POULTRY NOTES

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 307, 11 December 1936, Page 8

POULTRY NOTES

Expert’s Advice on Breeding Matters GENERAL QUESTIONS Breeding from second and third year hens and a second season cock was strongly commended hy a Durham County poultry instructor addressing a meeting oi English breeders. lhe expert stated that a tremendous amount of harm had been done in the past by introducing »nto the breeding pen immature pullets and pullets that had not proven that they could lay during their first laying season. An incubator room, he added, should have a, fairly even temperature. If the temoerature inside the building were (>(: to 65 degrees he was convinced that hatches would be very -much better. It svas essential that there should be an inlet of fresh air near the ground level and an outlet at the highest point. A hen, it was stated, would hatch eggs that were three weeks or even a month aid, but an incubator would not do so. Kggs for a machine must be as fresh and as clean as possible. Any dirt' on ;he eggs should be scraped off with a piife, and not washed off.

SIGNS OF EXHAUSTION. In consequence of wrong feeding or aecause of intensive methods of housng, birds, at this time of year, are apt :o show signs of exhaustion. Writing n reference to this fact a North Island vriter says: “By this we mean that ;heir heavy egg production has been meh that certain parts of the body tad been denuded of vital essentials or the making of eggs. These esseutals are necessary for good health.” JRIT AND SHELL FOR TURKEYS. A constant supply of grit and shell lime) is just as important for turkeys is it is for fowls. It is noticeable that n many instances the turkeys will go ;o the grit and shell boxes before they ;ackle their morning rations. A turkey 6 a heavy bird, and has a strong, bony :ramo, and to build up such frames a treat deal of oalcium is required ; conjequently lime and grit are very important factors in the welfare of the pird. Many turkey breeders add ealtium to the mash, so important do they considerd this commodity.

VALUE OF GOOD BEECHES. iJy no means the least important part of the poultry house are the perches. These should not be less ihan 2in. wide, and when required for 1 long shed 3 by 2 hardwood, with the >dges planed oft, is most suitable. For nnaller houses 2 by 1 timber will do. [t is best to suspend them from the »oof by heavy-gauged wire, or, better still, light iron rods; this method jacifitates cleaning, as there pre no obstructions for broom, rake, or scraper. They should not be less than 2ft. from the ground, and all on the same level. Previous to placing the perches in position it is advisable to give them a good coating of hot tar. This will fill up all the cracks which might make suitable hiding places for red mites. If the perches are of varying heights the birds will fly to the highest perch. If the house is filled to capacity they will jostle each other for the favourite position, rand the weakest will not only “go to the wall”, but are apt to be pushed’ off, and may be injured in the fall. Also the higher the perches, the greater the danger of the bird hurting the ball of its foot and contracting that painful and troublesome complaint known as bumble foot; especially should this be guarded against where heavy breeds are kept. WET AND DEY MASH. Once again touching on the relative values of wet and dry mash feeding, “Noremac,” writing in ‘‘Farm, Field, and Fireside” (England) states that after repeated trials of rearing chickens on a dry chick feed and on dry mash many poultry-keepers are returning to the old-fashioned system of feeding alternately a good wet mash and a dry chick grain feed. A wet mash needs care in the mixing and in the manner of feeding. When mixing be very careful not to make it too wet. It must just be of the proper consistency to blind together by pressure in the hand, and yet to tall apart into pieces when drooped before the birds. To make it sloppy and wet is to render it difficult fnt the hi ids to eat. and one will see chickens leaving such food in disgust and going oft in search for anything thev - an find better suited to he rii -i.-oi ,•!, hr them.