POULTRY NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 22 August 1918, Page 43

POULTRY NOTES

(By Mr. G. H. Ambler, Christchurch.)

THE INTENSIVE SYSTEM OF POULTRYKEEPING. The intensive system of poultry-keeping has made great strides in New Zealand during the past few year's. In fact,-most of the poultry farming in this country is conducted on the intensive system. Large laying houses may now be seen on numerous poultry establishments up and down the Dominion. It is for these large houses that I wish to say a few good words, for I am a great believer in them. After going deeply into the pros and cons of such houses I am more than convinced of their value to the poultry-keeper, whether on a large or small scale, and if out for eggs. The system is merely that of the backyard one only on a large scale; and since the backyard poultry-keeper experiences little difficulty in securing full egg baskets in winter, why should not the hens in large houses be persuaded to lay during the winter months? With so many hens housed together, however, the owner must go canny, for it is not like keeping six fowls in a confined house and run. Ailments will naturally be common should the owner neglect his fowls in any way ; and for this reason management will count for much. Those who are devoid of patience and lack any systematic methods should not bother with the intensive system at all, for they cannot hope to succeed. Those who find it a pleasure to look after their fowls well, however, will succeed, for their heart and soul will be in the business. The utility poultry-keeper usually has one failing, in that, whilst possessing a well-equipped farm in more ways than one, he completely overlooks the necessity of having a fowls’ hospital on the establishment. The intensivist will be well advised to construct a little house for use as a hospital, and stock medicines should be kept handy. Directly a bird is noticed to be ailing it should be separated from the rest and treated according to its ill. .By this method it is impossible to suffer a heavy loss, as 1 would otherwise accrue should a whole flock of layers catch a certain disease from a nontreated bird. The intensivist should keep a sharp eye on his birds, and all vices, such as feather-plucking, feather-eating, egg-eating, etc., should be nipped in the bud.’ Let him remember that he is not dealing with half-a-dozen layers, but probably 50, 100, 1000, 2000, or probably more, as the-case may be. Then, again, broodiness must not be encouraged, and all truants should be treated directly the fever commences. Whilst speaking of broodiness, the question of feeding comes to my mind, and I am sure that over-feeding plays an important part in persuading a hen to become broody. A fat hen will soon get sluggish, and show a desire to sit, and for this reason the scratching litter comes to our assistance. A laying hen is a machine in the true mechanical sense, for bad management will very quickly place her out of gear. If utility poultry-keepers remembered this they would experience very little difficulty in the matter of egg production. A hen requires every comfort and care, without coddling, and the scratching litter will do much to keep, her in health and in lay. When the pullets have settled down to their laying quarters do not disturb them at all, for fowls are nervous creatures. A hen that is petted will be found to lay more eggs that one that is wild. For this reason every intensivist should make his layers tame. “How can I do it when the birds refuse to be petted ?” my readers may ask. Let me remind such inquirers that patience conquers everything. Every .intensivist should make a point of spending an hour or so at a stretch with his layers, accustoming them to be handled and fed. from the hand. Make* favorites of them, and the egg baskets will benefit. For egg production on a big scale I think the large intensive laying houses quite ideal, but the right man must be at the helm. Let every intensivist read all he can about the system, believing nothing till he has tested itself-

experience will count for much.. . Whilst - giving , ’ this piece of advice Ido not wish’my . readers to be N pigheaded ; but advise one and all first to read literature on the subject referred to and carry out their plans as their common-sense and judgment dictate. The system is quite in its infancy, and one man’s experience may not tally in toto with another’s, although with a slight alteration it might mean success. August is a great month for hatching and mating, especially in heavy or sitting varieties. Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, Wyandottes, Orpingtons, Sussex, Aylesbury and Pekin ducks should be mated up at once for, hatching during the month of September. ' Most breeders allow a clear ten days to elapse after mating up before beginning to save eggs for sitting purposes a wise plan when eggs are for sale ; but for home use they can be collected a few days earlier. Eggs laid after August 10 hatch early in September. Poultrykeepers who have already commenced .putting down eggs and have set several hens at once should be careful to allow only one off the nest at a time, unless the attendant can watch each back to its own nest - If left to themselves two hens may be found on one nest, and one clutch of eggs spoilt. Take every care to guard the eggs against chill, especially in frosty weather. If the broody is a slow feeder cover the eggs with flannel for a portion of the time she is off them. As a rule hay makes the warmest nest it hangs together better, and there are no tubular pieces as in straw, to conduct cool currents of air to the centre of the nest: and what a hiding place for insects is straw ! Nests for early hatching are best made on a boarded floor —that is, a coop with a bottom. Over this a couple of inches of garden mould or soil will prevent many breakages. It will conduce to the success of the hatch if the brooder receives a good dusting with some good insect powder under their feathers before they are allowed to take to the nest. Broody hens are more easily moved and induced to take to fresh nests after dark. It is well to allow them to come off and on the nest at least once before giving them the eggs they are to incubate. Remember chicks hatched this month will command good prices in December and January. There is generally a dearth of chickens in December. This is also a grand -month for hatching ducklings: they are longer incubating, but are “ready” in November and December, and will fetch higher prices in these months than any other time. The most profitable method is to kill the ducklings when in their first feather, which is usually about the age of eight weeks. Do not coddle the chickens, and avoid boarded floors during the day, except as temporary shelter during very severe weather. Only eggs laid within a week should be used for incubator purposes. The fresher the eggs the better. It is not a good plan to keep adding to an incubator—far better to put all in at one time.