Poultry Scratchings.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 224, 15 October 1887, Page 3

Poultry Scratchings.

To ensure satisfaction from using fin in cubator for hatching purpose, ifc is essential that you should have a machine of the best kind. Any machine which is not constructed on the principle of the automatic regulation of the heat is a nuisance, and in our opinion not worth bothering with. The chief trouble with incubator chicken-rear-ing, even when you are using a good automatic machine, is in bringing up tho chickens. That strong and healthy chicks can be artificially reared after being hatched in an incubator has been proved over and over again.

Questions to ask Yourself.— Are the poultry houses kept clean as the warmer weather sets in ? Are they well ventilated through the day and occasionally fumigated with sulphur ? Is carbolic acid used freely about the roosts, coops and sitting boxes ? All these conditions are absolutely necessary for the prevention of disease.

Blenheim Foultby Association. —We are pleased to learn of the starting of a new poultry association at Blenheim. The first show is to take place on the sth and 6th of this month, and although rather late in the season for fowls to look at their best, unless great care has been taken to preserve their plumage from injury, still we understand a good show of poultry is anticipated, over sixty special prizes having been promised, in addition to three cups 'to be offered for competition. The entries closed on the 23rd of September. We may here again remark that we are always glad to give an early notice of coming shows, if only secretaries will take the trouble to send us dates and particulars.

Healthy Fowls for Breeding, - The one essential in all breeding is good health. Without this, vigorous chicks cannot be produced or profit realised from eggs. Wishing the greatest number of eggs and strong, rugged chicks, many people pursue that course which in the end renders impossible the very object desired. Fowls in health do not need stimulating food any more than a healthy man needs medicine. The use of all kinds of so-called "egg food " is to be condemned because in the end it works injury. At this season of the year when hens naturally are about ready to commence laying, great credit is given to this or that form of egg food, and its use is continued until the hens fail entirely, and even then the blame is not put where ib should be. We have but to study the analysis of one of these preparations to sco where the danger lies. Cayenne pepper, which forms the bulk of the stimulating properties, is also a powertul irritant, and its use may be detected by the inflamed condition of the oviduct. When this exists eggs cannot be properly formed, neither can they produce healthy chicks.