POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3154, 4 August 1917, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

(Bγ Chanticleer.) The Neori for Advancement. In .his address to tho Minister of Agriculture Mr. A...0. Mumby laid stress on the need for increased production. Ho pointed out, that, if all the layers could be induced to lay one dozen egge each per year it, would result in £100,000, being added annually to tho wealth of the country. To achieve this end, instruction is needed. A poultry instructor has teen promised for Auckland. Mr. Brown, with tho help of his thico assistants, should now get out a. vigorous policy and give his lectures in every district dnring tho next three months. Wo know tho policy of tho instructors is to .wait to bo asked to go on to .plants and give lectures. In oramajy times this may be a proper attitude to adopt, but now. tho need for instruction is so urgent that wo should liko to «ee tho instructors map out the whole Dominion, advertise thl>ir dates, and enter into activo campaign. On a modest estimate tho instructors would roach 800 producers per -week. On the present systom it Iβ questionable if more than ten producers per day can l>e visited. We. offer this suggestion as the moat pressing need we fcavo to-<!ay. The season, is at hand. What instruction, encouragement, and help could be given during tho golden weeks before, us. In view of the cessation of liquid yolks coming into this country, ami the demand for eggs by bakers, not only the instructors but evory oapablo advisor should; seize the opportunity to urge ertra production. Everything should be sacrificed to get this campaign going. Going ronnd giving individual advice, selecting breeders, culling llocks by rCQUost, is a good lueful work, and wo have no fault to find ■with it in normal times, but tho present is most urgent, and we -would' liko to see twenty good men selected to help Mr. Brown for the next three months. It is a- big ta.sk. and the time allotted is trivial compared with what is required, but -we cannot help but feel if the liquid yolkfl are stopped ajid production is not increased, there will be some difficulty in filling -the demand. Onco this is apparent the regulation to prohibit would ho repealed, and all rnr work would be in vain. In Ontario the Government recently appointed ten men instructors for that State alone, so as tho much-noeded production would be hastened during the war. What Will You Sacrifice? If bakers want your eggs this coming soason to replace tho liquid yolks, -will producers make a sacrifice and l let them have them? To take off the market and preserve or cool store them, is to give us less chance of filling. the demand. From estimates we mako of importations, quite two million dozen egge aro imported. How can wo meet this demand? Bakers know the production has lessened. _ Are they going to support the year's trial, -without liquid yolks , , to demonstrate tho shortage? If so, and we don't riso to meet it.'ivo are doomed for eeveral years to come, and it ia obvious our energy will have been largely wasted. Now this column is out to do its bit. By urging production either by voice and pen,, we feel ne aro doing tho best service that lies before us. We can all do our part. We can hatch more chicks, givo layers closer attention,' foed more egg-producing foods, encourage beginners, advise them in difficulty. . In that energetio circle, Southland, three cf its members have got out and given lectures. What a splendid example! There aro dozens of producers who could do the same. Get out and give an earnest appeal for produotion. Tell beginners wha-t you do to produce more and they will flock to hear you. mind your oratory or yout nervea. Get out. Advertise a meeting, and beginners will gather round you. If you cannot do this, mark someone In your neighbourhood for each day. and appeal to him to increase production and latch chicks. No ono will feel you aro encroaching. Tho Government instructors trill not grow envious, They know tho urgent njed that crista. What will your sacriflco bo? fihall the object for which ■Wβ have worked so long bo lost to_ us for want of enthusiasm? Interesting Points. Broodincss is an instinct lvhioh causes a hen to remain on the ne6t for the purposo of incubating egge. By romaining on the nest, the laok of exercise, the lose of appetite, etc., oause tho hen to reabsorb tho eggs which aro in tho process of development, and ueo thorn ae food. A broody hen not inoubating eggs is a- clear' loss. The quicker the hen id broken from broouinees and the more feed you get her to eat. the quicker she ■will begin laying again, _; . If fertile eggs aro inoub.ited for twentyfour hours, then kept cool for three days, the gerine will die, and theso dead germa are tho points where decomposition bugins. Infertilo eggs do not have these, and therefore keep bettor than fertile eggs. Don't permit .broody hens to spoil fertilo eggs. ■ ' ■ ■ ' Pons without males produce from 3 to .5 por cent, more egge than pens "with, males. Sell all surplus males .after the breeding season. ' , The etraw was removed from a, number of ivoodcn nosts, which resulted in 15 times as many broken cgss as when the Btraw was in tho nest. This caused not only tho loss of eggs, but a number of hens formed tho egg-oating habit. In addition to this, the not as clean as where straw -was used in, the: ncats. No one can afford to let tho nests go without straw. . Hens fed an unbalanced ration produced only one-third to one-half as many eggs as hens fed. a balanced ration during the same time. Bβ sure the ration is bal- ' Hens cannot make eggs unless they have lime to mako the shells. Feed and water usually contain only enough, limo to slieU ono cge for eaoh ten eggs tho fcod -would produce. The number of eggs produced from high-priced foed. should not bo limited because of a lack of lime. Keep crushed lime rook or oyster shell before tho hops at all times. Supply hard, aha.p Er A wn°of licne whie* had water before thorn at ell times -were given water only ono™ each day, which reduced the egg yield one-half. Water is cheaper than fMd, but worth just as much to the to to .mako eggs. Provide argo watervessels and keep thorn well filled- _ ... "Tho eamo sun which hardens clay, will melt was™ The same sun which is so beneficial in the poultry-yard may do irrcat iniury if- it is too strong. Better results aro ahvws secured;, during .summer whore plenty of shade is supplied. If Sew a™ »° Y™ in , ' hniM a Khcd of somo kind for snauo. b Tho little red mite, which ie «u b unless filled with blood, suclis the hon s blood toing ae night and stoys in craclui and srs. rntcfa^VS ncid and two-parte coat «"■