THE *

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1623, 14 December 1912, Page 2

THE *

(By Chantecler.)

On Pollard. A great deal of dissatisfaction has arisen among poultrymen at the quality of pollard that is placed .in the market. At a meeting of poultrymen in Christcliurch tlio subject was discussed, and it was the opinion of tho meeting that a great deal of pollard run in the market was merely ground up bran. It was resolved that sevwal samples of pollard should be sent to the Government Analyst to ascertain its feeding value. Some oi the Sydney poultry-keepers are in trouble over their pollard supplies. According to "The Australian Hen" one sample sent in by ft poultry keeper in the County of Cumberland contained aa much. as 32 per cent, of common salt. Another sainplo, which, it was said, had killed several pigs, was found to contain 18 per cent, of salt. Tho irritation set up by the large quantity of salt, .together with the excessive quantity of water which they drank, proved fatal to a largo number of fowls. The Now South Wales Department of Agriculture is taking steps in the matter in order to stamp out tho rotter: who aro guilty of the fraud. Judgment in Selection. It will bo remembered tlmt the present competition at Hawkesburv includes o test of judgment in tho matter of selecting layers. Ten well-known breeders sent in two pens each (the birds are of the same age breed etc., and as equal in regard to these points as could be got, and the feeding and housing are the same), one lot being what they called "good" layers, and the other lot what they reckoned wero "bad" layers. These wore the figures for the first seven months No. of Good Bad Competitor. Layers. layers, 1 701 453 2 599 487 8 700 G29 I CS3 . 642 • 5 535 517 . G 484 472 7 8 4£B 521 0 GOB 665 ,10 507 580 5,951 5,633 The test continues to'show; with one or two exceptions, that so far as these 10 persons are concerned they didn't seem to know tho gt>od from the bad layers when they selected them. There are live months to go, and it may yet happen tint their judgment will be vindicated, although it must bo said that the prospect that such will turn out to be the case i 3 not promising. Misfortunes. \ A severe loss has been sustained by Mr, A. Hopkins, ■of the Kangiuru Poultry Farm, through heavy floods. A large number of his champion layers were drowned, also some hundreds of chickens. Mr. Ilobinson, of Black Orpington fame, had the misfortune to lose almost the entire flock of liis poaltry through poisoning. He entrusted to one of his employees the work of feeding a mash one morning when Mr. Ilobinson was unable t-j do it. Thoughtlessly the man mixed up the mash with what la took to be a drum of water, but proved to be a mixture of weed-killer. Within a few hours nearly every bird in tho yard was pros: tra'te through poisoning. Though antidotes were administered, nothing could be done to save tho birds. Tho writer regrets to learn that Mr. A. W. Irvine, of Auckland, had tho misfortune to>meet with an accident, resulting in a fracture of his leg. He has been confined to his bed for some weeks, but we are pleased to learn that he is now making good progress towards recovery. Notes for the Novice. Green feed is a very important item In the raising of chickens. They should have some every day, and, with tne water jaid on, there is no reason why you should not be ablo to grow and supply it right through the summer. , When you, can get it, there is nothing better than, the natural grass, but it goes off in the warm weather, and if you want green stuff then you have to grow it. _ In the hot weather you may plant maize, lucerne, beet, kale, and rape, and the results from ' tho growing stock will fully recompense for the labour expended in growing the green' fodder. . Green feed of -ioine sort is also necessary .to the layers. It should be fed frequently—every day, if possible—if the''best result in eggs laid, and health, are to be gained. To obtain tho best results; it is very nepessary to keep the ; chicks growing. They should bo fed regularly every day. To bring chickens along, you cannot do better than obtain a supply of the dry feeding mixtures which are advertised in this column from time to time. . You will find it quicker, and cheaper, in the end, to purchase yoni requirements from the men who "know how" to make up the mixture. Dry feeding is quick, and economical, and through its use the birds become tough and tight feathered. But don't iced entirely on dry grains if you are raising: laying stock. For the first week or two, feed the dry mixture only; then give a little mash in the morning, and the dry stuff-for the rest of tho day. A bit of both is the thing. Fix tho water vessels so that they cannot become filled with litter. ' Don't forget to add 6alt to tho soft food. It is a tonic, and a preventive of worms. A tablespoonful to 100 birds and a good sized pinch to half-a-dozen hens will meet the case. » If you are not enthusiastic about your hens you won't do .much .with them: As a rule the earlier hatched chicks rnako the best growth. This is partly due to tho fact that the breeding stock is at its best when first mated up, and parly because more attention is paid to tho first lot or two. Don't 6lack. Keep -up the attention whether you have 20 chicks or 200, but if you haven't much time 'don't hatch too many chicks. Don't forget that you must give full and complote attention if you want'to make a success of your chicksjust the samo as any other business. Don't ever miss sight of the fact that your 'chicks aro what you make them yourself. If you are careful and' painstaking they will be good.' If you are lazy and don't bother about feeding, housing, and cleaning, and the numerous small details that tell so heavily, they will be poor and weedy. ' There is no luck or magic about the poultry business. The bottom of it all is just plain horse sonse, and attention to details. Your fowls are what you make them. Once a week lift all the perches and look for lice. The small red mites are tho ones that do a lot of mischief. They may be Hlled at once by the application of kerosene. It is also a good plan to spray kerosone once a week into every crevice nnd crack in the perches and shed. Soapy water and kerosene will do equally well, and is cheaper. If yon decido to change tho diet of the fowls, don't do it suddenly. Work it in gradually, if vou don't want a check in tho laying. iWls, after getting used to a certain scale of feeding, don't readily go on to new grub, and a violent change throws them back, because they don't cat well, and get out of gear as the result of semi-starvation. Ducklings are 1 very susceptible to sunstroke. They must havo shade in the

hot weather. If your house is portable, the proper place for it is outside the run, with a hole cut in tho netting to allow the birds to enter. Placing the slietl outside gives more space in the run, tho fowls cannot get on it and fly out, and it may easily bo turned over and tho floor cleaned. The chicks that fatten best are those of medium size, broad, blocliy body, with short legs wide apart. Governor Visits Poultry Plant. Before leaving Wellington Lord Islington paid a visit of inspection to the fine plant run at the Heretaunga Poultry Farm, Silverstream. His Excellency inquired oloeely into the details of management of so largo a plant run on commercial linos and asked the propiictor (Mr. Mumby) to forward him a report detailing the methods adopted on the furm.