THE FANCIER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1199, 22 February 1895, Page II (Supplement)

THE FANCIER.

POULTRY.

Edited by Red Cap. IMPROVEMENT OF POULTRY. When it is desired to rapidly improve present poultry stocks, it is best to buy fresh birds, and commence de novo, for a cock and six hens will in one season breed sufficient chickens to stock any farm of ordinary dimensions. The pullets so bred will be ready in the autumn to take the place of the oldest hens, who can be killed off just before moulting, a further supply the following season being substituted for any remaining of the older type. To secure the best results no hen should be kept after she is 27 months old, or ere she enters her second adult moult, for every year after her second a hen's moult becomes more prolonged, and she is longer ere resuming laying. A much cheaper method, and one which will probably recommend itself to all who have a fair number of birds on hand, because there is less disturbance of present arrangements, and brings more rapid results, is to buy a few male birds of the breed or breeds selected, and run them with a number of selected hens, breeding from these alone. It it is wished to make the table properties stronger, a cock bird of the following varieties should be introduced : Indian Game, Old English Game, Dorking. If the laying is to be improved, obtain a Minorca, Leghorn, Andalusian, Scotchgrey, or Redcap cock. If the birds are to be made better, all round, secure a Langshan, Wyandotte, or Plymouth Rock cock. In this way the quality of poultry can be improved year by year, but a fresh stock bird of the same variety must be introduced every season. A couple of cocks with 20 young hens would be sufficient to produce several hundred chickens in one season, the cockerels of which could bo killed off for market poultry ; and those of the pullets which are best in size, most rapid in growth, and most nearly resembling their fathers, should bs selected for breedj ing the following spring, when they should be mated with a couple of fresh two-year-old stags of the same variety as those used the year before. By continuing this process year by year, ere long the breed will become almost pure, though there will constantly reappear traces of the mongrel blood. Still, these will bo fewer and fewer, for pure blood is usually greater in its prepotency. After the second or third year two-year-old hens only should be mated for breeding with a young cock, but pullets may be put to run with an old cock. Of course, if a fresh breed be introduced all the previous efforts will be largely upset. On large farms it is a wise plan to keep two or three distinct breeds, which can easily be done if each variety is placed apart at different places. This I have seen carried out to complete satisfaction. By so doing the breeding can be kept thoroughly in hand. Further, if a table variety, a laying breed, and a general purpose fowl bo selected, all the needs of any market, both winter and summer, can be provided for ; and, in addition to early chickens, egs/s will be obtained all the year round. This is the method 1 strongly recommend, where practicable, and each variety can be placed in charge of a farm servant, who will easily undertake the duty of looking after them. Where such a plan is adopted, the results ought to be more satisfactory than if only one breed is kept; but, of course, sufficient space is required to carry it out

effectually.—By E. Brown, F L.S., London.

FEATHERS

One important item in maintaining fiwls in health in summer is in supplying pure, fresh water. Compelling fowls to drink warm, stagnant water is a prevailing cause of disease. The vessels should be clean and the water changed three or four times a day. Keep the vessels in a cool place, and change the location before the place becomes too foul. One advantage in using stoneware vessels is that they are easily cleaned and keep the water cooler. )

The best preventive of roup is the free use of air-slaked lime in the poultry house. The linie should be in a very fine condition, and should be dusted into the cracks and crevices, on the walls, and in the nests. It will absorb moisture, and assist in drying the interior. It is repugnant to lice and vermin of all kinds. It should be applied over the surJace of the yards also, and may be dusted over the hens at night, compelling theai to inhale it. It is excellent to prevent gapes, and if a lump of lime be added to the drinking water it will serve to correct bowel diseases that occur from an excess of green food, so prevalent during the summer.

When burning sulphur in the henhouse always stop the cracks and make the house as close as possible Get a bnck as hot as you can, put it quickly on the henhouse flour, pour about sulphur on i*-, shut the door, and keep the house closed tightly for three or four hours, and all insects will be destroyed.

.An -American daily paper says that there are 400 regular egg " candlers" in New York, independent of many others who think they can test eggs, but are mistaken. It requires a keen eye and a hand that does not shake to become a competent egg tester, as the Gxpert egg tester at the New York Mercantile Exchange, who tests thousands of eggs a day, can testify. Testers came to be known as " candlers" when candles were ased in place of gas, and the expert held the egg between the eye and a lighted candle. In the Hebrew districts of the city the term egg " candler" is still in use. It is alleged that incompetent persons, who have poor eyesight, get into the business and do it harm. Men who are addicted to drink cannot be good egg testers, and one of the requisites for admission to the Egg Candlers' Union is that a man must be sober in his habits.

• Early feeding is the most desirable for fowls. The morning meal is important, and is also best relished.

The most frequent cause of indigestion in fowls is the same as that with humans —over-eating. It may bo however, that the hens have no teeth, and must have some kind of sharp and hard substances with which to assist in grinding their food. In some districts this cannot be produced by them. Indigestion is frequently mistaken for cholera, and all kinds of suggested cholera remedies are used as cures, which do more harm than good. The best remedy is to compel the hens to fast for 48 hours. Grit may be provided by the use of pounded glass or broken china. There is no risk in giving such materials., as the hens will not swallow more than they may need. If the hens are fat (which is usually the case when they are affected by indigestion) they should receive no food but that which they can secure for themselves by foraging and scratching.