THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1913, 22 November 1913, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

(By Clianteclen)

The Value of Gulling. There are many farmers that readily discern and understand what a rnnt among their' pigs means, but very few can apply the same knowledge in the culling of poultry. Not only are farmers negligent in this respect, but wo find it difficult to impress en poultrymen the need of persistently culling the crickons, eggs,- and laying hens. No matter bow careful a man may be ho will never get his (look up to such a state of perfection as to ho free from the runts. The evident signs' to distinguish them do not show up at a certain time, but are constantly cropping out when least expected. Some ' breeders certainly liavo less runts than others, simply because they take greater precautions to get free of them. We rarely visit, a poultryyard but what wo note the- presenco of a number of bens or chickens that ought promptly to be got rid of. In most instances wo point' out those that should be sold and are thanked for o-ur trouble.. It js one of tl'l.o few things poultrymen will accept as advice, because when pointed out the folly of keoping culls 'is so obvious that they wonder they were not thinned out be-! fore. Like Produces Like. Now, how is it we have so many culls ? How are we to lessen them P The chief reason is because culls produce culls. In ordinary breeding, the good and strong have a tendency for liko to produce like; but you may bo sure tliero will bo no failing in the weak to produce weak. If you can breed strong stock from weak birds, then you beat us. There are some breeders who will tell you they never have any culls. Any man who raises and keeps poultry in numbers has them, and you may doubt his integrity if he denies it. We could designate such statements by a strong term, but will give him the benefit and say he does not know a cull when he sees it. To avoid runts one, must begin with his breeding stocks. These must bo . birds of stamina and possessing strong ■powers and constitution. The foundation for success lies here. You must use care in selection of your breeding stock, as it affects every phase of your work. You cannot be successful in hatching, brooding, or raising stock if you fail in selection of the pairenft birds. Having satisfied yooirself on the stock, uso care in selecting eggs. It is just here where the trap-nest comes in. Some of the liens will leek healthy and strong, but they will lay an vndefsized egg, or one wnilting in weight- and firmness. I-am convinced, after having incubated 13,000 eggs this season, that we cannot be too careful in the class of eggs wo put in tho machine. Had I the time every breeder's egg should bo tested for size, firmness of shell, weight, and nature of contents. Lliero are many eggs that are never intended to produce healthy chicks, and one can only rely on bis experience to cull -them out. Hens laying eggs un» fit for incubation arc wasting tlio energy of the male bird aiid should be discarded.'/ After tho eggs hn,ve been in' the machine a few days, again selection must be made. Experience will show you that weak germs, a watery envelopment, confined air-cells, will result in weak, crippled e-hickeiis. Be firm and reject them. Avoid Sentiment* At hatching time selection must again bo made. All the- weak chickens should bo killed. Those that cannot stand or have sprawling legs or crooked feet, thoso that do not dry out clean ? ■now if• you..cannot 'kill' them, separate them, mark them, a.iid raise to selling age if you wish, but on your life- you will err if you let them remain as part of ,vour flock. ■ Those weaknesses will bo hidden, a false bloom wilt appear, at laying time, you fall to the temptationand multiply your weaklings lor the next season. As the chickens grow, watch out for ttcaklimrs—cull right oil. Aii observant eye will soon detect the pullets that do not grow. The runts are left behind. Cultivate a taste for tho best. Discard the slow to mature, slow to feather, mopy in .appearance and loose : ih . feathers at tlireo months old. Do it if you value your work. Do it even if it means a year or two longer before you got the required number of pullets. ; Do it for the sake of your reputation. Thoso who visit your yards will reme-ni- ; ber those half-dozen runts and forget i tho two hundred good birds you may happen to have. A lasting impression of the good will only be made, in the absenco of tho bad. A visitor will -sum up your' ability as a breeder in two . minutes by the presence of tho culls, and tho order ho intended to leave will bo kept for someone else, By the time these lines are road hatching will bo over. Think not this advice comes too late. Dangers, are ahead of you. Runts need not necessarily be hatched; they can" be made. ' .A good healthy chiclien »i .hatching time does iiot mean a healthy bird at maturity. I have seen persons entrusted ; i with, beautiful healthy chicks at hatching _ time, but to see theny at three months' old made one feel sad. Danger of Chills. I feel,, sure the dangers of chilling arc greater than most poultrymen imagine. Chilling makes runts. Overcrowding is another serious cause, Spread tho chicks and' growing stock out as much as possible. Crowded chicks never" thrive. . Their sleep is broken and in a. few days they are done. Why is it the fancier's stick matures and looks so well? Chiefly becauso of those single coops and runs for growing stock. His aim is not numbers, but quality. - Another cause of runts is underfeeding. Some people are very particular in their feats of overfeeding growing stock, but it never worries me. From day of hatching, chicks have access to all they can eat, and thrive. You have tho satisfaction of knowing that should -runts appear it has not been caused through want of feed. I havo seen few chicks r,lined through overfeeding, but runts and deaths through. underfeeding are thousands cacli season'. • It is essential to avoid runts that strict cleanliness be exercised. How seme people can expect to succeed in <:bickon-raisinK , surprises me when I hiok into their brooder boxes. Night after night the poor ohieks breathe an atmosphere tainted with impurities. Is it any wonder they look lifeless, loose in feather, and lack condition? Tliore are many other tilings we. Could mention, but ho who wishes to raise healthy chickens will avoid these. Let us above all things avoid making runts. It is possible more are made than bred. When women havo the handling' of the chickens less danger arises in producing Hints. Tho trouble is, too ninny men expect the additional work of !.he chickens to he done without providing extra help to cope with domestic duties.

