THE POULTRY YARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 340, 28 April 1928, Page 30

THE POULTRY YARD

(By

GEO. H. AMBLER.)

ESSENTIALS FOR BEGINNERS

Keeping fowls in small numbers in order to make profit from them frequently results in failure. Such failures, however, are largely attributable to the fact that numbers of beginners not acquainted with practical details have rushed into the hobby thinking they knew all. There is not the slightest doubt that when poultry keeping is conducted on sound and practical principles it can be made extremely profitable.

TN order to attain this success it is necessary that all the energy and enthusiasm of one’s nature should be enlisted. If this is done and continued it is really astonishing what may be accomplished. Very many lack that energy and enthusiasm, and they keep in the hobby as long as things run smoothly, but should anything go wrong they immediately quit. A very erroneous idea possessed by many is that the keeping of poultry is mere child’s play, and all that needs be done is to purchase some fowls, provide any sort of accommodation, give food and wait for eggs! A greater mistake was never made. “A GOOD BEGINNING. . Someone once said, “A good beginning is half the battle”; never was this more applicable to anything than to poultry-keeping. The beginner must not expect to reach dizzy heights at the very commencement. Slow and sure wins the day, and I commend this as the motto of every novice at poultry. There are pitfalls, and many of them, top, that lie in the path of the beginner; from these mistakes none may hope to escape. One thing, however, is certain; that is, by mistakes made experience is gained, and none have gained their knowledge at no cost whatever

Let the novice poutry-keeper remember that timely bit of advice so often given—“Look before you leap.” Instead of rushing at a thing you have in mind, stop first to consider its possibilities. If after this consideration they appear rosy, then the timo is ripe to make a safe but slow commencement.

A FEW POINTS TO REMEMBER Here are just a few of the points to bear in mind: (1) Gain some information and knowledge of poultrykeeping from friends; (2) take no uncertain steps, seek advice in everything at the start; (3) draw up a plan of the intended operations, lay out what capital you have carefully, but not with a view to cheapness; (4) begin small, and when you consider your capabilities warrant it, extend; (5) do not turn a deaf ear to advice tendered; and (6) read a good poultry paper regularly.

So much for the introduction. Now let us look at the stock and houses. Very soon with the chick season fast approaching, a beginner will be able to commence with either fully-grown stock, day-old chicks, or hatching eggs. Although benefits by way of eggs imme'diately accrue from the former, the advantages of hatching or rearing one’s own stock are many. Whichever manner of commencing is decided upon, remember to bear in mind what I have written above about cheapness. Cheap stocks are nasty stocks, and to sell cheaply means to produce cheaply: what can one expect from such dealings as this? The answer is obvious. To those who intend to be successful two of the mighty items that require the greatest thought and attention are food and water—both must ever be sound, sweet and clean. Bad food is bad, but bad water is worse, and is annually responsible for thousands of deaths in chicken rearing. i make no apology for again stating that drinking vessels should be regularly scalded, and all water renewed at least once a day. Keep the water vessels in a shady place and out of the direct rays of the sun. Concerning foods again remember that the cheapest are always the dearest in the long run. Good sound grains or meals are always worth the little extra cost. The inclusion of sharp flint grit, in addition to oyster shell in the necessaries of poultry feeding is not sufficiently recognised—many seeming to think a luxury instead of a necessity. Even when the birds are allowed full liberty tins or hoppers containing grit should be provided. When fows cannot obtain grit they usually suffer from many ailments, including impaired digestion and liver disease, as will be noticed if a bird is killed and examined. Now for a little concerning housing. A draughty and damp fowl house is abominable, and is, no doubt, the cause of much disaster to novices. By all means have the house well ventilated, but avoid draughts. Many do not understand the meaning of ventilation, and to those to whom this applies, I would tender the advice of visiting the house late at night. A well-ventilated house is one in which the air always feels fresh without being draughty, whereas houses that are badly ventilated will be foujid stuffy and smelly. LIGHT VERY ESSENTIAL Remember that light is essential to the birds, so every house should be provided with a window through which the sun s rays can stream, and one which can be opened during the day to allow the admittance of even more fresh air. Another advantage of windows on hinges is that they can be raised on those nights that are naturally stuffy. Be sure to guard against overcrowding your houses. Allow the

