POULTRY NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10711, 16 September 1912, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES

(By Utilitarian.) During Mr Brown's lato visit, he was asked to state exactly what- was meant by a bird having a clean face. The questioner said ho knew of one which was entirely denude of feathers from the to.) of the head down to tli'j neck. Tho official replied that a clean face constituted onu which wa:i free from feathers round alxnti the eye, with the cyo also well projecting and not moro or lesu hidden by an overhanging eyebrow. With regard to the bird stripped to the neck, Mr Brown suggested it might ho caused by the depluming mite. /Birds of this description should be carefully examined, and if any insect life is observed, give a few application of sulphur, or, perhaps, better still, sulphur ajid lard mixed, and rubbed in to the affected parts. There aro so mo who aro too liberal itli sulphur in the food they give their birds. A little occasionally at anoulting time should not do any harm, but is unnecessary,, otherwise, am.' care must be used as the birds are apt to catch cold when dosed with it. Broody hens still continue to be very scarce, and pouHrylteepers will perhapg be tempted to hatch later than usual, but on no account slioulr' i any eggs be set after the first week in October, if egg production is tlu objeetivr and even th.it is on the late side.

This year duck-laying competition bringing forth another hitherto un known breeder, Mr T. R. Hall, tidcretar yof the Levin Egg Circle. Moisture or no moistuve is olten a debatable point among incubator workers. Personally, w« consider the best results are obtained by rather to<.> ■ much moisture than none. It reminds one of the famous histories soliloquy of Hamlet, "To be, or not t-r be." However, experience is the best guide, but when readers come t" I think the matter out for themselves, they will realise, quickly enough, that there is some difference between hatching under a hen or inside a hot box With the former, set in a shied c the .ground, there must be. a. : good deal of moisture arise from the &c" whereas, with fin incubator, indoc:;' this element must be practically ik. est, and therefore it- should be nr cessary to supply-it-. Exactly hoJnuch is required is where the trut difficulty lies.. Some pin their fair}to a register, known as a hygrometer which indicates In. a similar manner a: the thermometer, - the degrees necer l sary. These can be pu. chased f ; ten shillings each.

. .the Utility Circle <s despatching upwards of four hundren dozen eggs weekly to Wellington

j It is to b e earnestly hoped tint al! I Circles, whether affiliated wit) | the Association or not, will be represented at the next Poultry ference, to be held in Auckland nex' Easter,, for the purpose, inter alia to discuss, primarily, the problem V ,the agent question. A .solution only likely to be arrived at by free and full discussion. ?

| Perversity is not an uncommon failing with chickens; for instance, they will be found at times to roost anywhere but where the owner . wishes. The ywill, perhaps, lie found in nests, or, if possible, tip in the roof of a .house, or on the top of 'some food or grit hopper. The remedy is to block these tindesirable places. Wire netting will be suitable, and every night put the •chickens on to the proper perches. It is seldom that one will find it necessary to go more than three or four nights. Some people adopt the plan of blocking with -sacks, but we do not liold with this at all. Sacks are on I v

harbour for vermin, keep out the light in the day-time, are more trouble to fix than netting, and,-if, new, more expensive. "It's an ill henn that's nobody's' good."—Cremate. Fowls, evidently understand the axiom of "Whore'there's a will there'r a wiy," judging by the celerity (shown in finding holes in a fence.