Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 68, 22 March 1939, Page 12

Poultry Notes

VENT-PICKING AND BLEEDING i Vent-picking and bleeding is another form of trouble which seems to be increasing. It appears to give more trouble among flocks which have been brought up to a very high pitch of production, and usually occurs among .■early pullets when coming into profit or among first-year hens during October and November, when production is at the peak. At times the act of laying causes a haemorrhage, even in spite of the fact that the eggs are normal in size and shape. The fundamental cause is, no doubt, a weakness in the walls of the oviduct. If the feeding methods have been correct the condition may indicate that the aim for great egg-production has been carried far enough and that more care should be taken regarding constitution when selecting breedingstock, and that some fresh blood is required. Vent-Picking. When a bird is on the point of expelling an egg the oviduct protudes and presents a highly fie. h-coloureri appearance. At times, c dally if nests are too shallow or e. d, other birds will pick at the expt ..i part of the oviduct which causes severe bleeding. Other birds in the flock pick at the bleeding parts, and often a cruel death results. Birds will frequently be seen walking along in front of the nests waiting for an opportunity to attack a bird in the act of laying. If only one or two birds have been attacked and the culprit can be detected it should be eliminated from the flock at once, and probably no further trouble will be experienced. Where a number of birds have acquired this cannibalistic habit, however, it is advisable to darken the nests or make them sufficiently deep so that back part of the birds will not be seen when in the act of laying. The food question should also be looked into, for experience has shown that this vicious habit or craving for blood is at times brought on by certain birds not getting sufficient animal food. With some flocks of pullets where animal food has been withheld in order to check them from coming to lay it has quite frequently been found that certain birds get a craving for blood, and a real epidemic of vent-picking has been experienced. In such cases the trouble has often been checked by placing a shallow box or tin of half meat-meal and half bran (by measure) in the houses, so that the birds may help themselves and so satisfy their appetites for animal food. It is also well to make sure that a regular and liberal supply of succulent green food is given each day. 1 Treatment of badly picked birds has r not been very satisfactory, and preventive measures as suggested should ’ be adopted at the first, sign of this annoying trouble.—C. J. C. Cussen, i’ Chief Poultry Instructor, Wellington. EGG-LAYING RESULTS MASSEY COLLEGE EIGHTH . CONTEST ENDS ; Special prizes will he awarded for i the eighth annual Massey College eggI laying contest which concluded at ; Massey College, Palmerston North, on i March 14. The competition lasted for • 50 weeks. Only those entries qualify- ■ ing under the egg-weight regulations ; are eligible for prizes:— Single. Pens Sections. ' Single Pen Cup. for the highest Individual total, to Mr. F. S. Alien's Levin, While Leghorn, 291 eggs. Runner-up Io Single Pen Cup, in opposite section, Mr. L. Mason's Wellington, Rhode j Island Red. 269 eggs. Teams’ Sections, Golden Egg Trophy, for Hie highest score, both sections, lo Mr. W. A. Lar- . sen’s Feilding, Australorp team, with 1623 eggs. Breeder's Trophy, for the most points in all teams for eggs and breed points, to Mr. W. A. Larsen’s Feilding, Australorp team, with 1623 eggs. ) Silver Egg Trophy, for runner-up to Golden Egg Trophy, in opposite section lo Mr. J. Wilson’s, Carterton, White Leghorn team, wilh 1621 eggs. Otlier Special Awards. The Lord Greenway Cup, to lhe team of Rhode Island Reds laying the greatest number of eggs, to Mr. G. A. Edge's, Carterton, Rhode Island Reds, with 1222 eggs. The Red Club's Rose Bow l, to the individual Rhode Island Red (all sections), laying the highest number of eggs, to Mr. G. A. Edge's, Carter-ton, Rhode Island Red, with 272 eggs. Silver Hen Trophy, lo the highest individual Leghorn (all sections), laying the highest number of eggs, to ■ Mr. H. A. Lucas's, Wellington, White Leghorn, with 303 eggs. Highest Individual Total in All Sections of All Breeds, to Mr. W. A. Larsen’s Feilding, Australorp, with 30S eggs. Certificates of Merit will be awarded to: — L. Mason, 1; W. A. Larsen, 2; F. S. Allen, 2; J. A. Annan, 1; A. G. Mumby, 2; Ancona Slud Poultry Farm 1; Mrs. M. M. Chapman, 1; W. F. Stent, 1; E. W. Stephenson, 1; L. G. Hooper, 1; G. A. Edge, 1; J. Wilson, 1; J. Mold, 1; F. Ecob, 1; Cotswold Poul- : try Farm, 1; and H. A. Lucas, 1. FINAL WEEK’S RESULTS The final week's results in the Massey College eigth annual egg-laying . contest are: — SINGLE PENS. Section B.—Mrs. R. Willers, 8.0., . (4 ) 287 x; L. Mason, R.I.R. No. 2 (2) 269; W. A. Larsen, A. 0., (0) 250; K. . Mullins, R.1.R., (3 ) 240; S. T. Bason, Lang., No. 1 (6 ) 233; L. Mason, R.1.R., < No. 1 (1) 223; E. H. Berger, 8.0., (0) 211; S. T. Bason, Lang, No. 3 (5) 209; . Mrs. M. M. Chapman, W.W.. (3) 195; S. T. Bason. Lang., No. 2 (0) 187; S. < Wilkinson, R.1.R., 175 d; J. D. Rowlands, R.1.R., (0) 173; T. D. Dowth- ; waite, 8.0., (0) 152. Section A.—F. S. Allen, W.L., No. 4 c (61 292 x; F. S. Allen, W. L„ No. 3 (5) c

