POULTRY POINTERS.

Shannon News, 1 December 1925, Page 3

POULTRY POINTERS.

" ♦ PUIXETS AND RATIONS. . Three to. five per cent, of cod liver oil is considered sufficient to add to mash for ba'by chicks. ..-*'■ Those who find difficulty in ing pullets to> small yards, should clip one wing—not (both, '■• In very small yards the 'hards, often learn to> get out by climbing up the netting. About the only way to stop fence-cliiiiibing is to stretch a light wire above the fence and inside of ,i't so that tlie overhanging wire keeps the (bird from "getting on to the top of the fence. "Let us have,, confidence,'' is the exhortation of. 'the N.Z. Poultry Journal. "The greatest handicap we have to production is a shortage of wheat lor our poultry. Nature has gone against us this season and the wheat sowings will be less than any year fqir many years past. There will he extra iciats grown, and pouflrymen should make use of. this valuable grain. We get wedded to the virtues oi wheat, hut during the last few weeks we have come across, s.ev-' "eral producers ."wttio oats "and" maize, and they affirm their egg returns are just as good as when fed on wheat. There has been a great in-" crease in the hatching qf chickens this season. It soon got kniiwn that many.'producers had given up poultry due to dear feed. Those with good plants have wisely doubled up their stock.- 1 There will toe quite a boom 'in the .poultry industry now that egg prices liave firmed up. Even now there is room for great improvement. Care for every pullet should be taken as next year good prices are assured.

Encourage the . growing flock now to maximum feed consumption. There is no gain whatever in feeding economies that result in glowing down growth and development. With the exception of .early-hatched birds that may • need to ibe held back a little, the rule should be to secure, the maximum possible feed consumption during this and , the following months, thus to get the birds into, production or bring thenv to market size in the shoirtest possible time. Rapid growth is always more profitable than slow growth. ■ A number of extreme rations of one kind and another are/being advocated these times but the inexperienced feeder should uise caution in adopting them. Extreme rations come under the head of "taking chances." Tlie experienced and' the "lucky" may get by with them, but the danger of unfavourably affecting production and increasing mortality is accentuated when they are used.— Reliable Poultry Jiaurnall. Give the pullets every encouragement to full development. Separate them from the cockerels as soon as the sex can he'determined. Do riot be sparing with feed—it is poor economy—if good results are desired after maturity. Never permit them to he (overcrowded or feed them in company with the older hens. Give ample green feed—it is impossible to overstress this important'point.

Light-coloured yolks are often caused through the feeding of mangolds, as the chief item of green food supplied to the hens, and is one of the things apt to turn people from eating eggs. They'are most common where birds are confined'in small runs and are improperly fed. Pale yolks are. seldom.found where the fowls have a free range' over grass paddocks, etc. There is nothing better for producing the rich colour of yolk than the feeding of iboiled meat in moderation and the supplying of ample o-reenfood such as watercress, clover, lucerne, etc. The value of green food lies in the fact that they contain mineral salts wliich assist poultry to remain in good health. Silver beet is very easily grown and the fowls cannot J>e given too much. Green food may not make the fowls lay any better, but it does give colour to the yolk. «