POULTRY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10626, 15 December 1897, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES.

A hex looks hawk-ward when she turns her eyes up to the sky. A v With a little thought and a trifle more expense, it is as easy to rear finely-bred fowls as those of a commoner order, and the effect is far more pleasing. Moderately fat animals are the most profitable. Every exoessively fat animal has been fed at a 1033 during the latter part of its feeding. When an animal is -ready for market sell it; if there is feed left buy some more lean animals and feed them. The " nimblo sixpence" brings the profit Hens that are healthy, young, and in good condition will produce perfect eggs with shells, even if confined in a small enclosure. It is the food taken into the system that produces the egg, and also the shell. The gizzards of all qranivorous birds are perfect little mills, where the grain is ground. To do this stones with sharp corners and square edges are swallowed; hence the appetite for crushed clam or oyster shells. Appearances may be deceitful in many cases, but they go a great way in fixing the market price of any commodity. Perhaps there is as much differenoe in price made by "looks" in poultry as in any article sent to market. A walk through a largo city market any day in the week would prove to the satisfaction of any ordinary observer that the profit or loss of poultry raising depends not so much on the management of fowls before as after they are killed. No poultry-house should be without a covered run, with a glass window in front to admit the sun and light. During severe weather the birds should not be suffered'to go out of it, especially if they are of the Hamburg or Spanish varieties, or of any of those whose combs are likely, from their size, Co become readily susceptible to frost; they are sure co get frozen, and their usefulness as exhibition birds destroyed. Most of the diseases of poultry are preventible, and those who feed, house, and care for their birds properly will have little or no trouble compared with those who take no pains in these particulars. Buy cheap meat, and give it either raw or cooked. Break the bones, so that the fowls can get at the marrow. There is much cheap refuse to be bad from the butcher that can profitably be disposed of in the poultry yard. A good tonic for poultry can be made from sulphate of iron and sulphuric acid. Mix sufficient acid to melt a pound of sulphate of iron; then add this to about a bucket of water. Bottle off the mixture, and place a tablespoonful in the drinking water daily. This will tone the system and give the birds a healthy appearance.

TO BOIL A TURKEY. Make a stuffing for the craw of chopped bread and butter, cream, oysters, and the yolks of eggs. Sew it in, and dredge flour over the turkey, and put ib to boil in cold water, with a spoonful of salt in it, and enough water to cover it well. Let ib simmer for two hours and a-half; or, if small, less time. Skim ib while boiling. Ib looks nicer if wrapped in a cloth dredged in flour. Serve it with butter, in which are pub some oysters. DISEASES OF POULTRY. Poultry, like other animals, are liable to numerous diseases, some of them malignant and many of them fatal. In our climate, however, the number of important disorders is small, and they usually yield to judicious treatment. That little attention has been bestowed on this subject may arise from the fact that, in an economical point of view, the value of an individual fowl is comparatively insignificant; and, while the ailments of other domesticated animals generally claim a prompt and efficient care, the unhappy inhabitants of the poultry yard are too often relieved of their sufferings in the most summary way. Bub there are reasons which will justify a more careful regard to this matter, besides the humanity of adding to the comfort of these useful creatures; and the attempt to cure, in cases of disease, will often bo rewarded by rendering their flesh more palatable and the eggs more wholesome. Most of the diseases to which poultry are subject are the result of errors in diet or management, and should have been prevented, or may be removed by a change and adoption of a suitable regimen. When an individual is attacked it ought to be forthwith removed to prevent the contamination of Ihe rest of tho flock. Mature, who proves a guardian to fowls in health, will nurse them in their weakness, and act as a most efficient physician to the sick. Wo can do no more than co-operate with her; and the aim of all medical treatment should be to follow the indications which Nature holds out, and assist in the effort which she constantly makes for the restoration of health.