POULTRY NOTES

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7912, 28 July 1917, Page 4

POULTRY NOTES

By “Utility”). The hatching season has started, and a good many chicks have already made their appearance. The birds that are to provide the eggs for hatching should be vigorous, healthy and in good condition. Anything that does not show good laying abilities should be culled out. Eggs of the largest size should be used, as the small egg naturally has a small chick. If a hen is trusted with the work of incubation a good sized hen of the heavy breed should be chosen, as the light breed will sometimes leave the eggs. Have the bird very quiet so there will be no rushing about when you wish to handle the eggs for testing or cleaning. If the eggs get soiled it is necessary to cleanse them in warm water. Incubator chicks are very easy to rear. Some people are of opinion that a hen or a hot brooder is necessary. That is a mistake, as all the Government poultry farms rear in a fireless brooder.

A brooder is a very simple thing to make. Just make a frame round or square and put legs on it about four inches high and take a piece of heavy flannel or light blanket and lay across the top and allow the middle to sag a little, the sides touching the ground. Then the sides should be slit down every two inches or near about. The hover, or brooder as you call it, when finished, should be placed in a shallow box with wire-netting over the top. As the chicks grow the run can. be lengthened. Chaff is about the best thing for the floor of the brooder. Plenty of feed like chick feed and green stuff with plenty of grit and fresh water should te always before them. There is no mistake to he made, and anyone can rear chicks in a hover or brooder of the tireless home-made type.

If you have only mongrel fowls cut their heads off and have them for Sunday dinner. Purebred pullets from a well-known laying strain will keep a family in eggs all the year round.