POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 49

POULTRY NOTES.

Br T^reob

— In my replies to "Jet"' (ire letter following). I have in mind the premibe^ and plaus of Mr Gill, of Anderson's Bay, who is just starting a poultiy farm under verj binalar conditions to thos" I advocate. Mr (Jill has selected au excrll^ut wte foi his farm, aud thousli sc.newhi't elevated, the natural viielter afforded by macroeaipa is just what experience would j>Uui for the purpose. Mr ii ill, on my rccommendatiou, and also on thai of Mr Hyde, wlto recently vUited the farm, is building and .stocking on the plan I lecomtneud below to "Jet, aud ha-i already an incubator two we*-ks down with eggo. In addition to tlio :<d\'c» gi\ en to the inquiries he makf«. I wou'd r- coaiiU'eud

"'Jet'" — nho, by-tLe-bye, i<- ju=t the t-oit of man I would fearlessly encourage ro go in wholesale — to follow Mr (Jill's cue 111 another respect — *iz., not to sdl efig» uuder 1? a dozcu. It was Mr (iili of uhoiu I spoke some w^ek? baok as. putting dov. 11 as a speculation eoidc thousand-- cf dozens of egg — bought at 6d and 7d a iloze-n. — :»ud selling them, when pre*or\e<l t-gp- were up. at lfc 4-d a dozen , his total outlay in freight and preher\ativcs not exceeding ld_.

— Dear Terror, — 1 have lately leased about fi\c uerrs of land on the outikirtf of the town, and am tlimkiug of tiring my hand at fowl-farming. I should t'ht rri-jre be vjry miU'li obliged to you if jou could give a few practical h:nt= en the p( mis given tuider:— (1) I shall have Ihe hou»f» on a sledge, so that I can ino\e jt and give the fowl* fresh ground at any time. Do you ap prove of ihu, idea "' (2) How much ground would be sufficient fci, kjy, 100 head, ucrked 011 the shifting s-'-j-tem, a.ud what size of a houie-V t3) Would you rxjeoiruiionri me to r-urc!ta=e :iu incubator, and, if =;o what fixe and price (4) Whii'h do you thi'ik ir, hkely to pay bett^-r br^fdiug for ogg-. or Sgt ex port, and wl.at particular breed 01 croa, would you reeuininfcd ? (5) I can get 11,10 a lot of first-class Plymouth Recks <heap!y. Would you recommend me to keep theEO. an hens, and use a rooster of sore© other breed? If you will be good enough jun to give me a little advice through the Witne:* on these point*. I shall ba greatly indebted to you. I may add that the land I have got se>ein= to me to b<* an ideal place for fowl c ~ wjirm. dry, and witii magnificent maerocarpa hedges all round and across It was originally dense bush, but since it ha" been cleared lms boon used as a maiket frnrden. The hedge? ha^e been allowed to grow to a great height, but have been closely trimmed for about 6ft from the ground Th» overhanging brace hc=, tl.e^fore, koe-p tbe ground perfectly dry in all weathe:s. and I fancj fowls could have a Ju-t bath there on any day in the year.— l am. ett , Jkt.

[In reply to '"-Tel." T would say — <'l) It is not a bad plan to bui!d_pnnlti y houses upon sledge?, seeing that it "acilitatet mo\c meat; but us roosting: over damp w?il doe* not contribute towards prolific laying, tlic-re should be a floor to each house. !2) Half an acre would be ample for 100 birds. I would recommend dividing into ei^ht small run* oi

one-sixteenth of an acre each, and in preference to movable houses would erect one fixed building for each two runs, allowing the birds to use each run alternately. By tla* plan, each run gets a rest, and can be resowu with grass, if necessary. Twenty-five birds to each pair of such runs would find corrlfortable quarters. A housS to accommodate this number should bo 6ft by Bft (length aud width), and sft to 6ft high. If roofed with iron, there should be a wood ceiling. Perches should be all on a level, and -not more than 2ft from the ground. (3) Yes, get an incubator by all means, but don't depend upon it for the first season — set hens as well. The first season's operations with an ii.cubator are, in a greaL measure, a series of experiments, all teaching something and preparing the way for real business the second year. As regard* style of machine. I don't know that there 11 a "best," all are good in their way. (4) Breed for both purpose- — i.c , eggs aud export. I recommend flip ke-cping of ruo pure breede — .Lungshans and Minorca*. The -former lay best in the* v. inter, the latter 111 the summer, and if veil f;i> - ed for. both 'ay practically all the year round The best cros* for eggs and tahlp puipcbes 1^ the Minorca -I^angshan, got hv mating a Minorca n;*le with Langshan ht-ns This otv*s givfts excellent layers and fn:r--ized birds. (5) This question is answered iix the pr'-c^ding paragraph. The ground you have is evidently the ideal thing tor poultry., and if care ie taken to include a portion of macrocarpa hedge in each run, sr'endid shelter and scratching ground trill bf» provided. In runs where this cannot be arranged for. a shelter shed — into which thf sun can shine — should be erected. A leau-to against the house is generally built for this purpose. The book "Jet" speaks of in another portion of his letter is now in the printer's hands, and he will be adsi»ed wh^n it is rea-dy for sale. — Terrok.] — Dear Terror. — I am plea?od to inform you that I have had a good serson this yeai . I have pokl 263 pure birds since April, and received most flattering testimonials from my customer^. I have sent out mostly Pebin and runner ducks, black Orpingtons, and buff I>ghorns, and judging by the satis faction the last-named have given my customers, I expect to see buff Leghorn boom next rear And co they should, as they are

