POULTRY ON FARMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 981, 11 June 1879, Page 2 (Supplement)

POULTRY ON FARMS.

At a time like the present, when eggs are | both scarce and dear, it may be well to call j attention to the advisability of every farmer keeping a quantity of poultry. The subject is no doubt a very small one, but we are convinced that any farmer who devotes attention to it will sec that the maintenance of a regular poultry yard would prove highly remunerative. 13ut to be successful a propel system must be followed. To be profitable the keeping of poultry must be guided by well defined rules, and must form a portion of the regular business of the farm. We know that most farmers look with contempt upon the breeding of poultry ; but we also know that under proper management a very considerable profit might be obtained from rce T, e t any of our farmers wilhnc tnib'fc'Ju. • i :v . - I arneiss to trv Uhj ccu^ri- .secure n snu\ii few.-. well-bred fowls—mongrels are not profitable —and carefully note the result of a year's operations, or, better still, let him place the care and maintenance of poultry under the care of the "gude wife" or one of his daughters, with the stipulation that any food required for the sustenance, over and above the waste about the farm, is to be paid for out of the money received for the sale of the eggs and young poultry, and he will be surprised to find what a profit the ladies will make out of their operations. But it must always be borne in mind that care must be bestowed upon poultry. If possible they should have a comfortable house with a good yard in which they can be enclosed during the early portion of the day. If allowed to wander about all day they will be apt to lay abroad, and while a large proportion of the eggs will be lost, many of the hens will probably be performing their maternal functions just at the very time when they should be adding to the stock of eggs required to supply a good market. Care must be taken to have as many chickens hatched out before the spring commences as pos»iblc, in order that young pullets for winter laying may be obtained. Again, care must be exercised in the selection of proper breeds of fowls. The best class of poultry to maintain is a first cross between two different pure bred varieties —as, for instance, that between a game rooster and either Spanish or Dorking hens. Crosses between these birds produce not only good layers, but fine birds for table purposes. Buttheintermixture of blood should go no further than the first cross, for the breed will otherwise degenerate into an unmistakeable set of mongrels, possessing no point of recommendation. Thus at each successive sitting care should be taken to select only the eggs from pure bred hens, and to ensure good broods of half bred chickens these hens should be kept, if practicable, in an enclosure specially set apart for them and their equally fashionably bred mate. In winter poultry require most attention in order to make them profitable, for though during the warmer season they may be able to forage for themselves, in cold weather they will require "dieting" in order to make them continue their functions. They should obtain regular supplies of warm food, and when there is a dairy attached to the farm they should be supplied with sour milk into which cayenne pepper may be thrown with profit. It will be found that hens .will partake freely of this mixture, which has the desirable effect of largely increasing the production of eggs. Where practicable, especially where the killing of pigs and the curing of hams and bacon is carried on, a supply of offal may be given to poultry with great advantage. Another matter that requires attention is the selection of hens for egg producing purposes. Always keep early season pullets, and as far as practicable have a fresh supply every year, for young hens are far more energetic in the way of egg-laying, and consequently more profitable to maintain, than older hens. If these conditions are complied with, the keeper of the poultry yard may depend upon having a good supply of eggs at the time when the market is most in need of them, and when they will-bring the highest price.