POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 81, 29 December 1934, Page 18

POULTRY NOTES

Heavy Mortality Among Chickens

FAULTY MANAGEMENT THE CAUSE

(By

"New Laid.”)

“It is safe to say that thousands of chickens being artificially reared have been lost this season, due to a troulble induced by overcrowding and insufficient ventilation." The foregoing is the considered opinion of the Chief Govt. Poultry Instructor (iMr. F. C. Brown) who adds : "The effect of the sweated condition is manifested in several ways, the chief of which is an inflammation of the veins, the visible signs of which are swellings in the joints, with a gangrenous condition supervening. The swellings and discolouration, generally termed green-leg, first make their appearance ia the hocK joint and then travel to the wing. In a few days the neck and head swell and then death is not far off. In such cases, which arise solely from improper management, nothing can be done for chickens badly affected, but those in the early stages may be saved and the trouble be prevented from spreading to healthy chicks, by providing proper night conditions. There is no cure for this trouble, but it is not infectious, and it is merely a question of prevention. Above all, birds should not be overcrowded and should be provided with ample ventilation. The quarters should be kept clean and dry, and everything that tends to create a moist atmosphere should be avoided. A further means of preventing trouble from sweating is to encourage the chickens to perch at an early age. Once they have acquired this habit the trouble is seldom, if ever, experienced, provided that special care is taken to s’je that the young birds are not overcrowded. The trouble in question not only affects chickens during the brooder stage, but also after they have been transferred to the colony house.

No Mystery About Trouble. . In many cases .of complaints received recently regarding mortality in chickens from the above trouble, the owners generally regard it as some new mysterious form of disease over which they have no control. Mr. Brown states that he has been familiar. with it for well over a quarter of a century, and invariably the cause could be traced to subjecting the chickens to improper night conditions and, most particularly, to the practice of overcrowding. The overcrowding means huddling, and this leads to the birds getting in a sweated condition, which Is undoubtedly the sole cause of the trouble. In some of the plants investigated, says Mr. Brown, the mortality was put down to various causes such as weak constitution possessed by the young birds purchased as day-old chicks, the commercial chick-food being fed, and also to. the style of brooder being worked, but it is clear that improper management was solely responsible. 'ln the work of artificial chicken-rearing the point should never be lost sight of that the best brooder ever manufactured, or the best set of instructions ever framed, will fail to spell success if the person in charge of the rearing operations is incapable of thinking out things for himself and applying the' knowledge of the necessary work which is now available. ,

