FEATHER EATING.

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

FEATHER EATING.

Many of our poultry-farmers are troubled with bird* that have contracted the habit of feather plucking and eating. This habit may be caused in a number of different ways, but ono of the principal causes will be found in the want of exercise of your birds. You will hardjj vise, see a bird th*t hurua&njfad

freedom contract this habit, and, on the other " hand, birds that are kept in small and close -pens will nearly always learn this habit. When once learnt.it is a very difficult matter "to stop them. One of the best cures I have found is to place straw in the bottom of the pen, to thejgij&fth^pf five oi six inches, and then seatj|BPPyaat on the straw, so that the fowls havOTKjpßCJPgfccJjfand search for their food, thereby giving' tnem plenty of exercise. Feather plucking is also caused by feeding your birds on soft food, which is sticky and adheres to Ihe feathers, and the othei birds start pecking at this food, and take the feathers as well. In moulting time this habit is often observable. The young feathers are full of blood, and if a hen happens to get a • taste of the blood from them, she will keep on, and often nearly strip the other bird. If the feather-eater is a valuable bird, you can stop her from it by paring the top beak, so that the soft portion of it projects over the outside and horny part. This will keep them all right for a time, but the beak soon grows, and the same process has to be repeated. _ Another very good, and also safe, plan is to get a piece of soft leather, about half an inch square. Place this in the hen's mouth, and bring the ends over the top of the beak. Fasten the tw< ends together by a piece of light and strong cord, or fine wire, which should be passed through the nostrils, and, when tied, will keep the leather in its place, aud effectually prevent tho hen from feather - plucking, and stilJ allow her to eat her food without inconvenience. When birds are kept ■ in. confinement, it is. imperative that they - should always be provided with plenty of water, and the want of water, and also green - food,- will-ofter cause birds to contract' this disagreeable habit of feather-eating. SEASONABLE HINTS. A small amount of fine bone-meal should be mixed with the soft food ; it will assist digestion and also provide bone-forming properties for the chicken. Do not forget that poultry-keeping requires both attention and interest to make it a success. If you cannot afford to give the necetsary time required, you will never make poul-try-keeping pay. Care, regular, and liberal feeding, together . with cleanliness, are the most essential points to be remembered in rearing po.ultry. Shelter should also be provided, as they require to be kept warm and dry. Watch carefully for any signs of lice or other vermin, and kerosene or lime wash your houses and roosts if any lice are to be seen. Fowls troubled with lice will not thrive, and your supply of eggs will be greatly reduced if vermin are allowed to accumulate on your hene. If possible, provide fairsized yarde or runs for your poultry If kept in small yards the, ground soon becomes sour, and is apt to produce disease. Small yards should be dug up two or three times in a season, and a liberal supply of wood ashes oi slaked lime spread on the top of the ground. Isolate nil birds that are diseased, as many of the poultry diseases are highly contagious, and by neglecting this precaution you may lose a large number of youi birds, wlu'ch would have been prevented if you had removed the infected bird as soon as you ob- , 6erved it was ailing. Young hens often have a difficutly in laying their first eggs, and not a few birds are lost at that time. A little warm olive .or salad oil poured into the egg duel will sometimes help a case like this, and perhaps 'save a valuable hen.- In other cases liens have the misfortune to 'break the eug internally soon after it leaves the egg cluster. Suoh eggs may remain within the body, a source of in-flnrL-mation, for months. The bird ceases to lay, and. often becomes heavy, even to dragging on .the-^ground, and is useless for ever after.