POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2654, 25 January 1905, Page 54

POULTRY NOTES.

By Tebhob.

— The route now fixed upon for my trip next month is as follows:- Milton, Bafclutha, Kaitangata, Owaka, Tahakopa, ChasTands, Fortrose, Invercargill, Gore, Waikaia, £i n s° n ' Ta P anui > Lawrence, Alexandra Clyde, Wedderburn, Naseby, Kyeburn, Dunback, Palmerston, Waitati, Dunedin. The programme arranged will be adhered! to, provided inducement in the form of invitations aie forthcoming ; failing such the route may be slightly altered. " ,—, — In the course of\a conversation with Mr U.- D. Hyde, the "Government, poultry expert, I learned that rather more chickens have been raised at the several Government .farms this season than in previous years, and that, thanks to" the excellent provision made- for their well-being, he has not suffered much loss owing to the bad weather, as have breeders generally. An excellent indication of the spread of knowledge aniong&t the farming community as to proper methods, which he is pleased to report, is shown in the fact that whilst in previous years the bulk of the orders for sittings sent to the Government farms arrived subsequently to November— many coming in as late as February— this year a very small percentage only was sent in after November. Mr Hyde does not think there is justification for the idea to which I referred some weeks back, that prices would be lower for birds for export this season than last. He considers there is, on the contrary, every reason for farmers to expect even better prices than last year, for keen competition will prevent exporters filling the large orders they have in hand at other than very fair prices. — Messrs Waters, Ritchie, and Co. (per Mr E. Reilly), Crawford street, report : — Poultry market fairly well supplied l , and prices well maintained. Hens, inferior, 2s 6d; fair, 2s 6d to 2s 9d>; extra good). 3s 3d ; roosters, poor and light, 2a 6d ; fair, 3s to 3s 6d'j good, 4s; extra good, 4s 6d; ducks, old and poor, 3s; fair, 3s 6d; good 4s; ducklings, poor and light, 3s; fair 3s» 6d to 3s 9ct; good, 4s; geese, 5s 6d per pair; turkey hens, sd; gobblers. 8d per lb. Egfta : As advised last week, the market opened firm at lOd, "and we have pleasure in advising a further advance to lldi per dozen on Friday. Export Poultry : We beg to advise having 1 received further large orders, and will be pleased to quote prices on application. — Mr Py«> principal of the Dookie College Egg-laying Contest, "Victoria, reports heavy losses owing to the extreme heat; of the 3easo"n. With the hope- that Mr Pye's experience will serve to show how iniportaht it ia .to provide proper shade for fowls in summer, I quote portion of his l'eport for Peoember ;„— "I regret very much <& jssnoxfc

that 49 deaths occurred during the last two days of December. Twenty-five pens were affected. Six of the deaths occurred among the light breeds and 43 among the heavy breeds. It is very regrettable that so many deaths should have occurred to mar the interest in the competition, but even a number of the native birds died from the effects of £he heat, which, though not unprecedented, appeared to be more oppressive and disastrous in its effects on the college poultfry than in the past. The shade temperatures were 110 Fahr. and 112 Fahr., andi the solar heat registered 166 Fahr. and 167 Fahr." — There is nothing causing more failures than the attempt to overdo things and get more breads and larger flocks than can be properly dealt with. The majority of people are not in a position to adequately care for more than one or two breeds, but most failures result in breeders trying to bring" to maturity more birds than they are able to house. It is well to remember that quantity is not much good unless on© has also quality. The indiscriminate mixing of sexes is, after the age of three months, a thing to be carefully avoided. Their separation, however, requires thought. It is often the case that cockerels pine if taken from a free range and placed by themselves, even in a large, enclosed run. But if separated when eight or ten weeks old, and at first extra well fed, they soon become reconciled and continue to 'grow, as a rule. It is preferable, however, to have a really growing and fine brood ranging at large, mixed, th^ji divide the sexes to be put into small runs. — -Here is a of making a floor for a henhouse. It also makes a good walk around the house. Make a level foundation 4in to 6in deep with small stones or cinders from the ooal ashes. Then with a ooal sieve get the coal ashes and add one bushel of fresh, slaked lime to every four bushels of fhe ashes. Mix well and let it stand a few days, and add one gallon of salt and moisten to a thin mortar so that when put on it will settle down into the stones. Spread 2in or 3in thick, and give another coating in a few days. If broken it can be mended in the same way. It is rat proof and waterproof, and if the upper surface of the last coating is smooth it can be kept clean, and absorbs no odours whatever. —It makes not the slightest difference how good a breeder's stock may be nor how long he has been breeding, part 'of each year's hatch will not be up to standard, and' ought to be disposedi of for food. As a rule, this is the final destination of fowls after they reach the age of two or three years.- This being so, it is o£ importance to pay attention to getting them in proper shape for table. Some will argue that this is unnecessary trouble, but if we endeavour to furnish the market writhe best it/ will pay us. ' — Fowls that are getting! aged are made more tender and the flesn more juicy by. being confined in close, clean quarters for a week or two before being killed, and having nothing, to eat but corn and pure water. Chicks 1 should be' confined the same way, with the same food, but a weeik is sufficient if in £oo,d order when shut up. Confining in this way, with nothing but clean, pure food and clean water to drink gives the flesh a sweet and toothsome flavour that is surprising. — The turkey is a favourite Christmas dish in Great Britain, and an enormous number of birds are oonsumed during ilio. festive season. The Daily Express" (London) says that 180,000 turkeys are annually; reared in England, and that this enormous supply only supplies a small portion of the demand. France, Eussia, Italy, and Canada all- contribute a large numiber of turkeys to 6upply the British dinner table at Christmas, and it is to be hoped that in the near future Australia may also take advantage of this market for the disposal of its young turtkeys.