POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2896, 15 September 1909, Page 35

POULTRY NOTES.

Br Tekbob.

— One outcome of thie present craze for utility strains of white Leghorns will apparently be an extra brisk cbmand for incubators, for clucking' hens are few and far between. There will still, however, be a good deal of lia-tohing done by means ofwfeural mothers, although it may be. neccs•ary in mainy cases to defer operations till a litUe later in the season, when broodies ; will be more plentiful, and th:'a because j the majority of brecd'.ira are satisfied with, putting down, two or three sittings et the most — mot enough to warrant the- purchase of an incubator. To prevent vexing delay in future seasons breeders will do well to keep two or three hens of Asiatic breeds — birds which will warrant their keep nofc merely as eluckera, but also because the egg*s they Jay are produced in the- months , when eggs are at a high price. — Lea Fayerollee, of which there are few epscimena in the Dominion at the ppesnt time, are making quite a 'name for themselves as layers of winter eggs and as t>reejntablo tab!© birds, and Home and Australian papers ore devoting considerable space to proclaiming their merits. This breed is the product of French ingenuity in crcssiiiig a Dorking with Houdan and the product with a light Brahma, the resultant chicks being Lea Fa-verolles. Faverolles have five toes, white skin, flesh, amd legs, a. Dorking comb, a-nd a muff beneath the baak. The are coloured, particularly the male birds, much after Dorking style, have fsathrred leg>, and lay tinted eggs. They are good all-the-ycar-round layers, and havin.gr wnall bone. like th& Houdan, are excellent on tha table. They are easily fattened, but wk^n laymg aro not Wavy birds. Thov are good sitters, but do not remain Ions? with their chicks befoie -ecommencinu ro la y- . , — In trjing to increase siz'J in fowls it i\> bitter to &3t the ogigs of large hc-<ns than to mtrcdufi lavge-sized cockerels into the p?n~. If tho aim i 9 not large hens but large egg-., then crt large egga without (onbidennig the eize of tho layer. The rule w that laige birds lay email eggs. — The following are particulars of a pen of white Leghorns that won the Rochdale competition in 1907, laying 1473 dggs; weight per. dozen, 28oz;_ value; £6 lls lid,.

This pan, owned by Miss K^mmis, led from the third to the last month., but never won a monthly prize. The six birds weighed? between 231b and 241b, and laid 2141b weight of eggs, each hen thus laying about nine times"hsr own weight in eggs. Miss Kemmis bought a trio of white Leghorns m the Queen Victoria Market about six years ago, and after considex-able time aaid trouble she brought her flock up to its present high standard. This chows what" may be dona by devoting time and skill to a flock. No haphazaird methods will ever produce a heavy-laying flock. It is possible to ''fluke" a few heavy layers, even when no attention is paid to breeding, but we know of no iheavy-laying- flock ever -being prodiucedi except by care aoid attention to all the points in breeding. — Beire is another success worth noting". A pooi of black Orpingtons in on© competition laid 10*3 eggs, weigLijg 240z to tho dozen. The next season tb* same breeder, with the game strain, put up a good result of 1325 eggs, going 29Joz to ths dozen, an increase of 282 eggs and sjoz par dozen. — The following particulars" as to the system -of ieedictg at tha eg-g-Uvying competitions -of the Australian Commonwealth. (1908-9) should prove instructive to those anxious to know how to f€e>d for ' best resulta: — Roseworthy (South Australia), 336 birds, average 190 egga per hen. Bran and pollard for morning mash, green feed cP grain at mid-dey, and grain at night.Meat meal at rate of afcou* loz per bird per -week. Tba grain fed was mostly, wlveat. In the told weather a little maize was used. Two to cne pollard. Nunrexoua brood ice. Hawkesbury (New South Wales),, 300 birds, average 180 dggs. Bran amd 1 poHardt mash, wheat, maize, meat, green feed. More maize vsud here than i« the case at any other competitnon. Numerous broodies. Condoretor recenfc'y complained on this score. Berowra (New Scuth Wales), 300 birds, average 187 