sue - Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W. [Dec. 2, 1920. 



(or the survivors of them) come on to the market at a time when the " ne'er- 

 do-wells " of the previous spring hatching are being marketed, which militates 

 against high prices beiug obtained until about May. Even presuming that 

 high prices are obtainable for these October, November, and December- 

 hatched chickens, the wastage in rearing is mostly suthcient to make such 

 rearing unprofitable. 



Bat this is not all. The fact of chickens being run for so many months 

 over the same ground withouf a break is the most serious feature of the prac- 

 tice, because continuous rearing over the same ground is conducive to the 

 diseases (particularly coccidiosis) to which chickens are subject. Experience 

 seems to indicate that this disease ma}^ get a start early in the season, and be 

 in existence long before it is recognised or becomes a menace to the well-being 

 and life of the chickens. In other words, the incidence of this disease 

 appears to become cumulative as the season advances. In this factor will 

 doubtless be found, to a very large extent, the reason why there is often a 

 vcr}' much higher percentage of loss, and also why many chickens fail to do 

 so well at the end of the season. We have only to bear in mind these facts 

 to see the inadvisability of continuous hatching. 



The question arises, then, is it possible to ha\e a kind of catch-crop of 

 chickens, without running too much risk of failure with the spring or main 

 hatching season, as a result of the circumstances mentioned herein. The 

 answer is, cease hatching at the end of September, clear the ground as the 

 chickens become old enough, rest the pens, and expose them to the elements 

 as much as possible. Then make a small hatching during February and 

 March. Close down again in the same way — spelling the land as before. 

 This procedure would work out in this way : [^et eggs from 1st June to 9th 

 September for the spring crop, and from the middle of January to the 

 1st March (two rounds of the incubators) for the autumn hatching. These 

 chickens will come in in time to catch the high prices ruling for table 

 poultry from May to August, when a portion of the main season hatchings 

 will bpcome available for sale. The extent to which the catch crop of 

 chickens is advisable, if at allj will depend upon the facilities and circum- 

 stances existing on each farm. By far the best results in rearing are secured* 

 where only one hatching season is made. 



Coccidiosis. 



As far as present knowledge is concerned, there is no cure for coccidiosis 

 Therefore prevention becomes the only solution of the trouble. The best 

 means of prevention is to rest the land over which chickens have been run 

 for the season. The floors of brooder-houijes where coccidiosis might be 

 suspected should be sprayed at the end of the season with a solution of 

 glycerine and formalin — 4 ounces of each to the gallon of water. There is 

 no necessity to sj)ray the housses other than the floors, and as high up the 

 woofi work as excreta may be deposited. Digging up or cropping the yards 

 is worse than useless as a means of cleaning the soil, because the organisms 

 are then turned under and preserved, whereas if the surface is left undisturbed 

 and exposed to the sun, rain and air, the organisms perish. Hence the 



