POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2287, 30 December 1897, Page 35

POULTRY NOTES.

Catching Turkeys. — If those people who find it difficult to catch fowls, and especially turkeys (writes "H. S." in the Count* y Gentleman'), will make a crcok, as used for sheep, of a stiff wire, and simply hook them by one leg, drawing the birds quickly to hand, they will find no dim 1 ulty in securing them one by one as they are requiied. By quietly approaching a flick driven into a small enclosure, this mtthod will be found easy and safe. The crook ib d>-hwn up as tho bird is hooked, and an assistant secures the victim and puts it into the coop or enclosure. To take them fiom the roost at night by the aid of a lamp is alto an easy way. All braining is thus avoided.

Something About Ducks — Recent experiments in France prove conclusively that clucks pay better thsm hens. A Pekin duck matures at nine or ten weeks. Ducklings, till they begin to feather, should not be allowed access to water, but should for the fust few weeks be confined iv a roomy pen with sanded floor. — A fame* what novel expeiience is leported by an English exchange. Three ducks syerofouncl sitting in a row on .one nest, in which were 26 duckY eggs. IE anyone approached the nest two of the ducks remained sitting while the third attacked the intruder. Result : Twenty fiae strong ducklings were hatched. Eggs in Tkeacle. — In Jaesnica and other West India islands they have a very curious way of preserving eggs for a considerable time. A lajer of eggs is placed at the bottom of a barrel and ordinary black treacle poured over in sufficient quantity to covet them ; then another layer is added, and more treacle, aad so on till the barrel is full. The idea is that an egg can be kept good almost indefinitely if the air can be prevented penetrating the porous shell to the contents withiu. When the eggs have all been used the treacle is given a fresh boil up, and is thoroughly saleable again. In Northern Russia the farmers use warm tallow in'preci'ely the sumo way ; but this is said to slight )y affect the flavour of the eg^s. j NOTES FOR JANUARY. By Langshan. | Poultry- keepers cannot be too particular in exercisisg proper care and supervision in tho [ matter of food and water during the next few months. In hot weather poultry should not; bo allowed to get fat, except immediately before killing, consequently fattening foods should be avoided. The quantity of green food Rupplied should be in accoidance with the capacity -of the birds ; too much cannot be 'given, but, at tho tame time, care should be taken not to leave any to lie about ond decay. The water must be kept in the shade and not ia flat open vessels. J The best drinking vessel to use is the ordinary deep earthenware kind, which can ba bought frcrn any denier. If possible, the birdß should be fed atsunrisoduring the hot weather, which enables them to digett the meal before the heat *f the day sets in. This is the tims of the year that the fowlhouses want looking after to keep I them free from lice. The best plan of getting rid of this pe*t is to thoroughly tumij gate the bouses with sulphur. Do this 1 early in the morning, as soon after the birds leave the roost as possible. When the fumigating is finished, the houses should be thoroughly lime-washed ; no half measure — get the brmh into every corner and crack.

Every precaution should be taken to see that the young stock are free from lice. These pests propagate by thousands dining the warm weather. Keep the dust bath w<ll supplied with sulphur or insect powder. By the end of December all breeding operations should be over.

Tb.B breeding pens may now be broken up and all the hens run together. The cock birds should be placed in small runs by themselves, and it will be found beneficial to give them a course of touic to build up their constitutior s and help them over the moult. See that the young Btock get a* little sulphate of iron in the drinking water.