Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 38, 15 February 1939, Page 12

Poultry Notes

THE MOI LTING SEASON The moult is Nature's process for changing the plumage. The chicken is hatched with a coat of soft down, but speedily discards it for its first baby plumage. This baby plumage is moulted almost imperceptibly for the adult plumage, and this lasts for almost 12 months. The time birds are hatched has a certain influence on the moult—earlyhatched birds usually moult early, late-hatched birds late. The process of moulting occurs because of the sap in the quills of the feathers drying up. The quills shrink and drop out, and new ones develop under the skin and make their appearance—the moult is, in fact, one of Nature’s miracles. Symptom* Vary. The moult affects fowls differently Some moult easily and some badly, and it is to the latter that attention must be given. The former demand no special treatment; often they moult so quickly, as it were, that it is hardly noticed that they have moulted. But the result at all times is a severe drain on the system—the birds get run down, and they invariably cease to lay when the moult begins. If it starts late, when the cold weather is at hand, the fowl naturally feels the change more. Each year the moult is a more severe trial to the hen, and if she were permitted to die a natural death it is the moult which, in all probability, would finally kill her. >?:l Liberally. Various foods are recommended to be given during the moult to help birds in the promotion of the new growth of feathers. Hens during the moult should be fed quite as liberally as if they were in full lay, but with more nourishing foods, such as boiled linseed <the seeds for preference), using the liquid and seeds to mix the mash instead of water, at least once weekly, but twice is advisable during the moulting period in the autumn. Three to four pounds wieght at least of the dry seed should be added to a kerosene tin of water, and should be simmered slowly, stirring frequently to prevent it from burning. When cold this forms a jelly, and will require heating again before mixing in the mash. This feeding of linseed produces excellent results in the growth of the feathers and in sustaining the birds during what is to them a very trying and critical period. For those who do not care to follow this method, prepared linseed meal is available, or Keymeal—both having the desired constituents to assist the moulting process. Reliable Tonics. , Flowers of sulphur at the rale of one teaspoonful to every 20 birds in the mash is of great assistance in opening the pores of the skin to loosen the scurf which frequently clings to the roots of the feathers and often prevents them from dropping out as easily as they should do. Use the sulphur once a week on a warm day. and not in wet weather. This is the time of the year too, when the hens derive the greatest benefit from the use of Douglas Mixture. which can be regarded as a firsttflass mineral tonic, internal germicide and antiseptic, as well as a blood purifier. Pure blood means healthy poultry, and hens, correctly fed, mean more eggs. Hens overtaxed with laying or forced with spices or condiments, excepting those of an iron and magnesia or mineral composition, will not come through the moult as well. Condiments fed during the moulting period are in most cases quite harmful, while mineral feeding proves distincly useful. Many experts contend the ideal condition for hens to be when the moult starts is a rather lean, hard condition, and they will gradually put on weight while it progresses if fed generously. The general rule is that they lose a fair amount of weight at the start of the moult, which is slowly regained. At no time is the need of liberal quantities of green feed more imperative, and grit and pure water must not be forgotten. A young hen will often moult in five or six weeks, and an older bird will take almost twice as long. But a hen seldom lays again as soon as the moult is over—she feels the need of a period of recuperation; at all events, she takes it. Many hens do not lay for months after they have grown their new crop of feathers; these are invariably poor layers on which special attention will be wasted. Special Treatment. If a valuable hen is moulting badly, and if it looks very dejected and "‘off colour,” she should be removed from the flock and put in a separate run and fed up. Some hens are of a highlystrung, nervous temperament and are self-consc : ous of their dejected appearyica when mixing with others of their

