Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1914-05-20
POULTRY
CONSULTING DEPARTMENT
Conducted by VI. w. HICKS

Leg Weakness
| have a II. c. Red pullet which a
month or more ago developed weak
ness in the legs. being unable to get
on the roost, and sleeping in the nests
She would stand during feeding for a
few minutes and topple over and lie
on her side and eat She seemed in
good enough health and spirits. but
continued getting weaker i'm the legs
until ! have had To put her in a low
down box where she can reach the
feed and water over the edge and
where she stays all the time. Neither
leg is broken as she can kick tremend-
ously, but there is no blood i'm her toes
as cut one to see; would have killed
her, but decided TO study the case
j. l.. Mel.
Answer: When a hen remains up
on the nest for a continued length of
time, or goes around with the wing
points touching the ground it is well
to look into the matter. There is gem
orally an infamed condition which OBJ
structs the oviduct caused by irritation
in the vicinity of the ovaries. this is
noticeable by the abnormal in the alb
dominal region. For relief dip a
feather in castor oil, pass into the egg
passage which should give relief soon.
Holding the bird over steaming water
will also help, Repeat treatment if
necessary. Don't break the egg as it
means death to the fowl.
Green Food For Poultry
Q. II am able to get clover hay
for poultry which will run about one
half timothy. Would you advise the
use of such hay. steamed or will the
timothy be disadvantage If one
uses sprouted oats for green food
how long should the sprouts be in or
der to get the best results ''-T. Il. X
a. We do not advise you to use the
hay that you described for green food
If you get it cheap 1t will be good for
a scratching litter and the fowls will
pick out considerable of the clover
and eat It. Some OF the best of it
might be placed in racks for them to
pick the clover out. 1t makes no
difference how long the sprouts are
on the oats so long as the whole mass
remains green and sweet
Remove the Rooster
The hens will lay as well. and in
many instances better, without the
presence OF the male birds in the
flock.
Fertile eggs will spoil much quicker
i'm the hot summer weather than those
which are not fertile. Since ii is the
presence of the male birds which
causes fertile eggs, and these are
really desired only during the hatch
ing season, they should be removed
from the flocks for the rest of the
year.
Buyers will pay better prices for
fresh, infertile eggs than for fertile
ones.
For Michigan the breeding season
should be finished by the middle of
May Disposing of the ROSTERS at
that time would certainly be an inn
portant step in helping to improve the
condition of market eggs during the
hot summer months. 1t is estimated
that the increase in profit to the far
mers OF the state would he at least
a half million dollars (S500,0 0O,0OO).
In Kentucky and Tennessee, Satur-
day, May 16, is to be known as Roost-
or Day Announcements will be made
TO that effect in all the schools on Fri
day. May Is. State wide movements
will be made to encouragethe removal
OF the roosters from the fioeks on that
day
1t would be an excellent start for
the uplift of Michigan poultry condi-
tions if the poultry raisers in Michi-
gan would designate Saturday. May
%, as the day on which all male birds
should be killed, sold. or removed
from the flock.
J. q. Linton,
Assistant Professor of Poultry Hus-
bandry.
East Lansing, Michigan,
May II, 1914.