egigs. Bran amd pollard mash, wheat, maize, luces-no, chaff. Lass maize than at Hawkeebury, amd more than usecfc at Rc&aworthy. Proportions of bran and pollard not known ; nor number 1 of broodies. Gatton (Queensland), 84 birds, average 203 eggf. Bran and pollard, equal parts, t with driec* blcod or meat meal ; scmetimca oil cake in, place of meat. Green lucerne at mid-day. Grain, mostly wheat; a little maize in winter and oats in summer. As to results obtained, the .followingshows the egg.' produced fox the 12 months by the four leading pens, six pullets being included in eaoh pen: — BEROWRA (X.S.W.). W. White, Langshans 1407 H. R. Tnrnei W. Leghorns .. . ... 1405 Geo. G-hms, Lange'hans 1391 Mrs A. Powell, W. Leghorns -.. „ 1353 HAWKESBURY COLLEGE (N.S.W.I. Mrs E. Snowclon, W. Leghornr . .. 1379 S. Ellis, W. Leghorns. „ 1333 E. J. Brierley. W. Leghorns „ . 1330 Craig Bros., W. Leghorns 1323 "TOWN AND COUNTRY" (N.S.W.). E. Bebus, S. Wyandottes .. .. „. 1257 A. Enunott, W. Leghorn- .... 126* E. Silcock,,.S. Wyandottes 125S R. Farran, "W. .Leghorns 1252 ROSEWORTHT (S.A.) Ontario Farm, W. Leghorn* .. 1447D. Mildren, W. Leghorns 1404 C. B. Bertelsmeier, W. Leghorns .. .. 1372 — Let the chickens out as far as weather end circumstances will permit, but protect. them from told winds. If any cmckens droop without apparent cause., examine their beads and necks for liea — small, grey-ish-white oreatutres — which will be found' underneath the fluff adhering to the flesir. Dress the parts with * drop or two o£ carbolieed vaseline. —If the brooder ohick?ns droop and! BTfEieze at this season, the trouble is generally pneumonia, contracted by overheating at night, and the sudden, contact with the cold outer air when let out in the morning-. Recovery from this complaint is seldom a success, and it is wisei in the eveni> of only a few birds being attacked o use preventive measures for the sake of th€J majority than to attempt tc cure the fews at the expense of the many. If, however, Larga. number* are affected, warm food, containing a little 6pice, must be given frequently; linseed, onion, and meat may) also bo added to -the food. —No time can now be lost in the breeding pens for producing next winter's layers. If -not already done, get together all tho most prolific herns — and one cannot be too careful in selecting theee — anu mate then-* to a vigorous cockerel which is the pro* diuct of profitable parents. —Mr Willoughby' Knight, ,of the Lower Hutt, who is reported to have taken i.1200 worth of eg.g-s off five acres last year, is feeding his big flock of chicks entirely oiU the A. and P. Company's ''Chick-raiser.'*' advertised! above by Messrs Reilly, Scotf, (tnd GUI. — Mr S. Myers advertises that he is selling settings of his celebrated Brooks-Van-dresser white leghorns. In view of the satisfaction manifested by those investing; in this direction last year and the reasonable charge made, it may be well to realise that in this caee it will be a question of " first come first served." — There is no doubt tha.t the habit o£ overcrowding chickens is often responsible for many of the ailments that annually carry of a good number of our young! stock. A breedei is often tempted to put* down a large number of eggs, and if the percentage of hatching is a good one, he. has on hand more chickens than he carl provide accommodation for. He does noi care to dispose of or kill the chicks, aftofl having the trouble with the hens during the hatching, and consequently make* uj> his mind to keep them on till they are ofi a sufficient age to cull out the inferior ones. That is, of course, quite correct^ providing that he has sufficient room to' keep them. On the other hand, however, if he has to overcrowd hie pen and yards by so doing, it is decidedly wrong, and in nine cases out of ten the result will be unsatisfactory. Fifty chickens reared "well will return you a bettet profit than double the number kept and reared under .unfavourable conditions. The re/iult of overcrowding will often not only cause disease and deaths in the young stock, but -will also weaken the constitution of those who may survive. The breeding stock ehoulcf also have plenty of room, and weakness of chicks amd uniertility of eggs are to a great measure caused by the stock birds, being kept in small and unsuitable yards* WORM PITS FOR FOWLS. "A" French authority says : — "The best position in which to dig for the pur-

