POULTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 624, 14 November 1863, Page 7

POULTRY.

The rearing of domestic poultry is always carried on with profit on c\ cry farm where they are properly managed. One thing, however, is to be borne, in mind, and that is to keep them entirely out of all your cultivated Lmd, except in the case of ducks, which'may be admitted when the crops are off, or in the winter, with profit, as they destroy large quantities of slugs, and other pests to the garden. But even they cannot be allowed in the general way, ns many choice vegetables and other plants, which" they are fond of, would be injured by them. The poultry yard should be arranged so as to lend into a grass paddock, it being indispensable that fowls should have free access to green food. The yard should have a fence so high that they could not flyover, as it is often found desirable to shut up your fowls at the time of sowing 1 grain. In this yard there should be an open shed, merely roofed. This is found, in warm climates, to afford sufficient protection from the weather. Under this roof may be placed strong sapliugs to form roosts, sheltered on the sides the strong winds prevail, and boxes suitable to lay in should be placed at sufficient height from the ground to prevent them bring disturbed, and to keep them out of the reach of dugs, or any thing 1 that would molest them ; they also require privacy, and will sil better where this is to be had. Fowls, I consider, do better this way than in close built fowl houses, which are apt to get filled with vermin, and make the inmates very uneasy, particularly when sitting. An open shed can be kept much sweeter, and my own fowls always preferred it to the fowl house. A dry and sheltered spot should be selected, and the fowls should be supplied with gravel, old mortar, &c, or the shell of the egg cannot be properly formed ; a good supply also of clean water should always be at hand. The different breeds ot poiiltry will be found under the names of Spanish, Dorking, Malay, aud Cochins. These are all good sorts. The Spanish are good layers, but do not sit well. The Malay, which have top knots, I have found excellent good layers, and produce large eggs. A good fowl is also produced between the game cock and Cochin-China; also, half-bred Spanish I have found do well, and grow to very fine birds. The sitting boxes should be supplied with clean short straw, and the corners well stuffed that the eggs or young brood do not fall through. Hay is too heating, and has been known to ferment and spoil the whole hatch of eggs. Fresh food and water must be given to sitting hens every day, and the place kept clean and dry. In about three weeks the chickens will begin to appear. If three or four are hatched first, it is desirable to remove them, and place them in a basket containing feathers or flannel, and put ia a warm place until the others are brought out, as it often happens that the hen forsakes the unhatched eggs to attend the new born chicks, and the others are lost. When, the whole are brought out, the first that were taken away should be placed under the hen at night, when she will nourish the whole brood. Sometimes other hens will disturb the sitting one, and lay eggs with her own. Should this occur, youjyill have to remove the new laid ones, or it may spoil your whole nest. I make a practice in first setting the hen to put the day of the month on the eggSj when you will know the time to expect your young brood, and the eggs being tlms marked, the new laid ones can at once be detected. These precautions are necessary, as, from the want of them," you may meet with considerable disappointment, and be apt to conclude that the keeping of poultry does not pay. The eggs should also be fresh for hatching, and the hens must have had the company of the male birds in order to their fecundity. The long slender eggs are said to contain males, the shorter and rounder ones tho opposite gender— this, however, I have not proved. About ten or twelve hens may be allowed for one cock, when your object is to breed chickens, and fifteen or twenty when eggs are required. The cock should be changed every two years, as a change in stock is beneficial : old hens should be objected to when they get rough legs and coarse in the comb; they have ceased to lay. The • early spring birds are generally the best and strongest. Fowls, when left to roam at large, pick up all sorts of seeds, grains, worms, and insects of all kinds; the larger the place they have to roam in the better they do. I feed my fowls with grain twice a day. Barley is the best food, also wheat, which should be given more sparingly. All domestic animals should have food grown for them on the farm, and fed morning and night. They are, by these means, much le&s trouble to manage than otherwise, and keep about your own premises, without troubling your neighbors. The impregnated eggs can be discovered by candle light, and should be laid in a cool place until wanted for hatching. Hens will lay continually throughout the year is fed upon animal food. I Many other kinds of fowls might be mentioned here, i but as my book is a small one, I shall oniy mention such as I have a more intimate acquaintance with, such as the turkey, goose, duck, and Guinea fowl. THE TURKEY. The turkey is a most valuable bird to rear, and highly profitable if well managed, although great attention is necessary to succeed with them. They are delicous eating, and aiibrd an excellent dish, being very delicate in flavor. It is said the two first eggs which the hen lays are unfruitful. The time of incubation is about twenty-eight days, and she will bring out from twelve to sixteen chicks. They are very weak at first, and much care is required ; they must not be exposed to the strong heat of the sun, neither to high winds. A place sheltered by trees is the best for them t and a protection from rain'is indispensable. It will appear to my readers that a considerable amount or trouble must be taken to succeed with them, but tins will not be regretted when they see two or three fine broods of turkeys growing up into money value. They also take less feeding than other fowls, as a great part of their food consists of insecte and green food. They are a valuable acquisition to a farm in this respect, as they consume innumerable quantities of larva of insects, which would be otherwise destructive to the crops. This also applies to the Guinea fowl, a useful bird, as it 3 chief food consists of grubs, insects, &c. The turkey poults should be fed for the first two or three weeks with chopped egg boiled hard, as they are subject to dysenteiy, also curds and bread crumbs. The hen and chicks must be kept in a warm dry place for a month after hatching, unless the weather be calm and fine. A little cayenne pepper, mixed with their food, is a good stimulant, and often found useful in case they are inclined to droop ; also ground ginger or pepper, mixed with bread, which may be made uo in, the form of small peas. If wet weather should set in, they must be brought in doors, or placed in a dry shed and quickly dried. A single male turkey is sufficient for fourteen or sixteen hens'. The female should no be allowed to sit until she is two years old; they will then breed for several years after, but always choose the largest and best hens for this purpose. While sitting she must have food placed before her, as, by keeping her so close to the work of incubation, she may be starved to death. A disease occurs to the poults, after a short time, which may be seen by the languid and drooping appearance of the bird, and also by refusing to eat. This is occasioned by the rump feathers being filled with blood; these feathers must be plucked out when they soon recover their health. In fattening turkeys, barley meal mixed with skim milk, boiled carrots, or potatoes mixed with oatmeal, are all good, also crushed maize. Some persons confine them during fattening, but I think they do better having their liberty, if well fed. The hen has apparently no idea of feeding her young brood. On this account it is a good plan to put* two or tln>ee hens' eggs under her, after she has been sitting seven or eight days; the chickens will come out at the snme time as the others, and will teach them to eat

