THE BEST FOOD FOR POULTRY. (AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE.)

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1805, 31 January 1884, Page 2

THE BEST FOOD FOR POULTRY. (AGRICULTURAL GAZETTE.)

In domestication a fowl is neither more nor less than a machine for tne production of an article of food, and if the supply be right, the produce will be the same. Now, to test the matter, let anyone give fish, garlic or onions to his fowls, and mark the result. In my opinion, the eggs and flesh of fowls kept about the middens of slaughter-honse&, fcan-yards, and glue mnmifactories should be condemned as unfit for human food. In like manner fusty, heated, or badlygot grain, and meals made from them, \ spoil the flavor, and hence it will be seen that the choice of food is of the greatest importance, both for securing proper returns and also the most palatable article. A very common food for poultry is maize or Indian corn. Thirty years ago this grain was little heard of, but of late years it has come into almost general use, so that from 1870 to 1878 the importation rose from 16,735,785 cwt to 41,631,348 cw (j — in my opinion, to the disadvantage of the British wheat and barley groweis, and the consumers also. So popular did the use of this article become, that I have heard many speakers of experience state their belief that, as a feeding stuff this grain would be the salvation of the British farmer ; and until I had given it a fair trial I accepted this theory, although my naturalistic learnings prompted the misgiving that a grain that could not be produced on British soil could not be proper food for our stock, and observation has convinced me that only the class of grain grown on our islands is the proper food for our cattle and fowls. Some of the most distressing diseases spring from its use alone—such diseases, for instance, as small-pox, dropsy, and diphtheria in fowls, canker in the mouth and wings of pigeons. Maize is, however, a very hardy grain, which the sparrows cannot eat, although Mark Twain tells us that the sparrows grow 'cute in America, and carry it under the wheels of the tramcars, and so get it ground. By far the best and cheapest food for poultry is barley, at the head of the list, next wheat, then pulse — accessible at all times, mark you, and not thrown on the | ground, but placed in the houses in boxes, where the fowls can go to it at will ; this prevents gorging, which often occurs when they are hand-fed. What food they get is better digested, and nothing is wasted or fouled. Once a day (in the morning is best) soft food should be supplied, this food being made from small rice and bran, or bran scalded alone, well mixed with barley, wheat, pea, bean meal, or thirds, and the whole well spiced with good oatmeal ; the great point being the mixing, which should be well done ; and when finished it should rot be sticky, and tiirown on the ground it will break into pellets. I have seen brewers' grains recommended of late. Pity they did not go further, aud recommend sawdust as well, which would certainly not lack much of the feeding quality of brewers' grains. In case of a little sluggishness, and you wish to spring the fowls for laying, it is not bad to give a few of the grains before the brewers get hold of them ; in fact there is no finer stimulant than malt.

It is notified that the election of a licensing committee for the Borough ot Hamilton will take place on the 15th February. Mr John Knox will sell at the Hamilton Auction Mart on Saturday next, produce, potatoes, apples (in kits), cheese, sundries. Also a 62inch. bicycle by one of the best makers. Special attention is directed to the new advertisement of Mr K. McDonald, general storekeeper, Victoria-street, Hamilton. Messrs B. Tonks and Co. will sell at their auction mart, Queen-street, Auckland, on Wednesday, the 13th February, at the request of th« mortgagees, the allotments and buildings now in the occupation of T. M. Hill, butcher, Hamilton West, and the allotment and building known as the Oddfellow's Hall, Hamilton East. Ant young man is made better by a lister's lo^e. It is not necessary fp be his own sigter, A