POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 27, 26 October 1918, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES

(By "Chanticleer.")

Some Breeding Hints. It is probable that the hens have thn moat inlluenco on the vital powers; that is. bo far, as the organs of nutrition and production arc.concerned. In actual experience it has been found.that form, size, and constitution 6liouitt alt be found in the hens, otherwise they should be'- rejocted as breeders. As a jroneralrule most attention is paid to the male bird, on the basis ."that ho is half the pen."- So he is; but he is not all tho veu. and this is where a lot of younc breeders eo wrouir. The cook bird should bo chosen for tyre, gait, feather, and Generally fine get-up. A bird that fills the bill in all theso important respects only comes 'alouß now and then, and his union with cood hens will be productive of the very best progeny, for tho hens -will bo attracted to him. Tho female instinct is universally in favour of the handsome male: if. i' .iust nature at work, and the utmost hprm'ony will prevail in a oen which is headed by a beautiful male hiicl. and 'ho offspring will be of the best. \ v Equally iirii'.-rtant as tho selection of the >in» is bic choosintc of the hens. They mm-", he big feeders, of good si?c and shape, loyerß of perfect shelled eggs, free from deform ity of any sort; in 6hort, as perfect in their sex as tha male birdls reorescntative of bis.

Incubator Items. Most incubator men who niaso £*od hatches turn. tno;og|{s-twice a;day.'. Tne hen is .belioved.td cuange tho position of the egga several times am.ha tne twentyfour noura,' and she usuuily hatches out all the fertile eggs. On the other hand, other incubator operators urge- that oggs uiiould be turned only once in every oay, but the evidence collected to date is in favour of two turuincs in the tweritvfou". 1 hours. In the writer's personal experience it is a good plan, not on'.y to turn the egg twice daily, but it is productive of me best results to also shift the eggß about in the trav; to ■•oyer'-e the tray where the machine allows it to he dona, is not enough, and with some machines the tray cannot be ,turned round. Afte/' the'first week .the ckeb should ho I'ch-d un and moved to another spot every day, so that they do not always lie in the someplace. Tho moving about causes the eggs to all share any variation of temperature 1 th'at might exist, .but tho principal virtue of the shiftinc about- proceES is that the growth of the embryo Inside the shell is brought on under varying conditions, -which make for strength and hardiness. The-.biegeat necessity-with artificial incubation is -in havo. strong germs inside the eggs. .If the germ is vigorous the embryo will come on strongly and hatch out as a strong chick on tho twenty-first morning. Given strong breeding stock, properly fed, and a good machine, artificial hatching becomes easy, and in results beats the hen. There oro.no deserttd nestß, no lice, the chickß ore very much tamer (a hig advantage), there is no danger of scalv legs getting i"to your yard, and the"' artificial hatcher can bo net to -work «t any time you choose.

A Few Hints. Oastor oil and sulphur. laid and sulphur, or vaseline auu sulphur, will clean scaly leg. so will olive oil ami Kerosene— aoout naif and huff of each, mixed. . Black UipiUftons uuoiuu huAu a lull dai-K eye, auu Uie pluumiie should bo green. I'urple' or mauve is tUo wrong colouring. . • . Wash- the legs in warm, soapy water, drv well, and rub in the mixture' every otiicr day, uud a week or ten days should see it right. ■ Don't let a scaly-legged hen hatch eggs; she will .pass it on to tna'chickens.. If you are setting 'a feather-legged broody, cut off the leathers close to ihe leg, or she will scoop out an egg almost every time she comes off. Put food and water at the far end of the coop or Bitting pen. Make, the hen come off. If- you put the tood close to her, she will scratch some of it into the nest, and will then cratch it out, and smash the egss. Havo plenty of dry loose earth for dust baths. for the setting hen. While she is still the lice multiply, and she can only cet ouit of them by smotherinc with dust. The onlv food for setting hens should ho wheat; with a bit of crushed maizo in cold weather. Mash wiU sour tho stomach. , Have the coop sparrow proof, .so you may be sure-that when the wheat is gone the hen has-had it.