pose of supplying animal food to hens is a dry place exposed to the sun, and away from wind. As fermentation takes place unpleasant exhalations escape, consequently these pits should be at some distance from the dwelling house, on the one hand, in order to avoid the influence of putrid miasma, and, on the other, to prevent the oompUimta of neighbours, who would have a right to complain to the sanitary authorities. The capacity of a worm pit may vary ad infinitum ; however, the conditions Df success and the speedy development of the larvae demand certain geometrical proportions. The best demensions for rapid development of larvae and their multiplication are 3ft 3in deep and 6ft 6in wide- The length is of no consequence, and may vary according to the number of hens to be fed. The bottom of the pit should be hard enough to imprison the (axv«e, which, on i<eachi»g the period of metamorphosis into chrysalides, endeavour to bury themselves in the ground. This bottom can then be made of flat stones, united with lime mortar. Clay kneaded and beaten also prevents the larvse from passing. There must be an enclosure wall, which can be built of stones or bricks, united by lime motaa\ This single wall, with one row of stones, should be 3in to si» above the ground. The last row of atones should project 2in to 2jin over the pifc to prevent the larvse from escaping. Small galleries should be made in the thickness of the enclosure wall to provide X refuge for a certain nunibei of larvas. which, for mant of a better place, enter them, to be njetaphorphosed into chrysalides awd flies by this simple easy method the materials which compose succeeding pite are move rapidly charged with flies capable of reproducing worms. The heat of fermentation hatches flies at all seasons, which multiply larvaa by their laying. Shelters are necessary to protect the pWs against wind and ram. Rain or water is very injurious, and would destroy Ihe larvae; in all cases dampness and cold 'delay their development. In summer they OMB be covered with brambles, and in win%rt with straw mats, or, better, with gla^

garden frames. The materials requisite are: — (1) Rye straw chopped rather fine, 33in thick on the bottom of the pit; (2) fresh horse dung, l£in thick, spread on the top of the straw without pressure ; (3) vegetable mould, l£in think (hotbed mould is preferable, on account of the large amount of humus it contains) ; (4) these substances are sprinkled with blood from slaughtered animals or entrails or remnants of meat from such animals are placed on top; (5) a second layer formed of all the preceeding; (6) a third similar layer. Maize straw can be employed instead of rye, but whea.t is not so good. In winter twice the amount of fresh horse dung should be used. All these materials should not be pressed too much, as the larvae require air and Irsedam ix davelop." FATTENING POULTRY. The Journal of Agriculture (England) deals with the subject of fattening poultry in a way that should be of much wsa to poultry- keepers who are desirouo of bringing their poultry to market in the best possible condition. The writer cays: — "When chicks reach the age of 14 weeks they are, pr should: be, strong enough 10 put up ior fattening, but backward ones shonid be allowed another week or two at liberty before being shut up. Fatteningpene can be easily made ou' of ordinary packing-cases, from which the top and one side have been tak€-n, or from ordinary hen coops. They should be put upon legs not less than 2ft high, and the bottoms ol tbeir coops or boxes should b© made of iin slats (sjating laths do excellently), nailed across so as to allow about 2in between each slat. The front of the pen will be similar to that of an ordinary hencoop, and should have a hinged door or eliding opening so that the bird may be easily put in or taken out. Not more than six birds should be put in one coop, "and there should be only just room them to feed comfortably. The birds 1 should be placed in the coop at night, being first given a good meal and some drinkimg water. They