THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 19

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

» f (By Chantecler.) |

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Information," Napier.—You will promptly rccoivo a reply by address- . ing your request to the editor of the "Agricultural Gazette," Sydney and Melbourne, and to D. F. Laurio,, Agricultural Department, Adelaide. They are usually posted free on request as samplo copies. "L.M.," Lower Hutt, asks "What is the cause of moisture in the incubator when chicks are hatching, and is it injurious ?" When chicks are hatching, they are in a wot _ condition. As the cilick drys of! the air takes up the moisturo, and owing to the outside air being colder than in tho inside, it causes tho moisturo in the machine to condense on the glass. It is not injurious; iii' fact, it assists 1 tho hatching by keeping the membrane of the egg moist. "Chicks Dead in Shell."—A number of correspondents ask : this question . again. Should the chicks die in the eggs beforo the fifteenth day there is somo reason for,it 1 on the part of the ' stock. They lack vitality, are improperly fed, or are too confined. We . do not advise helping chicks, out for . commercial purposes. . A chick that is too weak to hatch will be too weak . to bo of any uso to a poultryman.

Brooding Chickens. Next winter's egg supply will largely depend on the manner in which the chickens are hatched and cared for this season. Now is the ideal timo to hatch the chicks of the lighter breeds, and those who have not yet done bo will miss tho choicest time if eggs are not set this month. After hatching comes the brooding. Tho best chickens, if badly brooded, will not give satisfaction. Unless provision is made for warmth—especially on cold nights— progress will be slow. Chills will result, and stunted chickens will bo tho reward. Each year something new comes to light respecting brooding. During the past year or two fireless brooders have been 'the, vogue. They are suitable for late-season hatches and the small man,, but the big producer does not look favourably on them, and many of those who have tried thissystem liavo speedily returned to the old hot-water pipes or lamp brooders.

The Stove System. Another system is now being tried— that of placing a large stove-lamp in a room suitable for the accommodation of s\bout 1000 chickens at a time. The rooms are made to keep the temperature at 90 degrees, or as warm as desired. Threo breeders have tried the stoves in New Zealand this year for the first time, but, as yet, it is too early to judge results. .'The expense of the stove is' no doubt against them. - The "Sydney Daily Telegraph," commenting on the system, says:— Mr. S. Ellis is another of those who are testing a stovo brooder. He has built a specially-constructed brooderroom. Ho was not successful with kerosene as fuel, and after about three weeks' trial, adjustment and alteration, in which ho converted the keroseno stove into a gas burner, ho llas it running to his entire satisfaction, and ata cost of about ss. a week for gas. When we had a look at it the other day tho chickens had only been in it a week, but up to that stage tlioy could not.have looked better. As everybody knows, however, there is a moro critieapstago ahead. But tho trained eye of 'Mr. Ellis was assured. "I can see that these ohickens aro going to do well; I can see that it is going to rear them," was his verdict. There were about 1000 chickens in the room, and thore had been no crowding over one another, or anything else to cause uneasiness. There was plenty of ventilation and ample and well-distributed heat. The Export Trade. Good progress is being mado in shipping eggs to Vancouver this season. Mr. Jessen, the local agent for the egg circles, is sending about 1000 dozen, while 9000 dozen are being sent from Cliristchurch and Dunedin. These eggs will leave in October, and it is hoped to send another 10,000 dozen by the November boat, to catch the high prices at Vancouver that rule at Christmas. The All-round Fowl. Few farmers, or their wives, have the time to care for inoubators and brooders; therefore the hatching and rearing of tho chickens must be left to the hens. In this the. heavy breeds have tho argument all on their side, because tho non-sitting breeds, bred as they are to-day, cannot be depended on_ to hatch and caro for their progeny. Size, too, counts a big lot in favour of the heavy breeds, for poultry meat is wantt ed. It is a thing the people need, and are ready to pay a fair price for, and tho farmer with his cheap food is the man to givo it to them. Butchers' meat costs money, as every housewife knows, and as animal food of some sort is held to bo necessary, and as the priceß for mutton and beef show no signs of easing off, there ought to be money for the farmer in producing good, weighty young poultry. For this reason, and the one given at the head of the paragraph, the best fowls for the ordinary farm are the heavy breeds.

Chicken Chatter. Whoro chickens are confined it is a good thing to dig tho yard ovor and break up the ground, as the chicks will scratch for worms and get plenty of exercise. Tho soft ground is good for their feet, and they, moro or less, always have a dust bath depending on the weather. Why do they want a dust bath P' To suffocate the lice that suck the blood and reduco the general strength and vitality. Short straw worked into tho ground will keep the soil loose, and tho chicks will always bo busy, and feather picking will be dodged, because tho blood will bo kept healthy by means of tho exercise afforded by the scratching. If the yard is small the chicks should bo let out every day for a run if at all possiblo; a daily run brightens them up wonderfully. A good plan is to have a number of-small yards opening on to a big run, so that the chicks may bo let out in turn. But, however you have the chicks, keep them busy. Never mind if they do got dirty. Let thorn dig and scratch around—that is what they like, what they are built for, and the thing that will bring them on. _ For incubator chicks, mix some chaff and dry horse manuro. Throw in the grain, ralco tho litter into a heap ovory morning, and it will keep tho chicks busy all day. It's a good schome.