7 July 1932
OUR POULTRY
Another Successful Breeder
HINTS ABOUT FEEDING
(Written by 'Acronim' for the 'Guardian')
It is a pleasure to visit the poultry yards or farm of a man or woman who takes an interest in the rearing of poultry, and compare with the haphazard methods adopted by so many. Mr. Birchall, of Lawson street, Mudgee is one of those who has studied the game, and worked up from very small beginnings till he has now an appreciable flock embracing several choice breeds.
Everything about the place is clean, there is plenty of room, and the fowls all are healthy. Warm, dry beds and capacious pens make the life of the layers a happy one, and the results are commensurate.
As a breeder of high class fowls, Mr. Birchall came under public notice at the last show, though this was not his first appearance as an exhibitor. On that occasion, however, he annexed the Poultry Club's Cup for the best bird in the show, winning the coveted prize with a Columbian Wyandotte. Of this breed he has quite a few and most of them are fit for any company. He has also recently secured new blood, thus fortifying himself against inbreeding, which is the curse of many breeders. Three pens of these magnificent birds are now actively engaged in producing the eggs for the seasonal increase, and for sale. Already some hatching has been done, and two incubator lots are 'down' at the present time.
Mr. Birchall's second string is his Langshan breed. By these he swears as egg producers, and as records are kept of all that the various pens do, he is able to substantiate his statements in black and white. There is no doubt they are a splendid lot, and these birds, like his Wyandottes, lay a full sized egg. Tested out on an automatic device, every egg put through in our presence went the full two ounces required by the market standard, and a good many of them went a bit better.
While size of egg may not always be a sign of stamina, it generally is, and at any rate the under-sized egg is a sure sign of decay and loss of the potential strength to produce good stock. Many of the best of our breeds have been 'bred out' of all laying power, and as a consequence have become almost as extinct as the Dodo.
Mr. Birchall has also a few Rhode Island Reds, and is trying to get a good flock of the winter-laying and table birds together. He has also a good many of that very pretty breed, the Silver-spangled Hamburg, and a few Anconas.
If he continues to carry on in the way he is now going, Mr. Birchall will shortly be one of the biggest and most successful breeders in the Mudgee district.
ECONOMY FEEDING
A lot of feeding formulas are notoriously expensive, and seeing that the price of eggs is generally lower than formerly, while the price of cereals is showing a tendency to rise, those who go in for poultry are advised to keep an eye on the feeding bill if they are to make a profit.
Extensive and expensive feeding may produce a little better result as far as eggs are concerned, but it is in no way commensurate with the cost. The number of eggs that a hen will lay is determined from the time it is formed in the egg. It may be forced to lay those eggs in a shorter time by the use of certain foods, but where one is after a flock average nothing is gained, and in many cases forcing only leads to trouble, both in regard to digestion and in regard to the proper functioning of the organs concerned in egg production.
It is the experience of the most successful poultry farmers that the most economical feeding is that of the mash, part bran and part pollard, with a proportion of meat meal, in the morning, and a grain in the late afternoon. This, with the usual adjunct of grit and greenstuff, is quite sufficient to produce laying that will be profitable.
As to the grain used, a change now and then is recommended. Wheat, maize, barley and oats, etc., are all good, and a very good scratch grain is to have a mixture. But care should be taken not to overfeed.
These grains and their products are insufficient in themselves to provide the protein required, hence the meat meal to balance the ration. Where possible meat itself can be used instead of the meat meal, and rabbits, when plentiful, make good balancing. But in most cases the poultryman has to depend upon what he can buy in the market and the shop, hence it is the most economical plan to stick to the regular ration as recommended by experts.
Maize is one of the best of grains, but growing stock should never have it fed whole. Cracked maize, again, is dearer to buy, so it comes about that the best way is to buy it whole and do the cracking yourself with the aid of an appliance which, once bought, will last a very long time.
Crushed bones are also a very desirable, and cheap addition to the general ration1
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