THE USE OF MILK FOR HENS AND CHICKENS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4565, 6 November 1875, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE USE OF MILK FOR HENS AND CHICKENS.

Some time since the editor of an American periodical, the Poultry World, called attention to the great success of a poultry-keeper who succeeded in obtaining a large number of eggs in winter. The writer maintained that the success depended entirely upon the use of skimmed milk, and describing the system pursued by this successful farmer, said : His fowls roost in a lean-to, which is not only on the north side of the barn, but is not especially tight either. The only chance they have for sun is free range out of doors, and the run of several long sheds, which, though facing the south, are uuglazed, and entirely open on that side, and so high that the birds may be said to live day and night in an atmosphere nearly as cold as an open field. "We mention these particulars to show that we are not to look to warm quarters for an explanation of the prohficness exhibited. We add, that they do not lay on account of being hatched extra early, but on the contrary, they came off in May. They commenced laying in October, and have been at it ever since, to the astonishment, if not the envy of the neighbors of the fortunate owner, who has been selling eggs for four months for 45c. per dozen and upwards. Not one particle of meat or scraps is given, and but the veriest trifle of vegetable food is fed, in the shape of a few boiled potatoes, about once a week. Abundance of grain is allowed, of various sorts, ground and uuground, but never cooked, and plenty of uuburnt oyster shells, pounded, are at all times accessible. They have a pailful of skimmed milk every day, so that they can help themselves to all they want, no other drink being provided. Now, there are other fowls, and plenty of them, on hundreds of farms, of just the same breed as those of our friend, and the same age, which are allowed just as good rations of grain, potatoes, and powdered oyster shells, and just about the same sort of buildings and range, that do not lay from October to February. Moreover, it is not during one exceptional season that this has been done, but, as we have said, it has occurred year after year. We are satisfied that it is the milk that accounts for it. Skimmed milk and the whites of eggs are very much alike, and, though the eream has been separated, undoubtedly the full allowance of Indian corn supplies the oily constituents of the yolks. Some farmers think they cannot afford to give milk to hens, but must save it for the pigs. But if skimmed milk is worth 1-Jc. a quart to feed swine, as some claim, it is worth 3c. for poultry, if, by its use, winter eggs can be obtained, and sold at high prices. The sensible practice of this American farmer commends itself to all who will take the trouble to think on the conditions required for the preservation of poultry in high condition. The chickens were hatched in May, which in temperate countries may be considered the month most suitable to their welfare. In place of being confined in close foetid poultry houses, the birds roosted in the open air. Then they had unlimited range out of doors, supplying themselves with worms and insects; no meat was given, or spiced condimental food, but grain was their staple diet; and in the winter, when the absence of natural insect food lessens so largely the production of eggs, the milk supplied the nitrogenous materials required for their production. We commend the consideration of this extract to our readers. With regard to the food of chickens that will soon be making their appearance in every farmyard, we would strongly recommend r the use of milk, inasmuch as it contains every requisite to support a healthy and vigorous growth. Many feeders are content with giving the young birds bread crumbs and a hard-boiled egg chopped up ; this dries rapidly in the open air, and the birds refuse the angular horny fragments. If an egg is mixed with an equal bulk of new milk, and the whole is " set" by placing it in a slack oven or by the side of the fire for a few minutes, a soft, succulent custard is made, which combines all the nutritious principles of the milk and the egg, and on it the chickens feed with alacrity, and flourish accordingly.

FATTENING FOWLS is a. science which, many people try to accomplish, and many fail. The producer’s business is to present a plump, well-conditioned bird. The consumer wants to get well-fattened, good-flavored poultry on his table. The Journal of Chemistry gives the following method of fattening, the quickest known—it is hopeless to attempt to fatten chickens when they are at liberty ; every keeper of fowls should do Ids best to practically test and adopt the best way of feeding to fatten. The simplicity of the mode here given commends it to the general attention—it is so easily tided, and may be cheaply adopted The housewife of every farmer should add one of these fattening fowlcoops to her menage, and she would always have a fowl ready for the table and for sale. To fatten twelve fowls at a time, provide a coop 3ft. long, lift, high, and lift, wide, made entirely of bars, no part solid—neither top, side, nor bottom. Some discretion must be used as to the size of the fowl to be put up, not to cramp them. They do not want room ; the closer they are together the better, provided they can all stand up at the same time. Be careful in putting up those which have been accustomed to run together, or they will fight. If one is quarrelsome, remove it at once. Run a trough along the front of the coop for feeding. The food should be ground oats, and mixed with milk or water—milk preferred. It should be well soaked, forming a pulp as loose as possible; feed four times a day. The first .meal as soon after daylight as possible, then at intervals of four hours. Give as much at each meal as they will eat up clean ; when done, wipe out the trough, and'supply a little gravel, which causes them to feed and thrive. After a fortnight of this treatment, they will be good fat fowls. When fat they should be killed, as otherwise, if kept after sufficiently fatted, they will lose flesh and go back. If five or six are taken out of the coop, the others must be confined in less space, which is easily done, as the only thing necessary to do is to have two or three pieces of wood to pass between the bars, so as to form a partition and make a compartment of any required size. If fasted without food or water for twelve or fifteen hours before killing, it will enable them to keep for some time after being killed, even in hot weather. HEN LICE are a great source of trouble to fowl-keepers. As the summer heats increase the pests multiply, and the broods need constant looking after. It is a safeguard to put tobacco in the nests of the sitting hens. Refuse tobacco or old stems will answer the purpose. If lice are already in the hennery, make a strong decoction of tobacco, and apply it with a syringe all over the inner surface. Sulphur sprinkled in the nests and about the roots is also a good remedy. Insects do not like the smell of brimstone. Another remedy much used recently, and very easily applied, is kerosene oil. Strips of listing from a tailor’s shop are tacked upon the roosting poles, and these are saturated with the oil. The hens upon the poles get some of this oil upon their feathers, and wherever it touches it drives off the insects, oikills them Carbolic acid is another cheap destroyer of insect-life. It is largely diluted with water, and applied to all parts of the house. If, in very old houses, one application is not sufficient, repeat it.