POULTRY ON THE FARM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 101, 30 April 1898, Page 3 (Supplement)

POULTRY ON THE FARM.

A Canadian farmer writes:—Every farm should keep, say, 50 good hens, for there is no 6tliei- kind of live stock so profitable, when the niimber is not too large for the range and food;, I iirst tried pure Leghorns .with poor success; they are not hardy, "either when chicks or matured fowls, and are miserable things on the table. Nonsitters are not suitable for farmers; such a,large proportion of their eggs are lost, and they are difficult to in-

crease

At present, Plymouth Rocks are our best all-purpose fowls for the following reasons:—l. They, lay mostly when, eggs are scarce and valuable, and the eggs are of a favourite brown colour; 2, they are excellent mothers; 3, .they are very hardy, both when chicks and mature; 4, they mature very early; 5, they are choice table fowls, beautifully coloured meat being extensively produced on the breast where it is of most value; 6, they have bare legs. .',.[. <

It pays t6 enclose farm fowls for short times to kee"p them off small fruits and grain when ripening; and in .early spring, the best breeding stock should be kept separate, from others. My plan is to have cheap portable hen-houses built on skids or runners, so that I move them about the pastures,, stubble grounds, and fallows during- summer, where fowls live well on grasshoppers and other insects, waste grain, etc. I keep these coops in the barnyard during winter. I believe wheat is'good egg-producing food; but I receive the best results from cooked bai-ley. I advise frequent 'change of diet, and I have always found it- profitable in cold weather to feed them the meat of any animals that chanced to die. I find corn the best home-grown fattening food.

To buy pure bred chicles in the fall is much the best way of getting improved farm poultry. Then keep them separate from other fowls during breeding season. As soon as the stock of choice fowls is numerous enough, the old-time scrubs may be butchered to good advantage, in early fall, before beef, etc., becomes cheap. Buying expensive eggs is 'buying 'a pig in a bag.' Thoroughbred stock, with yearly change of males, has as much advantage over scrubs among' chickens as among other stock. One of the worst losses is caused by, keeping the hens till they are too,old; they should be disposed of when three and onehalf years old, c^v sooner. ■#■ I cannot praise hen manure enough as plant foodI.* it heads the list.

With regard to the delicacy of Leghorns as above alleged my readers must be*' in mind that the writer is referring to keeping them in the severe Canadian : climate. In New Zealand they are hardy enough as chickens and after arrival at maturity they are perfectly hardy and healthy. They are unsurpassed as layers, but not good table birds by any means. Pure Leghorn males in your flock will soon improve the average laying capacity, and by only setting the eggs of the finest hens yon will get fair-sized fowls from the cross-breds.