THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1472, 21 June 1912, Page 3

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

POULTRY FOR PROFIT,

Specially written for The Dominion by J. B. Merrett,' Christchurch, and published by arrangement exclusively for our readers; Questions on poultry matters will be answered in these columns each week, and should be addressed to Dojiixion Office. [Continued From Last Week.] ON TEE DRY MASH SYSTEM. Volumes could be written on the subject of feeding, but, to strike the happymedium, gives satisfactory results. La-bour-saving methods are commended, and, while they may be adopted by the poultry farmer, they liav6 no charm for the beginner who wishes to get into close touch with tho birds. The economic essentials on a big plant I do not intend to touch on, as these lines are essentially for the novice.

Tho dry mash system I will explain. It is a labour-saver, and may come in useful for anyone who has to bo at his work early, and who cannot spare the time to prepare a moist mash. Most women, if the egg money is given them, will take a great interest in poultry, if one is away but do not asK them to give the poultry the needed attention, and then ask her to hand up every shilling which she takes in the sales of the eggs. However, circumstances sometimes arise so that, for a day or two, they may not be fed, and the dry mush always before (hem assures their getting something to eat.

Hoppers are constructed varying in size according to the number of fowls to be kept. It can be built against one wall of the fowl-house which forms the back of it. Two pieces of timber are nailed upright, to the wall, and, with a cross piede along the bottom, j'orms the trough to hold the mash. Another piece of board is nailed in a sloping position so as (o hold the mash, but leave an opening four inches wide and (wo inches deep lo let the mash fall into the trough. A lid on top will keep the birds out of tho hopper. I his simple contrivance is used to hold what is termed the "dry mash" in contrast to mashes fed moistened with water. The system is certainly a great labour saver (especially when hundreds of lavers arc kept), as tho birds will satisfy themselves from the hopper till fed their midday meal of green food and their cvenlne meal of grain. Sometimes the mash lii f cl "; ,t=l ' m ' l ' ho liopper, and will not fall freely. If so, it may be remedied bv lining the inside with tin. Watch and see that it falls freely into the trough below.

How the Mash is Made. In proportion to the size of the hopper so you will need to vary the quantities to be mixed. Say it holds 501b. Hero is the formula you mav uso: Sharps (pollard), 201b.; bran, 10lb.; ground'oats or maize, 101b.; meat and bone-meal, 81b.; charcoal and linseed meal, 21b. ' Where unly a limited quantitv of mash is required, I advise buying that readv mixed for the market. It can bo sold as cneaply, if not cheaper, than by anyone mixing his own, and, usuallv, lias the advantage of having molasses added. A reliable mixture is a mash manufactured locally. This is sold in 1001b. bags. V hopper holding. 501b., and filled with mash, will supply 20-hens for nearly a month. They will eat from it to suit themselves, and there will be no fear of their ever being hungry. The economic principle of labour is still further carried out in providing a similar hopper for grain. Providing that the birds have water, and the hoppers do not clog, birds could be left for a week, but grain feeding in this way leads to over-fattened birds, and constitutional weakness through want of exercise. It is a good labour-saver, but ruinous for egg-production. I therefore commend the mash with just enough water added to hold it together so us to make it into a crumbly state. If the table scraps are used in tho mash, it .is an econo'mic method 'of feeding, and the best egg-getHn" system. Grain scattered in the litter for evening meal and a good supply of water is all tho attention tho birds iieed.

How the Egg is Formed, As the egg is the product looked for, a brief description ot how it is formed will lead to greater interest. The two organs of tho hen that play tho important part in the development of tho egg are the ovarium, and the egg-tube or oviduct. Then hen has two ovaries, but, for some reason unknown to science, ono is dormant, while the other performs the function of egg-making.

The ovarium.is attached to tho backbone. Its work is to form the germ that eventuates as a f nil-grown egg. Tho eggs are held in a cluster, and the egg.organ contains all the tiny genus which a hen is to lay during 1 her life-time. They are but a small yellow globulo or sphere—tho size of clover seed—but they gradually increase in size until the yolk most fullyformed ruptures.its delicate outer covering, .and drops into tho mouth of the oviduct. This organ is 18 to 24 inches long.

When the fully-formed yolk drops it is devoid of white- or shell, both of which are formed as it passes through tho passage. The first five or seven inches, it is coated with albumen (whites of eggs), which is gathered in the oviduct, and stored there by a process of circulation. To complete the work the yolk and while have to be shelled and sealed. As it passes along it is covered with a membrane, and, finally, with a shell formed from tho calcareous substance stored in the passage. It is for this Teason that ground oyster shells are always kept before the fowls. Being rich in lime, they assure an abundant supply of the .substance required for the egg-shells. When the egg is com-

9 a ) (By Chantecler.)

plete, the hen expels if-in Uer nest, anil the next yolk is'air.eaiiy' 011 the-iv.av to go through the sa'ni.e.. pr.oe.dss- through*' the oviduct.

Often you will see' egg's laid: s.b'fti. without shell. This ; is due'tfi Inji'sfy of dip. oviduct, or an iiiyifiipieiif. snp , p.tv"i>'f li'i-.ie, so that cracked .shell siipiilii always' be accessible to the fnwlsv ijj.vs'te'r fhelis; are best. Some 'r'P>'iJlv aiid lar. Others arc cloii.blo'd-:,y6lkt'!l. (tyvb- eggs in one), cair-ed thifpugli' tjwffiyolks: leading the orariuni at the:"Samp mom'.ciit.

I have also seen -;fn-pVegjgjs.iwripleto, eaelj with its owii shell; jpiiicd "'tpg'ethi:r ; by shell material, anil.-other's wit]V Mooij clots. All these-' are ;signs pf ■i.Bipaire.ii health or had cnn'dit'ioh's ii'nd'e.r y./hieii. fowls are kept. Of'eipthe" lien looses- iis power to develop.-' tlfe; anil as geriji after germ leaves the'-flyariu'in- they wither and die ami set upidijeaseV. To 1110 a hen ineapaple-.pf'.'ciiseharging the high duty for :>yh;i.cli-sh'e .is.'de'.sigripd'-.i'S a subject, to comm'aiftl" syliipatliy, She lingers round, disca'rilwt -by .he.r.iiiate?.,. as if dissatisfied thai;' :slie- ,is" unable: to -dci the work expected;- of! ; -Jier,... Ijhter iie.r blackening and duli ; :ey.e' betpkeri her un-.-fitness for profit, ."..aiuli. wjiiie:.. one cttuiil give directions former p;pMoie.reeoyery and resteration loi ■nsefu'liiiesst iHe -begiri, ner is advised tfi Jcill. fl'ie. :bi.i;ti'. To Save her means she may feprmjiice ih.er kind;, and, if in human'.iprpgrbss;. w.e. are il'ow tb adopt eiigenies,-:- ; Jhe'''.:p6.iiHr.y'ma'ii iiiust have no sentinie!itv.;.J)iit.-a"flh'ere. iffif fly to -eugenic principles,:.'and,.e!imiiia.te- all 'birds that show signs of ; .'..cbiisti't.uHoijal weakness, lest his whole'iflock. "be .r.lfiiiiatcly af> fected by tho fertility; ■pf-'the ii'iifit'..