Poultry Keeping

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 19

Poultry Keeping

By R. J. TERRY

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

MISRULE.—A black fowl often becomes what you term a purplish black. Black is a colour which is not thoroughly understood. The safest black colour as regards poultry is that with a slightly green tinge; if there is a purplish tinge, then you may get red feathers, or what is termed "the bricky tinge." Some years ago I had to disqualify Black Angus cattle because in parts they showed what might be termed a brickduat colour. If you mate two purple black fowls you may get birds with red feathers; and this p.pplies generally. For instance, a man and wife, who had purple black hair might have a child who at school would be termed "carrots"; in other words, his or her hair might be brick red. Don't breed from any bird which shows the* slightest tinge of brickiness in its feathers. BOTORUA.—You should have no trouble is obtaining barley meal, as there has recently been sale advertisements appearing in the "Star." ANCONAS OB LANGSHANS.—The two breeds are so distinct that you can hardly discuss their good points together. The Ancona belongs to the Mediterranean family of birds, would be what might be termed a cousin to tfce White Leghorn. The Langshan is a distinctive Asiatic breed, laying a rich brown egg, the contents of which are supposed to be especially nutritious, though, as a fact, apart from outside appearance, there would be very little difference between it and the Ancona. There should be no trouble in procuring stock or settings, as advertisements frequently appear in the "Star" of eggs from these two breeds. KAWAKAWA.—The duck is suffering from corns, which may have been induced by a piece of foreign matter penetrating the sole of its foot, the result of running on hard gfound over extended periods. If the foot is much swollen, make an incision at the bottom of the foot, removing all calloused pus or cheesy-like growths, and wash with a good germicide, and plug the incision with a piece of clean rag or lint dipped in the germicide. Remove the plug daily for three days and replace it with fresh lint. Tie up the foot so that the plug does not fall out, and so that the incision Is kept free of dirt. CHICKS (Manurewa).—When the ground is infected with "white scours," as it is tensed, there is practically nothing that can be done, except to rest the ground for eighteen months or two years. I could give you something that would check it, but if the ground is really contaminated you would have to use so much of the remedy that the birds would be ruined by the cure. Eves if you plough up the land there will be small portions left near buildings, etc., and you will carry the contamlnatios to the chicks on your boots asd clothes, eves if you run them on absolutely fresh soil. If the ground is not badly affected, miracle in the drinking water will check the trouble. HARD GBAFT.—I am fully aware that you have to work long hours to make a livelihood from commercial poultry-keeping, but what can I do to help you when you don't really combine? Tou only play with the subject of co-operation. When the conditions are adverse you talk about it, and when they improve you forget it.