Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 44, 22 February 1939, Page 11

Poultry Notes

MOULTING PULLETS It is usually the objective of poul-try-keepers to have their pullets old enough to lay in the late summer or early autumn, yet not old enough to be likely to moult before the winter. Whether a pullet moults before the winter depends whether the pullets were hatched very early in the season, or the weather was unseasonable. Some commercial egg farmers are definite that the early pullets show the best financial return, and other poul-try-keepers are equally convinced that October pullets are a better financial proposition. It is difficult to express an opinion upon this question, because the weather has a proved influence on egg production. I have had pullets laying before Christmas and they have laid right through the winter without any trace of moulting, but nevertheless the risk of moulting is lessened if the birds do not start to lay until February-March, says a well-known poultry-keeper. Pullets at the start of their laying life should be kept as quiet as possible, because at this stage they seem to be very nervous and flighty. Regular feeding with plenty of green food, grit, and fresh water are all-important just now, and it will usually be found that once a pen of pullets has started to lay in earnest the birds settle down, and much of the previous nervousness disappears.

Moulting Hens. ( It should be remembered that : ! fright, or change of housing or feed ing, is likely to cause the hens ti i cast their feathers earlier than the; • ordinarily would do. Many a poultry ' keeper has suffered severe flnancia : loss through moving a flock of hen: from one house to another at this timi of the year. This changing is frequently made necessary when th( house previouslj' occupied by the hens is required for the pullets. This is another argument in favour of the desirability of transferring the pullets to their permanent laying quarters at least six weeks before they are likely to lay. If this is done, the hens will be moved before the changing over from one house to another takes place and the moulting risk will be minimised. Pullet Nests. It is important that the nests in the pullet houses be as secluded as possible. It a number of nests are erected in a row, it is wise to place a tin or wooden partition between each nest. This partition, besides helping to darken the nest, also removes to some extent the costly risk of vent picking. Do not erect the nests too high from the floor of the house. About two feet to two feet six inches high is enough.

Surplus Stock. While it pays to keep a constant look-out for unprofitable birds, with a view to their removal and sale, this is the appropriate time to sort out the -ockerels and send to market all those oirds which will not be required for Lhe coming breeding season. Early moulting hens and last year’s breeding males, which are not required, should be sorted out and sold. It is only by constant culling of the flock that the maximum financial return from the Hock is made possible.

Watch Maturing Pullets. During unseasonable weather, such as has been experienced during the last few weeks, the poultry-keeper has had to keep his eyes closer on .-.is maturing stock, as well as on the older birds. The egg yield has diminished, and there has been the need to give special attention to the feeding. Th en there has been another matter whicn has required close attention, and that is to watch for colds, especially m the growing and maturing pullets. The ordinary fowl, even though it might be well bred, is subject to many troubles that have their start in common cold, which must be guarded against at all costs. When once a cold has been contracted, it is in the best interests of the maintenance ot egg production that such colds arc not allowed to spread. Simple catarrh or cold is a common disease. or ailment of poultry, and at this time of year is usually prevalent. It is a disease of the air passages or bronchial tubes, very often associated with improper housing, that permits of a damp atmosphere, and an undue exposure to draughts during cold snaps oi changeable weather. It must be realised that weak stock and poorly nourished birds are more likely to be affected by these condition than the strong, healthy stock. In fact, that is one of the secrets of poultry culture—that is the best results and the least worry and anxiety are always associated with good, healthy, vigorous stock. This, then, is another reason why it should be seen that the best birds are being reared. Now that the pullets are approaching maturity, it is the wise Poultrykeeper who is continually going over them to see that only the best are retained, and that those which w into the laying sheds will be full ot health, strength, and vigour. Nothing but a vigorous, healthy bird sh« a be placed in the laying shed. The bird which becomes infected with - nerally more or less dull, its appetite shows a falling off, ano • u.eathing becomes affected

’the stage when the coid can be readily detected. Soon this is followed’ by a watery discharge from the nostrils, which becomes viscid and escapes from the mouth as well. It neglected, this cold will invariably develop into something more serious. The best thing to do is to remove the cause, isolating any affected birds, and preventing draughts and damp places in the houses. Before placing the pullets in their permanent quarters, see that the houses are all quite free from draughts, that they are roomy, and that the birds get an abundance ot fresh air. The stuffy house, often made so through overcrowding, can usually be looked upon as the cause of mast of the troubles which affect the respiratory system of fowls.

