THE POULTRY KEEPER

Waikato Times, Volume 96, Issue 15033, 2 September 1922, Page 15 (Supplement)

THE POULTRY KEEPER

By “Moorfowl.”

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. (Inquiries in regard to poultry-keep-ihg will be answered only through these columns and should reach the office by mid-day Tuesday. Name and address must be enclosed but not necessarily for publication). "J3ack-Yarder" 1 (Ngaruawahia)—The more you leave the hen to herself when she is hatching- eggs the better. She know's a great deal more about the business than the wisest heads amongst poultry authorities and it is therefore, sheer folly for a novice to try to show her what to do. Certainly when the /hen ‘stays off the nest for an undue period it is time to interfere and gently chase her back. Generally speaking, it is not wise to allow her off for more than fifteen minutes for the first

fortnight, although much greater laxilude may be allowed if the day happens to be warm.. After the eggs-, have been hatching for fourteen days it does not matter if through some oversight, the hen is allowed off for several hours on end, provided that the hen is not allowed to repeat her neglectful behaviour. “Leghorn,” Frankton Junction. Tne trouble of protrusion of the oviduct, which is apparently what your birds are suffering from, is caused by the feeding to excess of meat, its substitutes, or such-like forcing foods. If m.any birds are suffering from the trouble, you should immediately reduce the amount, of forcing foods you are at present feeding. However, it is almost impossible to cure the trouble, although if the profusion is noticed immediately it takes place, a remedy might be effected by first oiling the affected places, ' and tnen gently pressing them back into place. It is advisable, if you intend to essay a cure, to put each bird into a box, with her rear end slightly elevated by means of a piece of string attached to the legs and fastened to the top of the box. Generally speaking, it is best to kill any birds so affected. In any case, the sufferers should be 'put away by themselves, as the other birds wilt , exhibit their cannibalistic tendencies by pecking at their affecled comrades, thus putting them to a cruel death. FREE RANGE. Of the very many necessary duties in successful chicken-raising perhaps the most imperative, if strong, vigorousstock is to be raised, is to allow the young birds out on free range. The difference between stock raised in close confinement and that reared undei conditions permitting of free range is very marked. The first are often weakly, undersized and sometimes even aneamic speciments, while the birds that have been allowed out on free range will usually be found to be big, strong, "husky” individuals, blooming with health and bespeaking high profits for their owner. The nature of free range is generally understood, but lest there should be any misconception it may be stated that the term implies allowing the birds to roam at liberty over ah' area of ground, picking up insects and other little morsels which nature scatters in their way. The very atmosphere of the. free range helps the birds materially with their growth, for removed as they are from the contamination of small pens, the soil of which has' by reason of the great quantity of droppings which it holds, become altogether fouled, they are permitted Lo grow steadily on in their advancement to maturity, almost immune from the attacks of disease that so often swoop down on closely-con-fined slock, and growing ail the while. When poultry are out on free range it will be observed that they are almost continually pecking at the grass in addit’on to picking up insects. Thus it is clearly evident that poultry especially young birds should have green grass or a green crop before them all the time, and in fact instances are known of where chickens have been raised to the greatest advantage on a staple diet of green food. Certainly green stuff may be thrown to the fowls in the run hut usually it is soon gobbled up and the young birds arc not permitted to follow their natural tendency of roaming over free range and picking up something here and there. Altogether, free range promotes constitutional vigour, hastens on growth and maturity, and, speaking generally, results in I he production of lords of more attractive appearance and better condition —-birds which, provided they are the correct type, are fit for a place In any show. INSTRUCTION FOR POULTRYKEEPERS. The next monthly educational meeting of the Waikato Poultry club to he held on Wednesday evening nexl at 7. JO o’clock in I lie club-rooms, Waikato Winter Show Buildings, will lake the form of a lecture on “chicken-raising,” to he delivered by Mr E. G. Jarrell, Government Poultry Instructor to the Auckland Province. Mr Jarrell’s lecture last month was most suocesshd