Overcrowding Never Pays. It is safe to say that overcowding is one of the most common. mistakes made in the rearing of bropder chicks to-day. No one should ever be tempted to put.in ‘just a few more,’ but work only with numbers that can be handled with absolute confidence. It frequently happens that four to five hundred chickens are placed under a canopy brooder or in 'a colony house having a capacity for only half this number. The successful poultryman knows that overcrowding is uneconomic, and that, whether it be with growing or adult stock the smaller the number of birds placed together, in reason, the greater will be. the success achieved. Overcrowding .in itself is bad enough, but when combined with dirty quarters it is not to be wondered at that heavy mortality takes place under such conditions. It is surprising how some, breeders will go on year after year losing their chickens in large numbers, and, contenting themselves with the idea that some mysterious disease over which they have no control is responsible. The blame is usually attributed to bad luck, but there is no bad luck about it. In practically all the brooder troubles investigated the disease is not found in an epidemic form —all the troubles have been the result of mismanagement in the rearing of the chickens, faulty incubation, or to weak or improperly managed parent stock. Previous to the advent of the popular canopy style of brooders, greenleg in chickens was seldom met with during the brooder stage, probably because with the old . style of heated brooders used, one > hunred chickens was generally regarded as the maximum number that could be placed together in a brooder if the young birds were to be successfully reared. Now, however, it is not uncommon to see several hundred chickens being placed under a canopy type of brooder, so that, unless the young birds are subjected to nothing but sound management, particularly during a hot, muggy season such as has been experienced of late, green leg and other troubles caused by the young birds becoming in a sweated condition .is openiy invited. Over a long period of years, however, the trouble was frequently met with in. chickens after being removed from the heated brooders to a colony house, and particularly where they were subjected to overcrowding, damp, iiiventilated quarters, and were not encouraged to perch at an early age. EGG-LAYING CONTESTS Massey College Results . Following are the 39th week's results of the egg-laying contest conducted at Massey College. SINGLE pens. Section A. J. A. Annan, W.L., 0-172; C H Barker, W.L., No. 1.3—154; No. 2, o—l-4; W. 11. Barker, W.L., No. 1, 0—94; No. 2, 0- llud, No 3, 5—168; Mrs. R. K. Cannon, W.L., 5—220 x; Emery Bros., W.L., 5—163; E. M. Galvin, W.L., No. 1,88 d; No._2, 2—133; No. 3,58 d; 11. Hutchinson, W.L., u—ll 6, C. W. L. King, W.L., 5-158; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 1, 6—191; No. 2, G—l 72; MM, 18d; No 4, 6—203; H. Moreland. W.L., 4—143; W. J. McAloon, W.L., 6—l3u; A. J. Shailer, W.L., 4—165; H. Williams, W.L., No 1. 5—175 x; No. 2,5—158 x; Whenuapal, PF W L., s—-SOO; Mrs. E. Youngson, Bk L., No. 1, 0—50; No. 2, 5—168; D. Kruse, Anc., No. 1, 1-H5; No. 2, 3-135; F. Lang, Anc.. No. 1, 5—144; No. 2, 5—lol; J. Smith, Anc., No. 1, 5—170; No. 2, 5—183; H. SVII- - W.L., No. 3, 6—179; A. Strawbridge, IV. L., 5—185; A. It. Watson, Br.L., s—lu6. Section B. Miss E. T. Somer, R.1.K., 1—100; K. Mouldey, 8.1. K.. 6—117; W. A. Lnrsen, BO No. 3, 6—135; T. Dowthwaite, W.W., No 3 1—163; W. A. Larsen, 8.0., No. 1, 8—173 x; No. 2. 6—193; Mrs. Waddell. 8.0., 1—166 x; T. Dowthwaite, W.W., No. 1, 0—80; No. 2, 4—154. No. 1, 0—80; No. 2, 4—154. TEAM RESULTS. Section C. S. T>. Morris, W.L., 156, 183, 49d, 172, 191, 211 (26). 962. X. J. Davey, W.L., 183, 148, 169, 172, 140, Liking, W.L., 145, 181, 166, 136, 143. 180, (33), 951. M Stephenson, W.L., 122, 10a, 19u, 142, 151 x, 138 x, 154, 139, 3 "p X ’ W.L- ISO, 109, 152, 120, 164,’ 120, (26), 851. Mrs D. A. Stewart, W.L., 140, 70d, 171 x, 132, 181 x, 163 x, (15), 843. Emery Bros., W.L., 72d, 166, 191, 88, 1-9, 17G, (21), 822. J. T. Hazelwood. W.L., 170, 194, 9d, 151 x, 151. 142 x. (19), 817. . 11. Polson. W.L., 150,. 82, Hid, 140, lu2, 171, (19), 815. „ ; Mrs. Geo. Hillman, W.L., 176, 118, 164, 158, 30, 160, (19), 806.

