POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 35

POULTRY NOTES.

Bi Tssnoß.

—It is quite within the bounds of possibility that those who keep & small number of fowls, even up to 50 head, may overfeed, although, at the same time boasting that the cost p^r bird is on the low side. The danger lies in the amount of household scraps, or refuse supplied. In the case of a large family the scraps, etc, put aside for the fowls would possibly make a meal for 50 head of poultry if thrown to them without the addition of pollard or bran, but when these are added the whole makes too heavy a meal. To avoid this dangler there are alternative methods— either (1) throw the scraps without the I added pollard or bran ; (2) reject a portion of the scrape Before mixing the other comiponente of the mash ; or, (3) keep a greater number of birds. I have been told by a fancier whose fowls were overfed, that it w« better to give the birds a little more than might be good for them than, to waste good food; and no doubt he would have continued the suicidal habit, notwithstanding that it meant loss of eggs, had I not recommended the keeping of an extra pen of fowls-. It does not pay a breeder or fancier in throwing a heavy mash in the mornin? to think that matters^ will be squared by giving a light feed of grain at night for fowls are not satisfied, even though they are over-fat, with having to go to rooet with «. half-empty crop. — There is^ always more or lees refuee from the kitchen that can go to the poultry. This should be properly prepared, co as to give the greatest amount of benefit. At all country homes there i« more or le6S milk that can' be used in mixing up a very enjoyable feed for the fowls. If the little fragments .of meats be out fine, the refuse from vegetables, fruits, etc., and bread crusts be thrown in an old pan or pot where some milk can be poured over the mess and a little meal and bran or shorts stirred in to thioken it up, to take off all eloppy condition, it will be found a fine feed for the fowls. They will ahow their appreciation of it by eating it greedily, and keeping a lookout for this feed. It should be fed in a trough so it will not get wasted by dirt or eaten by other animals. Try saving the basis of a good mess for the fowls by keeping the kitohen refuse, and you will be greatly rewarded! by more eggs and healthier fowls. — Birds in this district appear to be moulting ■ nicely and early, and this gives promise of eggs in winter from the comparatively small stock which the dear ness of grain has induced owners to rear. But there are cases th.Se season, «c «t«i-y <»»»»>, of birds moulting badly— i.e., either they lose all their feathers before the new ones sprout or pending the dropping of the old feathers the birds droop and go off their feed. In the last-mentioned condition it may be thought a mistake to speak of the birds as "moulting," but it is not so, for internal changes to that end are going on, but not satisfactorily. If the feathers do not come^ quickly, or if there is delay in dropping the old feathers, give a little tonic The laying and young stock will benefit by a tonio in any case. Most of the tonics or condiments offered for sale at poultry supply stores are good, or the iron and epeom salts tonic— a quarter of a pound of each' to the gallon,, with a little sulphuric acid added before strainingcan "be given, and will be found very effective, both in, aiding the moult and keeping away disease. A teaspoonful should be added to each pint of drinking water. Loose feathers must be swept up during I moulting. They are sometime* the vehicles, of disease, and' are always untidy. 1 —The Australian Hen says:— The meet generally used tonic aids to moult are sulphur and iron. Wright recommends a pinch of sulphur thrice weekly, also sulphate of iron, or tinoture of iron, in the drinking water. Generally epeakang, the best plan is one teaspoonful of flour of sulphur in the mash for a dozen birds one day, and the came amount of saccharated i carbonate of iron the next, and keep this up until the moult ie completed. Rape seed, which contains sulphur, is said to be beneficial also. Linseed, either stewed— which is preferable— or in. the form of meal, mixed' in the mash, ie strengthening, and tenda to add lustre to the plumage. Hemp seed is valuable also, but need not be used if sunflower seed is available, and the latter is generally considered the best. In giving all these, it must nof be considered necessary to feed aJI we have recommended; they are given to allow for the possible inconveniences of securing any particular item. Generally the sulphur and iron will do the work-*md do it well. Also the plan of mentioning all the aids to moulting makes a change in the diet i possible, and such is helpful at all times, if not too radical. In case the birds get really ill durine the moult, the following tonio is variously recommended, dropping all others, of course: Cinnamon lioz, ginger soz, gentian lioz, aniseed Joz, carbonate of iron 2iou. This should be «iven in the mash— just enough to flavour it. Probably the regular dose of one teaspoonful to a dozen birds will be found about right. It i» not advisable to use this tonio except in case* where the moulting strain Beriously affects the cards. 1 —The Age of the 10th ult. records a remarkable incident in connection with ' egg-laying competitions. Mr A. H. Padman holds the unique Tecord of hokhnj? the lead in each State holding competitions For. the first nine months the scores are:— Gatton (Q.), 1207 eggs : RoeeI worthy (S.A.), 1558; Berowra (N.S.W.), 1H1; Subiaco, six months and one week, 871 eggs. . j — Mr F. Brown, assistant Government poultry expert, who has been enjoying a holiday in Australia, and while there has taken unto himself a partner for life— in which undertaking all readers of Poultry ' Notee will wish him every joy, for he is a good sort — reports that, among the leadinn pleasures of hie holiday he counta his visits to several of the best-known poultry plants. He visited Mr Ellis's farm at Botany, where 5000 ducks and, 3000 fowls are kept ; Mr J. Stewart's farm at Hillorest, Mr G. Howell, Messrs Stewart Bros., Mrs Warren, Mr M'lntosh, who conducted the Rockdale ' competition so successfully, and several 1 others, including some purely fancy j izreedere. Mr Brown has returned with ; stock for the Government farms, regarding which he says:— "l secured stock from the best laying strains in Australia. For ln- { stance, I have brought back five white Leg- ' horn cockerels of {&• great Padman strain,

