POULTRY NOTES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 73, 11 October 1939, Page 6

POULTRY NOTES

SWEETENING STALE SOIL It Invariably happens that wbon poultry have occupied the same ground lor a considerable length of time % the soil becomes ytale and sour This is particularly the case with small runs in towns, or when th? birds for any reason have been, overcrowded. In other cases they have been attracted to sonic parts of the establishment rather than to such as near the houses, OV where the J'ood is being prepare;.!, In any ease the poultry-keeper has constantly to contend with the. problem of making this stale, sour soil sweet again. Such ground will contain an abund ance of droppings, and it will be rich in parasites and their eggs. Coccidia arc the greatest menace in this regard. One way o-f creating this soil trouble is the digging in of unslaked Jime ( a practice that lias been leng in general use in the post. The alkali not only neutralises the acidity, but also some of th:> superfluous nitrogen in the droppings. -An Efficient Spnn'. A highly efficient method of dealing with this problem is spraying with a special kind of sulphuric acid called 8.0. Y. This has proved especially useful in the case of coccidia,

In a typical spraying over two equal portions of ground hall? the birds of the unspraved part perished from eoccidiosis or allied diseases, while only one-fif Lb on the sprayed ground suffered. The birds wt re all of the same strain and fed in exactly the .same "way. The proportion of the spray is at the rate off 300 gallons per acre, using a y.3 per cent, solution. SELLING EGGS BY THE I'OUNI^ From an Australian exchange: Recently, n delegation from, the women's section of the Country Party in Victoria vaited upon, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Tiogan) asking for consideration of civ matter of compulsory selling of eggs by weight. The arguments used for 'the change desired included the claim that it Avould be more equitable to both producer and consumer. In a reported interview, the Sec-, retarv of the Grocers' Association is quoted as saying that. while thoy think that the scheme is impracticable, grocers would co-operate if pro ducers could make up the eggs in pound and half pouvul carton;-:, There are some good points about selling by weight, but whether practicable or not the delegation shows: chat more -'nLerest is being taken in the supply and mm kei ing of eggs than, ever before —and this is to be commended. COCKTAILS IIs T THE FOWLHQUSE Strutting roosters and waddling hens step right up and demand a cocktail on the house at a poultry ? f ii'm near Cedar, lowa (U.S.A.). The cocktails i however, are made of tomato juice. The farmei's wife claims that the bottled sunshine which she puts up in the autumn, keeps her Hock free from roup and other ailments and produces hardier ehicks. — Queensland Agricultural Journal. AUSTRALIAN EGG EXPORTS

During the week ended July 29, 2620 cases of eggs were exported from the Commonjvcnlth to 111? United Kingdom. O h these, Queensland shipped 2000 cases, and N.S.W. U2O eases, To the same date last year. Queensland had .shipped 2100 cases, and N.S.W. 8023. '

THE BREEDING PENS

It is of vital importance to keep breeding stock in breeding condition. Handle the birds and if yon find them under or over weight, adjust . the feeding accordi 11 Should fertility be low. do not reduce the num ber of hens in the pen, for that is rarely the cause of trouble. A vigorous male kept under good conditions will g : vc good fertility with ' more birds than are usually mated ■ to him. Consider the condition of tlie stock. Change the male ff hj lacks vigour, A DUCK'S DIET The gizzard of" a duvf* found dead ; n a. J'annvard in 'Devon, England, contained two pieces of wire three inches long, .several pari:": of a razor 'ibWe, a wire nail, a Tunm of glass, '•uid n large asxor {'inert of hrightiy■cl'Kired. scraps of pol!>>-v gbr-:,? nn d tone. No wonder it dodged the 'ate hen axe?