Poultry-keeping Section.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 58, Issue 2, 20 February 1939, Page 174

Poultry-keeping Section.

Protrusion of Oviduct.

Poultry-keepers frequently ask advice regarding protrusion of the oviduct and vent-picking among their birds when early-hatched birds are coming into profit. In many cases the root of the trouble is really due to a weakness of the muscular walls of the oviduct, which are not strong enough to stand up to the strain of great egg-production. At times the lower portion of the oviduct becomes everted and a mass of red tissue projects from the vent. This is

what is known as prolapse of the oviduct, and the immediate cause may be either straining to lay a very large egg ;or straining to lay when there is an obstruction in the oviduct' (egg-bound). Constipation may also cause the condition. The rectum may become full of hard faeces, and in the effort to expel both the egg and faeces the oviduct becomes everted. If this is discovered in time—and before other birds have picked at the projecting partsthe mass may be gently pushed back into place, in which case

the bird will often be saved. Should any dirt be on the projecting part it should be thoroughly but gently washed with warm water and then greased with vaseline. It is also advisable to grease the fingers before replacing the mass into the body. After doing this it is advisable to fasten the bird by the legs and place it in a dark box for a few hours with the back part of the body slightly raised. If the trouble reappears, or if the projecting mass is picked by other birds or has turned a purplish dark colour before it is discovered, it is better to kill the bird at once. * The overfeeding of such foods as milk, meat, or meat-meal is at times held responsible for some ovarian disorders.

Vent-picking and Bleeding.

TENT-PICKING and bleeding is VENT- PICKING of trouble which another form of trouble which seems to be increasing. It appears to give more trouble among flocks which have been brought up to a very high pitch of production; and usually occurs among early pullets when coming into profit or among first-year hens during October and November, when production is at the peak. At times the act of laying causes a haemorrhage, even in spite of the fact that the eggs are normal in size and shape. The fundamental cause is, no doubt, a weakness in the walls of the oviduct. If the feeding methods have been correct the condition may indicate that the aim for great egg-production has been carried far enough and that more care should be taken regarding constitution when selecting breeding-stock, and that some fresh blood is required. Vent-picking. When a bird is on the point of expelling an egg the oviduct protrudes and presents a highly flesh-coloured appearance. At times, especially if nests are too shallow or exposed, other birds will pick at the exposed , part of the oviduct, which causes severe bleeding. Other

birds in the flock pick at the bleeding parts, and often a cruel death results. Birds will frequently be seen walking along in front of the nests waiting for an opportunity to attack a bird in the act of laying. If only one or two birds have been attacked and the culprit can be detected it should be eliminated from the flock at once, and probably no further trouble will be experienced. Where a number of birds have acquired this cannibalistic habit, however, it is advisable to darken the nests or make them sufficiently deep so that the back part of the birds will not be seen when in the act of laying. The food question should also be looked into, for experience has shown that this vicious habit or craving for blood is at times brought on by certain birds not getting sufficient animal food.

With some flocks of pullets where animal food has been withheld in order to check them from coming to lay it has quite frequently been found that certain birds get a craving for blood, and a real epidemic of vent-picking has been experienced. In such cases the trouble has often been checked by placing a shallow box or tin of half meat-meal and half bran (by measure) in the houses, so that the birds may help themselves and so satisfy their appetites for animal food. It is also well to make sure that a regular and liberal \supply of succulent green food is given each day. Treatment of badly picked birds has not been very satisfactory, and preventive measures as suggested should be adopted at the first sign of this annoying trouble. L <■ «

Standard Requirements for Selecting Leghorn Hens.

THE New Zealand Utility Standards give the following as the chief characteristics of good Leghorn hens : Head.. Skull round and moderate in size. Beak. Stout, the front standing well clear of the front of the comb. Comb. — Single, of fine texture, medium size, not overgrown, falling gracefully over to either side of the face (but must not obstruct sight), free from thumb marks and side sprigs, deeply and evenly serrated, with from three to seven spikes, but five preferred, the spikes broadening at the base. Face. — Bright red (without any trace of white), smooth, and of fine texture, and free from wrinkles or feathers. Wattles. Moderately long, thin, and of fine texture. Ear-lobes. — White, medium in size, and rather pendant, equally matched in size and shape, smooth, open, and free from folds. Ptyes.— Bright, large, and prominent. Sight. —Perfect. Neck. Medium to thin at head, and medium length. Body.— Deep, oblong, forming wedgelike appearance, and widening from shoulders to thighs, showing ample feather, tight and dense, back wide and medium to long, and tail carried fairly close and at an angle of 45 degrees. Abdomen. -Full, deep, broad, and plenty of space between the breast-bone and pelvic bones, which must be fine in quality. Breast. Full in front (at crop.) Keel. — Short and straight. Wings.— Large and carried close to the body. Legs, Shanks, and Feet. — Legs, strong and medium length, thighs set wide, apart, bone fiat. Toes. Four, straight and well, spread, toe-nails medium length. ' Carriage. Very alert, vigorous, and well-balanced. • Weight.— Hens, 5 Ib. to 6|lb., pullets, 4J lb. to 6 lb. Colour. Plumage.— Pure white (straw tinge to be avoided). . Eyes.—Red. Legs and Feet. — Brilliant yellow. Toe-nails. —Horn or nearly white. Beak.— -Yellow or horn. Ear-lobes. White. Comb and Face. -Bright red (without any trace of white). Wattles.— Bright red.

