POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 64, 8 December 1917, Page 15

POULTRY NOTES

(By Chanticleer.)

At the Qatton (Q.) some of the birds aro being single tested, and among them is a Jilack Orpington entered by B. Burns, which has put up a oouple of world's records, which takes a lot of- doing nowadays. This is what the bird has done: From April 1 to October 31—a period of 214 daye-ehe produced ZOl oggs. From June 14 to September 7— a period of 86 days—Bhe laid an cgß for every day. It ie understood thai both thoso totals aro new world's records. The official reoort for October states:- It ia unfortunate that thle bird'e egjs aro below the standard weight of Joz." In fact, they'average only IJoz. As en instance of the peculiarities which occur In tho breeding of fowle, it may be mentioned that two other birds entered by Mr. Eurns, whioh are full-sisters to tho reoord-broaKor, average 216z; and 2Jbz., with scores oi .158 and 171 respectively,. for the period under notice-viz.,. April 1 to October 31. Aβ soon. sie'chickens are fully feathered they may'be , taught to roost. The roosts provided, should be fairly broad and flat, or-otherwise'-'the contact of the soft ana gristly , ibroast-hono -with the unsuitable rooet will causo the bone to twist or bend, producing I ,what is. known >as orooiiw breast. To induce the chiokons to roost, a , small' platform raised a, few iuohes from the floor of the chicken house sbonld be made with 3ln. x lin. hardwood battens Every second batten can be left loose without being nailed. Mako th» platform in' one corner of the r.oueo, forming a ramp for the chickens with a sloping board at the front, and oloeing tho sido so that they oannot net -under the platform. As soon as they, become used to--roosting' 'on the -platform • the loose battens can bo removed, and"the ohlokens will then take to tho others, roosting on them without any lilfrther trouble.

Do not waste timo attempting to .rear sickly chlokene. It is a mistaken Kindness to do no. Yon should aim at the production of good specimens only. . Give tho young etook plenty of room. In confined looaHtios tho use of portable, coope in advlß&ble. Shift the coops at frequent intervals. Keep the ground In. the runs dean, and do not allow.it to. become smooth and hard.', It may look '■well, but it is rough on the birds' feet. In a sheltered position make a duet bath. Hollow places in soft- soil, ■ protected '-by bricks or boards, will do. Pill partly with flneeoil and sand, and add eoine wood, not coal, ashee. A handful of buK phwr may ales be added. In warm weather apply the watering-can occasionally to the duet bath. Tee just .enough water to moisten tha soil. The birds enjoy damp soil la hot weather.' . • Ducklings must /have ehado m hot "weather/ , -They must also have, day and night, an ample supply of fresh, clean water. Provide them also with sharp coarse sand, grit, and shell grit. Feed growing ducklings on mash largely composed of succulent chaffed green fooiJ. Ducklings must have some animal ftod if good growth'lβ eipeoted. _■ ; . . It Iβ not unusual to find epots 'on the yolks of egga. Sometimes these spots look like mould; again, there -will be Uμ 'clots',- blood streaks, small worms, and even bits of faecal matter. When a flock is laying normally they ■ will lay some eggs with blood epote dnrin«; the heavy laying season. We know of nothing which will prevent it. If the flock is healthy, these spots need , cause no epeoial uneasiness. If the hens are .suffering from liver trouble and diarrhoea, try to locate the trouble, and remedy the conditions. It seems, unnecessary at thin eeaspn to reoommend more green food, and yet gome ohickons in the country are yarded on'bare ground, and .given scarcely a spear of grass. Put, onion tops, olpver, luoerne, and even dandelions in the pen if the -chickens do not have range on good, tender era6i.