AlG—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, February 23,1980
Hysterical fowl
plays a role in hysteria from
the point of view that it
determines the size of the
bird, but no one breed has
been isolated as the carrier
of the hysteria tendency.
He cited diet as a factor
that could lead to stress and
hence hysteria. Implicated
were; proteins; vitamins,
niacin and thiamine
especially because they are
directly involved in nervous
system disorders; and
minerals, calcium,
phosphorus, potassium and
magnesium.
“The one thing about
citing diet as a cause of
hysteria...it can be corrected
quickly, through sup
plements,” Graves added.
Another factor that he
cited for possible hystena
producmg qualities was
pain, where birds were
debeaked severely or which
had toenail wounds.
When there is a hysterical
flock of birds to control, a
farmer will try just about
anything to calm them down.
Graves suggested playing a
tape-recording of happy
hens ducking as a pacifier.
He warned against playing
loud rock music, which he
said has been demonstrated
to mcrease the birds’ ac
tivity.
And, he said, can
be forced to molt to snap
them out of hysteria. This
type of cure means a heavier
economic investment than a
record player or tape
recorder.
(Continued from Page Al 5)
What a forced molt is
telling the birds is they are
not expected to keep on
producing, which takes the
pressure off and reduces the
stress they were under.
Graves pointed out the
molting cycle can be related
to the wild birds migration
south, where they bask in the
sun on the tropical tree tops
and molt.
Adding a male to a flock of
females tends to quiet them.
Graves said, and the males
break up any fights among
the hens.
The unfortunate fact about
hysteria, he said, is that
flocks tend to approach the
hysterical stage about the
time the layers reach peak
output.
“If a farmer has a case of
hysteria or extreme ner
vousness and calls on me,
“I’ll wring my hands, I’d
love to get a history of the
flock, I’ll recommend a
number of things, but I ain’t
gonna cure it. It’s not
likely...not if it’s full bloom.
Catch it early by paying
attention to management,
especially in high producing
flocks,” Graves said.
He concluded by asking
any farmers who were ex
periencing the hysteria
phenomenon to get in touch
with the university through
the Extension service.
Graves said he would like to
visit these farms, see the
birds, and possibly take a
few birds along back to the
university to study.
Local poultrymen view outlook on industry as optimistic
LANCASTER Close to
eighty-five poultrymen
gathered at the Farm and
Home Center last Thursday
to hear predictions about the
future of the broiler and
layer industry.
Fred D. Pontz 111,
predicated the future of the
broiler industry while
William Patterson spoke to
the group about the potential
of the processed egg.
Both of these men were
well qualified to discuss
these topics. Pontz is the
vice-president of marketing
for Pennfield Farms
Chicken, Fredericksburg.
And, Patterson is the
general manager, egg
division, for Weaver’s
Quality Eggs, Inc., Lan
caster.
Pontz told the group the
losses experienced by
poultry producers from July
to November of 1979 were the
most severe in the history of
the industry.
He explained that this was
part of a cycle that started
when lower numbers of birds
were marketed which led to
higher prices.
Responding to the profit
incentive, producers in
creased the number of birds
marketed, eventually
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saturating the market, with
a resulting drop in price.
As this adds up to a dollar
loss for the producer, the
loss risk will be reduced by
decreasing the number of
birds, and the cycle begins
again.
Pontz predicted by 1990 the
per capita consumption of
poultry will be 100 pounds
because of the nation’s
economics. The present per
capita figures are 52.1
pounds for chicken; 10
pounds for turkey; and 49.2
pounds for broilers, he said.
With the U.S. leading m
broiler and egg production,
Pontz said it will be an op
timistic decade for the
poultry producer.
Patterson spoke to the
group about the merits of the
further processed egg.
He pointed out this type of
egg is what bakeries,
airlines, hospitals, schools,
institutions, vending com
panies, and fast food
restaurants are looking for.
They are labor-saving,
provide a consistent end
product, and are easy to
store, he added.
Patterson predicted egg
product demand will in-
(TurntoPageAlS)
_.Anew
Glencoe
Glencoe*
Soil FMsher'
HAMILTON EQUIPMENT, INC.
WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS
567 South Reading Road, Ephrata, Pennsylvania 17522
Phone (717)733-7951
Exit 54 on Interstate 81, Raphine, Virginia 24472
Phone (804) 377-2628
The close to 85 poultrymen who attended the
seminar on their industry's future snacked on their
“favorite" food, pickled eggs.
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