POULTRY NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10714, 7 September 1912, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES

(by Utfliiariaa.) Wo frequcnetly hoar it sir. ted, and stated very emphatically, that poultry pay all right when onecan grow his oir'n iced. By the tone the remark. is generally said in, we are expected to believe'that if you cannot grow your own feed, well, it won't pay. An agricultural fanner, doubtless, has much" the advantage over the- special- | ist poultry keeper, for the- latter rare- ! ly ever attempts to cultivate hira--1 !.;'elf, except for green, food, but still ! lio can and does often come out on the right side of the ledger. His wholeinterest is centered in his birds, and ! hence lie understands how to got the | utmost out of them. The agriculturj ;il farmer can produce- Ids eggs at a ! lesser cost per dozen, but owing to his I multifarious duties, especially in the ! summer time, his time is to limited i for him to think of rearing a largo number. With a family of industrii oiui boys and girls, he can obtain much I valuable help, but he often grudges I them the necessary time to attend ; the birds as he considers he can find ■ more profitable occupation in other brandies of the farm work. Then, again, in these days of universal education, a farmer looks to send his , children into town where they will obi tain a more advanced tuition, and it is ' seldom that he sees tho advantages of of tho move healthy and natural living on the farm. Wealth 'is tho first consideration to-day, health takes a back , seat. Most persons advocate a mixed feed for chickens, wheat, oats, maize, barley, peas, etc, but wo have had very satisfactory results with wheat and oats, supplemented with plenty of meat and green food. We find the pullets lay quite young enough on tlr.s ration. , ' ' Do not neglect to paint all thoiowl houses; it renders them more sightly more lasting, and gives a businesslike look to the farm. A dead lien in the hand is worth two sick ones moping; round in the pen. ; I '"lt's a long lane without a turning and it's a long kceleed hen that is | more fit for the table than .as an egg j producer. ~ • j "All is not gold that glitters," nei- : ther are all hens profit makers; weed 1 out tho drones. ~ ~ "Every little makes a muckle as the owner remarked when his favourite hen laid the one hundred and sixtieth egg in one hundred and sixtythree da vs. But he does not alwayssav what" tho other hens are doing.

Persistency is the road to success, but it is poor business a hen persistently setting; on s\ chinr. egg. "Still waters run deep." Still liens want burying deep, keep only those full of activity. "Experience toache<;" an the hen said when she necked at the egg which had been packed with mustard, to cure, her of egg eating. A. well known exponent of systems for detecting the layers has lately removed his quarters from Tavanaki to Xaoiev. Those who are desirous of having table birds ready for Christmas markets will need to get a move on now. Pokins. Aylesburys, and, Huff Orpington ducks should bo ready at ten weeks and give a fair profit. In rearing ducks for the tables, let them never go hungry, if possible, but feed whenever they are ready. We do not bclives in regular stated hours for this work as their appetites vary considerably.' Constant attention is necessary to assure the greatest success. J hey. must be putting on fat every day of their lives'. Those,who grumble at «ow prices for their ducks are frequently those who-have, not properly primed tbevi 1 . birds. • A somewhat common' failing we havo observed in solecism of males for breeding pens, mated, for e<n\ production, is the fault of having the rooster or cockerel too much on the heavy side. He may, with his great build, appeal to many as indicativo'of great strengtn ! but it is a wirv strength we require tor I the obtaining of eggs, and that can be i effected better by possessing a smaller j bird who is smart, active,-and ready to tackle all customers who enter his domain . What is required is a bird | alwavs on the jump, as it were, For ever I '.erat'clrno- and calling to his harem.