THE POULTRY-YARD.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XI, Issue 2, 20 August 1915, Page 160

THE POULTRY-YARD.

F. C. BROWN.

■ ■ ' ■ • - WORK FOR SEPTEMBER. ‘ September . may be considered the busiest month of the year, for it is then that the hatching and rearing of another season’s stock should be in full .swing. When a considerable number of chicks are required,, and the plant is not a large one, it is obviously impossible to hatch the full complement at the ideal time. Before the. end of September all the heavy breeds should, be hatched out, and no. time should be lost in filling the incubators . and nests with eggs from the lighter breeds. The object of the ' poultry-keeper should be to have the hatching operations over before the middle of October, so that the young birds may be given an opportunity to attain a complete "development while the days are long and the weather-conditions favourable. When winter eggs are the objective in view 'the most profitable stock are those hatched during August and September heavy bi eeds in the former month and the lighter breeds in the latter. Birds hatched too early.—say, in the first week of Julyare generally ' undesirable, for they mostly commence to lay in the cheap-egg season and moult later' with the adult fowls, just when the dear winter egg is expected. Of course, where it is intended to breed from cockerels and pullets the following season the July-hatched bird is more desirable for this purpose than those hatched latex owing to its greater development and. seasoning. It may be well to emphasize that, owing to late-hatched chicks having often to contend with hot, trying summer weather, followed closely by cold autumn snaps before they are nearly matured, they* cannot be expected ’to make the necessary growth or to be heavy profit-makers. ... INCUBATORS. Many beginners will be making their first attempt this season to work an incubator, and would doubtless welcome hints through these notes regarding its management. As, however, there are so many different makes of incubators on the market and methods of operating, it is practically impossible to give detailed instructions that" will apply to all machines alike. These are rules which may apply to all systems of artificial incubation, but even when these are strictly adhered to the best results will'not be obtained unless the breeding-birds have been"’ maintained in a strong, vigorous com :

dition in order to enable them to produce a high percentage of 'strong' germs and hatchable eggs. ' The beginner would be well advised to follow closely the usual book of'.instructions . supplied by the makers,, who .in most cases would naturally give their machines, severe tests before putting them on the market. Of course, the novice should not wholly depend on theoretical knowledge, but. should endeavour to find out things for himself. For instance, when artificial incubation is being tried for the first-time it is best to test the machine with a few eggs before the main work' is entered upon. " A simple test of this sort may prove instructive and save much subsequent loss and discouragement. It must, not be forgotten that almost every make of incubator has its peculiarities when worked under a wide variation of climatic conditions, and it can only', be managed successfully with' experience. MANAGEMENT OF THE SITTING HEN. . : As a great majority of readers ■ will '- be rearing r their chicks in nature’s way- a few words on the management of the sitting : hen may prove useful. ' In the first place, the sitting hen should always be isolated' from the local fowlhouse, in order to guard ' against vermin and' prevent the other hens from disturbing her. - A good plan is to-' make the nest' in a coop' with a small run covered with' small-mesh wire netting, where the chickens may remain as long as the hen requires to brood them. Such a coop, about 30 in. square, made -watertight-, and with the lid hinged dr movable, will prove ' very useful. The run can be made about 8 ft. long, 3 ft. 6 in. wide, and 18 in. high. Both coop 'and run can be readily removed to fresh ground or stored under cover in the offseason. The nest should be made on the ground and filled with fairly moist earth at ’ least 3 4 in. ' above the ground-level ; this will prevent : the nest : getting ' wet -in ■ the' event of heavy rains. When forming the' nest the earth ’ Should be hollowed out in the centre and lined with soft hay or pine-needles, and a sprinkling of sulphur or disinfectant given to prevent the appearance of vermin. It should also be ' remembered that the hen will do ; her duty much better and remain in better condition if 'dusted with insect-powder when set and a few days before hatching takes place. On no account dust the hen' when the chicks are very young, or it will probably have the effect of blinding them. ; It. is a mistake to put. too, many eggs under a hen. Twelve or thirteen are in . most cases as many as can be satisfactorily brooded. . A medium-sized hen is. to be preferred; there is less risk of the eggs being broken or the chicks being trampled to

