PROFITABLE POULTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18533, 18 October 1923, Page 14

PROFITABLE POULTRY.

SIDE-LINE FOR FARMERS.

Banning at will around the homestead, fowls often, give surprisingly good results.' They seem to thrive well, and apart from their earning capacity as egg-producers, they help to; keep down click beetles, grass grubs, and other numerous pests. In fact, it may be said,, poultry farming is a necessary side-line on CiVery well run farm. s Not only do hens and ducks keep the farmer supplied with good fresh eggs, but they use up the waste of the kitohen and dairy to help to produce these eggs. Here are figures from one successful farmer, which show what fowls will : do. Sixty-three fowls and fifteen ducks produced eggs to the value of £103 16s in one season. The cost of fowl feed for the year was £52, so that these birds showed a'clear profit of £51 16s. They were fed' on pollard mash in the morning, maize at night during. the winter months, and wheat during the summer. At'-; all times they • received a good 'supply \ of green feed, and swedes when these were available. /Fowls generally are very fond of swedes, but will seldom eat turnips. It may be of interest to add here that one poultry enthusiast has found that his fowls are very fond of pumpkins and marrows. These are fed by hanging the marrows in the fowl run within reach of the hens,.after. first cutting a hole in the skin. The hens quickly, start on the marrow flesh thus exposed, and 'soon clear °" 11 the „ inside, leaving nothing but the shell. Mangels may also be fed in the same manner. These should be pulled and stored for a week or two before feeding, so as to allow for the ripening and formation of sugar in the roots. * If for no other reason, green feed and roots should always be inn to keep the birds healthy — Farm Economy. ; ;

NOTES. : . Let the poultry house face the east, and be open in front. Egg farming is more profitable than - breeding for. table. Don't overcrowd your birds. Each' one should have ten cubic feet roosting accommodation, and four square feet scratching space. At maturity the birds should be placed in dry, well-ventilated.houses, which are, clean and can easily, bo maintained in a sanitary condition. : Moisture is essential for the broody hen and the incubator. It rots the shell and enables the chick to break its way out Without much trouble. Bone meal should not be confounded

■with hone dust. The latter is only a fertiliser for the The latter is only fertiliser for the soil, whereas bone meal . is a pure white and ■ sweet food. | Good layers arc usually active, healthy,; •full of vigour, and strong in'constitution,; therefore breed for these qualities. Never have a weak, unhealthy bird in Iho breeding pens. ■ .;„■ ■\ ■' •';■ ~ i : i Bamember . that brooding coops for ' chicks during. the ; "first ■• few 'weeks after 1 ~!?. f 1 are too small after the arc «lr a v if? woeka old - Now is the SSSiiu f big » rcom y coops that will chicks a™S Ple ace for the growing