POULTRY NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12765, 17 June 1911, Page 12 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES

PEOFITABLE POULTEY.

(By 'Gk)ck-o'-the-North.")

I have to acknowledge the receipt of the 191 1 catalogue of* the New Zeal&ndxEotdtry JourtfaT Institute." It is welt got Up and well worthy of the .stock it "advertises." Personally speaking I know that none of the e>tock is overrated in this catalogue* and as long &s tho stick is O.K it is up to the I oultryman .to give a tu.rn to the man who* has done" so much for "them at considerable loss,' and in face of much nnnoyanca and abuse. The catalogue is free on application to J.. B. Morrett Box 588, Christehurch. Remember the foolish virgins:—"Keep your lamps i rimmed" and apply early. 'Resuming on the subject of housing poultry the great point tt> be remembered by those who only intend kipping a few fowls for tho sake of-having a full flavoured new laid egg on thebreakfast table, is that the house must be watertight overhead, absolutely draft proof at back and sides and in front (which should in general face North) entirely open excopl for wire netting. Such a house as this ensures pJonty of sun and warmth during thewinter months, plenty of pure fresh air without draft and in rainy weather a house where the" birds are kept busy and consequently happy and contented if a goodly supply of'straw (about (> inches deep) is kept on the floor of the house and the grain at night should always be fed in this straw and under no conditions on bare ground. The interior of the jiouse should bewell white-washed thus making-it light and cheerful, and it* is wonderful th* effect' this has on the birds. As to size a house 14ffc. . deop from front to bade, with 7ft" elevation m front and sft. XOin. at back, beina twelve feet from side to side, v/ill ac-cpmmodaio-40 birds under close confinemerit. If the birds are properly cared for, and are pullets hatched, at tho right time,; the eg? sxipply will never cease throughout the year provided .the advice iii' previous articles re tho selection of a breed have been carefully followed. ■ ■ . ;

V Across the back of the hduso, and extending the full: width of the housw, a, dropping-board eft. wide should bs consti-ucttid sixteen inches iroin ttte ground. The best form of this is tomake a frame of 2x2 inch staff, lift Oin. an length and Bft. wide, putting two stays across equf-distant from eaclx end and centre and also short anglepieces of 3xl battoriK across tho lower Mue of each corner to act as stays toKeep tho'friimo square. When iinished r istretch: ordinary 3ft. nviro: netting, on this frj ma and suspend from the end rafters-by means of two piocas or ordinary No. 7 fencing wire; turned at oach" end in tho form of a HobK1, and hooked into four little loops also of , vvirts. Form by.bending a pieoS of wire, lour inches long, round till the end* .cross ea<rh other forming a loop. to tn©. centre. One of each of the°se should be wtapled to the oiitsMo ,oi oacit corner of the '-frame/"-about six inches trom the end, and the pieces of wire suspending it from the roof hooked into the loop, the other and upper end being: hooked into-a staple driven into therafters for. that purpose. The wire* suspending this frame should be 4ft lm. long for the front and 3ft. Bin. for the back, thus allowing the board to slopfe, slightly forward; When the,frnme is hung in place it may be covered with a sheet of either MalthoM,. ~*\SPP r.P^ or other simila.r material aiut sprinldfri witK loose earth. >or sancF when it cau be easily cleaned. .The perches should also be'suspended" by similar Avirra, 8* inches above dropping board, and held from fcwinging by horizontal wires stapled to the ends of the porche.s. and to the woodwork of the ends of the house. These perche* should not come "within two incVa of the end ,w{Jlb thereby minimising th» danger from red mile as much a» r possible.