an excellent variety of Leghorn, good lay-en,, aiid as for beauty, yon should see them in ■me of my grass runs I have also sold 18 Minorcas, 19 Langshans. 23 Indian game, 15 brown Leghorns, 8 huff Orpingtons, and 17 other birds, comprising go' den, white, and «.iKer Wyandottes. so you will bee I have had a fair season : and I am pleased to say most of the birds that have been shown have bc»u in the prize money. In {act. one of ray Customers (Mr W. R. Andrews) informs m» he won 'ix firs< prizes at the Gore show with six birds p-ureba'-ed from m«. Peraoually. I only showed ai Christehuioh, Timani, Oamani, Diviedin. Lawrenc-e. and N.'sC-by, and won t*i«ht firsts, two seconds, Chiistchurch : 11 fivits. four specials, nine seconds, Timani : 1J first-s. gold medal, three seconds, me third, Oamaru ; five firsts, two bpeonds for export poultry, Ounedin. F«r South Island championship Orpington's, held at Lawrence. I fallowed and -won Ist cock, Ist cockerel. Ist tint! championship hen : a«d at Xaseby for .So-ith Island Pharapjonship in ducks, I showed seven birds and- won Ist Aylesbury duck : on« championship. 2nd :md 3rd Pekin t'raVe: l?t Pekin duck, and let and 2nd Indian runners. The judge, commenting on the ducks, Fays: '"Ayleebuiya — 1 >rh one re-ally good exhibit; Pekin drak«-=, li\e"fine~l lot I ever (.aw jn a --how. The hu.l awarded the championship wts almost as laige ai a goose a remarkably compact, ime bud: 2nd anJ 3rd ahnost equally good. As a trio, too much praise could not l>f bc-.to.vpd on them. Pekin ducks: Three w«re hpa'itiofi The 3rd would have br-nu o nd only for black tt por« on her bill." You will note I only had one entry and \>ks lust. You will '■cc by the judge" s. remarks ihat my exhibit of duckf wa> a fit exhibit to make in a championship class. — I am, etc , E. Rfili.t [l'ha\e. on behuif of my readers, to thaak Mr Reilly for the for&goinf? report upon his seagon's doings, and to caugratnlate him t.iereon and upon his s1;ow gucoesti. The extraordinaiy experience related in the following letter is also most interesting. I have, sepn an po;g within an egg before now, but never before hear<l of a successful hsUch und«r such circiunsta.ucas. — Tebbob.] — Dear Teiror,— Before tending my black Orpington hen to compete for the chamnion^liip whic n i she won. I noticed hor visitw<£ the os;sr r.-?t rerj often. On looking I «•»«• she lisd laid a \erv large and what [ lock to be a double-yolked <-ij<?. Tliink■iig I w<<ul<l give k a ciiaiw.-e, I put it m it Koberto-'p Simpler mculmtor, tested it at tlu- >evetitli ('ay. and found it ferhle, and il;o Pinbryo strong. I thought T must l>e sureJv g-ojng ro liatcli a twin chick. Today my ]atjio eg/ 1-atohed out * splendid 'trffe <- l .ckt. r o] t-hifkeu— in fd-ct, the largest t ! •( k T <?ver «hv come orit of nn egg, and only a 19 day ciiick at th»t ; and taking up vvli.'i J thought to In' the empty slu-11, judg^ of mv purpnee when I found a perft( fly formed egg mi-ide from where fch« ( liiokeu came The egg is rather larger than a bantani's eg^, aud the shell is rather soft, but quit" a found shell, aud the chicken th t <t 'a me out — w i 11, I think he will be a i h iiupioii if nz" t jnnts. At lea^ I hope -<>: 1 « ih tlit-y iurt_> a!! come a^ good. — I ami, eic.

V,r>. Reillt — Wuter;ilas>s i^p^ 1 advt colinnn?) can row In- obuaned in Is tin^ Ah Uie quantity -old at tbi-i jjrir-e ii K llar a ntPe< l 'iifiii-'t nt for 15duz pgrg>. :mcl the irawim' is piowd by {•v.t^ tr> hp Il<» bp-t pr» < -T\ati»«' known, it will no d'H'bl he gieatlj used t-Lir> i-eason.

