POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 211, 31 May 1919, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES

Winter Attention. Tho actual requirements of the binle in tho winter aro not so \ery different from the reel of the year, except that they want a little more nttciition from the proprietor of the farm in seeing that they really get what they want. More heat i'b needed, that is true, but this is given in tho amount of food that is consumed and tho amount of exercise that the birds aro able to get. Prom a practical standpoint a pood Bummer's ration only needs to be served regularly, -with perhaipTa. little addition of animal protein and a, trifle more pollard. The demand that some pcoplo speak of for a epecial ration during the winter is brought about by the fact that tile other conditions are not the same. Winter feeding troubles have little direct reference to the season Itself, but the fact that tho birds do not get variety and are not in good quarters has a. deal to do with it. For good winter production it is necessary to have only birds that were hatched early from the most vigorous of parents, wlio themselves came from layers. These birds should have been well reared iind should not have been forced to egg laying at the expense of their bodice. Then they nhould be in houses that are absolutely free from draughts and dampnone, and as vermin proof as possible. Tho floors of these houses'should be v,-ell cover,cd with a good litter' of straw. This will I give the birds plenty of chances to get tho exercise that in necessary for their health. It is impossible to expect eggs in the winter from birds that have n.o exorcise. The. grain- should be thrown into thie litter, and the birds made to scratch . for all they want. Then the mash feeding Bhould contain plenty cf green stuff, and above all variety. If this variety is maintained it is safo to assume that the birds will shell out the eggs. Do not get excited overMhe wet weather, but sec thp.t t.hts birds are in comfortable houses, havo a variety of foods to eat, and have water always before them. On Culling, ■ The best men, notwithstanding all their experience and care, produce a percentage of wasters, and the price of their success is ceaseless" vigilance iu the matter of ■\voedlng_ put the unfit. It is the same wny with everything else—there is always a percentage of low-grade poor stuff. In .-regard to fowls, the experienced man kills . off every bird that does not pass his test for strength, size, and general appearancq. The new man generally goes at tho matter differently; ho wants to hold on to every uhick that he breeds. He' won't cull except under protest, and when' he does start in on the weoding-out business he doeen't do it thoroughly.' Ho won't, or can't, understand that it is oniy by continued and thorough weeding out of tho poor: specimens that success may bo achieved. There is no other track to . 'success than that of continuous and thorough culling of unfit specimens. If they aro killed out of hand, .they can't breed, and if they can't breed, they can't pass on <wy weakness or other undesirable characteristic.