THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1901, 8 November 1913, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

(By Chantecler.)

Tha Egg Market. Tlio strike has resulted in hardening up tho prico of eggs locally. The stoppage of shipping from the. south has causod n shortago of supplies in the north. Canterbury eggs liave fallen in price, so that .the strike hap proved 'a benefit for northern poultrymen. The egg market in Sydney has' also taken a sudden drop this year, and prices are now lower than they have been for the past tlweo years. In New Zealand poultrymen have had splendid summer prices, ifl fact tho b©3t on record. A Studied Dlstary. The committee of fch-a No™ ZcrlsuK Utilitv Poiilt-rv ri -S • - - able time in drawing up tho dietary list for tho next test. The following is a copy, and may be well studied by all ppultry-kpepera, as a system that will give the maximum number of eggs: — Light breeds.—Morning, before seven o'clock, one-third pint of grain (oats, wheat, split peas, or cracked maize), thrown in deep litter in scratching-shed. 9 a.m.—Mash (about lloz. mixed). If hungry a little more will be given. All that the birds do not eat up eagerly shall be romoved, and less given next day.' The mash for Mediterranean breeds to consist of two parts pollard, one part bran (by measure), mixed with soup and meat. During morning green food, such as lettuce, cabbage,' clover (chaffed), kale, rape, or mangolds will be supplied. Evening.—Two-thirds of a pint of wheat.

Hea'vy breeds. —Morning, before seven o'clock, one-third pint of wheat thrown in deep litter in scratching-shed. 9 a.m. —Alajh (about lloz. mixed). If hungry a little more will be. given. All that tho birds do not eat up eagerly shall be removed, and less, given the next day. The mash for the heavy breeds to consist of two parts pollard, one part bran, one part ground oats, one part lucerne or clover (chaffed), mixed with soup and meat. During morning green food such as lettuce, cabbage, clover (chaffed), kale, rape, or mangolds will be supplied. Cracked peas or maize will be fed during winter if necessary. Evening.—Two-thirds of a pint of grain, equal parts wheat and oats. Ground oyster shell and metal grit, and fresh water, is always - before tho fowls. All grain is'fed in deep litter, and a little more given if. tho birds seem extra hungry. Ducks.— I The bill of fare for the ducks consists of i mashes: Pollard, two parts; bran, onej part; ground .pats, one part; lucerne or clover,, (chaffed), one, part; mixed with liver soup: also boiled meat and ample green fond will be given. River sand, grit, and-oyster shell is always before the dueks % An artesian stream of water is running continuously through all the ,duck runs. All pens will be cleared, scratching'sheds dug over, and the, houses sprayed with boiling water, soap, kerosene, .and cnido carbolic acid prior, to the commencement and during the competitions. Izal disinfectant will also, be used. . ' • Notes for tho Novice.

Pullets should not bo bred from until; they are over 12 months old. They tire at; their best for laying in the ' first Benson,- and,' as yon, cannot exnect to hay© it every way. leave it at laving for the first .war. After' their first raon't ;they,- may be. iisflfl: as. Vbfiseders ywlth 'stroiihgt, birds' arid la/.afull 2oz.'-eg.e: '• 'Thfi'mnrcilpss and eoritiiuioiiV wpeding otit of. tho iiinfit specimens, is .-the only certain traclcj,"to -ihe; policy .of<%smg».oM?s®a[. best &ul? strongest-.- birds. . as breeding;-, stork:-Nature's/aim-is .quanHty ; that, of mnn should 'be rinality; There V-'are " nriSt" srwciniens in every branch of production. The peaches on a tree aro not all the. some size, nor tiro the blooms on a enrden plnnt, and neither are all the chickens of the same size and strength. The "dead-in-shell" problem is more nronoivnced in dry, windy weather. Why? because the drv air mssing into the ifcciihntor carries no moisture to the eggs, so that the interior of the egg becomes dry and the membrane —or enclosing sac—l 3 apt to become glued to the ohick,. so that it cannot move. Runnosing the air comes through a window, it is a frood .plan to hnnrt a wet curtain across the window, and keep, it wet, so that, moisture-ladei air passes into the machine. Pnt -in some green stuff. Try riiaiVo. Plant it in drills, water wol], and mulch heavily. The plants will bo above the 'ground in a week's time in hot weather. Rape is another plnnt that can go in. Sow broadcast, water heavily, , and mulch heavily . ' • If there is not any natural pfnde in the yard.-fix' up some lime-washed hnpn. tent fashion, on. a M)t frame. Pun it down to withini a few inches of ~ the ground—the space is to ret un a drautrhfc —die un tlie. pTound finely, it with water, and' the\ birds will get through the hottestday without discomfort. Grade t-be chickens —put the same sizes together. 'Bemovo the water vessel, to a shady snot. If there is no shady snot, rrnkft one.. Get a box, paint it Vhi + e—white resists the,.beat —and nlace till} n'nt»t pot inside. If the box is raised off tho •trrmind for a-few incites and-n few lilies bored.in _ it at the buck, the draught set up will keen the. water cooler. T)o:not forsret that charcoal is an invaluable. a?ent in the poultry vard: it lV an' internal cleatis«r and absorbent, an*? the "birds'should hnve it 'everv dm*. . 'IV'membor that cabbnpe ami ea.nll. flower,leaves and stumps make better— •because, niore dieertible—f<wlir,<r jf clI j; )nr> and .boiled ■until soft, and then mked with tho mash. '..' Kcrosqne. |is .the', best parasito destroyer.- . Mixed with hot. sonnv .water and snrtiy'ed into the cracks and joints it will keep off all poultry pests. If you are putting down a broody hen in hot weather, make the nest oil the ground, scoop the earth out and make a round, saucer-shaped depression; pour a bucket of water into the hole, and leave it for a day: then line the lioln with soft straw, and pnt the hen down. The moisture under tlie hen will last ont the hatch. If you do not, add tho water, somo of the eggs will bocomo too dry for tho chicks to piprce th" shell, and they will die inside. Of course, if the ground is damp to begin with, no water will bo reomred. Water is a strong conveyer of disease, particularlv in the hot weather: therefore, sen that the birds get it fresh everv day, and that the vessel is quite clean, and contains no slimv matter. Also, it is a good plan to put a good-fii7/ed lumn of charcoal in the water pot—a fresh piece every day—to collect and absorb imnuritios. If you want good birds, now is the time to look out for tliem The bir; breeders aro just about throuph with their breeding operations for the season, and are readv to clear-out a pen or two, to make room for young Bt-ock coming on. . ' Do not, pusn the growing pallets, t-oo hard. • Plontv of oats and green stuff is what tliov want, more than they do nie.at—-a bit of meat..is all right two or threo times a week, but don't overdo it.' - ■ In the general keeping of poultry note the,fact that the'fireato' the snare the'less the disease. .'The reason? Well, the ample room induces plenty of exercise, in getting about; exercise makes "for'iV vigorous condition of health, and a vigorous condition of health means that the blood is in such an effective, fighting condition that diseaso germs are killed , off as fast as they enter. Tho suhurlia-i poultry keeper who is gettinc soft-shall eggs, and who is sure that his hens have a plentiful supply of shell-making material, mar usually

put tho cause down to over-feeding making tho hens too fat. The cure? Reduce the food, pitch in si heap of straw, or other light litter, throw tho grain into it, ana make the birds scratch for their living. Tho two big needs of growing chickens are plenty of room, and plenty of food, of which oats should form a big part. Why ? Because they build up the body structure. Never give soft food to a Bitting hen. It is not sustaining enough, and is apt -to sour., Feed wheat only.