POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 50, 27 January 1938, Page 9

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) With pullets making steady progress, not requiring that regularity of attention so necessary in the first month or so of their existence, work slackens a little just now on every poultry farm. Yet there is plenty to do. Even where no extensions are in hand, there are bound to be repairs to this and alterations to that wherever there is a plant even of very small dimensions. Beading of how the utility of iron water tanks may be considerably extended, the idea suggests itself that there must be many an old, dilapidated shed to which wire netting and plaster would give new tisefillness and certainly a vastly improved appearance. With the iron tank, we are told to closely line it with wire netting affixed by small holes being made in the tanks, the wire being inserted through them. Then plaster over the wire a mixture of three parts of clean sand and one part of cement. An inch depth of the mortar is used at the bottom of the tank. Any who have water tanks rusting or corroding should find this idea helpful. However, how about the sheds? Some of these arc almost due for renewal; they need too much to consider repairs, it might be possible to rough-cast these in much the same way as described lor the iron tank. Whole dwelling houses are being done and look handsome structures when finished.. Why not try the idea on that very draughty incubator room or feed slied ? The improvement to the lay-out of the farm would be enhanced thereby. The work may need a little practice, but it should not be beyond the skill of the man least handy with tools. With the return of the rain every poultry-keeper will seize the opportunity to plant plenty of seed wherewith to secure an ample supply of green food for tJ/e winter. The lengthy spell of drv weather has delayed this somewhat,* but there is still time for seed to become well established before the cold weather, with frosts, is with us again. It would be an exaggeration perhaps to say that plenty of green feed is half the food costs; nevertheless a good supply can reduce costs to a large degree. It reduces costs because it increased the egg yield, and that is the thought which must be kept in mind more than anything else. The purpose of green food is to maintain good health, and wherever there is health, all things else considered, there is bound to be increased production. . The question of what to plant is largely one which every grower must decide for himself. Much - depends upon the location of the farm. For those not having much ground available or not many birds, silver beet is perhaps the most likely to suit the purpose. It grows quickly almost anywhere if the soil is well cultivated. Cabbage, too, is useful, for the edible parts can be used in the home. With this, on well manured ground, tremendous leaf growth . can lie promoted, which a-s a green food for fowls is hard to beat. However., it lacks the nature to keep green all the time like silver beet; hence the lattei is more .useful as a stand-by throughout the winter.

FEEDING FRUIT TO POULTRY. Fruitgrowing and poultryfarmmg go well together, but if much fruit is fed To poultry in yards—with a view to reducing the feed bill —it is likely to have a dangerous effect; probably this is not so noticeable where fowls are run on free range as a sideline, there may be a little diarrhoea at the start, but there will be a falling off in laying, and the young stock will not grow. This is due to acid m the fruit and the fact that it contains little nourishment. FEEDING MOLASSES. Results of feeding tests at Ohio State University indicate that cane molasses may be used to replace grain pound for pound up to 10 per cent, of the ration for growing chicks and laving bens. At this rate, it is a mild laxative, causes increased water consumption, and contributes toward the health and condition of the fowls, but in larger amounts it creates thirst and causes the fowls to drink too much water. CANARY AND CAGE BIRD NOTES. ,'By “Unflighted.”) MAKE A GOOD START' WITH BUDGERIGARS.. (Concluded.) Novice: Would you or would you not send to a show those birds o mine which, as 1 have already told you, are too tat? Old Hand: ft is all a question oi how fat they really are. A little bit of extra flesh may not seriously handicap them, but if they are so gross that they have become “chesty or appear to be “lull behind” then I advise you to keep them home until thej become more normal in contoui. Novice: 1 have been told by others that a little hit of flesh can cover a multitude of sins! In other words that fatness hides faults which would he visible under normal circumstances. Do you agree?’ Old Hand: Not exactly. Fat will not make a had budgerigar into a good one, and a capable judge will very quickly discern if the curvature which he observes is structural or if it is attributable to excessive flesh, and lie will act accordingly. But it is correct to say that some specimens give a better account of themselves at the shows when tliev are a bit overweight. The ideal, of course, is a budgerigar winch looks at its best when it is carrying the normal amount of flesh. Novice: Before I leave you. I want to talk to you for a few minutes about the colour of the masks in a few of ni V skys, cobalts and mauves. Instead of being absolutely white they are apparently soiled, and even washing fails to make them pure white. 1 hey have always a east of grey or greyish brown. How do you account for this, and what can be done? .... Old Hand: T am familiar with the condition which you describe an.d 1 liave observed it more frequently in liens than cocks. It seems to me that the hens have rubbed their masks m dusty corners—you know how hens will perform in this way at tunes—until they have become so soiled that, as you have said, normal spraying or washing will not make them perfectly clean, and they don’t become white until they have moulted. Even then I have noticed that some of them have not those bright, white masks .which are desired, and I have occasionally asked myself if the feathers themselves were naturally removed from the pure white in colour, being a little more grey than white. At a show a few months ago, a fancier called my attention to a cobalt hen which lie was exhibiting. She is a very nice bird, but always handicapped because she has what is apparently a soiled mask. He had not tried washing her, but had sprayed her regularly. His other exhibits were perfectly clean. I told him to bring her to me and I would wash her. I did so, but when I exam-

ined her next morning to my regret I found that she was little better than she had been before I had given her the order of the bath!

Novice: Of course, a judge will handicap a bird whose mask is the colour which we have described, and not ■make allowances for the difficulty experienced by the owner? Old Hand: That is so. And you could scarcely expect a judge to do otherwise. After all, lie can only pass his judgment on birds as they are at the time of judging. QUERIES ANSWERED.

