POULTRY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19459, 26 December 1934, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES.

SEASONABLE HINTS. An abundance of green feed in the summer is desirable, not only because it is economical when' rightly handled, but because it has a beneficial effect upon the digestion of fowls. Birds on open range in the summer frequently suffer from a lack of succulent green, food, for ordinary vegetation becomes tough and woody. The fowls’ need for water is particularly great In hot weather. It helps to keep the fowl cool. It is Important, obviously, to have it as cool as possible, and since fowls appear to be rather indifferent about the source of -supply particular attention should be -given to drainage or filling in low places where water is likely to stand after rain, so that they will have to drink at the regularly provided watering places, which should be located in the shade. Various bacterial forms some of which are injurious to fowls grow rapidly in water in hot weather; therefore all vessels should be washed out once a day. Sour milk is one of the best foods that the poultrylceeper can supply ir hot weather, because it is highly digestible and nutritious and has a cooling effect. As we look back upon the past few months we cannot truthfully say they have been favourable for 'hatching and rearing in general. True, there arc doubtless to he found many poultrybreeders who for one reason or another "have never had a better season," but these arc exceptions which only go to prove the rule. The puzzle is, lo most of us at'any rate, to put a linger oil the precise seat of tin* trouble. Personally I think the extreme variability of the weather played a grpat part in producing a number of “duds” among our early hatching eggs, for hot only those in incubators, by the way, hut also such as were entrusted lo the care of Mother Biddy were affected. I suggest that it was our old friend lhe moisture problem that proved 100 difficult for most of us to solve.

Do Not Overcrowd. The chicken house which was ample for your young slock when Ihey wer» a few.weeks old is possibly 100 ■small for them al the present. 1 know of no more certain cause for stunted, sickly chickens than overcrowding. It is only a matter of common sense. You know the value of human beings breathing pure air to aid development. It is exactly the same with a growingchicken. It is a remarkable fact tha* annually during the months of November and December there is more roup than at other, more inclement seasons of the year. And I have definitely traced it to overcrowding; breathing impure air throughout the night; ttm system is lowered, vitality is weakened, and the youngsters become victims to any disease germs that arc about.

Ducks, like pigs, arc not dirty creatures by nature, but are often so through the neglect of their owners. It is necessary lo see that ducks have a plentiful supply of green food.