POULTRY NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 11

POULTRY NOTES

PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHADE It is essential that poultry be provided with adequate shade. When birds are on free range they naturally find shade during the warmest part of the day, but birds kept in confinement often suffer greatly from heat in the summer. A fowl-house constructed of iron is naturally warmer on a hot day than a wooden house, but this does not mean that because the shed is wooden the provision of shade is unnecessary. It is, of course, advisable to build a fowl-house facing north, find it is also .advisable that the house be as dry and draught-proof as possible. This type of house has many advantages over a house facing east or south, but as it faces the sun it becomes very warm in hot weather. The best method of providing shade is by loosely tacking some light scrim along part of the front of the house, If the netting opening in front of the house is six feet high and 12 feet long, a piece of scrim, three feet wide, can be tacked along the length of the house. It should be attached to the lower half of the netting and the top half- left open. At the back of the house some satisfactory method of ventilation should be arranged, and on hot days the rear ventilators should be left open to permit of free circulation of air. In hot weather, of course, special attention shoulcf be paid to the water supply, and also to the supply of green food.

Feeding During the Moult Because of the nutrients requirei for growth and body maintenance an practically the same as are require! for egg production, hens in the moul should receive the same kind of feet as when they are producing eggs Some poultrymen feel that mash feet need not be provided when the bird: are in the moult. This is a mistaker idea because the protein present ir the mash is needed during the moulting period to produce the new coat of feathers. Inasmuch as the feathers contain from 20 to 25 per cent, of the protein in the hen’s entire body, feed containing animal and vegetable protein should be available during the entire time the birds are in the moult. When such protein is not available during this period a breaking down of the protein in the tissue of the bird is apt to result, and the time required to go through the moult will likely, be prolonged. In order to keep the birds in a good physical condition and enable them to moult less time, it is always advisable to provide a well-balanced feed during this period. Birds that are in good physical condition when they start to moult will not consume as much feed as they would when they are in production. However, the same ingredients (protein carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins and so forth) must be present in the feed in proper amounts during both of these periods. Hens that are in poor physical condition when they start to moult should be encouraged to eat as much feed as possible to enable them to gain in body weight during the time the new coat of feathers is being produced. Most poultrymen have found it advisable to feed their birds about as much mash as grain during the moulting period and to keep them as comfortable as possible. The Value of Charcoal. Many poultry-keepers contend that charcoal is useless in poultry feeding. As a food possibly so, but as an aid Io feeding and health it. stands alone in. value. Digestive and gastric troubles with their irritating gases and liquids, are quickly absorbed by charcoal which is of a porous and absorbent nature. Hence the simple homely ingredient prevents the inroads of such digestive troubles that ultimately lead to bodily disorders and, at times, disease.

Charcoal ensures that food eaten does its full duty in being properly assimilated for health, flesh, and production, thereby eliminating waste in feeding. Surely then as a corrective in improper feeding, and a further safeguard in the bodily functioning of the fowl, charcoal wins its place as one of the recognised constituents in the flock diet. The greatest factor instumental in causing worthless poultry to develop on the farm is disease. Therefore, it behoves the producer to eliminate every possible hazard that may have a tendency to bring about disease conditions. In turn, he must counteract the disease by following systematic plan of sanitation, because diseases will not be present to any great extent where thorough sanitation is incorporated in the plan of management. Points to Remember Culling must be as accurate as any job on the farm, for one cull can spoil the profit of two good layers. Cull intelligently and do not place too definite emphasis on any sign. By this time of the year nearly all cockerels can be sorted out, and the surplus should be cleared as soon as possible. Where there is no chance of fattening on the farm they should be marketed without delay. EGG-LAYING CONTEST MASSEY COLLEGE RESULTS The results for the forty-seventh week of the egg-laying contest being conducted at Massey College are as follows: — SINGLE PENS. Section B.—Mrs. R. Wlllers, 8.0., (4) 227 x; L. Mason, R.1.R., No. 2 (3) 262; W. A. Larsen, A. 0., (0) 250; K. Mullins, R.1.R., (4) 231; S. T. Bason, Lang., No. 1 (0) 217; I. Mason, R.1.R., No. 1 (0) 216; E. H. Berger, 8.0. (6) 205; S. T. Bason, Lang., No. 3 (2) 204; Mrs. M. M. Chapman, W.W., (3) 187; S. T. Bason, Lang., No. 2 179; S. Wilkinson, R.1.R., 175 d; J. D. Rowlands, R.1.R.. (6) 173; and T. Dowthwaite, 8.0., (4) 147.

Section A.—F. S. Allen, W.L., No. 3 (6) 276; F. S. Allen, W.L., No'. 4 (6) 275 x; J. A. Annan, W.L., (5) 273; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 2 (5) 266; Ancona Stud P.F., W.L., (3) 261; Mrs. M. M. Chapman, W.L., No. 1 (6) 254; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 3 (4) 253; W. F. Stent, W.L., No. 2 (5) 239; T. E. Ker, W.L., No. 2 (6) 236; P. Mummery. Min., (5) 231; F.S. Allen, W.L., No. 1 (5), 229 x; F. S. Allen, W.L., No. 2 (3) 227; F. Ecob, W.L., No. 1 (4) 222; A.

A. Hoare. W.L., No. 2 (5) 215; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 1 (0) 215; A. A. Hoare, W.L., No. 1 (5) 204; Mrs. M. M. Chapman, W.L., No. 2 (0) 193; W. F, Stent, W.L., No. 3 (5) 192. F. Ecob, W.L., No. 4 192 d; F. Ecob, W.L., No. 3 (5), 184; A. G. Mumbv, W.L., No. 4 (0) 176; F. Ecob, W.L., No. 2 (0) 160; H. Polson, W.L., (0) 144; T. E. Ker, W.L., No. 1 (0) 121 r, and W. F. Stent, W.L., No. 1 (0) 116. TEAMS RESULTS Section D. W. A. Larsen, A. 0.: 269, 254, 219, 227, 237, 279 (23) 1557. E. W. Stephenson, A. 0.: 206, 225, 224, 193, 202, 232 x (14) 1282. L. G. Hooper, B.O.: 206, 196 x, 148, 256, 223, 212 (11) 1241. G. A. Edge, R.1.R.: 194, 115 d. 240, 257, 219, 156 d (6) 1181. Miss E. T. Somer, R.1.R.: 164 x, 171, 221, 227, 187 x, 183 (14) 1153. Section C. J. Wilson, W.L.: 237, 247, 255, 276, 248, 265 (32) 1528. F. S. Allen W.L.: 264, 223 x, 268, 262 x 218, 227 (22) 1462. J. Mold, W.L.: 219, 253, 252 x, 241, 238, 242, (22) 1445. F. Ecob, W.L.: 288, 191 r, 233, 250. 244, 207 (29) 1413. Cotswold Poultry Farm. W.L.: 159 d, 185 r, 249, 238, 252, 276 (17) 1359. H. A. Lucas, W.L.: 287, 250, 246. 237 r, 161, 145 d (21) 1326. i-Roplacement. xDisqualificd because of egg-weight clause. dßir.l dead.