Notes for the Poultry Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 65, Issue 6, 15 December 1942, Page 369

Notes for the Poultry Farmer

The Small Flock Poultry-keeper

By F. C. BOBBY.

Superintendent of Poultry Husbandry, Wellington.

EGGS have become a scarce food commodity in the main cities due to circumstances associated with the war. The natural reaction has been that those householders, who have locations where poultry may be kept, are taking steps to keep poultry, or if already in possession of small numbers, to increase their flocks. Such action is helping the egg position. Productive hens supply the needs of these householders, and consequently remove them as customers from the ordinary market. Any surplus above their daily needs may be preserved against the season when the birds are out of production, or alternatively may be marketed and so directly help the egg supply position. Small flocks —six, twelve, or eighteen birds —accumulatively can do much to ease the present-day shortage.

If a reason is necessary, that given above is ample justification for devoting this month’s poultry notes to the benefit of the small flock poultry-keep-ers. Those starting for the first time have certain essential fundamentals to learn, while it may be stated without hesitation that, among those already possessed of small flocks, additional knowledge, properly applied in practice, will result in extra production and a more economical use of the poultry food now being fed to their ‘birds. There is a need to stress these two points—-eggs ' are urgently needed, while poultry food supplies are limited as compared with pre-war days. Housing The newcomer to poultry-keeping has several problems to solve, namely (a) housing; (b) purchase of stock; (c) management of these birds when they arrive. Accompanying these notes are diagrams of two types of house suitable for the small flock poultry-keeper. Owing to war requirements, building material is difficult to obtain today. For this reason the houses suggested have been designed with the smallest wirenetting requirements consistent with

satisfactory poultry-housing. Furthermore, metal sheeting being almost unobtainable wooden roofs covered with roofing felt or corrugated asbestos sheeting must be considered. Many of these houses may be erected on sites comparatively near to dwelling houses, and the danger of harbouring ratsmust be given careful thought. If the house is to have a wooden floor, which type of floor is quite satisfactory, then it must be raised at least six inches above ground level. This ensures a dry floor for the poultry, and does not provide a comfortable and dry home for rats. “Backyard Poultry-keeping” y With a view to helping the novice, and assisting further those householders with some experience, the Department of Agriculture has published a leaflet entitled, “Backyard Poultrykeeping.” This leaflet should be obtained by all persons interested in small flock poultry-keeping, as it contains the ■ essential fundamentals of practical poultry-keeping. Unfortunately, it has been necessary to, restrict the information supplied in this leaflet to a bare minimum, since the present paper shortage will not permit of a full bulletin. The problems already mentioned, namely, housing, stock and management, have, however, been adequately •dealt with and additional information can always be obtained by writing to one of the Department’s Poultry Instructors. Any reader, therefore, desiring to obtain a copy of this leaflet should write to their Poultry Instructor, care of Department of Agriculture at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch or Dunedin, and enclose three penny stamps, this being the amount charged for the leaflet under discussion. Purchasing Stock A word of warning to those wishing to start poultry-keeping, and also to

those intending to add some 1942-hatch-ed pullets to their flocks. There has been a big demand for pullets hatched this season, and many commercial poultry-keepers are already completely booked up with orders. If, therefore, pullets have not already been booked there is an urgent necessity for immediate action in this matter. Should all efforts to obtain pullets fail, write to the nearest Poultry Instructor, who may be able to supply the names and addresses of poultry-keepers still possessing pullets for sale. Remember that successful egg-produc-tion depends upon good healthy stock, consistent attention to . details of management, and an adequate knowledge of how to feed. One last wordif eggs surplus to the household requirements are produced, the leaflet “Backyard Poultry-keeping,” gives - instructions- as to how these-may be marketed without undue trouble, while still conforming with the Marketing Regulations in force in the four main cities of the Dominion. Help yourself and the Dominion by producing eggs during the next laying season, which starts early in the New Year.

POULTRY The Poultry Department at Massey Agricultural College is well equipped to supply your requirements in breeding cockerels, stud stock, hatching eggs, and chicks. All popular breeds kept. Sittings (15 eggs) posted at 10/-, 20/- and 30/-. Price list from — THE POULTRY MANAGER, MASSEY COLLEGE, Box 601, Palmerston North.

Don't

neglect early spring cabbage plants. For slugs and snails use burnt lime freely. It' is best applied in the evening.

Coccidiosis of Poultry Coccidiosis is one of the most destructive diseases of poultry, and is probably the most prevalent infectious disease attacking poultry in New Zealand. This disease has been reported from many districts in both islands and the annual loss among infected birds is heavy. It is, therefore, of considerable . importance that poultry keepers should be able to recognise'an outbreak of coccidiosis and to know what steps to take to bring such an outbreak under control. Every poultry keeper should write to the Department of Agriculture for a free copy of Bulletin No. 22, “Coccidiosis of Poultry.”

Don’t

allow fowl manure to get wet. It becomes sticky and unworkable, and, in addition, loses much of its valuable plant food. Keep it in a dry shed and occasionally mix it with two or three handfuls of superphosphate.