POULTRY KEEPING

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 350, 5 February 1918, Page 1

POULTRY KEEPING

3y F. 0. Brown, Poultry Instructor. (From the "Journal of Agriculture") THE GROWING PULLETS Where the hatching operations have been carried out at the right time, and the young stock are at a safe age, February will be more or less a slack month. To the observant poultryman, however, it will be a very interesting period, and one of much importance as regards future success. It is a good time to closely study the requirements of the growing birds, as well as the development of the young ones produced from the different matings. In this connection too much care cannot be taken in handling the growing pullet. Firstly, she must be brought naturally to maturity This can only be done by correct feeding and management. I* is far too common at the present time to see pullets commencing to lay at about four months and a half old This, of course, is a mistake, as such birds never grow to a desired size, nor do they produce a decent-sized marketable egg. and are therefore

useless as breeding stock. Especially does proper handling of the pullet apply at the present time, when there is a decided tendency for many useful breeds of poultry to become much below the standard weight of their breed. The fact of a pullet coming to maturity at a very young age indicates that its reproductive organs have developed before it has had time to build up a good frame. The same applies with equal force to a younp male. Obviously, to breed from such rapidly maturing stock must mean ruination of the strain in the near future.

The chief weakness with many in handling the growing pullet lies in supplying too rich a diet, such as meat, meat meal, or similar nitrogenous materials The bad effect of an over supply of meat food ifi accentuated when tie birds are provided with an ample supply of skim milk to drink. It should be remembered that milk is not only a drink for fowls, but a rich food as well. Milk is certainly an excellent food for chickens of all ages, but judgment must be exercised as to the amount supplied. When fed to excess its forcing effect will not only bring the growing chicken to pre-maturity, but ovarian troubles will follow as well. Where milk is being supplied in large quantities, and the pullets shove the slightest evidence of coming to lay at too early an age, it should be eliminated from the ration, or, at any rate, given in a less quantity to drink.

The feeding in general of the growing pullet is most important. Too i ften the same ration is fed to all members of the flock, whether they be four, five, or six-months-old pullets, or even adult stock. A case came under mv notice the other day of White Leghorn pullets commencing to lav at four mon.hs and a half old. These birds were confined in a house from the day they were hatched, were given milk to drink, ai'd had the same mash - containing a big supply of blood meal—as the laying flock. In this case the owner, being uuder the common but mistaken idea that early maturity was indicative of heavy-producing stock, was naturally proud of his birds, Judging, however, by their size (they were more like bautams than White Leghorns;, as well as the small fcized eggs produced, they were not desirable stock to perpetuate.

The object of the poultryman should be to keep his pullets steadily growing by providing plain food and a good range, and by careful management generally. The food supplied should contaiu the elements needed to build up frame and bone, rather than to develop the egg organs. For this purpose there is nothing better than a good, wholesome grain mixture, of which nice plump oats, whether crushed or whole should be thechief ingredient. Oata are certainly expensive at the present time, but e*en so if a good short, stout quality is available they will probably prove in the long run one of the cheapest diets for the growing chicken. It should never be forgotten that inferior oats are dear at practically any price. They chiefly consist of husk, which is next to useless as a food. Green is, of course, the life of t; growing bird, and should be supplied with a free baud. On no account should growiuj< birds be kept in too confined

qiuitors, or what may be termed uoihoUne conditions, otherwise they will bec>me overforced. The coverd m house is ihe ideal place lor the laying pullet, especially when winter eggs are the objective, but for the growing bird too much range cannot be provi ltd. The fact that the modern egg-type of pullet is put to a severe strain almost befoio 11 has att iinefl maturity makes it inijieia'ive that the bird should develop uatmally and grow the desired ' limber," so that it may have tlie power to resist disease and last out a 1 oug heavy laying season. Not when a bird commences to lay, but!lih number of good saleable eggs she will produce in two seasons, while at the same time being a desirable breeding bird, is ihe factor that determines her value The age of six months iB soon enough for a pullet to start her

period of production, and this may bo extended in the case of the heavier breeds. The ()ay lias, indeed, lone: gone for the argument to hold good that early maturity is an index to profitable production. To sum up: For pullets to commence to lay just when they are required it is necessary that they receive every consideration in tlie matter of feeding and housing Draught-proof hnises (but giving abundance of fresh air) ke i t in a thoroughly clean condition and providing ample accommodation,. wellsheltered runs, green food, clean water, grit, and a generous supply of proper food, together with as much range as possible, are indispensible actors in the requisite management. lil'fKS aylt LAVIXii Several cases have como reeontly under my notice of India Runner

ducks not laying up to expectation. In some instances the trouble was due to the owners being compelled ta change the diet, owing to inability to obtain a regular supply of the usual ration provided. In oilier cases the owners have adopted the plan of changing the feed, beiDg under the impression that it was the right thing to do. Of course, this is a mistake. Ducks are of a very nervous temperament, and any alteration in the method of feeding will have a decided effect on the egg yield. Where the changing of the feed is unavoidable it should, if possible, be done by degrees. A sud-den-change of food,or quarters for laying ducks will often result in entire refusal to eat, with consequently a reduced egg return. That laying ducks require a change of food is one of those theories which lamentably fail in practice. CROOKED UUEAST- ISOXES

This trouble is usually the result of allowing young stock to roost at too-early an age (especially when unsuitable perches are provided) or where they have been allowed to roost in trees, while sometimes it is due to constitutional weakness. A bent breast bone lessons the value of a table bird, and is often responsible for a good bird being passed in the show-pen. Perches should not be provided till the young birds are at least three months old. Even then small, narrow perches should not be used, as they are apt to have an injurious effect not only on the breast bone but on the hock-joints as well. For growing chickens perches should be made of timber not less than 3in. wide. Before chickens are given perches the floor of the house on which they *sleep should be wellbedded down with straw, pino needles, or other similar material. It is always a mistake to allow chickens to sleep on the hard iloor which has insufficient covering to keep the breast bones off the hard surface.