Notes for the Poultry Keeper

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7281, 7 October 1933, Page 9

Notes for the Poultry Keeper

(By J. H. Kissling, Massey College)

Household Howls The fact that 95 per cent, of the eggs produced come from owners of less than 50 fowls is always full of interest to those who wonder how many backyard fowls arc kept. Two reasons stand out in support of keeping a few fowls, even if it is disagreeable to have to clean out the hen roosts onco in a while. Firstly, most homes have a certain amount of food wasteage, which will go a long way to supporting half a dozen fowls, whilst the chief reason is frequently that need for a "perfectly fresh egg” right out of the nest. Somehow an egg produced on the premises always tastes just a little fresher than one from a shop. If your fowls interest you and lay well under your care, there is every reason why you should extend your operations, always providing, circumstances arc suitable. To-day most folk are looking to side-liine profits, and there is reason to expect that poultrykeeping will at least maintain its present position, and likely show a decided improvement. Only when personal interest is the cause of increasing your flock will success be assured. Those who aim to keep poultry "just for profit” do not as a rule find the profit so easily obtained. The laying fowl’s lifo is a short one, it being considered advisable to dispose of all layers after their second laying seasun. This makes replacement costs rather high as either chicks must be reared every spring, or else pullets purchased. Both systems will involve expense. To-day poultrykeepers are supplying eight to ten-week old pullets at very reasonable prices, and buyers find that these pullets are as good as reared and under good growing conditions will furnish into first-class layers. Young stock slioußl not bo forced to run with adults, so that at least two fowl runs arc advisable if you intend rearing your replacement birds. Many find it more convenient to purchase pullets about March each year. Such pullets, if hatched at the right time and well reared, are easily worth from 10s each. That often appears far too much to the novice, but such a pullet will commence laying almost at once, and with autumn eggs touching 2s Gd a dozen, she will soon pay for her keep and cost. That poultrymen will not sell good pullets under this price is due to the fact that they know they will show a good profit. Inferior pullets, badly reared, or too early or too late hatched, will not be so useful and care must lie exercised in making your purchases. Frequently the fowls get over-fed, causing them to get very fat and lazy. It is not at all necessary to provide a hot inash in the morning; in fact the fowls will lay just as well if thej' are given grain in the mornings and house scraps, mixed with a little pollard, and about 5 per cent, of meat-meal just prior to going to roost. Grcenfeed must be available, and most gardens provide surplus vegetables that can bo used. Lawn clippings, provided always that they are short and succulent, are very good for poultry of all ages, whilst silver beet, cabbage, thistles and rape may be grown if needed. Watch out for vermin. There really are only two kinds: red mite, which live in cracks during the day time and crawl out on the birds at night only; and body lice. The latter can bo destroyed by dusting the birds with flowers of sulphur about every two months. Bed mite must be kept away, and clean, sanitary conditions, with lots of creosote sprayed into all cracks will soon eradicate them. Once estao' lished, care must be taken to get rid of every one as they will breed very quickly indeed. Clean water is required, and it should be placed on a bench away from dirt. Take care to keep the floor of the -shed bone dry, as it is the use of limo and dampness which causes that well known fowl smell. Ifinie should never be used insido a poultry house, excepting when a thorough cleaning is being made, and then it should be swept out. Seo the birds have grit; two kinds are required, shell grit to supply limo for egg sholls, and gravel grit for grinding purposes. Those who provide plenty of scratching litter on the floor of the shed will be rewarded with a more plentiful supply of winter eggs, as on wet days the birds scratch inside instead of sitting fussed up on the perches, or having to get out in the cold. General Notes. It is not commonly known that a hon usually lays eggs of exactly the same shape and size. Colour may vary a little as the season advances, but shapo is usually very consistent. Table poultry should be reared quickly, without any serious check. Cockerels can be marketed just as soon as they go three to four pounds live weight. Keep in mind that prices before Christmas are sometimes better than right on Christmas Eve, owing to the scarcity of prime table poultry at this time of the year.

Food should never be left lying in front of your fowls. There is no exact measurement in feeding, the usual advice being to give as much as the birds Will cat up in ten to fifteen minutes. Disposo of any old malo birds as soon as their useful days are over, as well as any old hens. Constant culling is advisable if feed costs are to be kept as low as possible. Readers who remember Mr F. C. Moore, who was at Massey College, will bo interested to know that he now broadcasts poultry lectures from one of the “B” stations in Sydney. Muscovey ducks are kept especially

for tabic birds, and many thousands of them are bred for this purpose in tho United States.

When taking delivery of day-old chicks, sec that they are given a good warming up after arrival. Warmth is more important than food to chicks. After an hour in the brooder by all means offer food and water.

