POULTRY NOTES. By Terror.

Otago Witness, Issue 2757, 16 January 1907, Page 31

POULTRY NOTES. By Terror.

— "Fowls lay because they must," say* ■ an American authority, "and not because they have any desire to do bo." More truthfully put, "Fowls lay when the deeire to do 6o is irresistible. The desire to lay is produced partly by the arrival of an egg at the point for expulsion and partly by the pressure behind it of other eggs in the course of development. The desire to lay may be arrested by fright or excitement' such as is produced by change of quarters t or by neglect in feeding or the missing ©I ,a. meal or changing from one kind o£ grain to another. —It is an idea worth being impressed with that a fowl ie a machine which muet run etnoothly in all parts to be profitable. It is only when the whole machine is in good order that such improvement* as extra weight or more eggs may be looked for from better food or accommodation. A sore eye or swelled foot will prejudicially affect egg-production. A thoroughly healthy fowl is the only fitting basis to v.ork upon for unusually good results- — Experiments made *at the Canadian Experimental Farm, Ottawa, in the spring of 1905 showed that eggs laid forty hours after mating were perfectly fertilised, the chickens hatched from such «ggs being perfectly strong. —At the same farm, after testing thd theory that the sex of an egg germ may be told before incubation by the position of the air cell, i.e., that if it is horizontal a, cock will be produced, and if it is oblique or slanting, a pullet, it is reported thnt no justification for the theory was found. — Value of Clover for Poultry. — Considering its cost, it 6 high nutritive properties and feeding value, it is surprising that this excellent article of food should have been so ignored or treated with indtf« ference. There are thousands of people who keep poultry who would either grow clover themselves or purchase it at a low cost if they only knew it« intrinsic value as a food for producing eggs in quantity, and fertility, but because it is plentiful 1 and can be bought cheaply, it is not appreciated. It not only balance* the ration, but is Tidi in lime, salts, protein, carbohydrates, ' and fat. Its most valuable conBtitutent is protein, the . flesh former. Analysis ehowe that an average crop of clover contains over 13 per cent, of proteins, 43 per cent, carbo-hydrates, and 4.9 per cent, of fat. It is during the winten." months when there is so little grass to ba had that the clover is the .most valuable. - The best way to use clover is to cut it into short iength*, and mix it with the other foods. — "Breeder," an Adelaide poultry scribewrites: — As pointed out years ago, the evtl effects of forcing and lack of sufficient exercise have resulted in much loss and disappointment in poultry-breeding. Thesa causes have long been recognieed in! America, and it seems that at the _ ex-, perimental stations, at all events, a little mere common 6ense is evident than at eotua of the large private establishments. Breed--ere will do well to give this matter close attention. During the year there have bee™ many complaints of egg and feather-eating, cannibalism, infertility, etc.. all distinct'y. traceable to bad systems of feeding. For some years many poultry journals, edited parrot-like by inexperienced persons, have urged systems of feeding that could only, end one way. The nature of a profitable hen demands activity— a fattening bird or, beast requires different food, and absence of movement ; many of the / methods of feeding hens would bo more suitable for pige. Novices naturally ha\e not the <-xperience which teachee them to think, nor, as a rule, are they wide readers, 6O thatf fhey cannot foresee that playing with Netuie is a dangerous and expensive matter. Numbers of tables of prnate feeding have been published before any genuine trial! was made. Those who for years have been consulted by breeders when in trouble are best able to judge of tho defects in many much-praised system*, and there arc a great many. . — A good many farmers advocate and practice crossing breeds of poultry. While' orcfccjiim? has very little advantage at anyj time, there is aD occasional first cros6 that turns out very well, but the crossing business should stop short with the fir«t lot o ■ (hiekens hatched. No eggs should be incubated from the half-breeds. The first mating ie a crc«s, but the second is a mongrel, and mongrels should never be tolerated under any eiroumstanccs. — During moulting the blood must be kept cool, and this is best done by a good supply of green food e\ery midday. Lawn clippings form an excellent feed, ami one that is greatly enjoyed, while cabbage and lettuce leaves are eagerly devoured. A capital plan adopted by experienced breeders is to hang a cabbage or handful or greens in a string net bar co that the birds may find employment by pecking afc it, and in a similar manner a turnip may - be suspended in a run. The common garden thistle is also much enjoyed by fowls. —To ensure early laying of old bird* t'ley should be run through the moult as quickly ac they can be forced. A little linseed, raw or boiled, will help them with their feathering, as aieo ftome fresh meat. But matters should not be overdone, and there must positively be no undue forcing with meats, rich foods or condiments, to stimulate the laying birds. This is not to say that they mu«t not. if they have no access to places where they could pick up a little animal food, as dunghills, etc., have a little cooked meat ghen to them, rhej, will be all th.- better for «. li.'tle. Fat hens never lay well ; neither are cluok«n» hatched from fat hens o\er so strong as ia the hens had boon properly krpt. Pay more attention thjn ever to your houses and run*, that they be properly cleaned, for the bmls will spend considerably more tmio in thenr now than they did in th© summer. — Many people who k'll fowls for th« table kill them when the crop-! and entrails are full of .food, etc The proper plan irf to fast a bird intended for killing at leasfi 24 hours before it is required* to undergo thf 4s4ib penajty.- The reafon i§ && fen.

io seek ; the crop, stomach, and entrails are then empty, and the bird is easier drawn and dressed for the table. In addition to food being withheld, no water should be given. — "There ie not an egg in London," remarked a witness at the Southwark County Court, "that we are selling on the egg market less than a, month old." Deputyjudge Layman: "Then I don't think I shall eat any more London ' new-laid ' eggs." — Guinea fowls have been reared to ai considerable extent in England, but have never been bred in, large flocks. Guineas mate in pairs, and it is neoessarv to provide as ; many males as females. The easiest ■way to begin the rearing of guinea fowls is to secure some eggs, and eet them under common hens. The eggs hatch in from 26 to 29 days. Common Jiens are better for this vrork than the guineas, ac the latter usually become broody too late in the season to make it possible for them to raiee their young to maturity before cold weather. The fowls must have at least one meal at home per day, preferably at night. This is to induce them to remain at home to roost. -rrA. Tapper and Co. {per Mr E. Reilly) report for weeking ending Saturday, the 12th inst. : — Poultry are arriving steadily, ancfc all well-grown and conditioned birds are in demand, especially young roosters. At our sale en Wednesday we had a most euocesaful sale, clearing each line at full market rate*. Hens cold from 2s to 2s 9d ; ducks, 2a 6d to 3e 6d ; ducklings, 3s to 4s bd; young roosters,- 3s to 4s 6et; gee?e, 5s to 6* per pair. Turkey gobblers Bd, hens 5d per lb. Egg& are in short supply, all lots of fresh eggs being cleared as soon as they arrive. We sola: Stamped guaranteed fresh lid, and storekeepers 10£ d per dozen.