POULTRY NOTES.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 281, 11 July 1908, Page 6

POULTRY NOTES.

' -/-•,o: ' Never neglect to feed early in the mornings. An early and. a late meal mean success in rearing young stock.

Improper ventilation in the roosting quarters is the chief cause of the breeder’s worst enemies, roup and lice. When a fowl’s nostrils become clogged with dirt, and their eyes become watery, it is a sure indication of roup.

When cold storms come on it is a good plan to throw an old piece of oilcloth or some waterproof cloth over the coops. It will protect the early hatched chicks from the rain and help make the coop warmer.

Fowls like worms, grubs, grasshoppers, etc. If they are shut up they can’t get them; therefore give some meat to supply the deficiency. Boiled bullocx’s liver is a good thing for producing eggs. Give it two or three times a week.

Upon the farm the fowls dust themselves sufficiently on the dry earth or in the roadway; but where they are contain some covered corner must enclose a heap of dry earth or sand, to which may be added a good sprinkle of pyrethrum powder every now and then.

HELPING THE CHICKS OUT

On going into the sitting house on the hatching morning, some of the hens will appear to be sitting lighter, and a chicken’s head may be peeping out here and there. It has been the custom (says the “ Farmer and Stock-breeder ”) for all writers on the subject to advise leaving the hen alone ; and with nests made on the fbare ground this would be quite right, and indeed in all cases if assistance is not very carefully given. But in any kind of nests we make there will be fewer accidents with help properly given. There should be taken into the house a hamper to put an unruly hen in if required, a basket for chickens, with a piece of flannel, well warmed and folded to keep the heat in, a bowl of tepid water, and a can of boiling. The first hen may be lifted carefully off and put down io feed. If too excited for that, and she becomes a nuisance, she may be put in the hamper out of the way for a minute. All the strong dry chicks can be put in the basket, and the flannel folded over them. The nest can be emptied and tidied up, and the hen placed on the empty nest. One hand should be pressed on her back, and the other used to put underneath her the damp chickens that still need drying. She will be quiet as soon as she has these. The rest of the eggs can be tucked underneath her. What must not be done is to merely remove the broken shells and strong chicks, and allow the hen to go back ko the nest and possibly trample to death a weekly one or two in settling down. The rest can be in turn served the same. It is a good plan to start with a very quiet hen and give her all the wet chicks from three hens, giving the second one all the chipped eggs from the three, and the third all the backward eggs, which simplifies matters at the next visit.