The Poultry Run.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 712, 14 October 1914, Page 7

The Poultry Run.

NOTES FOR THE MO VICE. It takes all sorts to make a world, and everyone doesn't like, the ia?ne breed of fowls. Decide which breed you will keep, and then procure the test strain of that breed. Don't forget it—strain is the vital thing. You will find a pen of Leghorns at the top-of a competition list, and another pen of Leghorns at tho bottom. Why the~big difference, seeing it is the same breed. One word, "strain." is the explanation. The top hens were bred right, and have ability, to lay, while the bottom hens don't possess it. The difference 1 in the laying ability is expressed by the. word "strain," so, when you have chosen your breed, see to it that' you get the best strain of that ,breed if you want to do well. How shall you start ? The best way. is to go to some prominent and reliable breeder, and buy two hens and a cock. Get him to mate the birds for you, and pay lu's price, for it will ba money well spent. You can hatch chicks right away, and may be certain that they will be pretty good.

The laws which govern breeding are not thoroughly understood, but the breeder knows quite a lot about it, and he will give you a start that you could not get in any other way. For a reasonable price he will sell you birds-that represent years of intelligent work; you really buy his brains. Another thing—if you don't like fowls, don't go in for good ones. Any old thing will do for the man who doesn't liko tlio birds. It is really money wasted to buy good fowls if you don't like them; and are not prepared to give them proper attention. Feeding and housing are about threefourths of the proposition. Don't force the breeding birds. You are after strong chickens, and you aro more likely to get them from a hen that lays four eggs a week than from the one that lays seven a week. It is right and proper to breed from your best layer, but when, she is in the breeding pen don't whack too much meat into her. Be satisfied with four or five eggs a week at this time.

It is but fair to the hen that is wanted to produce- strong chicks to give her two or three days' spell from laying in the week.

You can't have it all. There is a limit, and when you go. over the edge something must break. Suppose you force the breeders with stimulating foods. If you do, the result will be infertility, dead-in-shell chicks, and cripples. Sunshine is onfe of the greatest germdestroyers. Let it in the poultry yard.

In the poultry yard, as elsewhere,prevention is better than cure. Don't overcrowd; give clean water every day, feed only clean, sound foods, keep the broom and shovel at work,, clear out the droppings in the roosting shed once or twice a week, fork over the ground occasionally, and, above all, breed only from the strongest birds, and disease will cause little trouble.