THE POULTRY YARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 643, 20 April 1929, Page 30

THE POULTRY YARD

(By GEO. H. AMBLER.)

SEASONABLE TOPICS

GOOD, sound, laying pullets, or better still, those ready for laying, are selling like ripe cherries, so that if you are overcrowded and want to reduce your stock, there is plenty of opportunity if you will sell pullet's. Ido not advise this as a profitable investment, because if they will pay others to buy they should pay you to keep on, and so reap the benefit of all the eggs. The intensive keeper will have a chance this year of showing what can be done to produce eggs all through the winter, for every egg will be needed, and they mean money.

TUST now when food is so dear, everyone is looking round tor some cheap meal or grain to reduce the cost of keep, but while doing this remember that if you want eggs you must feed the stock well enough to produce them. By using good foods you may produce one extra egg a week, and this is enough to keep that bird for three or four days. I am afraid that poultrykeepers do not look on both sides of the question enough. The great cry is to cheapen the diet, but by doing this you reduce the means of supply, for while you cannot make bricks from straw, neither can the hen lay the egg without the means of making that egg. Some breeders look round to see how little feed they need use. and though this may save the pocket for the moment, it is a foolish policy in the long run. Not only will this retard the growth and development of the pullets, but it also keeps the cockerels back, and as you may not want many of these for breeding or for sale, the sooner they are gone off for the table, the better. But these cannot grow unless well fed. Fish meal is now obtainable in New Zealand, and I doubt if there is anything better than fish for making bone and frame. It answers well with young stock, and then assists the pullets to produce eggs, through its stimulating effect upon the ovary. The pungent odour of fish meal makes it objectiouable to use, but what of this if the results are satisfactory? For this reason one must be very care till in its use. In no instance should more than 10 per cent, of the whole be given, for while growing stock might not feel it, there is a danger of its making the egg smell and taste with a musty flavour. Fish heads can be boiled up and mixed with the mash, but, like the fish meal, it must be used carefully. The basis of all soft foods will be sharps, but, like everything else, there are any amount of grades in this product. Although in the business there are different names for what would appear to be the same thing, and the ] average poultrykeeper calls everything j sharps which comes between bran and j flour.

Much of the product put on the market is little better than fine chaff, with all the goodness extracted in the bran or the flour. The best byproduct of wheat is the brau. and if this is soaked, say. half an hour before being used, it makes a splendid foundation mixture. All the best phosphates come away from the wheat in the bran, but these are only released •*fter cooking and though there is a

little trouble attached to it the results will show that the labour is not in vain. Without doubt ground oats is the best single meal, and should always be stocked on every poultry farm. Although in fattening this meal \would be used liberally, it is good for all ages of stock and can be mixed with other cereal meals to reduce the fattening properties. One must have a certain amount of carbohydrates in the food, and it is more easily assimilated when used in the form of oatmeal than in any other. Pea meal may also be used with advantage. Just now peas are fairly high in price, hence the meal follows suit. Maize meal is used by some poultry breeders and, though this will put on flesh, it is of very different quality from that obtained from the use of ground oats. It is sometimes difficult to get maize ground very fine, or at least there is a trouble in finding a floury meal and not a gritty mixture, which usually happens when it is run through the mill only once. All these various meals are good in their way, but they must be used judiciously. One well-known and prominent breeder I knew used to have ground up together a bushel of barley, one bushel of maize and two bushels of wheat. This was what he always used. But then he selected his own grain, and used only the very best, and being a butcher, he could get plenty of offal, which was all well boiled, and then the liquor was used to mix the soft food, in addition to the meat being mixed in as well. This made a grand feed, and his birds won at all the leading shows, where they carried all before them. Growing Chickens Turning back to chickens —for several weeks yet we might get very good weather, and those who have late-hatched chickens can let the youngsters have a free run during the day or after the morning dew has been dried up. These chickens should grow well before the end of April, and then the treatment to follow must be governed largely by the weather in May. If the ground keeps dry they can still get a run out on the grass, but should storms arise they will do best if shut in a large shed, and if the coops are placed uider an open shed or building where the youngsters can always find a dry place for scratching. The feeding and attention is just the same as for the early broods, only that if kept Inside they will need green food in some form every day. One thing is most important, and that is cleanliness. If the house and

