Notes for the Poultry Keeper

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 25, 30 January 1937, Page 13 (Supplement)

Notes for the Poultry Keeper

Egg-laying Contest Conducted At Massey College 44th WEEK'S RESULTS SINGLE PENS. Section A. Section A (All W.L.), R. M. Smith 1 (I) 231 A. G. Mumby 1 (6) 223 Rangiuru Egg Ranch 3 (6) 226 G. E. Moody (3) 221 Miss H. Keddoll 1 (0) 221 Miss H. Keddell 2 (G) 217 A. G. Mumby 4 (6) 215 Mrs C. A. Stratford (4) 201 x J. Reilly 2 (5) 197 A. E. Salisbury 1 (5) 19J J. A. Annan (G) ISS C. L. W. Urquhart (5) 188 r A. E. Salisbury 3 (5) 18G J. Reilly 1 (5) 177 r Mrs B. B. Andrews (4) 166 A. C. Mumby 3 (4) IGI A. A. Moare 2 (3) 153 Moreland Bros. (5) 156 J. Mold (5) 151 Rangiuru Egg Ranch 2 (1) 144 M. Stephenson (5) 143 E. B. Wainscott (3) 143 A. A. Moare 1 (1) 136 R. M. Smith 2 (0) 120 Miss E. Ladd (3) 117 C. H. Barker (0) 112 Rangiuru Egg Ranch 1 (0) 111 A. C. Mumby 282 d A. E. Salisbury 2 22 d H. Poison ' 12d Section B. J. H. Sutton, A.C. (3) 239* A. E. Salisbury, A.O. 3 (3) 234 x T. Dowthwaite, 8.0. 3 (6) 224 x R. Feist, RIR. 2 (5) 219 A. E. Salisbury, A.O. 2 (6) 205 John Walker, A.O. (3) 204 T. Dowthwaite 220 Id A. E. Salisbury, A.C. 1 (4) 200 T. Dowthwaite, A.O. 1 (4) 194 R. Feist, RIR 1 (6) 190 W. A. Larsen, A.O. (4) 187 J. D. Rowlands, RIR. (5) 170 G. A. Edge, RIR (3) 159 F. Seymour, 8.0. (3) 15lx R. M. Smith, 8.0. (4) 151 Mrs. Norman Ross, A.O. (0) 147 Norman Ross, 8.0. 143 d Teams Results. Section C. (All W.L.). F, Ecob, No. 2 184 160 161 131 187 171 (27) 1,004 F. Ecob, No. 1 — 199 94x 134 d 157 152 201 (20) 937 M. Stephenson—--147 183 135 150 160 15S (29) 933 C. L. W. Urquhart—--147x 143 159 165 150 IGB (25) 932 3. G. Batten — 146 140 147 178 139 108 (28) 918 Mrs G. E. Sewell — 146 x 150 168 173 139 x 140 (28) 916 P. F. Argyle—--156 155 121 15G 113 134 (21) 86u Mrs B. B. Andrews—--139 161 145 26 118 123 r (23) 824 S. D. Morris—--157 96 97d 187 129 133 (10) 799 J. Graham — 170 99x 110 140 135 x 115 (16) 789 U. W. Thomson—--IU3 111 181 125 123 r IOOx (20) 780 Ralph Forlong — 16d 131 162 x lOld 17S 145 (19) 733 J. T. Hazelwood — 146 144 89 77 98 157 (22) 711 A. J. Dudson — ISO 160 111 53 133 113 r (21) 698 P. i\ Cotswold — 31d 132 x 49d 189 110 125 (16) 669 J. Wilson—--87 35d 129 122 139 115 (16) 627 A. E. Salisbury—--96 54d 158 106 x 22 IS6 (19) 622 D. M. Peck — 9d 138 72d 63 139 183 (15) 604 Miss H. Keddell — 111 146 124 35d 50 136 (17) 602 J. J. Faulkucr — 175 60 91 77 90 42d (15) 535 Penrose P. F. — 74x 161 d3O 80d 127 r 57 (5) 529 H. Poison — 4Gd 121 G7r 144 155 0d (19) 511 Section D. Mrs D. M. Waddell. (B.O,) 22Sx 214 x 173 x 16Gx 142 153 (21) 1,073 W. A. Larsen, (A.O.)— 178 192 177 113 158 158 (19) 97S Cotswold P.F. (A.O.)— lS4x IGOx 190 x 142 195 x 17d (10) 888 J. B. Duthic, No. 1 (8.0.) 152 x 170 x 146 x 87d 328 190 x (27) 873 F. A. Dewhurst (RIR.) — 133 194 177 91 167 100 (26) BG2 Luke Fletcher (B.O.) 190 129 d 75x 338 140 173 x (17) 845 A. E. Salisbury (A. 0.) Isox 213 x 160 154 x 18d 147 r (21) 842 Mrs R. Willers (8.0.) 119 112 158 d 190 134 122 (14) 835 Bliss Bros. (RIR.) 149 117 79d 130 163 182 x (23) 820 J. B. Duthie (RIR.) — 144 136 121 123 95 169 (4) 7SS J. B. Duthie, No. 2 (B.O.) 161 106 x 130 85 173 x 103 ( 24) 75G W. Fletcher (A.O.) — 96 122 x 139 26 142 170 (17) 695 G. A. Edge (RIR.)— 107 100 130 x 175 58 119 (10) 689 A. Thomson (A.O.) — 206 x 30d 130 x 131 x 129 61d (11) 687 I. J. Grose (8.0.) — 127 x 113 x 98x 60 95d 146 (12) 639 “r" replacement; ,f d” bird dead; “x" disqualified egg weight clause.