birdW of whicK are leading in three comKtitions. Then I obtained some brown tghorn cockerels of a strain which produced a pen of six which laid in a comI petition last year, just on 1300 eggs ; an- [ other lot of white Leghorn cockerels of a I strain which produced a pen or edited with | over 1400 eggs; some black Orpingtons of the Stewart strain; white Wyaodottea of I the Sherwell strain; and Beveral Indian runner drakes, from Howell'e noted pens, one pen of which laid 1400 eggs last year. These will be distributed to the poultry farms of the department, and there mated' with the breeding peng being seleoted by trap-nest records. Next season, therefore, breeders and farmers ehould be enabled to secure settings of the best laying types of the different utility breeds. There are already excellent laying strains on the Government farms, but the introduction of the best Australian egg-producing blood will give renewed vigour to our sttock, and strengthen their laying power." — The New Zealand Poultry Journal, having, presumably, Mr Brown's purchases in view, says: "Some stupid oritice will insist on implying that when the Government purchase a change of blood it indicates,.that the Experimental Farms have no stock in them that speaks for quality. Such reasoning ie arrant nonsense, and shows an ignoranoe of the rules of stock-breeding. In every department . of stock-raising a change of blopd is necessary, and nothing more so than in poultry. Those who never visit the Government farms are incapable of passing judgment. y7e are agreeably ! surprised at the work being done, and are convinced that experiments will be found of street value as soon as initiatory difficulties have been overcome." ' — The sort of critics referred to by the N.Z.P.J. are not satisfied with merely carping at Government expenditure of the kind spoken of, but with all and evei^y expenditure in connection with the Government farms. They want a balance sheet, feeling sure that such would show that the farms are not being worked at a profit. Having satisfied not only themselves, but everyone else on that head, they would say: "If Government farms, run by experts and regardless of expense, cannot be made to pay, how can private ventures on limited capital be made to do so?" If the most nolsv of these critics were to be appointed chief Government expert, I fancy he would soon find reasons why a- Government poultry farm could not be worked to a profit; indeed, would begin to argue that a profit would demonstrate that it was being improperly conducted ! "A Government farm," he would say, "is a stud farm, a place where purity of stock is a first consideration; a farm to which farmers or breeders generally may go to secure birds of stamina; birds that have not. like farmers' birds, been impoverished by forcing methods unavoidable* where profits are a necessity, or to procure ejjgs bred from birds that, instead of being forced for ejnrs, have been rested prior to mating." He ' would also say. "What satisfaction would it be to the poultry breeders of the Dominion of New' Zealand to • find in a Government farm balance sheet, even if it showed a profit, that egijs had all been sold at 5s per dozen when their own marketed eggs average only between 8d and Is, or that not a Government bird had changed hands at under ss. when the market price did rot exceed 66 » lb." The poultry business, generally speaking, is not "humming" just now, the dearnese of feed having discouraged many : but, as has happened with most otl-er callings, all of which have in turn their times of depression, the up turn will come in due course. Of one thino; we mat be certain — i.e., that there will always be a market for poultry and poultry produce : and it is essential that breeders -*tudy that market and its requirements. The requirements of the South Africa market during war time gave an invpetUß to the poultry industry which could not be maintained subsequently, and it is the expectations of that period which are now eufferinar disappointment. It -is the market which is very slowly but surely beinjr built up, in England which will last, and will in due course warrant tho establishment of large poultry plants in New Zealand. In the meantime the Government rwuUrv farms ar<» «jerving their purcose — that is to say, they are educational, and centres from which good stock may be obtained. By-and-bye the Government's gra diner and exoo-rt depots will tjrove the nrofitablene** of the farms. — Central Produce Mart (Limited), (Messrs Reillv, Scott, and Gill, proprietors), report for the week ending Saturday. 29th February: — Prime well-conditioned poultry have been >n excellent dem«nd. At our sale we experienced * stronar demand, and thfire was soirited bidding for nil srood lota. Eggs: Owinar to the fact of agent* having some inferior Ht><» on offer, and cutting price* to Is per dozen, the market has been indifferent: ovr customers would not operate wit.h indifferent quality egjje. and we were able *o clear our lines at satisfactory prices. We beg to quote th*> following r>rices as havinar been obtained by us:— Hens, 9s M to 3s lOd • youner roosters. 4s to 5s 6d : chickens, 2s to 3s 6d; pullets. 4b to 9s; ducklinirs, 4s to ss: ducks. 4s to 4s 4d : cul' ducks. 2e 6d to 3b 6d ; geese, 4s to 5s 6d pw i»ir ; turkey sroblers, 8d ncr lb, hens 44d to 5d per lb. Eofgs: Case egjra Is ld, guaranteed Is 2d, stamped and guaranteed ]« 3d. Butter in ext»-a strong: demand: bulk lOd to lid. pats lOd to Is. Fat : Prime" reni dered 225, rough 18s to 20s. Honey. 4s to 44d ; ber*wax. Is 4d : horsehair, Is 6d ; cheese, 53d to 6d. Pigs, 5Jd to 6id for ieal good sorts.