POULTRY.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2039, 6 September 1880, Page 4

POULTRY.

The poultry yard is an indispensably adjunct to the farm, and, if reasonably well managed, will always prove a profitable investment. We have known farmers who paid their grocery and butcher bills with the regular returns from the sale of eggs. These two items form bo large a part of the expenses on a ranch that the example is worth imitation. Fowls of all sorts prefer a wide range, and are healthier thus than when confined to a limited apace. Turkeys are the worst of the whole tribe to wander, and in a thicklysettled region often cause trouble between neighbours by their rambling habits. If chickens are kept in narrow limits their food must be stimulating and the yard and buildings kept clean. Every beam and board even to the remotest corner of the yard, should be white-washed heavily. This makes it very unpleasant for tbe various parasites which infest such places. Let the whitewash run into every crevice and angle when applying it. If possible have some shrubs and fruit-treeß in the poultry yard for shade and shelter. Stir the surface of the ground occasionally, so as to bury the germs of disease. Have the waste and refuse of the garden, trimmings of plants, weeds, and surplus vegetables thrown over the fenoe into the Eoultry yard. They will piok it over, our after hour, thus gaining occupation, exercise, and no inconsiderable amount of nutriment. With these precautions, poultry can be kept in a [small yard without the slightest trouble or annoyavnoe. Some—and, indeed, most persons—feed from the ground, scattering the food in every direction. There is then a scramble and flutter of wings ; loud, eager haste and -struggling ; the food is trampled into the dirt, and the strongest fowls get more than their real share. Feeding troughs, protected by slats placed with spaoes sufficient to allow the fowls to eat, but not to trample the food, are much the best way of arranging the matter. It will be found to cause a great saving of food. The state of health of your fowls can Always be determined by the appearance of their combs. If these are of a high red, the birds are strong, healthy, and woll kept. It they are dull red, or whey grey, or pale, the fowls are sick. Whon you observe that one of the chickens is losing the distinct colour of the comb, separate it from the rest of the flock, and give it extra attention. The red colour of the comb of a laying hen is more glowing than is that of a hen which is setting or moulting, but a little observation enables one to distinguish tho latter from the colour produced by disease. To Baibs Tttbkbys.—As soon as the birds are hatched put a peppercorn down eaoh throat; feed thorn for the first three months tbrse times a day on hard boiled eggs chopped fine, mixed with raw onions, bread crumbs, plenty of pepper (one egg to six birds). After the first month one meal per day will suffice, provided they get plenty of boilod potatoes mashed fine, and made warm with pepper. Turkeys require a dry place, and should not be allowed out for the first six months before sunrise, and should be shut up before the dew begins to fall.