Notes for the Poultry Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 63, Issue 3, 15 September 1941, Page 249

Notes for the Poultry Farmer

Avoid Heavy Losses In Chick-rearing

By

F. C. BOBBY,

Superintendent of Poultry Husbandry, Wellington.

THE CHICK-REARING SEASON.— This all-important and busy season of the year has arrived. Upon success in rearing during the next few months depend the profits of next laying season, and for this reason every effort must be made to secure a maximum of success. Unfortunately, there is a possibility of a certain number of poultrykeepers meeting with management difficulties and disease; for such poultrykeepers, immediate help is essential if losses are to be reduced to a minimum. The Department, therefore, wishes once again to remind poultry keepers that

help, as is required, may be obtained through the services of the Poultry Instructors stationed at the Department’s offices in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. A further important point is that when serious losses occur among chickens, keepers are asked not to accept these losses without ascertaining the real cause of such mortality. Guesswork is dangerous and entirely unnecessary. A few birds forwarded immediately following death to the Superintendent, Animal Research Station, Wallaceville, will bring a full report and advice upon future manage-

ment free of charge. It is often difficult, and sometimes impossible, to ascertain the cause of death by a brief examination of chicks on the farm; brief examinations at home lead to guesswork, while a laboratory examination affords an accurate diagnosis of the trouble. With all the problems of chick-rear-ing, whether of management or disease, immediate action is the most important factor in checking serious losses — a point which should never be forgotten. All too often officers of the Department are not called in until trouble has become acute and heavy losses sustained. Act early, act quickly, and prevent these heavy losses during the present season.

Management and Feeding of Chickens During the Brooder Stage

By

L. COCKER,

Poulfry Instructor, Christchurch.

Poultrykeepers should by now JL have completed their preparations for the coming chicken-rearing season. Much depends upon a careful preparation of the housing and equipment for rearing, and brooder houses and equipment should have been thoroughly cleaned and prepared to receive the first batch of chickens. There ,is no better lesson in the art of brooding than that provided by a good broody hen. Her first care is to see that her brood is kept warm and comfortable. She will not let them stray too far, and will call them back for a “warm-up” at short intervals, and when food is available. If a brooder is substituted for a hen this same careful attention must still be given, and, with no hen, this responsibility rests with the chicken-rearer until the chickens are old enough to take care of themselves. Warmth and Comfort Modern type brooders provide excellent conditions for rearing, and if worked in a common-sense way with due regard for changes in weather, they can be relied upon to pro-

duce good chickens. Ample heat when the chicks are first put under the brooder is essential. No chicks straight from the incubator must be allowed to feel cold, and consequently crowd towards the heater. Have sufficient heat to allow the chicks to rest in comfort towards the edge of the brooder. Once the chicks are feeding Well and become really active, the heat may be reduced with safety, but not before. A thermometer under the brooder will help the novice to be certain of a temperature of 85 degrees to 90 degrees F. at the start, but the experienced chicken-rearer will watch the chicks and their position under the hover, as their behaviour will clearly demonstrate whether the temperature is right or wrong. To ensure comfort and to prevent chills, every precaution must be taken to prevent a floor draught.' This is usually, achieved by placing a metal, cardboard, or wooden guard about Bin. to 12in. high round the outside of the hover for the first few days. The guard is placed about 6 inches from the hover when the chicks are first put in, and is gradually moved further out as the chicks become established. .This guard also prevents the chickens

from straying too far from the hover, and possibly crowding into corners when they have failed to find their way back to the warmth. Fresh Air and Dry Litter Although any form of draught is highly dangerous, fresh air is essential. The brooder house itself should be well ventilated, but a regular supply of fresh air under the hover is even more important. If this is not ensured the litter, will quickly become damp, and the chicks will be subject to colds. K The bedding material under the hover, whether chaff or other material, should be turned over daily and removed as often as it shows signs of becoming damp or badly fouled with droppings. Damp floors and damp litter provide ideal conditions for disease, particularly coccidiosis. One of the main factors in successful chickrearing is the maintenance of clean litter and clean equipment, and any neglect may easily lead to uneven growth and disease. Overcrowding Overcrowding must be avoided, as it causes more second-grade chicks or dead chicks than any other trouble. It checks growth and reduces constitutional vigour until the chickens are ripe to take any disease that may come along.

Feeding

There are numerous methods of feeding young chicks, but if satisfaction is being obtained with any particular system, the poultrykeeper would be unwise to make any radical changes. The birds must receive the correct type of feed, and the food must be of good quality. . If possible, day-old chicks should be put under the brooder during the late afternoon or evening, and at this time they require only water. The .first feed should be given next morning, when it is a common practice to give a chick-raiser or chick-grain. This chick-grain mixture may consist of broken wheat (60 per cent.), broken hulled , oats (20 per cent.), and finelykibbled maize (20 per cent.) . Added to this mixture right from the first feed should be a chick-size hard metal grit. During the first week chicks should receive five meals daily of this mixture, being allowed as much as they will readily eat up within about 20 minutes. After a week of grain feeding it is necessary to give meal. Many poultrykeepers prefer to- give this in a dry form for two or three weeks, at the end of which time the birds are gradually changed over to a wet mash feeding. Others start . immediately with a wet mash at the end of . a week.

This latter method is quite satisfactory, provided care is taken to mix a crumbly wet mash and not a sticky one. ' Many different mashes are used for this purpose, but one . consisting of pollard 2J measures, bran 1 measure, together with 3 per cent, buttermilk powder by weight will be. found to be satisfactory. Meat-meal, (3 per cent.) may be substituted for the buttermilk powder if liquid milk is used for moistening the mash. The grain mixture should still be fed morning and night, . and two wet mashes given during the day. Where this formula is used as a dry mash it should be placed before the birds after giving an early morning feed of grain, and be removed before giving a further feed of grain about an hour before dark. .' Apart from supplying water, grit, grain, and meal, the young birds will require a good supply of green food, which should be young and succulent. If it is chopped up finely and placed before the birds, there is rarely any trouble in getting them to eat it.

Value of Careful Observation

Apart from the quality of the chicks themselves, successful rearing depends very largely upon careful observation

and attention to detail. Success comes from intelligent anticipation of trouble. The careful observer will often note the very first signs of approaching trouble, and by prompt action will save much trouble in the future. Attention to detail should include a careful watch on sanitation, the supply of clean, fresh water at all times, and regular times for feeding. Accumulatively, all these small details properly watched spell success over the rearing season./ \

Summary

In conclusion, the elements of satisfactory rearing may be summarised as follows: (1) Start with quality chicks from strong parents. ' (2) Understock rather than overload the brooders. - ■,' (3) Give adequate heat and clean litter. .' . (4) . Ensure satisfactory ventilation, but prevent draughts. (5) Damp , litter is a menace to all chickens at any age. ' (6) Supply clean water and good food, including grit and ' green' food. (7) Add to the above, common sense, observation, and patience in the attention to details.