POULTRY YARD.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 11 March 1927, Page 6

POULTRY YARD.

notes and comments. To hastcii the moult in adult birds, clioose a iine day> and give a warm bath, taking care they do not ; get a chill. Cliaffed green feed in the masli will cheapen the cost of fecding. The best results are produced when j the birds are 'fed at regular hours. J All surplus slock should, if not already done, be clcared off with- j out delay. The old he'ns will prac- , lically have finislied laying, and the sooner they are sold olT ihe bettcr, to allow to make room for the growing stock. When the birds are in Ihe moult boiled linseed nvixed in the masli will matcrially help in putting a gloss on the feather. Tt is a mistake | lo starve broody liens,' they w\ll c.ome on to la.v at an carlier date if they are Avell fed while in the broody coop. Keep evervthing clean, particularly the water vessels, and liavc only those that can be opened up and scoured out easily, and this should be done two or three times every week. Skim milk can take the olace of water if a plentiful supply is at hand, and it will prove of great benefit to .the birds. If you liaA'c .pullels nearing the laying stage, there is a likeliliood that they Vill hreak into a moult whicli comes along in Febrnary. March and April. The older they are ihe greater is the cliance that they will moult. Too much niash fceding may- bring on the moult, heavy grain feeding, by increasing body weiglit, has a tendency to rctard the moult.

At the New Zealand Poultry Con- j ference, held in Auckland, the re- j mit of the Soulh Island Poultry As- j sociation regarding nlleration of 1 weights in the Dominion^ Xltility j standard. was paSsed : raising the weight of the Wyandottes half a pound, Rhode Islands Reds oue nound and Minorcas half a pound. This will be very gratifymg to breedcrs and fanciers of these varieti.es. The supplv of eggs is now dropping off and naturally the prices will so up, aml so every eflort should be made to induce laying. Those who have had a large number of hcns with cliickens Avill be the ones who have the best supply. •as these liens will now be in full lav The houses and scratchingslieds should be gone over, and if they require any repairs these sliould he done at once. See that the roofs are sound and watertight, and if they need any painting or larring. gei: it done without delayq picking a dry time for the purpose. It is essential that the houses be dry and well ventilated. and the birds when roosting free from draughts. . •