Keep the chicks busy. If large numbers are being reared in one batch every attempt must be made to keep them interested, otherwise such vices as cannibalism may take hold. Leg weakness is sometimes caused by tho growing chicks sleeping on a damp floor. More often it is due to lack of sunlight and sufficient green food.

A little salt is very useful in your poultry mash. Usually about 1 per cent is added to tho liquid used for mixing the wet mash. Not only does' it aid the appetite but supplies valuable minerals.

Remember that type, or shape, makes the breed, while colour makes the variety. Unless your stud stock is true to typo it will not prove popular.

Sick birds should be isolated at once, to prevent tko spread of disease. An old packing case will be found useful for the purpose. The average White Leghorn hen weighs about 4Jlbs. She will eat annually about 751bs. of food, and if of a good laying strain should produce eggs Weighing as much as 351bs. in a year. Black Leghorns continue to create more interest as commercial layers of largo eggs. Some very high egg records were established last year in English laying contests. egg laying contest 26th. WEEK'S RESULTS Single Pens Section B.

Team Results Section D. (All B.O.) 11. L. Boyce 94 134 156 x SI 127 121 (33) 713 Mrs Hellaby 52 96 122 C 6 98 141 (34) 570 Larsen Bros. 97x S3x 106 S2x SOx 09 (39) 553 Mrs Warren 66 65x 96x 105 78 51 (3S) 461 Mrs Scarrott 62 53 5Sx 79 45d 75 (30) 37Section C. P. B. Harrison, W.L. 133 x 122 141 113 112 94 (38) 715 F. 8. Allen, W.L. 124 102 x 136 135 67d 146 x (29) <lO Mrs Geo. Hillman, W.L. 105 111 104 116 x 116 131 x (35) ©So H. A. Lucas, W.L. 124 104 129 124 52 91 (26) 624 E. B. Wainscott, W.L. 105 x 123 124 86 60d 115 (25) 610 F. T. Wimble, W.L. 72 117 84 75 106 127 (32) SSI Mrs Hellaby, W.L. 87 85 102 129 ISSx 37d (27) stb Miss Mitchell, W.L. 110 104 81 102 68 97 (do) 56J. T, Hazlewood, W.L. Six 99 71 84 12lx 105 (32) 561 A. G-. Mumby, W.L. - 100 70s 69 83 76 88 (26) 492 A. Strawbridgc, W.L. 66 101 113 45d ©lx S2 (25) 408 S. D. Morris, W.L. 76x 104 19d 101 43d 113 (22) 456 W. Ct. King, W.L. 6Sx 73 29 63x S 8 75 (27) 396 O. E. Manning, W.L. 25d 76 43 86 49 65x (25) 344 W. P. Stent, Min. 66 22 37 Sox 42 S 7 (26) 339 “x” Disqualified, egg weight clause, “d” Bird dead.

Mrs Dimant, B.O. — (7) 107 T. D'outhwaite, B.O. 1 (4) 128 2 (7) 148 A. G. Frankham, B.O. — (6) 93s Mrs Hellaby, B.O. 1 (5) 146 2 (6) 105 Larsen Bros., B.O. 1 (6) 156 2 (0) 46 d 3 (6) 130 Mrs Scarrott, B.O. 1 (7) 113 2 (4) 13S Mrs 'Waddell, B.O. 1 (7) 137s 2 (5) 125s W. E. Watson, B.O. — (6) 123 Mrs Davey, L.S. — (7) S8x Mrs Youngsou, Bk.W. — (0) 78s K. Mouldey, E.I.E. — (6) 111 Section A. Chas. Barker, AV.L. 1 (4) 12S 2 (6) 83 x A. Stra-wbridge, W.L. 1 (5) S2 Mrs Cannon, W.L. —. (7) 141 G. H. Cross, W.L. — («) 80 E. M. Galvin, W.L. 1 (6) 131s 2 (6) 141s 3 (5) 62 .J. T. Hazlevrood, W.L. 1 (G) 136 2 (4) 122 Mrs Hellaby, W.L. — (7) 144 Mrs Dimant, W.L. — (5) 78 J. Jbbotson, W.L. — (5) 111 W. J. McAloon, W.L. — (7) 110 D. Kruse, Anc. 1 (6) 117 o (3) Ills Miss Mitchell, W.L. — (5) 130 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 1 (5) 132 2 (6) 119 Mrs Stevrart, WX. 1 (6) 121 2 (4) 143 A. Stra-wbridge, W.L. 2 (6) 109 3 (6) 72 W. H, Barker, W.L. 1 (5) 92 2 (5) 103s 3 (G) 91 J. Smith, Anc. 1 (5) 92 2 (5) 62 W. F. Stent, Min. 1 ' (3) 5S 2 (7) 64 A. E. Watson, Br.L. I (6) 116 2 (6) 79s Mrs Youngsou, Bk.L. — (5) 96