1 291; J. A. Annan, 'V. L., (5) 288; A. G Mumby, W.L., No. 2 (5) 281; Ancona Stud Poultry Farm, W.L., (5) 274; Mrs. M. M. Chapman, W.L., No. 1 (6) 271; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 3 (5) 259; W. F. Stent, W.L., No. 2 (5) 253; T. E. Ker, W.L., No. 2 (5) 249; p’. Mummery, Min., (3) 243; F. S. Allen, W.L., No. 1 (5) 242 x; F. S. Allen, W.L.’ No. 2 (4) 239; F. Ecob, W.L., No. 1 (2) 231; A. A. Hoare, W.L., No. 2 (4) 228; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 1 (2) 217; A. A. Hoare, W.L., No. 1 (4) 215: W. F. Stent, W.L., No. 3 (5) 209; Mrs. M. M. Chapman, W.L., No. 2 (5) 203; F. Ecob, W.L., No. 3 (4) 194; F. Ecob, W.L.. No. 4 192 d; A. G. Mumby, W.L.. No. 4 (0) 176; F. Ecob. W.L., No. 2 160 d; H. Polson, W.L., (0> 144; T. E. Ker, W.L., No. 1 (0) 121 r; W. F. Stent, W.L., No. 1 116 d. TEAMS RESULTS. Section D. W. A. Larsen. A. 0.: 281, 261, 308, 227, 250, 296 (22) 1623. E. W. Stephenson. A. 0.: 217, 239. 226, 198, 204, 242 x (17) 1326. L. G. Hooper, B.O.: 219, 211 x, 156, 271, 238, 226 (29) 1321. G. A. Edge, R.1.R.: 194, 115 d, 249, 272, 236, 156 d (16) 1222. Miss E. T. Somer. R.1.R.: 165 x, 180, 221, 231, 194 x, 192 (12) 1183. Section C. J. Wilson, W.L.: 250, 263, 273, 292, 263, 280 (31) 1621. F. S. Allen, W.L.: 279, 241 x, 282, 276 x, 218, 241 (23) 1537. J. Mold. W.L.: 230, 268, 268 x, 254, 242, 258 (24) 1520. F. Ecob. W.L.: 301, 205 r, 236, 266, 258, 221 (25) 1487. Cotswold P.F., W.L.: 159 d, 195 r, 249, 241, 265, 293 (14) 1402. H. A. Lucas, W.L.: 303, 265, 260, 251 r, 163, 145 d (20) 1387. r. Replacement, x. Disqualified because of egg-weight clause, d. Bird dead.