■death.- It is ..always best to remove in the evening the hen intended for sitting.. She should be placed on . a few china eggs until showing ' that, she can be entrusted with the eggs intended for hatching . purposes. ’lt must not be forgotten that the hen .turns The' eggs .several times a day, and must have the necessary room in the nest 'to do this. The nest. should not be made too concave, or the eggs may roll on each other during the turning process and get. broken ; on the' other hand, it must not be too flat, or the ' hen may not be. able to. keep them all covered or under control. In the event 'of . any ' eggs getting broken and ” the others becoming coated with the contents these should be washed in warm water, as otherwise the pores become closed, and this will interfere . with . their hatching-qualities. The hen .is always ; better left to herself, with food, water, and grit , placed within 'reach,. and allowed to come- off when she pleases. Sitting hens should be given grain food only, and wheat for preference. Any wet or sloppy food will cause scouring, ’which should be avoided if possible. At pipping-time the hen should,: not be interfered with; she can manage best by herself until the hatching is over.? At this stage the shells may be taken, away and the . nest made as comfortable as possible. - Care should be taken to prevent the little ones from accidents. . The coops should be made both rat- and cat-proof. On no account use a deep . water-tin ; - many a chick has been .drowned, owing to .neglect. in this matter. There is no hurry to feed the chicks for at least twenty-four hours after they are hatched. Those who have no machinery .- for -grinding ; grains will find it more convenient to feed the chickens with 0 the best ). commercial . chickenfood on the market. - ,??/? ■ mh— .‘.tier .chn mic. .? g ’?*,* '"■ . '?. FUTURE PROSPECTS. ? ’ ?'.’? •- -. .Owing .to ■ the hard times experienced by most .poultry-keepers of late in having to purchase high-cost . food , and accept , a declining price for their’ eggs, many are somewhat uncertain as to future prospects, and therefore- undecided as to the , number of chicks they should hatch this season. As the war is still- raging, the future position is very , difficult to forecast. I. am inclined, however, to believe that-with the prospect of a heavy harvest food-values ..will decline. Considering, moreover, the larger number of hens that have been killed, it appears only .reasonable to assume that their missing production will be keenly felt during the., summer, and . -autumn months, and the price of eggs will increase accordingly. In any case, a large supply of eggs -is required 'to meet the local yearly demand, and if sufficient are not 'produced to meet c the demand it will be a difficult matter, tn keep c out imported American ; eggs during

the winter season. The imported article might be shut out by bringing about a uniform price throughout the year, but this can only be accomplished by chilling or preserving the surplus local supply in the flush season for winter use.

. THINGS TO REMEMBER. , • . The most profitable stock are those that are hatched out in August, September, and October. • ’ rA vnurni One of the most common mistakes made in poultry-keeping is the hatching of a larger number of chickens 1 than • the plant will accommodate. ' . ' '' • ...: ■" . : • .• . ■ ■. j Always aim at cleanliness, good - feeding, roomy houses, and .warfare on vermin, which will add to. the profits and go a long way in preventing . poultry-disease. . . ;g -• It is poor economy to depend upon one .male for the breedingpen. It ■is a much- saner policy to cull a drone hen than a cockerel which would make a desirable reserve sire. . . ' Don't breed from a male that has recently been on the sicklist, 'or one ' with a,'; weak constitution. The sire should exhibit, before anything else, a strong 'vigorous .character. , t ' . •... Artificial hatching and rearing are delicate < matters. : < It .is only .those who realize that it is they ■ who ; are entrusted with the main responsibility, and not the inanimate apparatus, who really succeed with artificial chick-production. ... .... .. . ' y The farmer should, keep purebred- birds of a good .laying-strain, preferably , a bird . of self-colour ;■ the common custom of introducing a purebred male each year to. grade up., a nondescript : flock is ; a weak policy. . . . Aim -at developing the general-purpose fowl -it is next to useless trying .to breed the- exceptional layer- and the ideal table-carcase in the one bird. - One. characterbcan' only be developed ; at the expense of the -other.' ■ -"• ! An error crept into the poultry notes .published in the : May issue of the Journal. In dealing with the treatment of worms in .fowls ft was stated that a i oz. packet of Epsom-salt should -be used for every bird. , This should have been “ for every dozen birds.” :,. • • - z'. ' .