214
POULTRY KEEPING IN INDIAN VILLAGES
[Vol. XX, Part III
villages but their incidence was much less in improved houses provided with tick
proof perches. Birds affected with tick fever were treated with drugs such as Sulphar-
senol while the seed ticks infesting the chickens were easily eradicated by applica-
tions of derris root suspensions. During summer and monsoon months lice infesta-
tions were also prevalent which retarded egg production. Dusting of the birds
with sodium flouride or D. D. T. powder, readily obtainable from chemists, and
painting of the perches with kerosene or coal tar has given satisfactory results
in eradicating the lice. The greatest drain of poultry in villages is losses due to
attacks from predatory animals and unless some satisfactory housing accommodation
with regular feeding of grains, morning and evening, is provided for the birds, poultry
keeping may not attract the villagers. About 45 per cent of the total losses was
due to diseases of reproductive organs and general debility following malnutrition
and mismanagement.
The average egg production of the different breeds and crosses in the villages
under different system of management is given in Table II.
The high rate of production of imported breeds of poultry is not maintained
in the villages unless the birds are adequately fed. Crosses and the improved
desi (indigenous) birds have in some cases laid larger number of eggs under the
primitive village conditions than the pure breeds. In 1939 a pen of desi pullets
was raised from the eggs of village fowls. By selective breeding over a period of
six years the average annual egg production as well as egg size have been increased
considerably and the improvement maintained in successive generations. The
production was the poorest in the case of White Leghorns while Rhodes gave better
production.
If feeding was adequate the role of housing in relation to production was only
secondary, while if both good feeding and housing were given, the results were pro-
portionately better. On the other hand, birds housed and fed well under skilled
management gave the best returns. The poorest results were obtained from the
units kept under primitive conditions, i.e. no housing accommodation, birds drinking
sewage water, feeding on refuse and exposed to vermin infestations. The birds
in villages are generally housed in temporary dungeons which are much too small,
improperly ventilated and unhygienic. From the purely developmental aspect,
it is not much good advising expensive housing but it is possible to devise cheap
improved houses from purely indigenous material such as kutcha bricks, bamboos
and arhar (Cajanus indicus) sticks.
From general observations over a number of years it would appear that good
housing tends to discourage infestation with parasites which interfere with the
general health of the stock. Experience has also shown that with little skill and
instruction this very village poultry keeping can be made a paying hobby and will
become a profitable cottage industry. The data also show that reasonably good
results with layers can be obtained in the villages provided that the villagers are
progressive.
Hatching and rearing
Table III gives the hatching results with natural incubation and mortality
in rearing up to three months of age.