The Poultry Yard

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 874, 18 January 1930, Page 28

The Poultry Yard

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GEO H. AMBLER.)

PURE AIR IN THE HOUSE IK fowls arc housed in close, stuffy, badly-ventilated houses they will, after a time, become weak in constitution and health and will become prone to every possible disease, particularly colds, roup, etc. This is a” fact which wc all know to be true, and a badly-ventilated house can be, to a great extent, a contributory cause of indifferent health in the birds.

First, we may take it that badlyveDtilated houses are often badlylighted houses. True, this is not always the case. Sometimes we find houses which are amply lighted by glass and at the same time faulty in that change of air-currents which we term ventilation. However, the fact remains that many amateur poultryhouses are both ill-lighted and illventilated. When such a state of affairs exists it often follows that the house is dirty and not cleaned out as often as it might be, so that finally the whole concern may be described as insanitary. The birds continually breathe the same air over and over again. The systems become weaknened. and before long some minor ailment will probably make its appearance in one or two birds, which, owing to the unsatisfactory conditions of housing, will quickly become more acute and spread rapidly through the whole flock. An atmosphere such as I have described will be teeming with a multitude of injurious bacteria, which is altogether unhygienic. Cleanliness, combined with plenty of sunlight and fresh air, are the best germicides. Good food and sanitary quartets make for healthy poultry. Apart from this, there is another aspect. If poultry are to keep healthy, it is clear that the blood must be pure, but this will not be possible ii the houses are badly ventilated. Fresh air and purity of blood are very closely related. As the blood is carried through all parts of the body it picks up many impurities. It is conveyed back to the heart, from which it is pumped into the lungs. When the impure blood is in the capillaries of the lungs it comes into contact with the air which fills these organs. The blood there gives some of Its carbonic acid gas, and becomes recharged with oxygen. In other words, it becomes purified. It now passes back to the heart, from which it goes to nourish all parts of the body. It is now easy to see how important it is to supply plenty of pure fresh air in the poultry house, owing to the blood being: dependent upon the lungs for a supply of oxygen to purify it. DON’T FORCE THE PULLETS

If early development is natural with some breeds, as with the Leghorn, n is a valuable quality, but when t he pullets are forced to lay early by ‘ timulants or highly concentrated food ir. is an injury, as it taxes the vitality 100 early. A pullet that is forced will lay very small eggs for a while, :i nd when she ceases, in order to rest, she will not begin again as soon as r. matured hen. She becomes prematurely old. and does not prove, on the average, as profitable as when she is given ample time to mature before beginning to lay. For egg production the Leghorn is grand fowl. Its eggs are large and pure white, and if it is from a good laying strain it will repay well for the comparatively small amount of to id it requires. Being light and active, the Leghorn very rarely be-

comes fat, consequently it is less prone to disease. Where it is kept on intensive lines it will be found most satisfactory. THE BREEDING PENS As it is too late now to breed chickens, all breeding pens must be broken up. The method must depend upon the conditions of the place, numbers of birds, and runs at your disposal. It is useless to make any hard-and-fast rule as to w r hat shall be done, because no two men are placed alike, and it must depend upon space. However, the general principle is to divide up the birds as soon as the breeding is finished. So many small men, and often the ordinary farmer, allow the cock to be with the hens all the year through: but a moment's thought will show that this is a bad method, and must tell against the stock during the following season. Where it can be arranged, the old hens should be put into a big building by themselves, where they can be kept inside on all the hot clays, if needed, but can have a grass run when the weather is suitable. Any of these old birds not w anted for next season's breeding should be sold off or killed before they start moulting, and as soon as they have finished laying. Oi course, the eggs which can be had now will pay for the food, but no old bird should be kept unless for some special purpose. All hens wanted for later shows should be got into the moult as quickly as possible, so that rhey may become fit before the autumn. It is best to put a few of them together, then they rest contented and will do better than if kept singly. Shut them up in a roomy house or shed, and feed only once a day until the feathers have dropped off; then increase the diet till they are having their full allowance, which should be on the oily side, to help the better growth and put some gloss on the feathers. KEEPING BIRDS INSIDE If the colour is at all likely to fade i the birds must not be let out in the sun, otherwise the colour will not be ; even. Providing the house is large i enough, the birds are best kept inside ; for at least a month, during which j they should drop their old feathers | and the new ones have made a start. They can be allowed out for an hour or two at night, when the sun has gone. But remember that the birds must have all they need, not only in food, but meat diet, green food and water. A mild dose of salts every three days will keep the blood cool and help them to drop the old feathers, although with a liberal supply of green food this will keep the system in proper working order and help the moult considerably. It is always an advantage to get the birds into a quick moult, for then they change their feathers all at once, and the new ones come the same colour. When the bird is slow to moult and only drops the feathers occasionally, the growing of the new ones takes much

