POULTRY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17384, 21 April 1928, Page 22 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES.

THE WINTER LAYERS. (By ■F. C. Brown, in 'the Journal of Agriculture). On most poultry plants the great majority of adult hens will now be preparing for or passing through the moulting process. Consequently <» in most cases they will not come into profit again till the end. of winter or early spring. Obviously, now is the time when the pullets must be looked upon to fill the egg basket, and for this reason the chief concern of the poultry-keeper during the next few weeks should be to give the pullets the best possible management, in or- ' der that they may produce to their maximum capacity. In the first place, the greatest care must be 'taken to prevent them going into a moult. Reference is, of course, made to the pullet which has been bred to lay in winter and is now about six months old. It is realised that the great bulk of the early hatched birds which have been producing for several weeks will now be moulting or be on the point of it, and this in spite of anything that can 'be done for them. In the case of pullets which have only just started to lay, or which are on the point of laying, it is entirely different.. If these young birds are given proper management they should not moult until next autumn, and will continue producing till that period. On the other hand, if they are subjected to improper treatment now or in the near future it is more than likely that they will moult with their elder sisters, and at the expense of the anticipated winter egg returns.

The first thing necessary to prevent the pullets which were hatched out to lay in winter from moulting at present is to provide them with every favouring condition; above all, the management they receive must be uniform to a degree. They should be placed in their winter quarters well before the laying period commences — this in order that they may get over the changed conditions and feel at home before commencing to lay. A change of food will usually upset any laying flock, but this applies with double force when young pullets are concerned, having the effect of putting the birds into a premature moult. There is no doubt that sudden changing of food and quarters is more responsible for pullets going into an early moult than any other cause. Not only does the maintenance of one diet often prevent a false moult, but it also encourages a bird to maintain maximum production. That laying birds require frequent chaqges of diet is one of the theories which does not hold good where pullets are concerned. Laying pullets should not only be provided with a liberal and uniform class of food at regular periods, but in addition it should be of a high grade character. Beware of poorquality foodstuffs, especially when the feeding of the pullets is being considered.

Some of the so-called pollard and, indeed, wheatmeal which is being offered to poultry-keepers is next to useless for promoting winter eggproduction. In buying food the best is always the cheapest in the longrun, even if its cost is a little greater. It should be remembered that one egg in winter is worth two in summer, and that any additional cost in securing the winter egg is more than paid back by the increased price obtained for it. In order to' obtain a heavy winter egg yield animal food, such as boiled meat or its substitutes—blood or meat-meal—is essential. Where milk is available this may to a great degree take the place of meat. Sharp gravel-grit, crushed oyster-shell, and clean water should be always available to the birds. The house should have ample room—not merely enough for the birds to roost in by night, bu sufficiently large to accommodate and provide exercise in comfort during unfavourable weather. Exercise is a most important matter, and the best ivay of inducing this is to cover the floor of the house with Utter, in which the grain foods should always be scattered. ' It is also a wise course to feed the birds in the house at al times, as waiting about in the yard for feeding time on cold, wet days is not inducive to heavy laying. u only the pullet provided with* dry footing, both by day and night, that can possibly give her maximum egfe vield during the winter months. in short, everything'should be done to provide as near as possible conditions i r to those which prevail durmg spring and summer—the natural laying season for bird-life.

THE MOULTING SEASON. Sexes should be separated ' during the moult, as the vitality of the male bird is much impaired when kept w th tie hens, and the hens moult better when they are alone. PURCHASING FOODS. On the feeding of poultry depends the success of the farm ami: it always pays to buy really good fool. The cheapest is very seldom the best, and a poor food is not cheap at any price. If the farmer wants eggs from hi birds be must give them the material to make them.