POULTRY NOTES. (By A Fancier.)

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2157, 2 April 1879, Page 6 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES. (By A Fancier.)

Having in my last given directions for building a poultry house, I will now have a little to say respecting the keeping of the same thoroughly clean. This can best be done by spreading dry earth, chaff from the threshing machine, sawdust, or any such refuse that will allow of the droppings being swept up, and removed once a fortnight at least, and oftener if convenient. This if put away in a dry place until needed for the kitchen garden, will more than repay the time and trouble of collecting. Market garJeners in Great Britain and America readily purchase it if collected (free from earth or other refuse) and kept in a dry place. Most ponltiy fanciers whitewash the interior of their houses, and laying boxes with quicklime, some adding a little carbolic acid. For several seasons I have laid on kerosene with a whitewash brush, the result being that I never had less vermon on fowls and chicks than I have this season, in fact the pest has all but disappeared. Use kerosene freely once a week on the roosts ; especially the under sides. Remember it is there the vermon lodge in the daytime, finding their 'vay to the fowls at night. Tho walk and roof may be brushed over once or twice during the summer, but again I repeat do not neglect to kerosene the roost*. If it is intended to keep fowls enclosed within a yard, I wi.uTd recommend anyone to give all the space available. It need not be waste ground, as it can be planted with fruit trees, a plan which has been followod for many years in France, and is now becoming common in Great Britain and America. A few palings driven into the ground is all that is necessary to keop off the fowls till the trees get up a little. Large quantities of fruit are grown in the French fowl yard«, it being very

rare indeed to see fowla baring the r*n%e of the faarn. While trees can thus be made profitable they alao serve other purposes. They supply the shade so necessary for fowls during warm or windy weather, and save many a young chick from the hawks. Troes or bushes are a city of refuge for the chicks when the hawks nrearound. Remomber this next hatching season. Put yonr hens and chicks near some trees or bns!u»s.