POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3396, 16 April 1919, Page 45

POULTRY NOTES.

By Tekhob

—-I learn through Mr Cussens. tho Government poultry expert for .the South Island, that Mr J. C. Bradley, of Westport, won first and special with, a cockerel and first with a pullet with birds bred from a sitting of utility Minorca, eggs procured from Mr H. S. Sproscn, the well-known Dunedin specialist this breed. Mr Sprosen has bred Minorcas for utility purposes for a great many years. He was in the thick of the Minorca fancy. when. the breed was. the rage some 20-to 30 years ago, and even then he had no time for the long-legged, heavy-combed type that tho judges so unfortunately favoured. He has always looked for big eggs—i.e., Minorca eggs—and plenty of them, and a bird that did not feel weighty, was of no value in his eyes. Pullets with which ho has won at recent shows in utility classes would undoubtedly have won in the open classes under present-day judges. Those who find fault with tho Leghorn because it is useless for the table will be pleased to know that Minorcas are bred locally which are to all intents and purposes general-purpose birds.

The present high price of eggs should suggest to many housewives that it would be profitable to keep a few fowls. If half a dozen (and no more) birds were kept the table scraps and soullery waste would go a long way to furnish the necessary food, and the amount spent in grain food, pollard, and bran would be very small. A suitable poultry-house for half a dozen birds could be built at little cost, for a handy man could build one with packing-case timber and some felting for the roof. In addition to the satisfaction of having really fresh-laid eggs there would be the additional pleasure of knowing that there was no waste from the household. * — Build proper housing accommodation. Although generally neglected, the subject of housing is of first importance. You cannot keep more birds than you can pro'perly house. Under the old .system of small nouses and insufficient yard room there was little satisfaction. The birds were, as a rule, subjected to overcrowding, and to generally insanitary conditions.'. Under the new system of large' housing with proper flooring, and other modern features, a large flock can be kept in splendid health in quite a limited space. Unfortunately, all building material is dear, and it will be a long time before it is cheap agan, if ever. One . great mistake is to build scratching shed nouses less than 15ft deep; 17ft or 18ft deep is better still. Even these require weather blinds to keep out driving rain. Tho shallow ones—say, of 10ft —must have a proper system of calico shutters for use in wet weather.

Clean out the houses frequently, as the birds now spend a longer time in them. Dig up a bit of the ground within the yard or run every day for the benefit of the confined fowls. Don't overstock your ground, nor overfeed your birds. Never feed stale food,_ nor food that has begun to ferment. Give soft mash in a fresh, luke-warm condition—never icy cold, especially on cold, wintry mornings. Keep the feeding vessels sweet and clean. Feed regularly. Have fixed feeding hours, and observe them.

Pullets and hens are better employed in scratching for dainty morsels in covered runs and sheds than wandering aimlessly about on muddy or wet grass runs. Ail birds in confinement must have a scratching shed of some kind provided from autumn to spring, and any expenditure in this direction will prove a wise investment. All sheds or shelters should be littered to a good depth with straw, chaff, or millsweepings. Special care should be taken with birds during moult. Birds should be encouraged but not forced to shed their feathers before the cold weather sets in. An iron tonic is advisable throughout the moult. Flowers of sulphur, say, a teaspoonful, for six birds every other day, mixed with soft food, or, if available, malt dust is a good substitute. Have your birds in good condition previous to moulting. Keep them 'in the pink of health. Give ono teaspoonful of cattle or glauber salts to every six birds once a week; add it to the sdft mash. Give plenty of grit and green food. When building a poultry-house be sure to keep the framing inside. Outside framing tends to conduct rain to the floor itself.

t — It is much better to put nest-boxes outside a house, as they can then be cleared, cleaned, examined, and disinfected without disturbing the birds.

A nest-box should measure 12in square. The back should be made to open, so as to avoid having to enter the house to collect eggs,' or clean the nests. A 4in board should be nailed along the front of the nest to keep the litter from being dragged out. than 2ft 6in from the ground. If higher, birds might easily damage their feet when jumping down. Dropping-boards are essential, and should bo at least 2ft wide and |in thick. It is wise to have these boards as light as possible, compatible with strength and stability, so that they may be easily handled for cleaning purposes. run. But when found necessary to have it inside the house, a shelf should be provided on which to stand the sot, as, if left on the floor, water quickly becomes fouled. This shelf should stand 18m above floor-level. Messrs Fraser and Co., produce merchants, auctioneers, and commission agents, 146 Crawford street, Dunedin, report: "Eggs: Market firm. Fresh eggs, 2s 3d to 2s 4d; Egjr Circle eggs, 2s 6d. Poultry: We held our usual sale oh Wednesday ax

1.30, and the following prices weri realised:—Hens—3o at Is 6d, 60 at Is 7d, 65 at Is Bd. 14 at Is lid; 18 at 2s, 24 at 2s 2d J cockerels, 3s to 3$ 9d) duoks, 3s 3d to 3s 6d; geese, 4s to 5s 6dj all at per head. Turkeys i Gobblers wanted-r-lld | hens, lOd per lb live weight." Beilly u Central Produc© Mart report: "A .flood yardingof poultry came forward for 6ur salo oft Wednesday. The demand was keener and the prices firmer than, thosi' ruling 1 the previous week. The following prices were secured, for our consignors:—* Cockerels—l 4 at 4a Id, 6at 4s, 24 at 3s lOd, 76 at 3s Bd, 7 at 3s 7d, 16 at 3s 6d, 26 al 3« 4d, 20 at 3s, 4 at 2s 9d each; hens-n. 27 at 2s 7d, 10 at 2s 6d, 37 at 2s 4dL 49 at 1* 9d, 13 at Is Bd, 4 at Is 7d eaoh] pullets—l 6 at 6s, 6 at 5s 3d. sat ss, 14 at 4s 3d each. Stamped and guarantee? eggs met a ready sale at 2s. 6d, and pr«x served eggs realised Is lOd and Is lid.