POULTRY NOTES.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 299, 22 August 1908, Page 6

POULTRY NOTES.

Busy, bustling hens mean contented, thrifty hens that are not in an over-fat condition ; and that is the kind of hens that produce strongly-fertilised eggs.

The average farmer keeps hens for the eggs they produce. The poultry itself is a side issue. This being the case, it is wise to keep the breeds which produce the most eggs.

The number of females that may safely be allowed with one male bird depends upon the age and vigour of the bird and upon the breed.

Males belonging to the Leghorns or some similar breed are, other things being equal, capable of looking after a greater of hens than a male belonging to the American or Asiatic class.

Fowls should not be allowed to gorge themselves exclusively on cats, but a liberal quantity of oats may safely and profitably be fed to fowls, as oats are one of the best-balanced grains for feeding to poultry.

Avoid crowded quarters and too close confinement. See that the matings are congenial to the individual specimens. If you see that some females are not mating with a certain male, change them to some other pen and substitute others for them.

Whether or not it hurts an egg to hold it over for two or three weeks depends very largely upon the egg. If it contains a strong germ the damage may be little or none ; but if the germ be weak to start with it certainly will deteriorate rapidly.