POULTRY NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11203, 25 October 1899, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES.

We have drawn attention several* times to the complaints mado this season about infer! : le eggs. The other day we learned of one poultry-keeper in the Waikato district who got throe birds from three dozen of eggs, the eggs costing 5s per dozen.

Boil a heaping half-peck of potatoes, mash them, add two quarts of a mixture of bran and shorts, a lablespoonful of salt, hot water enough to mix into a stiff mass, and you have a breakfast for your 40 fowls.

If you see a fancier with a broad smile, it is a sign that ho has taken, or feels certain that ho will take, a number of firsts and specials.

There are a variety of "outs" about the comb, which show themselves ill one way or another, that meet the eye of the judge quickly, and which prompt liiin (as he commences to score with the bird's head) to " cut" this feature for defects. Some judges are more severe in their decisions upon this part of the oock than are others; and we have heard an expert dealer declare that "no portion does he so carefully criticise as he does the head and comb of a good bird." Puro air is needful to fowls, as it is to the well-being of humans. Plenty of it too, in all seasons, either cold or warm. The birds should not be oxposod to violent draughts, however. Ventilation is boat afforded the fowl-house at the top or through openings near the eaves. All such apertures should be so contrived as to be closed up at night and in stormy weather. But iu the middle of the day there should pass a free current of fresh air through the top of the house. Houdans are, most decidedly, a profitable breed to keen; not only on account of the quantity of large, white eggs that thoy produce, but also for their unsurpassed table qualities. They are very meaty, having small bones, and flesh that is tender and delicious. Then, too, they are exceedingly ornamental, with their large crest and full beards and muffs. The cook almost invariably moves about the yard in a very pompous, strutting manner; whilo the old lady—she certainly looks motherly — follows meekly behind, showing in her very look that she is satisfied to see him rule the roost.

Probably the best and most profitable plan to raise ducks is on itroams so near the sea that with each flow of the tide fresh food is brought into the ; r feoding ground; such food being most natural to them, is most wholesome and also cheapest. The Chinese, who raise immense numbers of ducks, feed them on crawfish and crabs, cut fine, boiled, and mixed with cooked rice. Oatmeal is perhaps the next best thing they can have, oats being highly nutritious, 201b out of every 1001b going to furnish flesh and bone. Calves' plucks and cheep's lights and livers are excellent.

There are thousands of old farms and estates along the American sea coast, Bays a contemporary, as well as in the interior, whereon geese could well be kept and reared to profit, which lands aro useful for little else. And as we have heretofore suggested, wo repeat this advice, and those who own such otherwise useless and uncultivated pro-, perty, on which there aro the requisite " water privileges" we have referred to, will do well to bear this hint in mind. The experiment, at least, will cost but little, and with intelligent management, we are confident that success will follow upon this undertaking, in almost any location where geese are raised in quantities within reasonable distance of a good market.