POULTRY PARS.

Shannon News, 2 March 1926, Page 3

POULTRY PARS.

Nothing is gained by starving broody hens in order to discourage their clucky propensities. It is much better to confine them in comfortable coops, and to continue feeding them the regular ration, giving plenty oi water and treating them as well:as the others. They will got over their broodiness just as soon on full rations, and will begin laying in a much shorter time than when • they are starved and otherwise maltreated.

It has been found economical to freely feed oait s through the summer, not 'only because oats are cheaper than wheat (as a rule) but because oats are better suited to summer conditions. Oats are quite high in crude 1 fibre, and should not be fed heavily; even to adult fowls, unless soaked, boiled or sprouted, thereby reducing the risk of intestinal disorders which result from the consumption of too much indigestible matter. Where a large .number of birds are kept the best method of dealing with body lice is to provide dust-baths, incorporating sulphur, so as to give the birds every opportunity of dusting ilhemsieilves. Speaking generally, males do not dust themselves as do .the hens, and it may be necessary to dust the former with .insect powder, holding the bird by the legs and making sure that the whole body receives treatment. When utilising table scraps and kitchen waste, i.e., potato, turnip and other vegetable peelings, etc., they should always be. cooked./ Mix with this very useful jsuibsidiary food, a quantity of bran and meal sufficient to constitute a mixture that will just crumble, but never feed it as a slopplv mess. Two pounds of this feed will constitute a good meal for fifteen hens. Provide grit for all the pens. Old earthenware smashed up will assist the oizzard in its work of grinding the gi-ains fed. Shell should also be given. Never leave a package of coffee near butter, eggs or milk—they will absorb the coffee flavour. Gull heavily during the next few months—you will be amply rewarded. 4i,„ Whin-e water is scarce, renew the supplv, however small, several times a day in the hot weather. Crop binding is often .caused by the birds' -Dickiiig i*> ions pieces of straw or other litter, or it might be caused bv ii large piece of hard food that •blocks the passage from the crop. This prevents the bird from passing the crop substances, and soon she is in distress and will .stand moping about most of the day. If it is taken in hand in the early stages it can well be aimed. Warm olive oil should be poured into the crop, enabling the crop-contents to be well kneaded until the whole mass has become loosened If such treatment falls, the. crop should be opened with a sharp knife and the fool removed. , After the bird has been cured feed her sparingly for a day or two. Take care that' the incision is kept clean and free from dirt. Mites rapidly multiply in hoc weather and many poultry houses are alive with this pest, but it is an easy matter -to prevent all the trouble attendant upon the ravages of the mite bv spraying with a good lice-killing solution.' Lacking a spray pump paint the perches, supports, etc., with either kerosene, crude oil, crank-case drainings. tar or any good' commercial insecticide. _ A common, source of disease m hot weather is stagnanit water. Drain off nil r.<iol<! of foul sum-face water that often collect in the poultry runs after the rain. _ , Inmrovement in farm, flocks can easilv be attained by keeping the breeds pure: bv breeding only from second and third season hens of good > shape, size and production; by using only pedigree males; by hatching only from eggs weighing not less than two ounces. It is an accepted l act that pure, breeds pay better than orossbreds. The chief attributes of the former are better appearance on the farm, higher production of eggs, greater degree of uniformity. .Poultry can be made a profitable adjunct/to any farm, provided the birds are properly fed and comfortably housed. It is well-nigh impossible*'to make poultry keeping a financial success unless the owners' interest is heart-whole. Make a practice 'of daily inspecting the dropping-boards, which Provide an almost infallible proof of health and will assist in the detection of digestive disorders. The effects of incorrect feeding, either by way of unbalanced rations or over-rich food, will manifest themselves in the .excreta, and the birds' condition should receive immediate attention by way of a change in diet. Feed liberally wiiMi green stuff.