Show COMMON MISTAKES J CHECK EGG YIELD pullets neglected when care Is most needed by H R alp poultry extension specialist universo ty 0 of f I 1 ligols service eight co common mm on errors are largely responsible tor for the wormy pullets found among millions of farm chickens along in the fall of each year during the summer months many farmers are not egg conscious and consequently neglect the care of the birds when they may need it most As a result of this neglect the pullets are so stunted that they tall fall to produce the number of eggs that might ordinarily b be e expected of them pills and worm capsules ad ministered as cure alls seldom give satisfactory results in these cases and the finds that efforts to remedy the mistakes are expensive difficult and generally disappointing among the common mistakes listed are empty feeders empty water t troughs roughs dirty brooder houses without roosts lice and mites in the brooder house old contaminated range out door feeders seldom moved no clean shade provided and sick birds allowed to remain in the flock probably the greatest error in poul try management as far as feeding ie Is concerned Is failure to use the type of feeder most satisfactory tor for range conditions and growing pullets the outdoor feeder should be larger than that used in the brooder house and so constructed that it will not only pre vent waste and contamination of the feed but will also keep the contents dry each brooder house there should be at least two good sized teed feed ers many may poultry men use one tor for the grain and the other for the mash failure to move the feed hoppers Is also a common error unless the feeder Is placed on a wire platform the ground around it will soon become badly contaminated with poultry ma nure and the chances of chickens picking up disease and parasites are increased greatly like the feed the water should be protected from contamination clean allness around the drinking trough Is extremely important A good plan la Is to place the trough on a low wire plat form so that the birds can not scratch in the mud caused by spilled water furthermore the troughs should be filled often and regularly so that there Is always plenty of water at all times supplement forage feed to pep up laying hens when hens are forced to forage for their feed they get less to eat since eggs are dependent upon feed and less feed Is eaten naturally fewer eg eggs 9 s are produced furthermore the hens are not able to keep in such good condition of flesh and a molt la Is likely to result As the sun Is hot the birds will stick pretty close to the shade and will not look very far for food they will get only enough to keep themselves going it Is just as essential to keep an egg laying mash before them now as it was in the winter if eggs are to be expected A grain ration of course Is fed in addition about six to seven pounds per birds per day if hens are not in good condition of flesh a pound or two more per should be fed poultry squibs blackhead Is an infectious disease which annually kills a great many young turkeys under ordinary circumstances a young turkey hen should lay from 40 to 50 eggs during the normal breeding season succulent green feeds are greatly relished by poultry they stimulate appetite keep the digestive systems in good order and add bulk to the ration it Is a good plan to make a feeding crate into which larger or more developed birds cannot enter this allows the weaker ones protection while feeding to fatten turkeys turkey increase the amount of feed gradually thus dis cou raging the tendency to roam 0 the old poultry stock on the farm constitute by far the most serious source of disease contaminations contamination S for the young stock ralph merritts hen houses at P pern ern broke mass are two and three stories high he ile discovered that the hens living in the upper stories lay larger and better eggs than those on the ground floor hawaii has a species of goose that never goes near the water except to drink yet has webbed feet disease gapes Is a disease which attacks domestic poultry and many species of wild birds in fowls it Is more frequently observed in young chicks roosts for poultry houses are gen brally made of 2 by 2 inch material with the upper corners rounded all costs in the house should be on the same level so as to prevent the fowl fowls from crowding |