EGG-LAYING CONTEST

MASSEY COLLEGE RESULTS The results for the forty-sixth week of the egg-laying contest being con-

ducted at Massey College are as follows:-* SINGLE PENS Section B.—Mrs. R. Willers, 8.0. (4) 273 x; L. Mason, R.1.R., No. 2 (6), 259; W A Larsen, A. O. (0), 250; K. Mullins, R.I.R. (5), 227; S. T. Bason, Lang, No. 1 (0), 217; L. Mason, R.1.R., No. 1 (0) 216; S. T. Bason, Lang., No. 3 (6), 202' E. H. Berger, B. O. (4), M. M. Chapman, W.W. (1). IS4; S. Wilkinson, R.I.R. 175 d; S. T. Bason, Lang., No. 2 (0), 174; J. D. Rowlands, R.I.R. (5), 167; T. Dowthwaite, 8.0. ( °Section A.-F. S. Allen W. L., No 3 (5), 270; F. S. Allen, W.L No 4 (6), 269x' J A. Annan, W.L. (o', 268, A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 2 (6), 261, Ancona Stud P F., W.L. (3), 258; A. G. Mumbv W.L., No. 3 (5), 249; Mrs. M M. Chanman W.L. (5). 248; W. F. Stent, W.L.. No. 2 (5), 234; T. E. Ker, w - ■’ No 2 (5), 230; P. Mummery, Mm. (4), 226; F. S.’Allen, W.L No. 1(4 ) 224 x: F *4 Allen, W.L., No. 2 (4), 224, r. Ecob W.L., No. 1 (5). 218; A. G.Mumby W.L., No. 1 (0), 215; A. A. Hoare, W L„ No. 2 (5), 210; A A Hoare, w L. No. 1 (5), 199; Mrs. M. M. Chapman W.L., No. 2 (0), 193; F Ecob, W.K, No. 4,192 d; W. F. Stent, W. L No. 3 (6), 187: F. Ecob W.L No. 3 (4) 179; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 4 (0), 176' F. Ecob, W.L., No. 2 (0), 160, H Polson, W.L., (0), 144; T. E. Ker, WL. No. 1 <3), 121 r; W. F. Stent, W.L., No. 1 (0), 116. TEAMS RESULTS Section D.

W. A. Larsen, A. 0.: 263, 249, 227,237.274 (22), 1534 E. W. Stephenson, A. 0.. -02, 221, 191, 200, 230 x (19), 1268. L G Hooper, B.O.: 203, 196 x, 148, 151,'223, 209 (13), 1230. G A. Edge, R.1.R.: 191, Hsd, 238, 256,'216, 156 d (6), 1175. Miss E. T. Somer, R.1.R.: 158 x, 171, 221, 222, 184 x, 183 (20), 1139. Section C. J. Wilson, W.L.: 235, 242, 249, 270, 241, 259 (30), 1496. F S. Allen, W.L.: 259, 221 x, 263, 23 F. <2 Ecib 14 W.L.: 283, 186 r, 228, 246, 239, 202 (31), 1384. Cotswold P.F., W.L.: 159 d, 183 r, 248, 236, 246, 270 (17), 1342. H. A.. Lucas, W.L.: 282, 240, 241, 231 r, 161, 145ci (15), 1305. rßeplacement. xD/squalified because of egg-weight clause. dßird dead.