GRIT NECESSARY FOR POULTRY

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1675, 6 April 1904, Page 1 (Supplement)

GRIT NECESSARY FOR POULTRY

In the care of poultry the attention to details is one of the most important characteristics of the successful breeder and grower. Many are careless and do not provide grit enough for their charges, an/d this fault is without doubt a very serious fault.

While all poultry keepers acknowledge' that grit is necessary to the well-being of their charges, and also that insects' are undesirable occupants of the poultry house,-but more often than not we find tihiait theory and practice do not work hand in hand. No doubt it means a, fair amount of trouble to keep down these insect pests, but these troubles are small when compared with that which arises when we have weak an/d ailing and often diseased poultry to look after. _ Better bL far keep birds well with a little care than attempt, what is generally a hopeless task—this restoration to health of a sick bird. For these latter, experience teaches that their only needs are a small hole and quiet burial. Experience is a hard muster, but fools will learn from, no other. Again, while allowing that; grit is necessary, most expect that a. sufficient quantity Avill be found in the soil, but very rarely is this the case. Even, on a stony soil most of the grit obtained is smooth without sharp edges, and so for the purposes of digestion absolutely useless. Thus it becomes necessary to supply the want, and in supplying we findl tlijatt it pays to do so with a liberal hand. We are often told that in confined runs birds are ..diseased and weak because- of the want of cleanliness!; but more often the case is want of grit. The soil soon gets exhausted and the/n, clean or otherwise, the birds cannot thrive.