POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 300, 7 September 1918, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

IBy "Ohanticleer.")

i'o. the few weeks the local egg market 'has- been glutted, and .thousands of dozens have been sold at Iβ. 3d. per dozen. JJo\y the., glut is over the market has hardened to la. 5d., and it is likely the price, will rise, still higher. Mating, The queslion is often asked-how many hens snpulu be allowed to run with otae male bird? This will vary according to tho breed. and- conditions, but'.' taken as a general' rule, one male to ten or twelve females,in light breeds, and one to eight or ten in heavy breeds, a'nd less in oitnor caso if aged males are used, and more in the case of aged females and young males.. .'lt is not an uncommon, thing for good results to bo obtained with double that number of females, but,this can'not do redommended as a general prao. tlco or for jlong poriods. It'might be mentioned that,.except in raro instances, good results are not obtained from pairs and trios. ~ '■■.'.■■

What are known as flock matinee consist of ■> pejAjing a givon number of hone with the complement of male birds, usual ly in the proportion of 0113 to eight in heavy breeds, or one to tenin light breeds. This class of mating,fills a certain place m rough.breeding operations, that is to say,'where pedigroo breeding? is Inqt being attempted, and it mostly gives good rosulte, in chickens. There aro some exceptions, but principally where an imperfect knowledge of the birds is posseseed' by the attendant. There are, however, one or two conditions essential to success. First, as an example, if ICO hetis are to be penned with ten cockerols. moro than that number of the latter should be 7>ut in at the 'outset—twelve to -.fourteen' would be better.'.} Some are sure to get beaten and become- useless... This,'then, will '.allow-a 1 ' sufficient number to bo left to carry on the pen. Theta. again, in case the number of oocKerels fella below tho complement, and as the shortago cannot ,bo replaced .with other moles without , risk of the now hirds being killed, the hens should bo reduced to the proper proportions.

Rearing Ducklings. The number of inquiries received as to the difficulties in rdarinc duckli'nga prompts some general advice on the (subject. One of the' commonest troubles met with by amateur ,duck rearers is that ducklings'though apparently healthyw'almoat suddenly go down on their less, roll on their backs, and many die. By some this , is described < as staggers; by others as taking Ate; a'nd by some the affeotion is attributed to some fell disease that has broken out. It is, however, notliink : of the kind. This- trouble is brought about by lack of knowledge, and the abeence of. simple precautions in regard to the water supply; In short, it is due to the ducklings having been deprived of water. It may ofalyhave been for a short time, but l£ food is taken while they aro bo deprived, and then they got water, the effect as deacribed is the result. This is duo to the peculiar anatomy of the duck, which is altogether different from ■ that of fowls, -inasmuch as the former possesses no crop in the sense that the chicken does. There h only the ooaophnsiiß widening somewhat at a, point whero the crop of the chicken is situated, a'nd out of which there Iβ only a small aaertiire into the frfzzard. Linuids readily pass throush tbie; but a small portion of food is sufficient to temporarily arreet the paseaco of water, with the result that when tho duoklinge drink heartily after partakini? of food, -unless it is very lioudd (and which they will not do unless thirsty) distension of the oesophagus takes place. Pressure is then brought upon the vital organs in such a -way. as to cause .the trouble referred to. . Hature ducks sire' not , affected -to the - same extent, This trouble'shouM not be confused with sick-, .noes: ducks that, we■ sick: will -usually, go down in their legs, and', also roll; on their backs, but in , this ease there aro unmistakable symptoms of sickness -previone to tbmr pettinp to this stai»e.-Thor will, go off their food, porhapn, for daysbefore they ffo. dovi'n in the manner deacribed, /' ' " .■ .-'-,- .'• ■