THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1669, 8 February 1913, Page 3

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

(By Chanteclcr.) '

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "E.M.," Otaki, writes asking the cause of "scaly leg," and. a cure. "Scaly leg" is caused through parasites. Onco they aro allowed to multiply in a poultry yard thoy aro difficult to eradicate. Fowls afi'ccted with th'ese should havo their legs painted with warm coal tar. It should be applied in tho morning, and then it will dry through tho day, and not soil tho feathers. lu ft fow days the scabs will dry. up, and the adhesive power of parasites will bo destroyed. The scales will thou fall off. Tho use of lard, vaseline, and such like only provide food for the parasites. Tho houses and runs should be thoroughly, cleaned and disinfected, or scaly leg will be a continuous source of trouble. Cllmatlo Influences. Many poultry men have noted the tendency to deterioration in 6tock lacking a change of blood. The can so has proved a problem to many. Several of our breeders who havo shown good records at the laying tests.havp either failed to maintain the stamina of their flocks by repeating tho records, or have only done so for a tew years. Tho climato is generally ccnoeded to be the cause, and a obange of blood is considered a necessity. A wellknown writer in South Australia gives some sound advice on. this subject, as follows:— On several occasions I have referred to the improvement in the general health and strength of productivity of hens thflt follow a change of climate, and tho more one thinks about tho matter tie more oertain does it appear that the idea-is right. But bald statements are )io good: facts are wanted by the' hard-headed poultry-keepers, and facts they shall have. Here are some:I.'Tho South Australian layers that became world-famod were originally got by crossing imported American 6tock with New South) Wales fowls. Both were new to. .South Australia, both improved wonderfully, and the progeny from the cross time and again put up the huge 6cores that caused the eyes of the world to turn our way. 2. For a few years all went well with our crack breeders. They had got hold of tho right strain, handled it intelligently, and tho climate helped them. . 3. Even so, it was found by more' than one man. that his birds mado bettor scores, in the other States than they did in South' Australia. Why ? It, wasn't because of the management, for chat at Roseworthy was, and is, equal to any in Australasia. Allowing that tho birds were of similar strain—as they were in the casts I havo in mind—and assuming that the selection was equally good, why did somo of our crack men believe that they could get tetter > scores in the other States than they could in South/ Australia? Tho competitions were smaller, it is true, which, perhaps, allowed of rather more attention being given, but tho chief reason for tho belief was that a change of climate would be beneficial. So it was. I. Padman got his highest soores outside of South Australia, and he is a veteran competitor. Why? Answer: Change-,of climate. Cosh got his highest score (1539) in Victoria. Why? Give a better reason than chango of climate. Other men who hive been inter-State competitors usually got their best scores in the other States. Tho reason? What olse but, thange of' climato? A few years ago the first five pens'in a Now Zealand.competition'wero bred at Clarendon, in South Australia, by IV-B. Brooks. If chango of climato did not help to produce this* extraordinary result, what was the reason? 5. The highest scdre ever got anywliero was the 1589 scored in~ last Roseworthy competition by Victorian birds. They wero bred from South Australian stock, and after a few years of the: Victorian climato tho young stuff was sent over here and made a'record score. Why? Because tho change to the Victorian climate buckcd topi the Stock, and whcnthe'ptogehy"caine' owr here they jumped again, as tho result of a change of locality. 6. The 1501 and; 1510 f;o.t at' the last Burnley (Victoria) competition wero made by', tho descendants of South Australian stock. Whv? Same reason as.given in No. 5. ' 7. Tho man who is loading in. the New Zealand competition with a score (which looks like being a record) was a largo buyer from two Adelaide breeders to my personal knowledge, and it is understood that tho competition pullets were bred from the South Australian stock. Hero again tho chango of climato tucked up the blood. 8. The pullets from South Australia stock, which was 6ent to England, have been reported as laying wonderfully well, showing that the change of climate has stiffened tho blood and restored the strength to,lay Heavily. . 9. It doesn't seem to matter where tho 6tock goes; hot or cold appears to make no difference, judging by the facts- given above. All that seems to be necessary is tho change ,>of climate. 10. Coming nearer homo, it is common to notice country competition beating the Adelaide men who sold tho stock that started them.: Tho, change to the country must be responsible, for, in point of knowledge in. regard to feeding and handling, tho Adelaide men probably know tho most. ■ The fresh air and greater space of tho country districts no doubt aro the prime factors that enable the country man to frequently beat the _ city man who started him. Tho city man is handicapped in tho long rim by a too-small area, too many fences,. too much shelter generally, and as a natural consequence. Lis'.birds go stale after a. few years. It is all right enough for a time: tno blood is'fresh'and tho sheltered conditions ■ enablo tho hens to lay well, record-breakers are.bred! for a few years, and then .the inevitable stale-. | ness comes and tlio. birds 6lack off. Probably thoy have a bigger capacity than ever for laying (owing to continued selection and cultivation), but they haven't tho.oldtimo strength. In a few words, they havo | become stale. 11. Tho blood (I am talking about Leghorns) is moro or less similar throughout tho suburban areas (it practically all came from ,a few yards) and the introduction of' now strains would be welcomed by tho baclc-yardor. It is hoped that the facts quoted will causo readers to believo that there is something in my statement that a chango of climate exercises a beneficial cffccfc on the, general health and vigour of fowls.