POULTRY-KEEPING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5059, 1 December 1926, Page 4

POULTRY-KEEPING.

MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG STOCK. (By F. C. Brown, Chief Poultry Expert) At this period of the year the,re are several matters, which the poul-try-keeper cannot afford to neglect if the greatest profit is to be made from the plant. No effort should be spared to keep the -quarters in a thorough sanitary state .to guard against the birds being attacked by insect pests. It is well to ‘remember that these parasites multiply at an alarming rate at this season, of the year. Do not be lured into a I'ajse sense of security by having new houses. Although the quarters may be comparatively new, it is of the greatest importance that all causes 'favourable to insect life be frequently removed. This implies strict attention to cleanliness, the provision of good dusting places, combined with periodical spr.ayingsi of disinfectant. Do not be tempted to overcrowd the growinng birds. This weak policy is bad enough where adult stock is concerned, but it is especially a weak policy in the case o'f the growing bird. It should not be .thought that because the birds have passed the brooder stage special care -and management are not as essential as during the brooder stage, if the birds are to grow into vigorous and profitable stock —and they will be profitable only if they are vigorous—this: can only come from careful treatment through all stages o’f their development, not only in the matter o'f diet, but by comfortable housing without coddling. Confined quarters are not desirable for growing birds. DIET FOR GROWING PULLETS. A correspondent asks if it is advisable to have meat-meal in hoppers at a.ll times for. his pullets to pick at after they have attained an age of

two months. Personally, I do not recommend this. The food supplied should contain the elements needed to build up frame and bone, rather than to develop the egg organs—or, in other wor.ds, prematurity—• a condition which the overfeeding meat is sure to bring about. The aijn should be to bring the pullet naturally to maturity, and this can only be done by ifiam 'feeding of sound grain material of which good plump oats should form a great part of .the ration, This, together with 1 an abundance of succulent gre,en material, plenty of grit, and clean water, is all that they require. It is 'far too common to see pullets commencing to lay at about fotir and a hajUt to five months, old due to being supplied with too much animal food. This is a, mistake, as such birds, seldom grow to a desired size, nor do they produce a decent-sized marketable egg or one fit for hatching purposes. It is not generally known that when a pullet commences to Jay she ceases to grow. Obviously, if a bird commences to lay at an .early age it will remain a diminutive specimen of its breed. It is sound practice to give chicks a good supply of animaj 'food—say, up to' six weeks old—but between this period and until the pullets, are well-developed to the point of laying, ■forcing food should be sparingly provided. Indeed, if it is observed that the pullets s t how the slightest signs of coming too early to maturity all forcingJfopd, such as meat or its substitutes, or even milk, should be left out of the ration. A great weakness on some plants is to feed both the growing amd the adult stock on the one class fpi d. I have seen cases where .the morning mash contained a high proportion of forcing material such as meat or blood meal, this being supplied to all the fidck irrespective of age. Such food is specially demanded in the case df the heavy-laying bird, especially

when it is intended to cull her out at the end of her productive period. With. the growing bird, however, such a forcing die„t is quite unnecessary, having the effect of forcing the bird to lay bdfore it has attained a desired age and proper, development.

The fact that the modern egg-pro-ducing type of pullet is put to a s.evere strain almost before it has attained maturity obviously goes to shdw th a it it should develop naturally and grow to a desired size, in order that it may ha t ve the power to resist disease and last, out a long laying season. It is not when a bird commences to lay, but the number of good saleable eggs she will produce in .two seasons, while at the same time being a desirable breeding bird, that is the factor determining her value. The, age of six months is soon enough for a pullet to start her pej’io'd of production, and this may be extended in the case of .the heavy breeds. The day has long passed .for the view that early maturity is an index to profitable production and breeding-power.