POULTRY NOTES.

Western Star, Issue 1292, 27 February 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES.

' . * Useful Hints.' . From the Agricultural Gazette of N.S.W -> The receipt 6f recent American files * shows that the‘feeding of cut green bones is on the increase amongst leading pool-; try keepers. This food » particularly;' advantageous where poultry, ere confined 1 to ’■pens, and, in addition to the feeding value, it assists in the work of digestion where sharp grit is scarce, which is sometimes the case on clayey soils. It must always be born in mind that the birds re-quire-something hard and sharp, such as gravel to enable them to digest their food, and grit has been very aptly described as “hen's teeth!” Indigestion in the bird is equally to jbfe avoided as in human fceiftgs ; a disordered stomach is the joundation of many of the' diseases flesh is heir to. • * : |f|' • > • ■- • ' ; It is very naoessary to see that birds ' are well fed during the moulting season, and that they have, wherever fed, a' free ran in grass paddocks. The sooner are over the moult, the sooner will recommence, and thakjfood which is for eggs is the sameat'is required by hens for producing feathers. It must, also be borne in mind that the eggs laid after the moulting season are most valuable, owing to scarcity and consequent higher prices. v • • • • • , For flesh forming qualities it may bementioned that 71bs of skim milk is equal to 11b of lean beef. ->r '■* .*,*.*■.* f # Compare well-rotted farmyard manure, there are 48'60 lbs of phosphesie acid in hen manure to 6lb in. farm manure ; 41 lbs of potash, to 10 m farmyard manure ; and 67 lbs in nitrogen to 11 in farmyard • manure. This analysis is based on a ton each of hen and farmyard manure.

The American “Poultry Monthly”, gives the following interesting information as to the growth of a chick The egg weighs two oz. ; the newly hatched chick weighs 11-4 oz! ;at one week old 2 oz. ; two weeks old, 4 oz.; three weeks old, 6 1-4 oz. ; four weeks old, 10 oz. ; five weeks bid 14 oz,six weeks old. 18 oz. ; seven weeks old, 24 oz. ; light weeks old, 28oz. ; nine weeks old, 82 oz ; ten weeks old, 36 oz. ; eleven _ weeks old, 41 oz. The value of turpentine for the removal of intestinal worms in poultry does not appear to be fully appreciated. It is a good plan to scatter a few drops—say two for each bird—over the soft food oocassionally. Birds are more liable to worms after a spall of web weather. Though this will help to remove them,’ it must not be forgotten that clean pen floors will do much to prevent them which is far better. Separated milk is most valuable food for poultry, particularly young chices arid ducklings. They may be allowed 'to * drink it in the place of water, and then soft faod should bo mixed, with it. !