POULTRY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19156, 23 October 1925, Page 18

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

CARE OF THE BUILDINGS. VALUE OF CLEANLINESS. CREOSOTE AS PRESERVATIVE. BY G.H. In these days of expensive constructions it is advisable to prolong the life or period of the poultry, house or any ' wooden structure to the greatest possible extent. This may be accomplished by any of the following methods. It is essential that the interior of the poultry-houses be thoroughly overhauled at least once every year to rid them of insect pests, etc. No one can keep poultry successfully under dirty conditions; yet, some persons expect poultry to thrive and produce eggs at,a profit in such ramshackle and filthy places as can only be described as breeding places for insects. Not only for the sake of preservation of the timber and the birds' comfort should the houses bo overhauled -periodically, but also for the matter of appearance, as a properly renovated house is more pleasing to the eye than a dilapidated one. This work of overhauling is best accomplished in warm, dry weather. Creosote as Preservative. The simplest method of preserving timber is that of creosoting. Creosote is a great wood preservative and insect exterminator. It may be obtained at almost any gasworks in large or small quantities, and it should be applied by means of a close bristled brush or sprayer to the inside as well as to the outside of the poultry house. When erecting new runs etc., the stakes, posts and gates should be well dressed with this liquid before erection. If this process be repeated annually it is surprising to see how the wood defies the ravages of the weather. Although creosote is a better preservative, and more penetrating, it has not the stopping up or covering qualities.of paint or tar, and thus it is of no use in filling up crevices or cracks. Hence the roofs should be tarred; these should have two coats of tar put on hot, then a mixture of one gallon of tar, 41b. slaked lime as cement, and 21b. of pitch boiled together, well stirred and put on hot. Advantage of the Mixture. By using this mixture no felt will be required unless, of course, there are very large crevices to be covered. I' l this case it will be found necessary to give a coat of tar first, then affix by means of thin laths some sacking, canvas, or any kind of fabric, even brown paper will suffice, then give two coats of the mixture, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second. This mixture may, of course, be applied to all the exterior of the house if required, but it will dry a sombre black instead of a light brown as creosote does. This tarring should be done annually. The interior of the house may be lime-washed, if desired, instead of cresosoted. The points in favour of lime-wash are that the interior is lighter, and it does not discolour the birds' feathers when it is first applied. Thus, if it is decided to use lime-wash it should be applied on the exterior, for it will be found that the limewash will splash through the crevices, and if the exterior be finished first the house will be of a piebald appearance. A good lime-wash that will not rub off is made as follows Place into a cask, or some receptacle that will hold water, half a bushel of unslaked lime, cover to the depth of three or four inches with boiling water: while slaking add more water,. if necessary, and stir well until it is the consistency of cream. The process of slaking will take about half an hour, or perhaps longer, according to the quality of the lime. Pass through a fine sieve or strainer when it is made to the right consistency, then stir well into this lib. of size that has been dissolved in a quart of boiling water, and lib. of common salt, and apply it, hot. To each gallon of lime-wash add 2oz. of crude carbolic acid, which will make it more effective in destroying insects. For outside work add to the above (less the carbolic acid), 21b. of zinc white. The colour of this mixture may be made of different shades by the addition of a little dry colouring such as is in common use among painters. Methods of Pointing.

If the structure is required to be painted it should be first primed with a mixture of red lead, turpentine and linseed oil; then given two coats of the desired colour paint. One coat may-answer, but two coats will do more than double service. White lead and linseed oil is as good a mixture as anything the writer knows of for water and .rot-proofing canvas shutters/ Before commencing tarring or creosoting operations, a good plan is to make a thick lather of soap and allow it to dry on the hands. Thus if any tar or creosote gets on the hands —which is quite possible—instead of "rasping" off the stains, etc., they will be easily washed off with warm water. A good plan is to wear a pair of old leather or kid gloves. Perches and sockets, inside fittings and nest-boxes should be well creosoted or limewashed, as also the floor if it be a boarded one; if made of earth it should be well sprinkled with a solution of Kerol and water. The better plan if the house is a permanent fixture is to make a tar macadam floor, which can be made as follows :—Three barrow-loads of furnace ashes to one pailful of boiling tar, mix well with a shovel, spread evenly over the surface to the depth of three inches, beat well down, then brush over with boiling tar and scatter fine ashes over it. This also renders the floor rat-proof.