A GOOD PLAN WITH POULTRY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2081, 3 January 1879, Page 4 (Supplement)

A GOOD PLAN WITH POULTRY.

First, hens to do well must have a warm, dry place, with plenty of sunshine. We always keep a box of a*hes for them to wallow in, which should be kept perfectly dry. Every few week*, and sometimes oftener, the henery is thoroughly dusted with dry ashes — occasionally adding a little sulphur. And, once in a while, we wet the roost with kerosene ; a spring-bottom oil can is just the thing for this purpou. Attending to these rules, carefully, you need not have lice, which is an important item iv keeping poultry. Our chief object is eirys, for which there is generally a ready market, and good price. And to lay well hens must have plenty to eat ami of the right kind. Wegeneral!yfeed corn, with and in the winter let them shell it for themselves, after giving each ear a blow with a hammer, or something of the kind, to start the kernels. Tliie gives them exercise and keeps them iroin eating too much. One would think they Would not get enough to eat this way, but if kept before them in a clean dry place, they will keep very fat. Give them each morning what they will pick off during the day. When ■helled corn is fed, give them what they will pick up' eagerly twice a day, and no more. In cold weather, it is a good plan to give them a warm feed of boiled corn, rye, potatoes, or something of that kind. Always remember to keep plenty of pure, fresh water before them, and this is very important. A little observation will show that they drink frequently and freely. To make them lay, a>l bits of nmit, potato, celery, onions, &c M from the kitchen, are given them, and in a convenient place we have a lar^e Rtone — placed on a birrel about breast high, to avoid back and crushing their bills— where raw bones (never bum them), clam and oyster shells are pun tided aiiout as fine as kernel* of corn, which they will devour eagerly, when a little ust-d to it. Tne shells are used inoread of lime. F<>r a roost, we have a large ladder suspended from above, on winch they can roost close together in winter; nn<l in summer, ii they htvc pl< ntr of room, they will not get too clote, which would tutitt ftctu uobfoHUgn X tl4uk it