POULTRY KEEPING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5308, 3 August 1928, Page 4

POULTRY KEEPING.

HATCHING REMINDERS.

jßy F. C. Brown, Chief Poultry Instructor, in the Journal of Agr-'-culture.)

Poultry-keepers who have not commenced hatching operations are reminded that August and September arc the. best months to haw. the ch'icks. coming out ; chicks brought out later seldom prove satisfactory. No time, therefore, should be lost in securing the required number, of young birds for the season, in many cases, of course, hatching operations will be delayed until October* or even later, owing to the inability to secure broody hens. But the poultry-keeper who is really anxious to secure highly profitable stock will not delay his hatching operations by waiting for broody liens. He will adopt artificial methods, and thereby be able to have all his stock hatched out at the right time’.

It is now recognised that the- maximum returns cannot be secured from poultry unless late autumn and winte l ' eggs are produced in good numbers. It, is also recognised that the pullet* must be chiefly depended upon to pro--duce thje.se, and to do so the chicks must be hatched by the end of September at la,test.- in a general way this involves the adoption of artificial methods, as on most plants it, is almost impossible to secure the- desified number of broodies when they a,re required. Even on the general farm artificial, me’ans must be resorted to, either by using an incubator on by purc'has'ip.g day-old chicks from a reliable breeder and rearing, these by means of an up-to-date broofer, • OVERDUE HATCHES.

The Invariable cause; of chicks not hatching on time is that the incubator lias been maintained at too Tow a temperature. The thermometer may have been, placed too high above the eggs, or it may mot be accurate. If eggs do not pip up to time (say, at the twentieth day for hen-eggs and the twenty-sixth for duck-eggs) the only safe course to takje< before the machine’ is again set, is to have the thermometer tested, and to see that it is hung in the correct position, the bulb being allowed to fie,st against the top surface of a fertile egg. Naturally, an incorre'et temperature may be secured from the reverse position through the thfejimometer beinlg too fan below the level of the top of the eggs. Fon he® or duck eggs the temperature at the level of thle tops of the eggs on the tray should be about 102 deg. F. the first week, 103 deg. the second, and third weeks, and, 104 dfcg. .when hatching. There need be no alarm should the temperature, vary slightly for an hour or two, but if longer than this, paticularly during the early stages of the incubation process, the germ As apt to become impaired and the success of the hatch affected. When the correct degree of heat is spoken of this means the temperature required by the geHm of the egg, which, is always floating uppermost quite irrespective of the; position, of the egg.. Of course, eggs that are stale always take longer to hatch than 'those, which are fresh.

It will generally be found that really good hatches title obtained oply when the hatchable eggs pip and hatch a,bout the due time, and in the cas(e. of hen-eggs when all the available chicks are out of the shell on; the twenty-first day. Thus, if the, breeding stock are in proper condition, the eggs fairly fresh, the ' thermometer kept on a level with the genius- and even then the hatch is delayed’, it is. as before indicated, as well to have the thermometer tested or a new one obtained. ‘ THE SITTING HEN.

" A matter for first consideration when setting ,a. hen is whether, she, is free from insect pests. The hen should b.e. well dusted with an insect-powder befoifc being entrusted with the eggs, and again prior to hatching. On no account should lie be < listed when, the chicks are very young, as the powder is apt to get into their eyps and cause blindness. Not only should the. hen be free- frbm vermin, but care must also be taken that the coop is free from red mite. The hen should be isolated from the poultryhouse, as few houses are a.s free) from vermin as the; y might be. Another advantage of keeping the sitting hen away from the poultry-housle- is that shb will not. be disturbed by other members of the flock. The presence of vermin and continued disturbance by 'other fowls are the most, common of hens leaving their nests before hatching takes place. The hen will usually sit better if the nest is made in rather a da.uk place. A common practice is to set a lien .iiv a confined box, where she must be let off bnce a day to feed and drink, as well as for the purpose of keeping the nest clean. It is, however,, a much better plajr to s®t the hen in a coop with a roomy run attached. She can then, have before her at all times all she requires in thfo way of food and wa.teiy and can leave and return to the nest as she

pleases. When setting a hen the great alini should’ b*e. to follow nature as closely as possible, and yet have the hen under control. To achieve this end. and 1 to guard against the chicks being carried away by eats, stoats, or wieasels. the best and cheapest course in the, long run, as already indicated, is to provide a proper coop and run for the mother hen. and lien brood. It is always possible to make the coop in such a way that it can be easily moved to fresh ground. It shoulc!’ be ratproof, while the run should also protect the little birds from their natural enemies. The run should not be made too small. If the chicks arc to develop into robust stock they should have ample room to scratch and concise. It is always a wise plan, tto have a floor to the coop, unless, of course, it is under cover, so that the birds may pot be swamped out during wet weather. When making the nest, place 3in or 4in of moist eal’ith in, one corner of Hie coop. Tlie' earth may lie

kept in place by means of four bricks,

Shape the u,est so that the eggs will have a slight tendency to roll to the centre, care being taken to see that, it is roomy and flat i.u the centre. This will allow the heai 'the necessary room to turn the eggs, which she does several times a day. The nesting material may consist of i|ry grass, hay. or tine straw. A good plan is to first put the' hen on a few china eggs until satisfied that she can be entrusted with the; eggs intended for. hatching.

When the hatch is completed the hen may be given a fee'd of grain, preferably out of a tin or something similar, but there is ito hurry to feed th'p; chicks .for at least twenty-fouu hours. Tliq eggshell, should be removed and tlie nest made comfortable. one of tlie bricks being also taken a,way. so that if a chick jumps out of the nest it may easily return to it. Many chicks are drown'ed by jumping into deep water-vessels, and this risk should be minimisel by using a shallow water-tray.

Tlie' food for sitting hens should consist of whole grains, nia'zc being included' when available. This, with grit and clean water, is all that is requiifed. Mushes, meat, anl gUeen food are apt to slacken the bowls and causes the 1 eggs to be soiled, to the detriment of the hatch.