- Kcador-s will no w-plI to read the an-nounc-cment by the Fern Glen i'oultiy Farm. Abbot sford

- In wLitc wa'-i'iiig or lime-washing buildings ther<» ih < ften a trouble to make the eoaiiug adhere prnnciljr to the wall-, if the hint or «lnu:!g is oiiK^d \\\t\\ milk. <">r, better ?tlll. butter iralk. this will cnu^e flip «aih to wick nrmly, avid it will a!-o la-t ionger than il mix^d with water.

— Some people arc eager enough to fe«d ti>e*r cliu-kenu well, but are apt to neglect the hen who ungrudgingly protects theai. lhi> neglect i> uufair and •unpohtic. The hen will he better aUe to give her a:tfiutun !<> the brood if hr-r tiiou^ht* vie not coii--Lautli upon the means to get her ov. n iuod. I: w»-!I fed, siie i^ oontented and i<--tful, v. liicli 1* ri i<? di.-pcsition required 111 a hiju \>'io ha- a brood of chi'-kea^ to li>ok sfier. I can well understand that a ucultry keepci do<;* not want a hen to mop up the tit bits he may have prepared fin- the chicken?. But if the hen has a ( lop full of grain, t-uth a s whole maiz°, i>he \'i)\ be an excep'ionnlly poor mother if f-lic does not do Ler best :o portion out tbe food intended for the chickcus I have alaost invambly found a hen more anxious

tn feed her brood than to pi-ovide for herself. It is, however, decidedly wrong to ask a hen to refrain from eating the food intended for chickens or to do her duty by them with her crop empty and her natitre crying out for food, owing to enforced abstinence, as is usual when chickens are btmg hatched. — '"Chanticleer." —M. Louis Pansot, an eminent French oLemis-t. has disco\ered a liquid which he daims to be capable of preserving the freshness of egg=s for a period of 12 month? A year ago he placed a large number of there delicacies in the liquid, getting a magistrate to witness his act aud seal the tank with his official seal. A few days ago the tank was opened 111 the presence of his worship, the eggs being found to be in excellent condition. Four eggs were selected haphazard out of the tank, and on being boiled were eaten, the magistrate pronouncing them to be excellent and possessing a delicious flavour. Another triumph for the inventor happened the other day. some eggs which had been in the liquid for four months being successfully hatched, eight of the 12 placed under the hen proving fertile. M. Parisot states that he can preserve eggs with his preparation at a. cost of 7id per 1000. JTo arrest decay ond at the same time maintain life is a feat indeed ; but oi^e oi:ght not to feel sceptical as to its accomplishment in respect to poultry eggs. To secure germination subsequent to long preservation, the porosity of the shell must not be interfered with, unless by some material which can be completely removed when required, Possibly the method discovered is the enveloping of a newly-laid egg in an air-proof wrapper, and we need rot be surprfe/J some day to find Mtttngs of eggs 'borne over sea in skins just a* 'suisage? are at the present day ; for. seeing that vegetable seeds ami fisti spawn have been ge.rminated after preservation for thousands of years, there seems every reason to think that poultry eggs may be success fully treated some day. — Tereoh.] — If a hen lays an egg a week the year throughout, it will just about pay for her food, and every extra egg produced will return v profit The hen, therefore, that lavs 120 eggs or more per year will return

a considerable amount of profit after deducting the price of food and other e\-pi-uses. —At the last American census the matte" of fmm product was specially inquired n,lo, the result* oi which have ju*t been published a^ a «peoial report. There are 5.700.000 farms in the United Stateh, and on 5,100,000 of these poultry are kept. The total number of birds, three months old and over, on -these farms waj 233,600,000 chickens (including guinea fowls), 6.700.000 turkeys, 5,700,000 geese, and 4,800,000 ducks — an avei • ; .rr r . n f &(, elm-ken= to each farm and abont oiw each of the other fowl. The aggregate value of nil these birds (on the farm) i- put at £17,160,00' - During 1699 these fowls produced ju*t on 16,000,000,000 of eggs, valued at £28,860.000, the value of the poultry raised and sold in the same year being put at £27,380.000, the average production being at the rate of about £11 per fami. The total a\erage income per foul ju.iouuted to just 4s 8d foi the year. — The following way to cure hens of the liabit of eating eggs i-s recommended by Mr Cobb: — Like many other things, a -certain amount of trouble and time is pome-trmos it quired to cure this habit. Empty the contents of several eggs, and refill the shells virh caibolised vaseline. Cover over apertnre. Place these eggs -where others are beang eaten. Keep up the supply of these ey;gs. Never let the run or 1lou?c be without two or three of such, and see that they are kept nice and clean and look like ij«-w-laid ones. — Mr L. Irvine advertises Minorca and Pekm egg* in this issue. Readers will observe that Mr Irvine hue tVy highest class of stock and is a well-known show winner throughout the colony. Purchasers of this faufier's egge last season spe»k of the progeny a^ a wonderful laying strain.