POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 42

POULTRY NOTES.

Br Tkkrob.

ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. Kandalla. —Your query was submitted to Mr Chas. Bills, of this city. Ho says that amesa the fowl is valued as a show bird he would not advise any attempt at a, cure, as the only means he knows- of is very painful. The evil being an acquired one, will probably not be transmitted to offspring. Tha toes may be straightened by fixing wires to the legs and bending out the foot in the proper direction for the toe, so that the latter can bo firmly bound to it. Dear Terror,—-Being interested in poultry I took a turn round several of the farms in. the Taieri district, arid was surprised io see miserable fowls kept by nearly all the settlerc With few exceptions they were neither good for the table nor for egg production. IL seems strange that farmers do aot go in more for good poultry when' eggs and birds from* the best laying strains 'are to be had so cheap. The general opinion of farmers is that poultry do not pay, and yet people with about 30 fowls can make them pay, although having limited runs, and having to pay i>ig prices for food. The chief reason for this is, I think, the miserable fowls kept by the farmers. If they were to go in for leghorns and Minorca? for laying, and Wyandottes and Langshans for the table, I am certain they would find them pay. One farmer's wife told me that her fowls paid splendidly, bringing in more than the cows did. Farmers say that they cannot get a fair price for poultry, but what can they expect when their young cockerels six months old only weigh about 31b? Our Government expert who wan to teach the farmers, '« conspicuous by his absence. I think we \»ve only had one visit from him, a,nd the people up north are having all the benefit of his services. Hoping other readers will take up the question. —l am, etc., OBSERVER.