surroundings are allowed to become foul the chickens will soon mope and die, and no amount of physic will do them much good. Although the weather may be cold do not coddle them. See that a sound coop is provided free from draughts, and easily accessible at all times, then if they feel chilly they can always run under the hen to get a warm up, or the same thing if in a foster-mother. All the houses should have another clean out, for the flue weather gives an opportunity to get a house dry again in a few hours. The days are becoming much' shorter, so that all work must be got on with as quickly as possible. Repairs of all kinds should be done before any tarring or lime washing, and if the roof is thoroughly done and made waterproof, you need not fear the winter storms. Tar is healthy, but not pleasant to use, but it will preserve a wooden or felted roof and keep out endless rain. A coating of lime-wash, made as previously described, will make the inside lighter, and prevent the ravages of insects for some months, with the colder weather. Keep a good covering on the floor, lor this will keep dry the birds' feet after a heavy min and give them exercise in scratching. Stock birds are generally bought up extensively in March and April, as the time is drawing ner." when birds which are intended for t » earliest breeding will need to be -ma.eil together. Expel every sick bird from the yards. If of no great value, kill it; it is never wise to breed from such. A long period of nursing is extremely trying, especially when the bird dies in the end; and further, with every such bird rid of will mean eight to ten cubic feet more sleeping room, and in every way work and anxiety are considerably reduced. USING POULTRY SPICE EXPERT ADVICE GIVEN Several correspondents have written asking my opinion of giving spice to poultry. With the exception of Karswood Spice, which is made from ground insects, I would advise my readers to fight shy of spices. The majority of poultry spices are a concoction of pepper, capsicum and various other irritants which produce the same effect as cocktails. They stimulate for a time with a subsequent reaction and, naturally, a lowering of the hen’s vitality. My experience with Karswood is that it has a different effect in so much as it acts as a natural tonic, improving the ability of the hen to produce eggs. Every practical poultry-keeper knows that the egg goes in at the mouth, and experience has taught us that the most vital factor in egg production is food. Unless the hen is sensibly and scientifically fed she cannot perform her function in life, which is to lay eggs and reproduce her species. It is impossible for a hen to produce healthy chickens if she has been forced to lay her eggs by the use of irritants. Hens are now moulting and with the damp weather we are having it is most essential that birds should not be allowed to hang in the moult. Karswood will assist in bringing the birds over this period; it will also give backward pullets just that little kick necessary to bring them into full lay. F3ggs are retailing at Cs a dozen, and it is. therefore, most, essential we should, without resorting to forcing

methods, get as many eggs as possible during the dear egg season. A few days ago I was speaking to one of the most successful poultrybreeders in the Dominion and he assured me much of the success he had achieved had been due to the use of Karswood Spice. GENERAL NOTES The annual meeting of the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club was held in the Y.M.C.A. on Thursday last. The president, Mr. Geo. H. Ambler, presided over a record attendance. The chairman apologised for the executive's departure from its usual procedure of presenting the annual balance sheet and report. The reasons were now ancient history and, as was known, due to no fault of the executive. Mr. Bust, Mr. McLaren (actingsecretary) Mr. Wood (auditor) and himself were using every endeavour to have the matter finalised. Mr. Ambler, referring to the past year’s work, said the executive had had a most anxious time. The attendance at their meetings had been excellent. He made special mention of the regular attendance at the executive meetings of Mr. Skinner, secretary of the Onehunga Poultry Club. Mr. Skinner’s keen interest ’ in the Auckland Club gave striking evidence of the good feeling which existed between the two clubs. Commenting on the annual show, Mr. Ambler said, as was known, when the show season came round owing to the military authorities having declined to allow them the use of the Drill Hall, they were faced with the difiiculty of not having a suitable building in which to hold their show.- This difficulty was surmounted and, although the ’dates had to be extended right into the breeding season, they could congratulate themselves on the success achieved. It had been a show of champions. exhibits having come from practically every part of the North Island. Rumours had been circulated that all was not well with the club. That, Mr. Ambler stated, he would like to publicly contradict. The members had been loyal to himself as chairman and also to the club. He recognised difficulties were ahead but there was sufficient enthusiasm in the I club to surmount any difficulties that I may present themselves, and he felt I sure their 1929 show would be a j greater success than any previous j show. Mr. Bust supported the chairman’s remarks and appealed to the members present to pull together and work unanimously with the incoming executive. He, along with the members of the Game Club (of which he was secretary), was prepared to support the club and show. Messrs. Ryder Wood and others also spoke in support. CANARY NOTES The Auckland Canary and Case Bird Club is holding its annual young bird show in the Y.M.C.A. Building this afternoon and evening. A good entry has been received and a successful show is anticipated. The placing ot the awards is in the capable hands of Mr. T. Mason. A small charge of 6d to defray expenses will be made at

the door. Shows are an education and any young fancier intending to take up canary breeding should attend the show. They will find Mr. Fielder (president) and his executive ready to assist them in every way,. There is a possibility of the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon anu Canary Club holding its .annual show in- conjunction with the ‘ Auckland A. and P. Association’s annual show to be-held in July. At the annual meeting of the Auckland Poultry Club, Mr. Amoler stated that he had been in touch with Mr. O’Donnell, managing secretary of the A. and P. Association, and he had made certain suggestions to him which, if adopted by the A. and P. Association would, he felt sure, be acceptable to the Auckland Club. It would also mean that instead of probably 1,000 people viewing the exhibits as at their own show, their birds would be inspected by probably 100,000 or more people. It was decided that Mr. McLaren, the club’s secretary, write the A. and P. Association with a view of making satisfactory arrangements. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT “H.5.N.,” Parnell. —From the symptoms j'ou describe your ducks are, in my opinion, suffering from cholera —an epidemic diarrhoea. With regard to treatment of this disease, very little, unfortunately, can be said in favour of curative measures. Complete isolation of the diseased birds should be made; cleanliness, protection from the sun and disinfection practised as far as compatible with the circumstances. I would, however, advise you to administer one dessertspoonful of’ olive oil to each bird, whether affected or otherwise. Cholera is often caused by decomposed animal and vegetable matters, impure water and low, damp situations, also by the contaminating influences of choleraic discharges. The duration of cholera may vary from a few hours to three or four days. Symptoms are cramped limbs, staggering gait, mouth contains sticky matter. Brea.thing is short and laboured, ending in coma or convulsions. The evacuations are flairy, often streaked with blood, and a' most offensive smell, and the tail feathers, and also those about the vent, are wet and matted together. See tha't the'birds clean up all their food, and do not leave any lying about. Probably the cause of your trouble is due to some of the meat you mention being left by the ducks becoming contaminated before they ate it.