POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 62, 6 December 1919, Page 18

POULTRY NOTES

An Education Campaign. Tho Canterbury Egg Circle held a most successful meeting at Kaiapoi on Thursday evening. Fourteen members of the c ! rclo motored out, and were well entertained by tho Kaiapoi poultry men. Tho Mayor presided over a large attendance. Mr. E. E. Marsdon gavo an address on "How to Run an Incubator," Mr. J. '1. M'Harg "How to Select and Cull the Flock," Mr. W. Wigglesworth 'How to Feed for Egg Production," Mr. W. A. Geo "Hints for Farmyard Poultrykeepers," and Mr. J.. 11. Merrett "How to l'repare and Market Kegs." Each of the speakers gave valuable information, and answered questions nt tho close of Ins address. The visitors were treated to an excellent 6upper and accorded a hearty vote o£ thanks for their addresses.

Keep tlio Birds Well. When a (bird has a. poor constitution it usually means tho-t. its blood contains weak and poor lighting, defending germs, and, in consequence of the weakness that the whole, bodily tone is slack. ■ 'Hub sort, of bird is always more or less a trouble, and is the first attacked by, sickness, which moans that after persistent onslaughts the attacking germs have effected nn entrance, and it depends on the particular kind of germ which is about at the timo as to what the illness will be. Any medicine which may bo given will have tho effect of whipping up the exhausted or constitutionally woak defenders iu the blood syatem-they work overtime, so to speak—attempt to destroy tho invading germs, and should they succeed tho bird gets well. Should they fail, tho bird dies, for the reason that tho intruding germs have flertroyed Hie defending storms, and track unmolested through tho blood,, poisoning the ■ system .in all directions, so that death results.

Odds and Ends, Don't run bic and' little chickens together, or tho Mualler ones will fo robbed of food and becomo stunted in growth. .Sort them into sizes, so that they will come on together. Separate the sexes. Jloth pulletS and cockerels will thrive much better if run in scparato yards. ' Take particular caro with, the drinking water. It is a great source of infection and' danger. A glazed earthenware dish is tho best vessel. Plaeo it in a. box with tho cover over the top to keep out droppings, Icarcß, and dust.

Wo know of no better broodies and mothers than the white Wyandotte.

Tho suburban poultry keeper is an important factor, because he usually keeps a good clasß of hen and supplies good quality eggs, but ho would do hotter if ho were to adopt tho shedding method in the winter.

Except, in the hills and south-eastern districts, -where the climate is cooler, and the grass holds on longer, hatching operations should now bo over for the reason that experience has proved that chickens which aro brought out in hot weather, and -where there is an absence of green food, do not thrive well.. Should any reader who does not live in the districts mimed lAuit chickens, quite tho best plan of operations would be to buy some about four to eight weeks old, according to whether they are light or heavy breeds. Light breed pullets which aro now a month old, and which are of a good strain, should turn into lay in April, which is tho time when the price of eggs begins to go up, The same remark applies to heavy breed pullets of a good strain which are now two montliß old. They, too, iwill begin to lay when eggs are dear.