POULTRY NOTES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 61

POULTRY NOTES.

The, editor of the "Poultry” column m the Sydney "Morning Herald” eay®: "There is no such thing as the best laying breed or variety nf hens, and whea.a best breed is wanted those requiring it must select a good laying family or strain of gome of the now numerous good laying breeds. At every paying test, whether for individual months or years, a different breed usually heads the score each time, and as frequently as not some representatives of the same breed make the poorest laying. What the correspondent should do is to choose one of the best laying strains of one of the popular breeds, and then by selection and careful breeding for the desired quality improve the stock still further. Somei strains of Orpingtons and Wy an dotted are decidedly better than others, because they may have been specially selected and bred for egg’ production.” Dealing with the feeding of chickens the same authority remarks: —"It is not every poultry-keeper who possesses, the ability to grow hig chickens at a rapid rate. There are several reasons why chickens do not thrive as they should. They may possibly be kept on a small piece of ground that has already been fouled by poultry, or they may he the victims of vermin, which continually sap their vigour. One of the most frequent causes, however, is improper feeding; either the lack of some stimulating food, or the constant use of oue_ cereal, without changes. Animal food in some shape or form is necessary to make chickens grow properly. It may be provided either in the form of green cut bone, or a dry preparation of bone —• •cssifine —which may be obtained at the poultry supply houses, or offal purchased from the butcher and boiled for the purpose. Prepared moats can also now be bought, and if mixed with meal will provide an appetising food. Frequent change of diet is desirable. All the various grains are useful, and in the way of soft food nothing is better than pollard and bran. Cleanliness and plenty of room in the sleeping'quarters are also absolutely essential.