THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1461, 8 June 1912, Page 13

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

BREEDING FOR PROFIT. Specially written for The Dominion by J. B. Jlorrett, Christclmrch, and publisheil by arranßement exclusively for our readers. Questions on poultry matters mil be ansrared in those columns each lvcelc, and should be addressed to Dominion Offlco. [Continued From Last Week.] Most poultry houses are constructed to accommodate fowls at night without m<v regard to bad weather. Often in tho winter wo have a week's rain. In a small housG tho fowls are huddled up or remain on the perches. They also get wet and for want of exercise catch cold and nro put off tho lay. Build the house to accommodate tho fowls 111 bad' weather, and to do this vou want throo to four square feet of floor space- for each fowl. If this is provided ',' , L I» fact, they will do better if the fowls are confined to tlto house all through the winter. Thcro are many designs and styles, but thecheapest and best is what wo are after. To House 100 Fowls. To accommodate 100 fowls a house is needed 16 i 20ft. It may bo divided and run 50 m each half if required. Tho best stylo of house is on the loan-to principle. The foundation is or great importance. If built on tho ground the interior will always be damp. A few shillings expended m carting soil or sand for the foundation is money wisely spent. Cut of some i s 3 piles, 2 feit long; piles should be of good timber, so as to last well m tho ground. Around these run on the outside mi eight-inch board. Fill up level with sand or soil and you will have a foundation that will be free from damp. Piles can be placed 2 feet" apart and a good strong job will result. lou are then Tendy for the frame. Tim(S. fi X t 2 H I,B! »T, cnou S h ' The studs ioi the front should be seven feet and t,ii th « ,n i k 9in - Whe " crecte(l will then be 711. 4ni. front and sft. li„ rear, as_ the studs, being nailed to the Plates, give an extra four indies. Eai=o tho frames and place on the rafters Th« ends will be studded and brace tho building. Iho roof may be of iron. If rulwroid roofing , s Tised it will need to be boarded close In the inside, four feet from the back wall, place an upright of 3 x " and nail to tho rafter. The other end may be let into the foundation about a toot. J. his will strengthen tho roof and iorm a support for the dropping board Aait a 3 x 2 right through to those uprights, and another to the studs on the back wall and you nro readv to place asbestos slate, or closa-fitting timber to make the dropping boards. Perches _ may bo suspended from the root by wir,e and made of 3 x 2 rounded on the edges. They should be hung U inches from the back wall and 20 inches between them, or if three perches are required, lesson the distance so as to give 8 inches oil each side of tho perch Nest boxes and grit tins may bo fixed at the ends of tho building Chaff straw, or hay will mako lifter for scratching in. A trough to feed the mash in may bo made, shaped or squaro bottomed. Tho front of the building may be wire-netted down •{ feet and boarded up from the bottom ,1 feet. A door can be placed in one end and the building is ready for the birds. If von have ground to spare you may lrave a trap-door in tho front or bnck and erect netting to secure them in the area set apart for tho purpose. Selecting the Breed. The beginner, in selecting a breed for eggs, will not be as fantastic in his choice as the fanciers when choosing for a hobby. Souio have a taste for our variety and some for another. Some liko the self-coloured birds; while others show a weakness for birds of lacing. "With tho beginner in commercial poultrj--kecpiug there is no best breed. Several of the varieties nro equal in egg-production though White Leghorns may bo classed as having the best general average in egg-laying tests. In the writer's judgment the bird of dual purpose should be selected. Theso includo "Wyandottes, Orpingtons, and Kocks. Theso birds are excellent eggproducers, havo fine carcasses for tho table, have the brooding properties necessary for reproduction of stock, and do well in confinement. It is not wise to dabble with several varieties. Select one and go in and win on your choice. A great deal of preliminary work is needed in building up of a laying strain, and tho beginner, who will usually be a working man, will find histimo fully-occupied in attending one variety. Thero is this satisfaction—that whatever varioty is selected it will serve the purpose of gaining experience. Feeding

* — (By Chantecler.)

for o"gs,,raising; .a'ncl .■biooilihg cliickiris'. and brcDdiiig- for. !biri.sfitut'icnai vigbiir and ogg-pr.odui.fjori .are liijielt th'e sd.iti'e in all vafie'tfos,"so ■ .tlia't iUiatever taipwIcdgo is ni.aF li.P Jc'ppfiotl for all future piir.npj'bs: Tho aim i'i'JQ .get, exporienccf. no, one can succcetf. JVitlliStib t-Hi.s. The 'inan's faif ures in p'6.Vilfrj>l:.ee.i)ing arc uur. fo iy.arit' of rxporionoo;; Capftaljancl Jiß.sili.oii dv.a.if nothing iv.lieje 'hjimvloxlge is"■a'jisont, Von can .sink y;p.ur' icapi.tal'in. ■p'o'ujtr.v'-'k'peping. just, nljnu.t : as' .rf.uie.ku-- lis.' nhjtlii.iig t|li'& knows, so til at iris.: iifieefs to ■,(se on liis guard mitt 'tel«! tlio advice' of t.Hd.s.Q' who. know tlic'VijiffsJls'itiiiij l'ic liefore' tiip i.hr experiencpilf . '" ~■ In ..a.dricft one. cann;ot ; teach all, 1 bji't* jf.cl'pye attehfipii. is given to what experience .has. tauglVt us, the }>?:-; ginucr wi!l'')se. ;savotl. -a, great tfral .of-, anxiety and'cxpense;!''■■ (To bo. C'onii'nii'tjd NeS.t. Week.).