POULTRY NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 14637, 5 August 1911, Page 10

POULTRY NOTES.

i Contributions and qwffions for anfirrrir.rf | fhould be, addrcs.ird to " Minorca," j Poultry Editor, 'Star' Office, and reI ccirttd not later than Vur.xdaii ot each 1 Wfk. " M inarm " irlil oJi'hf answer cuniinunicciionj tliroxnjh this column. ; AdveitUfments for this column must ' reach the office by nnor. on Thursday. I Mr Carr, manner of the Government, i Poultry Farm at Milton, had a pood dis- ] play of ntility poullry at. tbo Winter Show ' this week, "'['he birds were greatly ndI mired by the country visitors, and no ; doubt it will lead to numbers of pcopT going in for pure breads in preference to mou- : greis.. Mr Can- himself war in attendance, ; and willing to supply information on any i point. i Air T. P. liurfce, lately Government 1 grader in Diniedin, anri now transferred i to Auckland. «-as in Duocdin Inst weok : looking up old friends and a look I round t.'ao various poukry yards, j .Mr Thompson, president' of the A tick I land Poultry Club, has been in ihmedin i clurincr t'io week. Ho lias visited most of j the leading breeders' yard?, but is of j opinion that Auckland breeders have bettor ! birds than the Dmvviiii breeders. Punj tdin b-'pfvlers arcs now anxious to moot j Auckland bird.-- in eonipctkion and we tor themselves who wiii come out on top. ; Several breeders arc anxious to have money i on tho res-vats. j Sitting hens arc now in jrocd demand. ! but are. as usual, v.-ry ,-r-an..-. It- is time I most, breeders had a trial siUtec; d->w;i to j pre if tho fertility ot the egns is _ es-ed. Several bree.lers have chicks out already. and have had good katehee. —Sotting tho Hen.—When a fitting hen is procured from an--1 other fancier, the best plan is t-> civc her j u jrocd feed of wheat and a drink, -and j dust her with insect, powder. S</:uo b:rdI will sit if moved during the day. but. as a j rule it is better to move the bird when jr. lis dark. Have your nest so that it is ! easily got- at. A e;ood p' ;in •-" u ' navv t : 1:> ' nest*on the ground, with a box over hj. I An opening should bo made at the side to Sallow the'hen to cot out to feed. A ; board on top should bo loose, so that the j breeder can lift it tip and :>eo everyI thing is right. Don i, put good ejrgs I under the hen until you find she I has settled down properly, and veili re- • turn to the nest after feeding- When a I hen is sitting -.he lAmuM be kept fiee tV.-m j lice, <,r she will often leave her :i--.st. and I 50 sp'.il the ee-c.«. Ihnst the e-'c.--., m:t. ! .oid aJfo the hen with iu.-.rct powder three j or j'opr times .1 ii'-iri..r the term the hen is j c.ittins. Don't disturb the ben the firs'. 1 two days, bat after th:t it is better to j ;;or. that she coiirs off oueo ;. day to feed. ! At' fust 10 ndiniie? w lr.-n _• enon.'.b. for a i ben to bo oft the eg;:?, but the longer -he- ! s:ts tho loi'itei" ohe mr.y bo al]ec,ved ott i the egp-J. Jn warm v.ea.thr.:- if she is, <>?. I foT an hour tho last week if will not liurt. ! thicks should not be fed for 2+ hour* ■ alter they .are hatched, and it v»'.'il not. , Hurt if they nro 11 it fed f'ir 48 hour.-:. 1 Hcadlicu eai-.-.e the cir.arii o- i.hotts.ind-a of j chicks. To prevent this rub the head of i the chick, jrs-t behind the romb, with a I rtt'e caniph-tateii oi! or pt're lard.. Dest j the chicks once, a week with insect j powder. Don't lererct thai, ei.ieks want I e-rit e:j soon as they acquire food. Fee-' ; .-egidarly, but don't- ieave any toii too-i ; nbo-itt to so s,onr e.;id ears- b-kkntvii. j iMr I'raHn. Gove: runout exi>ert. who Ipidced the ea ,' exhibit-; a', the \\">riler 1 Show, saya the ji:ir.o :m_ e|v»'n for wei-dit only. This is a. biir and u-h-.-uld , be corieetetl. The. p;'i's ;.re nearly all t double-yolked. antl a number <■; them have j been nroserved. Why cr'C'niVatic t-he !.iyI inc; o! such f-'.'f, whicli s.ioiier or later ■ ean : -.e the daaiii of the bird. The pkr.e I ttb.nulil be for 1 h<- bes! ao/en eg r :s. and i points should ho [riven for tsi/.e, I color, and fr-a-ehnes-\ i The Government P.mbrv Farm at .\!oumahaki has h«-en c!os-d, it. round j that the other farms iouM meet with fi.-o } demtind for (•_•;« ;.r:<l biids. I Fpps are. 'U-vn in price this v. celt, b.. iucr i <=o!d at- Is Sd to ]:, 6d per dnzcn. j Messrs Robert and Andrew.;; rcceiit.'v im- , ported a. trio ot Htov, u i.ec.norn.s ironi Mr ; A. M. Prain, the welkkuown judau an.l i lueeder in Seo-tJar.cl. One of the> kens I was killed on tlm voyaiie, but tbo importers are delighted with the two birds' ' received. i SUCCESS WITH CUKIKKNS DtTJXG Tut: \vi.\ti-;u .MO.s'i'fis. j In order to have success with the j chickens duriny; the winter niontlia one i should feed and house his fowls properly. 1 advise that, the house be built and 'arranged in order to give the fowls comfort and heat. The huuse should be, if possible, double-walled in the cold climates and single-walled with a layer 01 tarred paper in the moderate climates. A slant roof is preferred more than the gable roof, and should not be more than four to five feet in height at tho rear end. This helps to reduce the amount of dead air .space which the iov Is must warm in cold weather. The floor of I the coop should he at least raised 6in above the surrounding land, so as to ensure dryness. /The floor should be nnada of cement or earth (graveli. The best porches are all on a level, and not more than two or three feefc above the floor. By having thorn level the fowls do not fight and crowd £or special positions, and by having them low they are more easily cleaned, and fowls that fall, jump, er get pushed off will not be injured. The house should be properly ventilated during the winter as well as all seasons of the year. Shafts and openings in tho roof used to ventilate are more harmful than good, as they let out the warm air and let j in a downward current of cold air. Ini stead of having two glass windows in the j wall cover the ona .with cloth. This cuvtaia permits a gentle diffusion of fresh. pave air. lint breaks up all drafts [and cold curreiifs. Op. pleasant, sun-

