POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 20 January 1938, Page 16

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”)

The account which appeared in the “Standard'' recently regarding tuo etieet of the heat upon iowis, was not surprising to poultry-keepers who have been at all ouservant during the last week or so. In many eases ends have for no other reason than the excessive heat gone right off toed, which, of course, lias resulted in a lessened egg yield. Birds and animals have, line humans, had a more .or less trying time during the hot days of this sunlmer. The towis suffering most are those confined to iron structures with little ventilation. It may be that there is the usual partly open front, but this is not enough. Air apertures at the back are needed to cause the stream of air to pass through, thus considerably reducing the temperature within. Even in poultry houses of wood these aids to good ventilation are necessary. It is very likely that an earlier moult than usual will iollow this heat wave, and extra consideration of other causes than poor strain will have to be given when culling proper begins. Owners may be tempted to throw out birds which in ordinary circumstances would be considered excellent specimens for another season’s laying. Whilst on this topic, it would not be out of place to suggest that a tonic at this time -would be gratefully acceptable to all birds. Just a very little sulphate of iron in the water would do. It may mean another month’s laying to many a bird. As much green feed as they will eat. should also be given.- Perches should be freed of redmite and cool, pure water should always be before the birds. There is much that can be done to help birds during these trying days. “Poultry World” tells of a poultrykeeper who was surprised one morning to find an egg outside the nest of his broody hen. He put it back after marking it with a pencil. Next morning lie was astonished to find the same egg outside the nest, and again lie replaced it, only to later find it again rejected. He was now convinced that tho hen hod thrown it out, and testing proved it to be infertile. The journal explains it in this way: “There is a lot of difference between the two typos of eggs. Tho infertile ones become quickly cold when the hen leaves the nest for food. Therefore, when tho lien returns to the eggs it is probable she can discern the difference on contact with her flesh, and pushes out the infertile egg.” This sounds alright, but “Brooder” and many others know of numberless cases wlierin infertile eggs remain in the nest until tho completion of the hatch. Still, there may bo something in it. Queensland, South Australia and other parts of Australia report better prices for eggs. The discontinuance of exports earlier than usual is being offset by an unusually early decline in yield. 'Jhe position in New Zealand is steady, with the expected upward trend in prices, usually following Christmas, still to eventuate. Besides, there is no positive proof that the hot weather has had an ill effect on the yield generally. Nevertheless, the natural slackening off. has set in, and prices should rise. Of course, we must remember that this is the holiday season and with lots of people away the use of the egg in the home is to an extent curtailed. When people have settled down to ordinary routine it is then probably that prices will move. Meanwhile, every laying bird must be encouraged to do its bit. A feeder of the soaked grain ration is very satisiied with results, but he is also concerned not a little about many of his pullets at the end of tho season developing protrusion of the intestines. It is probable that this trouble is caused by other excesses which are fed with the soaked grain. Others who have used soaked grain with limited addition of forcing meals have not had more birds than usual breaking down with the complaint named. Protusion is experienced at times by all birds, and in most cases a forcing ration is the cause, though a percentage of birds are naturally weak in this respect. Says one who likes delving into the past: “There are still a number of poultrymen who cherish the idea that it is possible to increase the percentage of pullets in a hatch l>y carefully selecting for incubation eggs of a particular shape. One hesitates to deride this, especially on the discovery that the renowned philosophic Aristotle wrote over 300 years 8.C.: ‘The long, sharp-pointed eggs bring females; the round ones, with a larger compass at the sharp end, males.’ ” Many have since proved this a fallacy, selecting always an even shaped egg or one nearest the ideal they have in mind. They know that sex is not dependent on shape. The determining factor is more or less in the mating of the breeding pen. Nests for pullets should now be prepared. To allow these young birds to lay their product anywhere on the ground starts a very bad habit which, once begun, is hard to correct. Pullets just beginning laying are naturally secretive, and nests should be so arranged as to give them a certain amount of privacy. Older birds are not so particular. Nevertheless, it is wise to so construct the boxes that birds are given every encouragement to lay where there Js less chance of the eggs being broken or the marketable value of the product being greatly impaired. Early pullets will soon begin operations on. many farms.