POULTRY KEEPING FOR PROFIT

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22512, 21 September 1938, Page 3

POULTRY KEEPING FOR PROFIT

NECESSITY FOR CULLING JJ (By "LEGHORN.*:) The necessity for culling throughout v the year is realised and acted upon s1 by all successful poultry-keepers. u Systematic culling is essential if the e j maximum profit is to result. Often tl one hears objections to culling too s< frequently, because of the disturbance n caused in catching birds to be sold, r upsetting the rest of the flock. The a methods employed in catching birds g vary considerably, and even on large p commercial farms birds are caught s. and handled in a very rough manner. t Rough handling is a practice which t -should be discouraged. Even if birds g are not to be sold it often becomes t necessary to handle them. c ti Care in Handling It has been frequently emphasised —and rightly so—that women make the best job of rearing young stock. Perhaps it is because the natural maternal instinct predominates, or maybe it is that women are more even tempered. ' . It is true that baby chicks to adult < stock can all be very exasperating at ; times, but for best results the attend- ■ ant must have patience. 'Chicks should always be treated gently, never subjected to shocks, and given that per- } suasive treatment which is essential ( in the upbringing of all young. As growth progresses, the birds can certainly stand more, but even then careful and successful husbandry is associated with gentleness. On the Range Growing pullets are rather temperamental, and as it becomes necessary to handle them in culling, and later for removal to the laying sheds, always exercise a firm hold, but with a fair measure of reasonableness. Try , a bit of handling—a gentle stroking will usually quieten a bird. Let the ' pullet know she has nothing to fear; i get her friendly and quiet. This means ■ she settles down easily, and in getting . to know the handler is not upset by ■ ttie closer attention in the restricted areas of the laying yards. One should ( be able to go into the house at evening and handle any bird Move about • among the perches with the birds [ quite contented. If theyjire handled • violently, and ruled with fear then ' the entry into a house is the signal ' for a scurry to safety. When the Birds Begin to Lay Far greater care should be exer- • cised when egg-laying starts. The egg- | laying organs of a hen are a very dehcate piece of mechanism and easily m- ■ iured. Excessive pressure may cause t a rupture of the oviduct, with its at- ' tendant-losses. If it is necessary to j catch a layer it should be done quickly i and firmly. Hold both legs m one L hand, and support the bird with.the i other. If it is desired to carry the t bird, still hold the legs as mentioned . and rest the bird on the other arm, or . place it under the arm with the head towards your back. Perfect control of : the bird is then gained by the two ' legs held in the hand. Birds rarely try to escape when carried this way, but will often struggle 1 if the position is reversed. If birds have been correctly handled in the , growth age they will submit to handling without any fuss. Avoid holding . by one leg. or with the head hanging L down, by the wings alone, or by the neck, as many careless attendants per- . sist in doing, - Among the Males I In the main, the male birds do not , submit to handling with as good grace 1 as hens. In the cockerel pen, however, s it should be quite possible to move about and handle the birds without 7 any undue fuss. After a bird has been, in the breeding pen he generally assumes -.a greater dislike to. handling, "* There is one type of bird that,does ruffle the temper of the poultry keeper, and that is the aggressive male who resents intrusion in his pen. He will, at times, attack the keeper with beak and spurs—often with a mean advantage of attacking in the rear as the keeper leaves the pen. No doubl t a natural aggressiveness is aroused, and v there is a desire to retaliate—but refrain. He is in the pen for a special job, and selected because of outstanding ability. • That aggressiveness is • only natural, and it means higher ferr tility in the matings. If the bird is r kicked he may be injured, and so lose ■ his services. Just keep the eye on such i birds, and use diplomacy in the exit'. , Remember always to exercise care '. with poultry handling, and, above all . things, control the temuer when they do not do just as you want them" to, j Eg* Eatta* Habits r Every year I receive requests from . readers about the best methods of pre- . venting or curing hens from eating _ eggs. Prevention is quite possible, . but cure is almost impossible. J Prevention » ' As egg eating is only a vice, the opportunities for acquiring bad habits • should never be allowed. The trouble • is generally started in the nesting sec- ? tion, and frequently from insufficient J room. Where hens have to crowd into : a small space to lay, it is only natp ural that eggs will be cracked or broken with the movement of the 1 birds' feet. When an egg is broken • the movement of the contents and the • attractive colour of the yolk will al- • ways induce birds to eat it. i Where the practice is continued for • any length of time, a "taste" is ac-

quired, and birds will actually peck [at shells, and break them, to satisfy their craving. To overcome the trouble, roomy nests are essential, plenty of them, and preferably well screened with a hessiah curtain, or darkened by walls, etc. This darkening has the added protection of not allowing birds to discover broken eggs so well. .Curing the Habit If the methods suggested for prevention are carried out, and any bird still retains the habit, deliberately going to the nest for the purpose of egg eating, then her proper place is either on the table for dinner or in the market crate. There are many so-called cures of "treated" eggs, but the safest and surest way is to remove the culprit, for it must be remembered that one hen can teach a whole flock. „-,.».« The method of filing the beak .down, so that it is painful for the Jbird to peck a hard surface such egg shell is often indulged in, but mainly by show fanciers or breeders where the bird is of particular value. For the commercial farmer, who must ! guard against losses and save as mucn time as* possible, rapid removal of offenders is the most practical way to deal with egg eaters.