shiny days remove the cloth screen entirely and give the house a good sunning and airing. Proper feeding: during the winter months is another vital factor of success.' In order in keep the fowl in health and laying condition, I advise the following method of feeding:—First, the house should have leaves or straw or any dry material as the like scattered on the floor to the depth of four to six inches. "When the feed is given to the fowls it should be scattered about in the leaves or straw, whatever it might. be. Tnis makes tae fowls scratch for their feed, and keeps their musclss in trim, and also, provides them recreation and entertainment, ami j helps to keep them w?irm. Sand should | also be scattered about on the lloor, as this j is the only material the fowls obtain to I digest their food The feeding of the fowls twice a day is all right in the warmer months, but the of lone" they are fed in the winter months the better, as it keeps them moving around and prevents then from chilling. Many' poultrymen give their fowls the same dry grain tho whole year around, and they are thur. dismayed that their fowls do-not produce more. The ration of the grain should consist of one-half corn and one-fourth of oats and one-fourth wheat By way of variety add occasionally another kind of grain, such as millet seed, knflir corn, buckwheat, sunflower seed, or beans and peas. Hot mash or scalded bran is also well liked by the fowls on cold mornings. In order tr/make the fowls lay, dried clover and meat scraps should be given them several times a week. The clover takes the place of grass, and is rich in protein, and the meat also helps to make up the egg. If this method of feeding does not keep the fowl in good health nlie! laying condition nothing will.—Harry Lentz.