THE FOWL-HOUSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4225, 29 May 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE FOWL-HOUSE.

Lime for Hens. —Lime is as necessary for the formation of the eggs as is food. The required amount of lime is readily obtained by fowls in a wild state, as but little is wanted when one or two sittings of eggs a year is the limit of their efforts. But when we, by domestication, increase the number of eggs from a score to one or two hundred, it will readily be seen that the fowls cannot obtain the needed quantity of lime from their ordinary food ; consequently we must supply the deficiency, for soft-shelled eggs, or eggs without any shells, will be the result of neglect in this respect, which may lead to the liabit of hens devouring their eggs, to say nothing of their unpresentable appearance if they escape. A supply of lime is easily and cheaply furnished by burning and crushing bones and oyster or clam shells ; nor should okl mortar be forgotten, because this is so readily procured, though not so good as bones or shells. The supply should be generous and constant, and at all times accessible to the fowls. A small piece of lime in their drinking water is advisable in some instances.

Hen Mancuk. —Few are aware of the quantity of fertilizing mattter that can bo obtained yearly from fowls, if properly managed. It is estimated that cach fowl will, duriug that time, produce one bushel of manure almost equalling guano in richness, and at a vastly cheaper rate than we can bny the foreign fertilizer. The deposits should be gathered sufficiently often to prevent fermentation, as by that process much ammonia would escape. It is well, in the absence of dry earth under the perches, to gather manure daily. The best method of storing it for use is by placing alternate layers of manure with dry loam or muck, sufficient to absorb the moisture and ammonia, or in absence of dry soil it should be spread and thin dried, when it may be either sown broadcast or composted for use. If a liberal supply of dust is kept uuler the roosts (by dust we mean loam or clay thoroughly dried and pulverized), it will not be necessary to remove the droppings daily, or even weekly.

Gravel for Fowls.—Granivorous fowls need the assistance of hard substances, such as stones, gravel, etc., to digest the food upon which they live. Thi3 they are able to obtain for themselves, in moat localities, at all seasons except when confined in limited quarters. At such times they must be supplied with a liberal quantity of clean, sharp gravel, or coarse sand. Old earthenware broken up to suitable size, is preferred by some, to gravel, but in onr opinion it is not so good, because not so hard ; at all events, something must be furnished to answer the demands of nature, if we expect the fowls be in a normal and healthy condition. This is especially true of yonng turkeys, for when they are confined where they caunot obtain the ; requisite aids to digestion. constipation ensues, and the results are fatal if remedies are not applied, or they are not changed to proper quarters. Young fowls of all kinds should have fine gravel or coarse sand constantly within their reach, of a size adapted to the capacity of their throats.