sex. If, in the ease of a cock bird, the old tail feathers are quite dry and disinclined to drop out, a gentle pull will assist them; but, as a rule, the feathers drop out automatically as the sap in the shaft dries. Some poultry-keepers adopt the practice of disposing of their hens before they moult a second time—the second year. But there are exceptions—some hens are worth keeping a third year, and a few even a fourth; but each succeeding year the moult takes longer, and the hen takes a longer period before she lays again. The moult is a necessary evil, and all are glad to see the end of it; but if care of the hens is taken they will very quickly get over it. I,ook for Vigour. No bird is perfect, and most of them are far from it when the things for which one should breed are considered. An ideal should be had toward which to strive and try to make the most of the material at hand. Vigour should be the first consideration in breeding stock for egg production. Without it one can have nothing worth w h’.le. EGG-LAYING CONTEST MASSEY COLLEGE RESULTS Following are the results for the forty-fifth week of the egg-laying contest being conducted at Massey I Colleger— SINGLE PENS. Section B.—Mrs. R. Willets, 8.0. (s>. 2S9x; L. Mason, R.I.R. No. 2 (2), 253; W. A. Larsen, A.O. (0), 250; K. Mullins. R.I.R. (5), 222; S. T. Bason, Lang, No. 1 (3), 217; L. Mason, R.I.R. No. 1 o’), 216; S. T. Bason, Lang. No. •" (4), 196; E. H. Berger, 8.0. <6>, 195; Mrs. M. M. Chapman. W.W. (2), 183; S. Wilkinson, R.1.R., 175 d; S. T. Bason, Lang. No. 2 (0), 174; J. D. Rowlands, R.I.R. (4), 162; T. Dowthwaite, 8.0. (0), 143. Section A.--F. S. Allen. W.L. No. 3 (5). 265; J. A. Annan, W.L. (5), 263; F. S. Allen, W.L. No. 4 <4l, 263 x; Ancona Stud P.F. W.L. (5), 255; A. G. Mumby. W.L. No. 2 (5), 255; A. G. Mumby, W.L. No. 3 ( 7), 244; Mrs. M. M. Chapman, W.L. No. 1 (7), 243; W. F. Stent, W.L. No. 2 (2), 229; T. E. Ker, W.L. No. 2 (5), 225; P. Mummery Min. (5). 222; F. S. Allen, W.L. No. 1 (5), 220 x; F. S. Allen, W.L. No. 2 (5), 220; A. G. Mumby, W.L. No. 1 (5), 213 A. A. Hoare, W.L. No. 2 (5), 205; A. A. Hoare, W.L. No. 1 <6), 194; Mrs. M. M. Chapman. W. L. No. 2 (0). 193; F. Ecob. W.L. No. 4 (0). 192 d; W. F. Stent. W.L. No. 3 (6), 181; A. G. Mumby, W.L. No. 4 (0), 176; F. Ecob. W.L. No. 3 (4), 175; F. Ecob W.L. No. 2 (0). 160; H. Polson. W.L. (0), 144; T. E. Ker. W.L. No. 1 <3>, 118 r; W. F. Stent W.L. No. 1 (0). 116. TEAMS RESULTS. Section D. W. A. Larsen A. 0.: 257, 245, 279, 227, 236. 268 (27), 1512. E. W. Stephenson. A. 0.: 198, 224, 218. 187. 197, 225 x (21). 1249. L. G. Hooper. B.O.: 200. 196 x, 148. 246. 223, 204 (31), 1217. G. A. Edge. R.1.R.: 194. 115, 232, 256, 216. 156 d (10), 1169. Miss E. T. Somer. R.1.R.: 153 x, 164. 218. 217, 184 x. 183 (21), 1119. Section C. I .1 Wilson. W.L.: 231, 237, 243, 265, .‘236, 254 (32), 1466. I F. S. Allen. W.L.: 254, 221 x, 258, 252 x. 218, 217 (23), 1420. J. Mold. W.L.: 211. 243, 243. x, 231, 237, 232 (32), 1397. F. Ecob. W.L.: 278, 181 r, 223, 241, 234. 196 (33), 1353. Cotswold P.F., W.L.. 159 d, 179 r, 247, |235, 241. 26-1 (17), 1325. , H. A. Lucas, W.L.: 277, 240, 238, 229 r 161, 145 d (23, 1290. ■ rßeplace bird. xDisqualified because of egg-weight clause. dßird dead.