TONIC FOR FOWLS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 July 1938, Page 14

TONIC FOR FOWLS

A GOOD COMBINATION. For general purposes the following combination will be found useful: — Sulphate of iron 2oz, aniseed 2oz, foenugreek 2oz, linseed 4oz. Powder each of the ingredients separately, and when thoroughly mixed keep in a tin in a dry place. Give a heaped teaspoonful of the spice in the soft food to every six birds. Iron is perhaps the very best stimulant that a bird can have, and a useful tonic can be made in the following manner:— To a quart of water add half a pound of sulphate of iron and three or four drops of sulphuric acid. When the iron crystals are dissolved the tonic is ready for use, and it will keep for any length of time. The quantity to use is a tablespoonful in every quart of drinking water. This tonic must not be put in iron or other metal vessels. Given to adult birds, it will produce a bright, healthy appearance, in addition to increasing the colour of the egg yolks. Some people give pepper to promote egg laying, but they should know that it is injurious to the birds, because it disorganises the liver. It forces forward the egg about to be laid, but does nothing towards eggmaking—i.e., it is not a tonic. In the foregoing the inference is that, though pepper does not make eggs, ordinary food does so. As a matter of fact, food of any kind does not make eggs, because the eggs are in the fowl at birth. These miniature eggs have, however, to be developed, and ordinary food serves this purpose, in addition to developing and maintaining the fowl. Peppers and other strong condiments merely force forward and do nothing more in the way of developing.