POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2408, 26 April 1900, Page 44

POULTRY NOTES.

By Terror.

— I am informed by Mr Rogen that he has sent Home for a pen of as good Minorcas as can be bought in England.

— The Utility Poultry Club (England) has closed its annual laying competition of ]6 weeks' duration. Four pullets of each breed competed, the pen securing the greatest number of points being the winner, two points being given for each egg over l£oz, and one point for each under. The result is that the first prize has been gained by a pen of Wyandottes that laid 223 eggs, no other pen reaching higher than 161 eggs, which was attained by a pen of Leghorns. The winners must have been exceptionally selected, as the other pens ot Wyandottes only laid 80 and 103 eggs respectively, and the other pens of Leghorns produced only 61, 101, and 119 eggs. Without pursuing the subject any further, says Mr W. B. Tegetmeier, it is obvious that the success of the winners in this competition did not at all depend upon the breed, but upon the strains. One pen of Leghorns was the lowest upon the list, whilst another pen was the second ; and one pen of Wyandottes laid only 80 eggs, being thirteenth on the list, as against 223 laid by the first prize pen. It is stated that_ the winning pullets had been bred from birds that had been carefully selected from the best layers for 10 successive years.

— A curious theory in relation to fowls is mentioned in. a recent number of the Stockkeeper as being- held by certain persons — viz., that fowls are largely responsible for cases of abortion which occur amongst horses, cattle, sheep, etc.. Whilst hesitating to believe (says the journal referred to) that this can actually be the case, there was such evident faith displayed by those who originated the discussion in the truth of their statements that the opinions of those who have studied, or who now may study, the subject, will be valuable, both to poultry breeders and stockkeepers, ac there is no denying the fact that a tendency to abort is communicable from one animal to " another. Indeed, so many fantastic theories exist upon the matter that it would be all to the interest of the hen to have this, the latest charge against her, settled definitely one way or another, as nothing is much more damaging than an unsubstantiated charge of this kind.

FOWLS IN SMALL PvUNS.

(From Lloyds Weekly.)

Those people who live in town?, and who appreciate the luxury of a new-laid egg, are inclined to envy the country resident his facilities for poultry keeping, and often express the wish that they could have a few fowls of their own. It is such a common idea that fowls can only be kept where there is a large grass run that many who really have ample space, and who would enjoy not only' eggs laid by their- own liens, but the pleasure and interest to be derived from attending to the birds, can with difficulty be persuaded that birds confined in a small run will lay as many eggs as those that have their freedom. "Yet such is the case ; and the statement sometimes made that eggs under such conditions will be found to cost Is a-piece will prove to be erroneous. Less than Id each, if the birds are properly managed, will be nearer the mark.

A wooden house for half a' dozen fowls can be put up for few shillings ; or it can be purchased complete fiom one of the numerous niakeis who advertise such things. The house must be -watertight and ventilated — the latter is frequently omitted — by having an openingnear the roof above the level of the perch on which the birds roost. The perch should be made movable, so as to be easily taken out and cleaned. The nest-box, for the same reason, is better if not fixed. The poultry house must be surrounded by a wire run, and a portion of the run covered, to afford shelter from rain or hot sun. The floor of the house should be made of earth, beaten hasd.

A common mistake with most amateur poultry keepers is to overfeed the fowls. They should have no more at a time than they will eat greedily, and none should be allowed to remain over after the meal is done. Those poultry runs lhat are io be seen with grain or other food lying about the ground seldom contain many laying hens. The morning fesd should consist of soft food, mixed into a stiff, crumbly paste, and not sloppy. This soft food is almost a necessity for fowls in small runs. It may consist of barley meal and middlings in equal parts, mixed with hot water, and a little salt added. Mid-day is a good time to give some cut .arras's or other green Ftuff. Any not eaten by the next morning must be removed. Before the birds go to roost they must have some whole grain. Wheat and barley are the best, given alternately, and not maize. Only a handful or two of the latter should be allowed occasionally, as a change. Plenty, of grit is necessary, as well, as fresh, clean water, and a box of dry sand or ashes is required for the fowls to dust themselves in!

Well-grown pullets, hatched in March or April (September and October in New Zealand) will lav a greater number of eggs than older hens, though in the beginning of the season the eggs will be rather small. The breed of fowls to be kept can depend upon the taste of the owner. Non-sitters are to be preferred in small Tuns, and of these brown Leghorns, black Minorcas, and Andalusians will lay a laige number of white eggs. If brown 'eggs are preferred, gold and silver Wyandottes, Langshans, Plymouth Rocks, and Brahmas will all do well, though they will become broody. They can be broken off the desire to sit if, directly they begin to cluck and remain on the nest at night, they are removed and placed under a coop for a few days, grain and water being given them.

