POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 16, 16 December 1932, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) Lessened vitality and an earlier moult is always the result of allowing vermin to breed unchecked. Tho time for the spray is now. Sonic poultry-keepers content themselves with supplying only tho dust bath. This is not enough. Painting the roosts, thoroughly white-washing tho house, spraying with some strong insecticide—all these are required if lice and the like are to be kept down. The summer months are the breeding days of vermin and ’tis then the poultryman should bo tho busiest lighting them. Turkeys should not lie run with other fowls, wo are told, unless, of course, all tho birds have access to free rango. If compelled to mix in a restricted space with other fowls and thus have to compete for food with birds more active, they will go short and not make the progress expected of them. As intimated last week the Newcastle disease (according to cables) is causing considerable concern in Australia, so much so that South Australia is refusing to admit poultry ffpm Victoria. Tho disease must have a real- hold. The trouble is new to poultrymen here, but still we must be on our guard. From now on poultrymen will be busy cleaning up and cubing out birds not required for another season. At any time the wise poultryman will lie found doing this, but particularly during the next four to six weeks. Once a bird has entered the moult it must be kept until laying resumes or given away—for there is little to be lead iu selling it. Prices are exceedingly low now, even for birds from which at least a few eggs may be expected, or others which are in fair condition for killing, and they are considerably less for the worn out featherless specimen, after a heavy laying season. No poultryman desires to carry unwanted birds through a moulting season. Not all the birds will show up iu one day., lienee there must be continuous observation from now on to spot the unwanted birds and to dispense with them in tlie best possible way. This and the

cleaning up progress is work calculated to be highly profitable during the weeks ahead. i All male birds should now bo away from the opposite sex. Many people will require eggs for preserving and nothing should be done which is likely to lie harmful to the trade. Fertile eggs are not suitable for preserving, and should not be used. The way to prevent this, of course, is to eliminate the male bird.

EGG-LAYING*

MASSEY COLLEGE CONTEST. Tho following 1 arc the results of the 36th week in tho Massey College egg laying contest: — SINGLE PENS. Section A. W. T. Barker 1 127 2 132 3 159 E. M. Galvin 1 147* 2 195 G. H. Cross F. Eoob 1 183 2 166 3 149+ A. R. Watson C. Goodson L. B. Maunsell 1 165 2 180 3 164 Mrs Stewart ... 1 150 2 151 3 183* S. G. Batten 1 161 R. R. Cannon Miss Mitchell 1 162 216 S 3 187 4 153 5 189 6 188 T. - Bruce 1 149 2 172 3 114 A. J. Shailer ' ... 1 177 2 160 IL Rushton 1 165 2 129 3 176 4 170 S. G. Batten 2 181 3 203* 4 156 5 186 6 127 . 7 133 Section B. Mrs Hellaby 1 186 2 166 Mrs Youngson

„ 1 211* Larsen Bros. j 137 3 145 4 228* T. Douthwaito 77* E M. Galvin TEAM RESULTS. Section C. F ‘ EC ° b 2oo 176 166* 156 136 168 (251 1002 M - L - E0 2 C 133 164* 179 145 127 (23) 910 M. Macrae m lg 4 (30) 910 Mrs m m (H) 8 27 P - B - 1 125 84+ 132 111 (25) 772 Section D. Mrs m lfi2 (35) 962 W . E. J--b i3s m 15J+ 125 16a * (30) 899 McLean Whitworth i33Me2 , ig . [}&) Larsen 2 * 82 (24) 673 W ' Bis 'i 83 62* 55 135 158 60+ (18) 653 •Signifies disqualified for egg we:ght clause. +Bird dead.