THE GOOSE

The.«e fayprite birds— for almost every housewife in the country keeps hej- geese— where a good supply of water is to be had, with a good fujj in the lanes or byeroads, are very profitable, but caro must be taken not to admit them into your cultivated paddocks. They are said to consume as much as sheep. They are generally white, some grey and white. A beautiful bird— the Cape goose— is often seen in Tasmania, but the English is preferred. They arc fond of marsh land and moist places by day, but seek a dry place at night, which should he provided for them. Stubble fields they also may be turned into, a? they pick up any waste corn as well as herbage. They require also feeding at home, which will incline them to come to their own place every night. Boiled potatoes, with bran, will bring them on quick. In order to be successful in rearing greese, the gander should be pure white or ash-colored, not a mixture of two colours; he should be of large size, and active. They begin to lay very early in the spring, nt which time they will be found running about with straws in their mouth, as if to prepare a nest, which should now be prepared for them. Fifteen eggs are as many as a goose will cover; these she may be allowed to sit on bringing to her food and water every day. rhe early hatched goslings must be token away, as m the case of chicks, Af the mother may desert her nest to take care of the young ones, consequently the remaining eggs would be lost. TUp young goslin«3 will not require feeding for twelve hours after they are hatched; they may then be fed with bread soaked in milk, curds, or mealy potatoes mixed with bran warmed, but not too hot. A warm aspect must be chosen for them, as qqld winds and rain will soon destroy . them, and they must not haye acpess to water for the first day, or tw».

I DUCKS. j These birds are useful and profitable. They arc of , benefit in the garden in the depth of winter, as they destroy worms and slugs, which would otherwise prove injurious to the crops. They also travel a lone: distance away from home in search of food, and lay tt great number of pprgs; but they are not good mothers, and if you have a pond of water on your premises their eggs will often be found in it, or layed by its side. Their time for laying is early morn, or before ten o'clock, therefore it is a good plan to shut them up until that hour, or you may lose half their oggs. It is found better to put the egg's under a hen to hatch, as they make better mothers than ducks. They thrive best whpre there is plenty of water, although it is po&ihle to bring up ducks without, this advantage, yet it is useless to attempt to rear them in dry aud barren places. Moisture is their element, and such places ;is marches and swamps they will best succeed in.

When the young brood is hatched they require great attention, and kept away from pigs, dog's, or horses, ns they have little idea of getting 1 away from them when danger is at hand, and many are trampled to death in this way, and sometimes pigs take a particular fancy to them if they come iv their way ; they have not so good a chance of escaping from their fbcti as chickens, not being so active. They are also liable to be destroyed by birds of prey, which often cany them oft' But by having a secure place for poultry, as 1 before observed, a great many of these calamities may be avoided. They are generally lost in the parly morning, consequently should not be let out of the yard until the household arejwell about.

GUINEA. FOWLS

These beautiful little creatures arc a great ornament to a homestead, and are said to be very profitable. They are great layers, and their eggs nre very delicious. They are very shy, but when well fed, and not driven about by dogs or children, they become quite familiar, but withal have a great inclination to lay away in the hedges. These birds are natives of Africa, filsp to be found in South America. The Guinea fowl, or Pintado, is about the size of the common hen ; both male and female much resemble each other. Three different kinds exist in considerable numbers — namely, crested, crested, mitered, and Egyptian varieties; they are generally dark grey aud black. They will battle with all kinds of domestic poultry, and are very courageous. The common hen is best for rearing- their brood. Their food is grain, and the various kinds given to other fowls. They sit tv ?nty-iive days.