a general farm where only a small flock of poultry is kept and the hatching and rearing are done by natural means it is often difficult to get broody hens before this time. However, if not already done, every effort should be made to get all the chickens required hatched out as soon as possible.

September is looked upon as the best month of the year in which to hatch chickens, although many prefer August for hatching out chickens of the heavy breeds. Most of the large poultry-farmers try to get all their stock hatched out before the end of September, as experience has shown that, where large numbers of chickens are raised artificially, those hatched after September do not do so well, especially if the months of October and November are dry and warm. October hen-hatched chickens, especially of the light breeds, provided they are reared on fresh, sweet ground and are well looked after, should come into profit during April, but laterhatched birds do not as a rule do well, and seldom come into profit until the winter is over and eggs are cheap. Selecting Broody Hons As all broody hens do not make satisfactory sitters or mothers, care should he taken to select those of a quiet, docile temperament, and avoid the wild, nervous birds. Some hens are naturally clumsy, while others

will sit for a day or two and then leave the nest, so for these reasons it is advisable to set the hen on some dummy eggs for a few days, and when satisfied the bird is really broody and of a gentle, quiet temperament, the more valuable eggs should be placed under her.

It is never advisable to set broody hens in the fowl-house or laying-shed, where they are liable to be disturbed by other hens, and where they are more likely to be infested with insects. A better plan is to build a light coop, with run attached, which can be moved on to fresh ground regularly. Such a coop can be cheaply erected and should give good service for a long time. As more hen-hatched chickens and young turkeys are lost each year from the ravages of insects than from any other cause, it is advisable to see that all broody hens are treated for insects. A simple and effective method is to dip the end of a feather into nicotine sulphate and draw this under both wings and amongst the breast feathers, or dust the bird with insectpowder. This should** be done when the bird is first set, and again in about ten days’ time, but it is not safe to treat birds with chickens, or sitting hens just before the hatch comes off. The nest is best made on the ground, v in order that the eggs may get, moisture, otherwise the skin inside the shell is liable to become too dry and tough for the chicken to cut through. Make the nest saucer-shaped, flat on the bottom, and just deep enough to cause the eggs to have a tendency to roll towards the centre, and flat enough to prevent them from piling up when the hen turns them.

Plenty of soft, pliable nestingmaterial, such as oat-straw or pineneedles, should be used. Should an e ©g get broken and the contents become smeared over other eggs, it is advisable to wash them in warm water and renew the nesting-material. If sitting hens are closed in a coop or box, care should be taken to see that plenty of fresh air is available. They should be allowed to come oft once a day. Grain, water and grit are all in the way of food that sitting hens require. It is better to avoid giving mashes, especially sloppy food, as such are likely to cause looseness of the bowels, and the eggs to thus become soiled. The less sitting hens are disturbed the better, especially at hatching-time.

It seldom pays to help chickens out of the shells.—C. J. C. Cussen, Chief Poultry Instructor, Wellington.