Question.—l have three young canaries whose father died, with the result that they have never heard the real canary song. Do they need training? Answer: Your birds will inherit the natural canary song, and it is not necessary for you to obtain another nialo bird to teach them to sing.

EGG-LAYING.

Ancona Stud P.F., W.L.— 227 140 219 165 191 175 (23)—1117 11. A. Lucas, W'.L.— 243 103 d 191 234 x 115 d 208 (16)—1094 Airs G. E. Sewell, W'.L.— 129 196 156 186 166 198 (25)—1031 S. G. Batten, W.L.— 143 160 199 146 156 154 (23)—958 C. L. W. Urquhart, W.L.— 216 x 68d 207 161 181 104 (20)—937 J. T. Hazelwood. W'.L. — 157 174 172 88d 145 146 (19)—882 Cotswohl P.F., W'.L.— 48d 90 187 187 58 192 (19)—762 AI. - Stephenson, W'.L.— 161 31d Od 168 115 183 (141—658 Section D. L. G. Hooper. 8.0: — 219 x 168 192 170 229 189 (15)—1167 W. A. Larsen, A.O.— 209 180 212 237 x 121 83d (15)—1042 F. A. Dcwlmrst, R.I.R.— 180 161 x 184 169 175 157 x (13)—1026 Austral P.F.. 8.0. 148 177 182 176 171 x 144 (17)—998 G. A, Edge, R.I.R.— 158 x 194 x 177 x 96 77 146 (20)—848 G. A. Alitchcll, 8.0. 84d 30d 163 197 104 x 120 (3)—698 Bliss Bros., R.I.R. — 79 116 146 89 87 165 (14)—682 “x” —Disqualified egg weight clause, “d”—Bird dead.

MASSES’ COLLEGE CON'I'EST. The following are the 44th week’s rcsubs of the egg laying contest conducted at Massey Agricultural College, Palmerston North:— SINGLE PENS. Section A. \V. Scott, VV.L 1 3 229 ,1. Wilson, W.L 2 226 (J. 11. Markland, W.L 3 4 225 A. G. Mumby, VV.L 4 1 222 Miss Pi. Kcddell, W.L 1 0 145 J. A. Annan, W'.L 4 216 U. li. Markland, W.L 4 0 209x A. A. lloaro, W.L 1 1 206x 0. 11. Markland, W'.L 1 2 204x A. G. Mumby, W'.L 2 0 200 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L 4 190 A. A. Hoare, W'.L 2 0 188 A. S. Harrison, W'.L 2 4 186 A J. Shailer, W’.L 2 184 Mrs II. H. Cannon, W.L. ... 4 180 Miss H. Kcddoll, VV.L 2 2 180 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W'.L. . 3 4 180x A. S. Harrison, W.L 1 5 178 A. G. Mumby, W.L 3 0 177 Whcntiapai P.F., W.L 2 175 A. J. Severn, W'.L 1 0 174 3 2 174 W. N. Laws, W'.L 2 4 168 P. Wills, Bn. L 1 5 168 0. H. Markland, W'.L 2 2 166 A. G. Mumby, W.L 1 3 166 Sunny River P.E., W.L 2 0 163 P. Mummery, Min 1 6 162 J. A Pearce, Anc 2 160 J. Mold, W'.L 0 156 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L. 1 5 155 P. Wills, Bn. L 2 4 154 J. Reilly, W'.L 4 151 W. N. Laws, W.L 1 149d G. E. Moody, W.L 0 148 Miss H. eKddell, W'.L 1 0 145 P. Mummery, Min 2 3 145 W. Scott, W'.L 2 2 140 Ancona Stud P.E.. Anc 4 139 G. W. Hawkins, W.L 0 135 W. Scott, W'.L 3 0 122 Mrs L. Hubbard, W.L. 0 116 C. L. W. Urquhart, W.L. ... A J. Severn, W'.L 0 114 2 0 102 Sunnv River P.F., W.L. ... 1 2 91 Mrs M. L. Douglas, W'.L. ... 84d Sunny River P.E., W'.L 6 31d Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L. 2 lid Section B. Miss E. T. Somer, R.I.R. ... 1 2 229, 2 5 224 Mrs M. L. Douglas. B.O. ... 4 218 T. Dowthwaite, B.O 6 5 214 Mrs R. W'illers, B.O 0 208 E. Jensen, R.I.R 2 4 199 T Dowthwaite, B.O 2 2 194 W. A. Larsen, A.O 4 6 194 Mrs W. J. Huxtablo, B.O. ... 6 193 Huxtablo Bros., B.O 2 0 192 W. A. Larsen, A.O 1 3 188 E. Jensen, R.I.R 1 3 187 D E. Hopkins, R.I.R 2 186 R. Feist, R.I.R. 2 183 Ancona Stud P.i*'., A.O 1 4 180 W. Fletcher, A.O 2 178 Huxtablo Bros., B.O 1 3 177x T. B. Holclawav, li.J.R 0 155 J D. Rowlands, R.I.R 2 5 153 W. Fletcher, A.O 2 4 152x T. - Dowthwaite, B.O 1 0 148 Miss E. T. Somer, R.I.R 3 1 147 Mrs W. 0. Gould, R.I.R. ... 0 145 W. A. Larsen, A.O 3 5 137 2 3 113 John W'alker, A.O 3 107 TEAM RESULTS. Section C.