TURKEY-BREEDING IN OTAGO,

Dear Terror, — I ask permission for space to criticise Mrs Anderson's methods of turkeyraising, as reported by you this week. lam sure she will not be offended by what I have to say. My reason m writing at all is to- save any persons who may be about to enter on turkey-breeding endless worry, annoyance, and work.

In the matter of feed, I am at one "with Mrs Anderson. For the first month or so chicks should be fed at least six times a day; little and often is the clue to success in early feeding. Grit in some form there must be— glass, china, etc., but any variety of grit which acquires a rounded edge whilst doing its work is inferior to such as quartz and others of a similar class, which retain tlieir cutting edges to the last. Let any one feed broken glass io ,- bird for the table, and examine the crop after the bird is killed, and what I mean ivill be at once apparent.

Dandelions should always be given in, at nrat finely chopped and mixed with tho oatmeal. Failing dandelions, cape weed, 'md occasionally a little onion.

But beyond and above" all, one thing in*M4 »- -i**axva$ — olvujljufce cleanliness. Never .feed

young chicks on stuff mixed on the previous day; never mix. the new supply in the saucer containing the least particle of the previous day's food. Wash the vessel thoroughly first. Weed I say, be careful that no bacon, peas, or beans get into waste to be fed to mature turkeys? So much for feeding. JSTow I must, I fear, offend Mrs Anderson. She, with the majority of the people who think about the matter at all, is 'the holder of the absolutely false theory, — belief, it amounts to — that a wetting to ai young turkey means death. Death it certainly, means if the young ones be kept dry for a week or two and then are unfortunately caught in a shower. I have purposely spoken of "turkey-breeding" as opposed to rearing. The latter word is an offence to common serise." Let my readers think for a moment. Why should one of the hardiest of birds in, a natural state require such watchful care when domes-" ticated ? If to a young turkey a wetting meant death,' whence came the noble flocks of the States? I have seen up at the back end and all through the Mackenzie Country splendid droves of turkeys. These trive there amazingly on the "jumping life," as represented by the grasshopper; but it is possible this useful insect is now eliminated there, as otherwhere, by the accursed sparrow. To arrive at the hardihood, and tenacity of life displayed by the turkey' in a wild state, it is in the first place necessary to reproduce as far as may .the natural con-" ditions surrounding the bird in such a life. Obviously, the wild bird had no foster parent-, ing." So far as protection from weather went" this- 'care may be dispensed with. Then, as. to food: here we must supplement nature ~on' the lines indicated by Mrs Anderson. I maysay at once that the droves I have seen awaY : up in the back of the Mackenzie Country hacl no attention, nor did the owners know of their existence till a crowd of great half-gro-vji fellows came in to the homestead at the beginning of winter, for the winter feed of ?rain. - Let your turkeys lay where they like ard , go where they wish; wet or fine, snow or jun : ' only -be- bum you 1 feed often, and as directed, and observe absolute cleanliness. That is mv advice to all turkey breeders. If something more forcible be desired, let me recorumdiHi a course of letters which appear in and out of season in the Field from the scathing pen of Mr W. B. Tsgetmeier, whose increasing violence of 'style would seem to point the difficulty he finds in beat : ng down the growth of prejudice and ignorance. A word as to veimin — in a state of nature the turkey is one of the- feathered tribes to which vermin of any kind is unknown ! Verb sap. You, Sir, have seen the growth of tarl, rank grass around my home in early spring. My present season's chicks were born on a sleety, snowing day, and wet weather held for three weeks intermittently. I did not lose 10 percent, of all hatched. Alas ! I lost two splendid ' sittings, every egg of which contained a chick; but this was because a hawk was stooping over two hens, which he had spotted amongst the pines, and those poor birds broke every egg in the excitement of their rage and fear. Here, indeed, I was to blame in not making a screen of brush to hide the nests. Briefly, the matter may be put thus: Every person who "rears" young turkeys is directly responsible for further vitiating" the already enfeebled constitution o{ these birds, and thu3 lessening the aggregate' sum of vitality possessed by all the- turEeys in the world, and conversely, every, o.ne-tu;hd-l&ts the mother dothe -rearing is lrelping^w^xdsjthe re-establish-, ment in the turkey family "of "trhrt, hardy- nature with which this bird was originallyvendowed. So many things there are which it seem 3 un-° necessary to say, but' lest a most important point be overlooked, let me impress the absolute necessity of steering clear of inbreeding. A fresh strain of sound blood is a marvellous invigorator. I shall be pleased to think this communication has been -of v.s>e, and you may be sure 1 shall willingly give any further information desired.— Yours faithfully, H." BUGKLATSTD.

Kaiatoa, April 7 Note.— The glass: melting in fire previously to passing it through the mill so changes the • constitution of this mineral as to ensure the cutting edg s becoming practically perma-* nent. .