E B Wainscott, W.L., 130, 84, 82, 123, 126, 191, (23), 736. A. Strawbridge, W.L., 126, 139, >l5O, 19d, 141, 101, 79, 160,92, 14Q (17) 721 E. D. Wilkinson, W.L., 123, 113, 94, 128, 13 W, 12 n: Law’s, 7 W.L„ 135, 140, 98, 74, 113, 13 J. Smlth? J Anc., 123, 99, 117, 25, 130, 105, (22) 599 F Lang, Anc., 110, 120, 6Sx, 78, 93, 58x, (25), 527. Section D. Miss E. T. Somer, R.1.R., 196, 199, 194, Ob', 201 x, 142, (21), 1028 F A. Dewhurst. R.1.R., 133, 158 x, St, Jones, R.1.R., 146, 164, 35d, 169, 161, 14« x, (24), 821. xDlsqualified Egg Weight Clause. dßird dead. Taranaki Competition The 39th week of the Taranaki EggLaying Competition Society’s seventh competition resulted as follows: — White Leghorns.—E. Clare, No. 1, 4—126; No 2, 4—163; No. 3, 5—169; G. L. Gaylard, No. 1, 5—182; No. 2, 6—179; No. 3, 3—163; Mrs. R. R. Canon, No. 1. 5—200; No. 2, 7 —228; No. 3, 5 —204; 11. Moreland, No. 1, 5—179, No. 2, 6—219; No. 3, 0—104; D. M. Peek, No. 1, 6—229; No. 2, 4—137; No. 3, 5—142; No. 1, 5—144; No. 2, 4—157; No. 3, 0—173; Burbank Poultry Farm. No. 1, 2—181; No. 2, 5—224; No. 3,’ 0—152; A. Moreland, G—180; Miss E. Ladd, No. 1, 5—131; No 2, 7—220; J. A. Wills, 5—170; Hall Bros., 5—174; S. Pope, 6—125; P. Freeman, s—l Bo. Mfnorcas. —J. T. Brice, 4—141; Miss D. Swadling, No. 1. 5—156; No. 2, 5—151; No. 3. 2—lol. Brown Leghorns.—Mrs. W. Busby, 4—160; Hall Bros., 5—149. Black Orpingtons.—Mrs. F. A. Warren, No. 1, 4—137; No. 2, 0—57; No. 3, 4—174; Mrs. D. M. Waddell. No. 1, 0—110; No. 2, 4— No. 3, 5—198; Thos. Dowthwaite, No 1 B, 0—148; No. 2, 1—142; No. 3, G—l 99; W. A. Larsen, No. 1, 4—183; No. 2, 5— No. 3, *—ls7; Mrs. S. Patterson, No. J, 5—170; No. 2, 5—124; No. 3, B, 0—139; J. Greig, 5—150; Mrs. V. Hall, 4—169; E, J. Poswillo, 5—176; Miss D. Swadling, 3—04; H. W. Smith, 4—237. White Wyandottes.—G. L. Gaylard, No. 1, 5—154; No. 2, 2—141. Light Sussex.—H. Kirkwood, 0—68; G. Prestidge, 1—133;. G. Prestidge, B, 0—67. DUCKS. Fawn Indian Runners.—Stan. Beauchamp, No. 1, 2—98; No. 2, 1—160; No. 3, I—l9o. Fawn and White Runners.—L. P. James, No. 1, 0—93; No. 2, 2—130; No. 3, 2—168; Mrs. F. A. Warren, No. 1, 3 —133; No. 2, 1—90; No. 3, 1—149; Thos. Dowthwaite, No. 1, 0—118; No. 2, 1—218; J. O. Law, 1— White Runners.—Mrs. D. M. Waddell, o—los. Khaki Campbell.—Mrs. D. M. Waddell, 2— C. Cleaver, No. 1, 0—170; No. 2, 0—83; No. 3, 0—124. LIGHT BREED; THREE-BIRD TEAMS.

The sooner eggs are collected in hot weather and stored in a cool place the longer their quality will be maintained. If they are collected twice a day, so much the better.

E. Clare, W.L Total W’kly to Ttl. date 12 3 44 5. 13 458 G. L. Gaylard, W.L 5 6 3 14 514 Mrs. R. K. Cannon, W.L. 5 7 5 17 632 H. Moreland, W.L' 5 ti 0 11 502 D. M. Peek, W.L., No. 1 6 4 5 15 508 D. M. Peek, W. L., No: 2 5 4 0 9 474 Burbank Poultry Farm 3 0 7 557 Miss D. Swadllng, M, .. 5 5 2 12 408 HEAVY BREEDS: BLACK ORPINGTONS. Mrs. F. A. Warren 4 0 4 8 368 Mrs. D. M. Waddell .... 0 4 6 9 507 Thos. Dowthwalte 0 1 G 7 489 W. A. Larsen 4 5 * 9 487 Mrs. S. Patterson 5 a 0 10 433 DUCKS. Stan. Beauchamp o 1 1 4 448 L. P. James 0 ‘2* o 4 391 Mrs. F. A. Warren 3 1 1 5 372 C. Cleaver 0 0 0 0 3/7 •Signifies bird dead. B--Broody.