but this month’s one should eclipse it in every way. There w’ill doubtless be a very large attendance of poultrykeepers to hear the instructive lecture w'hich Mr Jarrett will deliver. Entrance to the rooms is gained from Anglesea Street, opposite the old saleyards side. Next Saturday afternoon the instructor will give as a sequel to his address, a practical demonstration at the Ruakura State Farm on the pqints he will touch on in his lecture. All interested in poultry-keeping, whether they run only a few fowls or a large number, and whether they are club members or not. are invited to attend both these functions arranged by the club. THE IMPORTED EGG. The duty-on Imported eggs practically shuts the Asiatic out of Australia (says the New Zealand*) Poultry Journal). Still, Ihe re*'are those who have misgivings, and advocate total prohibition. The Commonwealth Trade Commissioner in China considers that there is nothing to fear as to the wholesomeness of the Chinese egg. In an official report, he says, that “the great development, of the egg and egg product industry in China has had envious results. It has caused the United States first to introduce embargoes, and then to lift .them; it has alarmed the Pacific evommunilies of Canada; and it has induced various health' officers to question its desirability from the point of view of public health. The Americans have given the quietus to all doubts by conducting a thorough examination in China, the result of which is to the credit of Chinese eggs. This, in addition to the health service, which 'is maintained at the ports of exportation, and w’hich precludes the possibility of rotten cargoes being sent out.”

For New Zealand the light against Asiatic eggs for the present is over. If poultrymen will produce, no imports can be made. We wonder if half our poultrymen ever realise what time, labour, and money it took to get this par! Certainly some the them will never die of heart-break over the amount they subscribe. LITTER FOR CHICKENSt Chickens scratch better in chaff litter than in sand, and yet sand—that is, coarse sand—has its value, and chaff is a danger as litter. Coarse sand will be eaten by chicks and act as grit; line sand will remain in their intestines much longer, having a tendency to lodge in the bowels. Chaff, unless quite dry, will permit of mould growth, which may set up aspergillosis (a disease of the lungs) amongst chicks working in such litter. If sand several Inches deep is put on the ' brooder floor and cracked grain is buried in it —there is the difficulty of cleaning up without wasting grain and sand. Certainly what grain is buried can be restricted in quantity, and the top sand sifted for droppings; but to use a fresh lot of sand daily, lightly put on,, has always seemed preferable from a sanitary point of viewT Without wishing to adopt a “rail sitting” attitude, we ask —why not a little scratching pen away from the sleeping quarters and the drinking water, and the rest of the floor sanded?- This wfll provide much needed exercise. To the chicken-rearers who raise their thousands every year on sand, chaff and other materials, this may seem unnecessary, but' we are dealing with precautions against possibilities suggested by our personal experience, and make the best suggestion that occurs to -us. JOTTINGS. In feeding fowls the usual plan for the evening meal is to feed grain—wheat and maize mixed being the best. If, however, one has a large supply of house scraps, there is no reason why soft food should not be given at night in place of grain, except to the breeding pen. Breeding birds require some hard feed. The quantity of food for adult fowls required is soon ascertained by experience. They should clear up all that’s given, but they should be given all they will clear up. If any is left, remove it, and reduce- the allowance next day. If they ask for more after clearing their plates, try them with a further supply. The idea is neither to overfeed nor underfeed. The aim in chicken-raising should be to induce a continuous growth throughout the spring and summer. Any checks or setbacks due to improper feeding or care will result in irregular maturity and lack of uniformity. There are two far lot's apart from their inherited characteristics which affecl proper maturity. These are the environmental conditions and the food supply. Environment plays an important pari, as the best bred ’chickens, possessing all other desirable characteristics, if not given ideal conditions in which to groyv, will not be allowed to exercise or develop inherited traits to the fullest extent, '[’bis is why sometimes complaints are heard when the very host of chickens have been supplied. An abundance of green food is very essential.