The colour given above for legs and beak is for well-matured pullets. It will be found that good laying hens at this time of the year are pale in legs and beak, and . have often a slight straw tinge in the feather.

Scale of Points. Skull, beak, neck, face, and eyes .. .. 12 Comb, lobes, and wattles ■ .. .. ' ..10 Type and carriage .. .. .. 30 Tightness and density of feather ... .. 20 Legs and feet .. . . .. .. 3 Tail .. ) . . . . . . .. 5 Condition and size .. .. .. 10 Colour, including plumage, beak, eyes, face, feet, and lobes .. .. .. . . 10 Total . . .. .. .. 100

A study of the above scale of points will show that the chief characteristics to look for when selecting utility breeding birds are type and carriage and tightness and density of feather, for it will be seen that these characteristics are of sufficient importance to be given 50 points out of 100. The full text of the standard has been given in order to assist the beginner, as, if he is to become a successful selector, he must first know the Standard requirements of the breed in which he wishes to specialize and have a definite model to guide him. Figure 1 shows a good specimen of a utility ■ White Leghorn pullet and the

class of bird that should do well at an egg-laying competition and then make a good breeder. Figure 2 shows a fine specimen of a utility White Leghorn. The photograph was taken at the end of a heavy laying season, when the bird was about eighteen months old. This bird possesses all those visible characteristics of a good breeder, the chief of which are purity of blood, vigour and constitution, and capacity to produce and reproduce, and is a very useful guide for the beginner to take as a model when selecting Leghorn breeding hens. —C. J. C. Cussen, Chief Poultry Instructor, Wellington.

Use of Phosphatic Guanos.

STRICTLY speaking, a “ guano ”, should contain a small percentage of nitrogen, but owing to the climatic conditions existing where many of these deposits ' occur any nitrogenous content is leached out. One of the true guanos is Peruvian guano, which is found on the rainless islands off the coast of Peru. Similar deposits are also found off the coast of West Africa. ■ Such guano contains about 10 per cent, of water-soluble nitrogen and about the same amount of insoluble phosphoric acid. The phosphatic guanos come from deposits built up over many centuries and which now exist in the form of a brown soft, friable rock. The nitrogen content is under 1 per cent., and there are also present small amounts of lime. The principal sources of supply are the Seychelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean, and the neighbouring island of Juan de Nova, St. Pierre, and Astove. The brown product from these sources is in a fine state of subdivision and contains

25 per cent, to 27 per cent, of waterinsoluble phosphoric acid. Walpole Island, in French Caledonia, produces a soft guano containing about 20 per cent, of water-insoluble phosphoric acid, and a certain amount of lime. Several other Pacific islands also produce guanos, but these are only imported occasionally. . Uses of Rock Phosphates. The phosphate of rock phosphates is but slowly soluble in water, though' it is more soluble in soil solution. There are no reliable tests for the, availability of rock phosphates in the soil. Their fineness of division, the acidity of the soil, the presence of organic matter, and the presence of lime are all factors influencing availability, and the best advice that can be given to a farmer is that he undertake an experiment himself. Rock phosphates are in all instances finely ground, and this is particularly true of guanos. Climatically, results

tend to show that they do better in high rainfall areas, where the soil has a fairly high moisture-retaining capacity. Recent trials at Marton indicate that though rock phosphate was inferior to slag and to super yet the margin was not very great, and as the trial progressed the difference was gradually being made up. Such a result gives food for thought. In the absence of any long-term experiments, it seems feasible to suppose that the slow-acting phosphate. may, over a period of years, prove the equal of other forms of phosphate in replenishing the supply in the soil. However, unless there is pronounced superiority it is not likely to oust either superphosphate or basic slag. Rock phosphate is seldom used as a straight fertilizer, though this may possibly be a development of the future. Its principal use in agriculture to-day is in various crop mixtures where it supplies slow-acting phosphate and is not detrimental to germination.

Book Review.

“The Cultivation of Mushrooms.” By Dr. W. F. BEWLEY and J. HARNETT.

FIRST published in July, 1934, the present edition has been revised and enlarged by incorporating the results of the latest investigations, and the liberal addition of illustrations. The treatment of the scientific and practical sides of the subject are well balanced,

so that it forms an excellent manual for the commercial grower. There are still problems to be investigated, but available knowledge on all phases of the subject are supplied in a straightforward manner. Even cooking

recipes are included, the quality of which should make them excellent advertising for mushroom sales. “ The Cultivation of Mushrooms,” edition 2, 95 pp., is published by the Anglo-Scottish Press, Ltd., price 6d. net.

—Wm. C. Hyde,

Horticulturist.