birds as much floor space as you possibly can; do not become elated if ; you receive a dozen eggs from your dozen hens one day, and think that if you put another dozen birds in the house your egg output will be doubled. It may be, if your house is sufficiently large to accommodate the additional birds, but if it already , contains the full complement, instead j of eggs you will be getting disease germs. Another point worth more than ordinary consideration is to have everything in the house removable. It is , far easier to take out perches for scrubbing than it is to attempt to clean them in their sockets. The same may be said of grit hoppers, greenfood racks, dry or wet mash hoppers, etc. The aoove are the main points for the beginner to study. It is impossible [ to go into such items as breed or actual feeding because conditions are so varied, and perhaps a breed recommended frem the South would be easily eclipsed by another variety up ; North. Where a large number of fowls is kept on a small space, ample scratching sheds must be provided, and strict care taken whenever the slightest j sign of failing health is detected among the inmates. In such cases I prompt measures must be taken and the bird isolated at once. Perfect ; cleanliness is essential, a constant supply of pure water is absolutely ! necessary to the health of the fowls, j A steady observance and constant j attention to hygienic details w-Hl | bring the reward, and no relaxation i can be tolerated in these matters, j The secret of success may be said to be contained in two ■words —“persistent cleanliness.”

* IMPORTATIONS

During the week Miss Ambler, Glen Eden, received, per s.s. lonic, a pair of English White Leghorns from the well-known yards of Lord Dewar. The cockerel is a -fine upstanding bird of good type and quality, pure white in colour and with wonderful head points, the lobes being of the correct shape and substance. The pullet is, in our opinion, the best White Leghorn emale that has ever come into the Dominion. She has a great range of body and wonderful type, with exceptionally good head points and fine round bone so seldom seen in an English Leghorn. For some years Miss Ambler has held an unbeaten record in this breed in New Zealand, and the recent importation should go far _o further improve her reputation as a breeder of English Leghorns.

GENERAL NOTES

The North Island Leghorn Club has decided to hold its annual club show in conjunction with the Onehunga Show to be held in June, when the club’s cups and trophies will be competed for. The Northern members of the club have, for several years, been advocating for the venue of the show to be at Onehunga or Auckland. Seeing, however, that the Onehunga Show is on the same dates as New Plymouth, •where the majority of the Leghorn members reside, there is no doubt that will have a decided effect on the entries. This is regrettable and rather places the Onehunga Club at a disadvantage. Messrs. Geo. H. Ambler and J. Nixon will officiate as club judges, the former taking the fancy classes and the latter the utility. At the recent Madison Square Garden (America) poultry show one of Mr. Blank’s cockerels was sold for 500 dollars. Mr. Blank also refused the same amount for one of his Rhode Island Red cocks. During the week the New Plymouth Poultry Club held a young bird show. The fixture proved a great success, some excellent birds being staged. The strongest classes were Utility Whice Leghorns and Black Minorcas. Mr. Will Hall (Lepperton) judged all poultry classes and Mr. H. J. Moverley (New Plymouth) the pigeon classes. Mr. J. Mclntosh’s White Leghorn pullet was awarded the society’s blue ribbon for best bird in fancy section, and Mr. A. J. Davey’s White Leghorn pullet ribbon for best bird in utility section. The Egmont trophy for best pigeon in show was awarded to Mr. G. T. Woodward’s homer. A sweepstake for best bird in the show was won by Mr. J. Mclntosh’s White Leghorn pullet. Congratulations to Mr. J. Liggins, Burwood, who has now won outright the Leghorn Shield, competed for at the Papanui laying test. This is the third time Mr. Liggins has won the shield.