POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2326, 29 September 1898, Page 36

POULTRY NOTES.

Br Tekbob. — From the fact that I have made repeated reference to _ the purchases and sales of Mr Peter Sinclair, the Mosgiel white and brown Leghorn fancier, I have naturally looked forward with interest to the prospect of a visit to his yards, and consequently was pleased to take advantage of an invitation to journey thither last week. Mr Sinclair's residence and yards are located a few minutes' walk above the Mosgiel Junction, and from, the fact that the whole property is closely hemmed in by fir treos, it is well sheltered and dry. At the time of my visit there were about 60 birds on the premises — a dozen roosters and about 48 hens. Those who have read descriptions of, or have actually eeen, a number of poultry establishments, know that though there are no two runs on precisely the same lines, yet that in the main nearly all give evidence that the methods of recognised authorities are being more or loss closely followed. Mr Sinclair's yards, however, are an exception to this rule, and I cannot deny that to me his methods of housing at all events were a complete novelty. Instead of the usual permanent structure for the accommodation of from 12 to 20 fowls, I saw 12 light movable pens all built to the following plan : Length over all, 6ft; width, 4ft; height, 4ft; roof to half the structure tarred felt, the other 3ft being covered with white calico. The walls and end beneath the" felt are boarded and sustain. the perch, while the walls and end beneath the caiico are merely sacking stretched over the wooden framework. Owing to the absence of the familiar wire netting one might promenade around one of these structures a long time before guessing as to its purpose or contents, and when informed, nothing short of ocular demonstration would, I fancy, convince even ordinarily well-informed fanciers that the conditions are healthy. I looked into every one of these buildings, however, and was astonished at what I saw. Due to the calico roofing the interiors are perfectly well lighted, reminding one of the ap pearance of the inside of a tent ; the floors are thoroughly dry and sweet, and the birds are undoubtedly the handsomest and sprightliest specimens of their species it has ever been my lot to see outside of a show room. That everything about these structures is clean qhould not, of be surprising, seeing that, being so light, they can be most easily shifted for the purpose of turning or renewing the floor soil, or, if reauiredi they can be

turned completely over for cleansing, disinfecting, or repairing purposes. Each houBC contains a rooster and two or three hens — not more in any case^ — all of the bluest blood, either prize winners, or at least next of kin to the very best show stock of the colony. By way of sample, I may say that in one pen of whites I saw a cockerel (a prize bird) and three hens, one of the latter being four years of age and the winner of three firsts ; the other two being three and one year old respectively, and each the winner of one first prize. There are many aged birds on the establishment, but whether three, four, five, or — as in the case of one patriarchal chanticleer — seven years of age, all looked as spruce and shapely as pullets or one-year hens, this fact speaking volumes for the system under which they are kept. In browns I taw a very handsome cockerel and four pullets hatched from eggs purchased from birds recently imported by Messrs Tonar Bros., of Auckland. These birds were not sent to the recent shows as they are not of exactly the colour favoured by the local judges of past years, but in view of Mr Rogen' s recont decisions as judge, which are"recognised as being according to up-to-dato standards, Mr Sinclair is encouraged to think that he has tho " correct card " for future shows. During the off seasons Mr Sinclair .allows all his birds the freedom of several acres of land adjacent to his yards, but now that they are breeding they exercise in turns on the section within which they are penned, two or three pens only being allowed continuous liberty. Those who are complaining of losses by infertile e^s, and of chicks dying in the Bhell, might perhaps do worse than reflect upon Mr Sinclair's practice of limiting his breeding pens to three or fo\u* hens at the most to each male. I saw several clutches of healthy and vigorous looking chicks each 11 and 12 sti'ong, showing that the losses per sitting had been very slight. Does not this suggest that possibly pens of six or eight hens are too strong, particularly where high prices are asked for eggs? In addition to Leghorns Mr Sinclair keeps a pen of Wyandottes, and speaks in flattering terms as to their laying capabilities. They are, he states, good layers, capital table birds, close sitters and good mothers, and of vei*y attractive appearance. In view of the difficulty experienced by many amateurs of getting cluckers when they want them, owing to the prevalence of tho non-sitting varieties, he considers they would do well to procure a few representatives of these purebred sitters. Mr Sinclair gives the warm morning feed so often described in this column, and boils all grain. He was throwing boiled barley at the time of my visit. Notwithstanding the fact that this breeder speaks of the many expensive birds procured for his establishment, I gathered quite sufficient evidence to satisfy me that poultryraising pays as here conducted. I heard of the sale of 102 birds during the season, at an average of over 5s each ; I saw four large baskets of marked eggs for sitting (already sold), having been gathered and selected to order, and the money earned by last winter's sales was exceedingly satisfactory. — Not a thousand miles from Wellington there is, according to the New Zealand Mail, a poultry farmer who carries less than 500 head of a mixed stock on a very limited area. His net profit from this source alone totals nearly £250 per annum. Another man has started a small run on about two acres close to Wellington, and in spite of very mixed blood in his stock and the most primitive appliances he manages to make his fowls pay. If that man were able to visit a model farm to see for himself how these things should be done he would increase his profits twentyfold. — Fanciers are warned by a Northern writer against feeding their poultry with the crushed bones prepared for manuring purposes. Analysis shows that these are acidulated to facilitate assimilation into the soil, and when used for poultry the acid has proved most disastrous, particularly among chickens. Dear Terror, — I am very much interested in reading your poultry column in the Witness each week, and have benefited very much by tho hints you have given. I am shifting to new premises and wish to keep about 24 fowls — Leghorns and Minorcas, and would like if some of your experienced readers would give me a hint as to the best fowlhouse and run to put up. I shall be able to give about 44ft x 80ft to the fowls. — I am, etc., Amateur. [I hope some of my readers will offer " Amateur " a practical suggestion or two. — TerHOB.]