NOTES PROM AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL (By C. J. C. Cussen, Chief Poultry Instructor, Wellington). Nature’s way of assisting fowls to keep in a clean and sanitary condition is for them to shed their old coat and grow a new coat of feathers each year. The process is known as moulting. Practically all fowls moult once each year, while occasionally some moult twice in the course of twelve months, and what is known as a neck moult is not uncommon at almost any season ot the year. Some very heavy producers go for two years without shedding their feathers, but this is abnormal, and it is wiser not to breed from such birds until they have moulted and rested. Though the growth of feathers may take place at any time, the usual moulting-period is at the end of the laying-season, which, generally speaking, is during February and March. The average time it takes a healthy eighteen-inontlis-old bird to get through the moult is from eleven to thirteen weeks. There is, however, a considerable difference in the time and manner in which birds shed their feathers, a good deal depending upon the age o± the birds, when they were hatched, their health, and how the birds have been fed. The weather may also have an influence upon the time the moult may start. Two-year-old and three-year-old birds usually take longer than younger birds, while some continue in the moult a long time, which may bo taken as a sign of a. weak constitution, or that such birds were over-fat or iu too poor condition when the moult started. As a rule the poor producer starts shedding its feathers first, and takes a good deal longer to resume laying than the more prolific birds. On the other hand, the strongest and best producers in a flock are usually amongst the last to start moulting, and such birds often shed nearly all their feathers at once, grow their new r coat, and start laying against in eight or nine weks. The greater majority of hens cease laying during the moulting-period, but at times a few birds produce a few eggs throughout. Any sudden change or shortage of feed or water is likely to bring on an early or false moult; especially is this so with pullets that have just started to lay, or with hens towards the end of the year. The usual order iu which a bird moults is first the neck, then the back, wings and body. If a bird is caught and the wings examined it will be found that the wing feathers are divided into two sections by a short feather known ast he axial feather. On the outer side of the axial feather will be seen ten primary feathers which are used when flying, but which are out of sight when a bird is at rest. On the inner side are the secondary feathers which are more or less visible when the wings are folded. When a general moultj starts the primary feather next to the axial feather in each wing is moulted first, aud about two weeks later number two primary is dropped, and so on until the teu primary or flight feathers in each win" are moulted. It is seldom that more than two flight feathers from eacn wing are dropped at the same time, for this is nature's way of so providing that although a bird is going through the moulting process it can still fly and so protect itself against its natural enemies. It takes on an average about six weeks for a feather to grow to its full size.

Although the process of moulting is a natural and healthy one, it is a drain upon the system, and, as over-fat birds or those in poor condition do not moult well, it is advisable to examine the birds, and; if some of them happen to be over-fat or a little on the thin side, they can be separated froi the rest and treated suitably in order to bring them into the best condition to get quickly through the moult.

Care should be taken to see that they are free from insects; a little nicotine sulphate applied to the perches br the dusting of the birds with a fine dustiflgmatcrial should Tid them of vermin. It is also desirable just before or when the moult has started to treat the flock for internal parasites, which may be done by first starving the birds for about twenty-four hours, then feeding a mash of equal parts of pollard and bran, in which has been mixed a teaspoonful of Epsom salts to each three birds, and one teaspoonful of spirits of turpentine to every five birds. The amount of turpentine required should be first mixed with the bran. Epsom salts should be dissolved in hot water, and when tho salts are thoroughly dissolved and when the water is cold the solution is used to moisten the bran and pollard. It is well to note that best results are obtained when the mixture is given cold. Feed When Moulting When casting their feathers birds do not have great appetites, but care should be taken to see that they get sufficient. However, as the moulting process advances there is a heavy strain on the system, and a more liberal supply of food is required. If insufficient food igiven the growth of the new feathers i is checked, but care must be taken not to fatten the hens. Though a liberal quantity is required at this time, the ration need not be so strong as that given when the birds are in full lay. A mash made up of two measures of pollard, one measure of bran, 2 per cent, linseed-meal, 5 per cent, of meatmeal, and, twice a week, a tablespoonful of flowers of sulphur to each twenty fowls should give good results during the moulting period. The grain mixture may be made up of equal parts of wheat, barley and broken maize. It is important to see that a regular and liberal supply of succulent green food be given. As the moulting process is a natural one, if the quarters are kept clean and dry and the birds

fed regularly they will pass through with little trouble. However, extra' care and attention during that time assist nature and are amply repaid. Forcing the Moult Plants have been visited where to benefit from the season of high prices for eggs poultry-keepers have tried forcing some of their hens into an early moult with a view to their coming back to lay early. In some cases this has, been more or less successful, but on more occasions the results have been most unsatisfactory. Iu one instance 100 yearling hens were separated from the rest of the flock about tho middle of December. Their mash was discontinued, and only a little more than half ration of grain was fed for about three weeks. When tho moult was fairly under way they were liberally fed. The result was that by the middle of March the 130 hens were producing 50 eggs per j day, and by the end of March 80 3ggs per day. This production was maintained during April, but fell to 60 by the Ist May, and by the end of May 50 e ggs per day were being produced, and by tho end of June 40 per day were being laid. From experience the writer would recommend allowing tho birds to go through a natural moult. Export of Eggs During the past egg-export season a total of 11,281 cases—33B,43o dozen—egs were shipped from New Zealand to London, compared with 11,915 cases—--357,450 dozen—during the 1935 season. The quantities from the respective centres were as follows: Auckland, 1,928 cases; Canterbury, 5,953 cases; Otago, 3,400 cases—of thirty dozen each.