should not be fed again for thirty-six hours, as it is well to allow J their crops to become quite empty before they be fed 111 their new quarters. Unless co starved, the birds, especially if takerrj from a large flock, are ept to pine and seriously lose condition. "For the first day or two they may be given just a little green food, but this must soon be discontinued. Unkse the coop can be placed in a shed, a sack should ba hung in front of it at night to prevent the birols catching cold ; this should also be done between meals, as exclusion of light induces sleep, and the birds consequently lay on flesh more quickly. The space underneath the coop should be thickly covered with ashes, jvnd all droppings snouM be raked out, and taken away twice a day. Here, again, the utmost cleanliness must be observed, or birds will lose -rather than gain in condition and weigh*. Two pieces of wood should be I nailed to the bottom of the coop to project •lightly upwards. On these a wooden trough may be placed at rpeal-time3, but it should be taken away directly the birds have finished eating, and after any food which may have been left has baen- taken out it should be rinsed out? wibh cold water. Twice a week this trough should be thoroughly scoured out with boilingwater and a nard brush. "The foods given to the birds w.hile undergoing the process of fattening should be fed in a liquid state, liko thick soup, and some grit should be added thereto. If fch'e birds appear to dislike^the-ir food, give them a change, for on no account must they be allowed to go off their feed. As a Tule, however, any one of the mixtures here given may be fed every day. The best materials to use for the purpose are barley meal, buckwheat meal (which any milJer wiJ^ grind if asked to do so), oatmeal or "Sussex ground oats, fine wheatmeal, and boiled or mashed potatoes. No hard grain whatever should be given, nor is any drinking water necessary. "Whichever of the following mixtures is given, the foods composing it should be boiled m skim milk, and a little freah rough fat should l>e melted down and stirred' into the mixture while both ere hot : — " Three, parts oatmeal or Sussex ground oats, one part maize-meal, and one part fine wheat-meal (not flour). " T-«o parts Sussex ground oats, two parts barley-meal, one part mashed potatoes. "Two parts oatmeal or ground oats, onepart maiTO-meal, two carts fine wheat-meal (not flour). '•Two parts buckwheat-meal, two parts maize-m«al, one part barley-meal. "Two parts oatmeal, Me p^rt maiae-meal one part buckwheat -meal, one part mashed potatoes. ''On© quart (sifted) barley-meal, three o * tmeal < two parts maize-meal The combination of fat and milk all very greatly , mpr ove the quality of the meat The quainty required will be from *w.-to s*oz of food per bird per day d-njrfed *ntc three equal rxn-tions Peameal » not good at thia period, a 3 ifc ra ii ler a P fc L £o har <**n the meat. Birds •should not be peTJhed f or iooger than three weeks, but the exact number of d a v%, vane* a great deal, as no two birds put on weight at the same rate: usuaH> f lo ,n 14 to 17 days will be found sufficient borne experience, ie necessary to determine can only be learned by puctw. Xo bud? should be penned up for fattening unless they are in a good condition. «s tin, method of feeding is undoubtedly a «n«at strain on the birds' constitutwnV' Mr W. J. Napier has received a letter from the Acting Prime Minister (Hon J Carroll) stating that the proposals made by Mr N*pier for the opening of a new set of account books in the Treasury on the double entry principle will be placed before Sir Joseph Ward on the latter's return to the Dominion. Considerable difficulty h being experienced in the West of England in obtaining Church of England curates, and one chuvch. at" ' Wellington, Somerset, was olosed for a fortnight in consequence of the > icar, who has charge of another church in the same town, being unable to get a curate to conduct the services. While signing cheques at the Geraldine Borough Council's monthly meeting-, his Worship the Mayor said they u-:ixl to ha\e som« big- times in i!ip old Joa^ on the Geraldine Road Boairl Mjrnnu thpqu"when they had a credit bdlauc" A £-^0,000 in the biink^