11. A. Lazarus,. Ilntt, Wh. 20 935 ' ivi 5 " * Clirißtchurch, .White Leghorns 27 933 ilios i 1 azakerlcy, Sydenham, Whit© Leghorns 27 919 A. It. Hvowne, Petano ~ White Leghorns 32 906 L. Wylie, llutt, White Leghorns 28 903 k*' iui a ' ,lcs ' Marshlands, " '.'lto lyoghorns 24 SiiD Dominion P. Phut, Coro--lnandel, White Logr rf'T 18 ' 38 BRS J Cocker, Bromley, White Leghorns 33 375 1 Siher Wyandottcs, 14—653; A. W, Adams, Sheffield, talver Wyandottes, 25—783 ;A. IC. Wilson, Shirley, Silver Wyandottes, !}o T?? ' n- Hutt, Silver Wvaiidottes, 616; Ja«. Asliton. Hanmer, bih-ei■ Wyandottes, 12—704; Tlios. WilJ!?'Mwitls, Silver Wyandottes, 2D Tf? ; SaiI > Cust > Silver Wyandottes 24-748; S. H. Scott, Onehunga, fcmver Wyandottes, 24—708: A. E. Wil- £ h "->y, White Wyandottes, 16<540 : T. Kennedy, Kangiora, White Wy- /\- n lfr S , s ; King and Watson (N.S.W.), Black Orpingtons, 24-710; verrall Bros,, Sws.tmanoa, Brown Leghorns, "r—Bo7; J. H. Shaw, Christchurch, Brown Leghorns. 31—692; A, W. Irvine, Mount Roakill, Blue Mot. Leghorns, 19— 123: H, Leger, Wcreroa, White Leghorns., 35—777; D. Y. Gibson, Herbert, White- Leghorns, 35—769; Here'taung-ft P, ®J.ub, iSilverstream, White Leghornß, No. 2, 35—857; T. M'Jlwrqith, West Melton, White Leghorns, 32—818; E. W. Ilawke, Panama, White .'Leghorns, 25-796; J. Wordsworth, Goraldine, White Leghorns, 21—759; A. W. Irvine, Mount While Leghorns, No. 1, 709 ; Middlfepark P. Farm, Riccarton, 1 white Leghorns, 18—703.; T. White, Napier, White Leghorns, 29—814; Stewart and Landsperg, Normanby, White 29—797; J. A. Corrio, Beckenliam, White Leghorns, 32—819; F. Mason, Hutt, White Leghorns, 26— 835: G. Bonnett, Sprey-dou, White Leghorns, 30—766; H. Willis and Son, Ncjv Brighton, White Leghorns, 34—817; Brackenfield P. Farm, lfearton, Colvimbian Wyandottes, 30—774; Thomas Vose, Carterton, White Leghorns, 31— 846: H. S. Woodiiorth, Wihton, Whito Leghorns, 32—804 Mrs. J. Mills, J)imWhite Leghorns, "28—848; A.'W. livine, Mount lioskifl, AVhite Leghorns, No. 2, 33—764; Mrs. J. Green, St, Albans, White Leghorns, 35—833; Mrs. Aiislcy, Bromley White Leghorns, 27—73.1; Mawsnn Stewart, Cliristehurch, AVhito Leghorns, 26—852; W. Knight, Hutt, AYhit-e Leghorns, 28—830; J. W. Green St. Albans, White Leghorns, 35— 844; 1 1. Stephenson, Wanganui, White Leghorns, 33—795; Mawson Stewart, Christchurch, Whito Leghoriis, 29 — 855; N.'Salomon, Westport, Wliite Leghoi'Hs, 29—856; Wainoni P. Farm, Waijicini, White Legliorßs, 3.3—845; Vcrral.l Bros., Swannanoa, AV'hite lieghonis, 33 -841. FOR DUCKS. [New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's fourth laying test for .links. Returns for thirty-second week.] Total Total for to week, dateW KniVht, Hutt (No. 1) Indian Runners 28 798 W. Knight. Ilntt (No. 2} Indian Runners 31 733 Heretavinga 1\ Co., Silverstream, Indian Runaers 22- ' 655 Tlios. Dowtlnvaite, Avondale, Indian Runfiers.., 39 080 W. M«rcer, Hovrick, Indian Runners 31 081 Miss A. Donald. Donsaiidel, Indian Runners ... 27 686 A.. R. Browne, Petane Beach, Indian Runners 31 670