longer, and then the colour varies, which is bad for all show stock. On the floor of the house put plenty of litter, with some clean dust, such as sand, in which they can keep themselves free from insects. The cocks must be dealt with in a different way. Where there are a number which ar/ intended to be kept over they can be put in a run altogether, then they won’t fight to cause any trouble. There must be a few scraps between them, but they will be so mixed up that no damage is caused. However, if you have only oue or two, they must be kept singly in small houses and treated much the same as the hens. When properly treated they should moult in about eight weeks for first-year birds, but the older they get the longer they take and the later in the year they begin. Thus, when you have any old birds to moult you should begin early, or they may not be through before the cold weather sets in. GENERAL NOTES The following are the results of the Taranaki Egg Laying Competition to and including the 40th week. Evidently the adverse weather conditions are having an effect on the birds or they are on the point of moulting as only half a dozen birds in the competition laid the possible during the week. The two leading birds in the test, viz., B. M. Waddell’s Blaek Orpington and J. W. Carrick’s Khaki Campbell duck, both laid seven eggs for the week, bringing their totals to 282 and 2G4 respectively. In the White Leghorn section, M. Scanlon’s hen laid six eggs for * the week, bringing her total to 256. Gibbons Bros.’ hen, with 211 eggs, occupies second place, R. Cannon’s hen, 238, C. W. Taplin’s, 237. The positions in the Rhode Island Reds, Golden Wyandottes. White Wyaudottes, Light Sussex, Langshans, Brown Leghorns, and White Rocks are unchanged. In the Fawn and White duck section a neek-and-neck race is taking place between D. Riley’s and V. L. Gane’s ducks, the former having a score of 222, the latter being one egg behind. In the White Runners, D. M. Waddell’s duck brought her total to 192. In the three-bird team test, light breeds, R. Cannon’s team of White Leghorns laid 15 eggs for the week, their score being now 689. In the heavy team test, Gibbons Bros.’ Golden Wyandottes also laid 15, bringing their total to 568. Mrs. Warren, Henderson, is importing a team of Buff Orpington ducks, two drakes and six ducks, from Messrs. William Cook and Sons, St. Mary Cray, Kent, to the order of Mrs. F. Chrisholm, Forrest Hill, Henderson. The Buff Orpington duck which is somewhat larger than the Runner or Khaki Campbell, is a wonderfully good layer as well as being an excellent table bird. Coming from Messrs. Cook, the originators of the breed, there is little doubt but what they will be true to both type and colour. Our critique of the birds must, of course, be deferred until their arrival. The National Flying Club, England, has decided to again fly the Grand National race from San Sebastian, with £2OO prize-money added, making £BOO cash to be flown for in the race. In addition to £125 Racing Pigeon ring money and King’s Cup and other

cups—equal to a sura o£ £I,OOO. Pigeon racing in England is evidently a profitable business to those fortunate enough to win. During the week I had a visit from quite a number of local fanciers, also Mr. Lower, Te Kuiti, and Miss Pearce, daughter of Mr. R. Pearce, secretary South Island Poultry Association, Christchurch. Mr. Lewer is a keen fancier and breeder of Black Orpingtons and Eight Sussex. He left Glen Eden greatly interested in English White Leghorns. Some time ago he purchased a pen of Light Sussex, but the resultant stock has not come quite up to his expectations. Miss Fearee, although not an exhibitor of birds herself, like her father and brother, is a most enthusiastic fancier, and would not be slow to pich out the best in a flock of Anconas or Black Leghorne—her father’s favourite breeds. Quite a number of clubs are already considering the appointment of judges for next winter’s shows. The writer has already received invitations to officiate as judge from four clubs. I am informed that another importation of Light Sussex from a leading English stud will arrive in Auckland before the Dreeding season. Britain is not the only egg-importing country in Europe. Although Swiss fanciers have doubled their flocks of poultry during the past 10 years, eggs to the value of 26,000,000 francs are Still imported. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT “Worried/’ Waiuku, says:—Your article on dry mash lias been a great help. After reading your advice on dry mash I decided to say goodbye to the wet mash nightmare of trouble and timewasting. I am a busy man, and under the wet mash system I had to mix it myself to get it right (perhaps), so I decided on dry mash. 1 enclose several samples. Will you kindly comment on them? Your opinion is helpful to people like myself. The lucerne meal and fish meal are both excellent, but the ground oats is not very choice. It is defective in colour, suggesting that it contains a high proportion of shucks, and there is also evidence of barley content. The prepared dry mash is of a very variegated character, and is largely mill waste, containing all sorts of seeds, the effort at balance being obviouslv a question of luck. “Worried” should adopt one of the formulas I have frequently recommended, I would also say that the grain ration should be limited to loz. a day when the birds are on a properly constituted dry mash