POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2437, 28 November 1900, Page 51

POULTRY NOTES.

By Teeeoe.

—In yards where breeding is now discontinued—more particularly where there is any appearance of moulting— the male birds should be at once removed from the pens, and those not required for next season sold or killed Ihose to be held over till next season should in the meantime, receive the very best attention—i.e., the pick of the food, a plentiful supply of clean water, and as much free range as possible. Many fanciers, haying broken up then- pens, coop the cock up in a box in which he has scarcely room to turn Ap I have said, however, his treatment should be the very reverse of this. In saying, in the foregoing paragraph, that the rooster on the retired list should have "a plentiful supply of clean water." I had in mind two or three cases in which I discovered that such birds had no special water supply, having to help themselves when and where they could. This of course, should not be, and to avoid the possibility of neglect on this most important point, it is a good plan, having given a bird its liberty, to place a special drinking vessel for it as near the pen as possible, so that it cannot be overlooked when replenishing the hens' fountains. —Mr A. W. White; 1 of Whitleigh Farm, North road, Salisbury, writes to a contemporary under date October 22:— "On Thursday one of our hens brought out a brood of chickens, and whilst taking them, from the nest to a coop we noticed something strange about one of them. After placing the hen ana her family safely under the coop we carefully looked at this one curious-looking chick, and to our surprise discovered that instead of only two legs it had_ got four, which are all fully developed. Tlie breast of the chicken is marked similarly to the back. Two of the legs are turned one way and the other two the reverse. It is now Monday, and the chick is quite healthy and runs about and feeds with the rest. Should any of your readers care to see it, and like to cail at our house, we shall be pleased to show them this novelty." — _With a view to profiting by the influx of visitors and the free passing of money consequent upon the visit of the Duke of .York, a section of the Melbourne fancy is now cogitating the pros and cons of the desirability of holding the "Victorian Poultry Show in February next year. From a pecuniary point of view, and with an eye to the convenience of visitors, the idea is undoubtedly a good one, but it is to be feared that there is a fatal objection — viz., that the exhibits now preparing will not be ready for such an early show. — A correspondent, writing from Christchurch, says: — I have had pbout four unfertile eggs in the production of over 100 chicks during the past three months, but these chicks nearly all begin to droop their v/ings and cease thriving from about 10 days or so after being hatched. Kindly forward me a paper containing the best lemedy possible for the above disease. Bj- complying with tins request, you' will greatly oblige au eld friend of your, paper. The only cause 1 can attribute foe my loss is overfeeding. [My correspondent may congratulate himself upon havint; Lad an extremely small percertage of infertile eggs. Ido not think his chickens are being; overfed ; it may be that they aie improperly fed, but more likely they are being poisoned by emanations from contaminated ground iipon which adult fowls have previously been for a considerable time confined ; or if on new ground, they ore being overcrowded. Chfc'licis are not eanly ov/sr— fed, po long as tlie food is suitable. The more, they eat, arid consequently the steadier they are kept growing, the merrier ; hu- they may be — for such is often the case — imororerly fee I—i.e.,1 — i.e., get too much soft siiifY. Soft fo^d should be ooten when piven'to the chicks, and any not disposed of a; once should be swept away, otherwise it may turn sour before heir" eaten. Dry food such as millet seed, broken wheat, crushed oats, green stuff hung up, etc., may be left before them at all times, and there is no fear of their overeating. Th" itioip they consume of good food the ou'cker they will piow. mature, and lay. Old ground 13 poison to chickens, and the only cure is immediate removal or substantial top drep?iii7 of Jiie run with now rnoivd. Over— '"•"wded chick" r<~cd ro other treatment Hum (•'■><■■>-„ ;„<; ou+ Hit thos" I'-ft on old ground should have it c".u~ over for the in cr iop-drefsed if it 13 very old. If mj' diapruosir. and pre'erintion clot net fill the bill. 1 shall be glad to trr ugnin if in 3' correspondent will favour me with ir.rre p^rlicula"^. — Tfheoti.] — Pcnly loc; , in povllry are not really a t}j a,i-e. but o n> o due to iioglect and imperfect -m iiatfou. Phr comrViin l ovght r.oi to ppp:ai - in weF-k^-pt yp*d e . and the presence ot fc-ily log.= proves t 1 it there ip Eoriething I ■uro'v; in tin navpQT.icv.l. Mi!p« ore the icr *-i-t_ r f ~cp.y 1"?-" ; lhcy burrow into the plcin cl" tl'o "r'.i-k, ccujivj. -..ni".!! eiupiiono and ■nhilc :cplc= {j p-f>"a\ suid ihe complaint is v""c']V '' P'i~'"iL | '" ' ""Crt- ciio fowl to ar.f'.Loi 1 . T't ruro i \cvy 'i.rylo co^pi-liur, in rpplying lJAi.iil-.i {o His li*£ j '>y jasi'uio of c. r:?2 for a

week or more. After this the legs must be washed for a few times with warm water and soap, and after each washing they must be well dressed with some sulphur ointment. It is also necessary to clean the perches and nest boxes thoroughly. "Scaly legs" must not be confused with the rough and scaly legs which are due to old age, bait as no hen ought to be kept longer than two and a-half years, old hens will not be seen on farms where poultry-keeping is conducted on a proper basis. — Weekly Times.