POULTRY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17982, 29 March 1930, Page 10 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES.

MOULTINQ. During the moulting period fowls require special attention. The age of the bird has a definite effect. Pullets in their first season very often take no more than four or five weeks, whereas an old hen in her third or fourth year may possibly take three months. The period during which the moult is taking place is practically a v/aste of time, and the sooner it is over the better. Green food in large quantities should be given freely. This has a cooling effect and helps to allay the feverish condition of the body. Green food is easily assimilated, and it assists in the digestion of the other foods. In addition to this, it contains a large proportion of the elements that help to form the new plumage. The most suitable grains for feeding during the month, especially when the new feathers are appearing, are oats and wheat. The former is the better of the two. The’ morning mash may consist of equal parts of pollard and bran. Small quantities of animal food may be given, but very sparingly.

VALUE OF THE DUST BATH. The dust bath is one of the most necessary things that go to make up a fowl’s life—the box of dust in which they may wallow at will, and rid themselves of lice and mites. It is in reality a bath for them as much as is the water a bath for the human race'. Lice cannot exist when the birds fill their feathers full of dust, and the lice must go out with the dust. It is Nature’s plan for keeping the lice in check. No remedies that can be named can take the place of the dust bath. Of course, poullrymen limewash their poultry houses, paint the roosts, nests, etc., with kerosene or other lice-killers, and help to keep down the lice. They may also dust the fowls, but the birds can dust themselves with ordinary road dust, and make a better job of it if they are given the chance. There are several kinds of lice, and it is the body lie-, that the dust bath is effective against. The red mites, etc., have to be dealL with on other lines.

If the hens get the dust bath outdoors in line weather, and it is good for them, then if should be provided indoors on wet days, or whenever they are confined to the houses. Re member that lice breed at all seasons -—a—lthough not so rapidly in the cold weather, yet sufficiently so as to necessitate them being kept in check-

A box, three feet square, or even smaller, If the poultry house-room is limited, or the number of fowls kept is small, and twelve or eighteen inches deep will answer. This, filled about two-thirds full of road dust, or finely sifted garden soil, will provide a fine place for the fowls to make a bath, and if it can be placed in a position where the sun will shine into it, the hens will thoroughly enjoy it on any day on which they are confined to the house. Dry sifted soil is the best material for the bath,' but where any difficulty is experienced in obtaining this, sifted wood ashes will be found a good substitute.

OARE OF THE STOCK. Nearly all diseases common to poultry may be prevented or cured if taken in time. Of course, prevention is better than cure. As soon as a fowl shows signs of sickness it must be isolated from its fellows. This will prevent contagion, and make “doctoring” easy. Epsom salts In the drinking .water at the rate of a packet for a score of hens will do much to keep fowls healthy. If a tonic is needed, sulphate of iron will do. Put a few' crystals in an earthenware vessel. When the water has a rusty appearance the quality used is about right. It does not need a big crystal. One about the size of a pea will do for a gallon of .water. Give good houses, wholesome food, abundant shade in summer and shelter in winter, clean water at all times, grit and charcoal, in plenty, and we should then have no diseases amongst our poultry.

PULLETS FOR WINTER PRODUCTION Asked his advice as to the feasibility of inducing fowls to moult during the early autumn with the idea of their laying beter during the winter months, the Government chief poultry instructor (Mr F. C. Brown) stated that in his opinion the proposal has nothing whatever to recommend it. 'This is one of the many things in connection with poultry which sound well theoretically, but which seldom or never prove of value when put to a practical test- It is an easy matter to induce a false moult, and provided the birds are well fed and managed after moulting, they will •come into profit at a time when the egg-market commences to rise. Usually, however, they will moult ■again at the ordinary season and cease to lay. In the management of laying birds experience show's that the less one interferes with the natural course of things the better. For winter egg-production there can be no doubt that the pullet is the most desirable bird; and if a maximum of profit is to be secured the pullet should be kept going from the time she reaches maturity, forcing every egg out of her until her period is completed, irrespective of season and ■the price of eggs. Naturally this would not apply in the case of a bird intended for future breeding purposes.