426 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Nov., 1922. 



top on one side a horizontal slit 3 in. wide is cut; this is put against 

 the opening in the end oi' the house, and thus tlie birds can get their 

 heads througli and into the tins for their contents, but are vniable to 

 upset or I'oul tliem. One tin contaijis grit, shell, and charcoal mixed, 

 another such mash food as may be given, the third water, and the 

 fourth tin may be provided for table scraps boiled and dried o(f with 

 bran. 



Suspended to the centre cross piece of the frame inside the run 

 is a wire-netting basket 9 in. by 3 in. by G in., into which all green 

 food or table scraps are thrown. This prevents the floor being soiled 

 or littered unnecessarily. 



The whole floor of the house is used for scratching purposes by 

 being kept dry and littered 12 in. deep with such scratching material 

 as may be available, such as straw, hay, mealie stalks, leaves, etc. 

 All grain food was thrown into this, and there was always sufficient 

 to keep the birds busy by scratching for it. 



The tins at the end were also always kei)t fidl of mash, water, 

 grit, etc. Cleaning the house or dropjiing board (the tin tray) under 

 the perch was done once a week from the top, the droppings being- 

 removed, and three times during the year fresh sand was put in the 

 tray. The floor of the house was never touched or cleaned, only fresh 

 straw or scratching material being put in as required. Feeding was 

 done once a week, clean drinking v/ater given, and the eggs gatliered 

 daily. In cold or bad weather both lid^s on top were kept closed ; in 

 fair weather the front one over the run was opened and kept raised 

 by a supporting rod to admit sun and fresh air. 



Six South African Utility White Leghorn pullets between six and 

 seven niontlis old were taken at random from among fifty odd bred at 

 the institution and placed in the liouse lor testing their capabilities 

 in meeting the housewife's requirements as above outlined. The 

 birds were never allowed out of ti)e house during the year. Their 

 egg production for the period is shown below, but it must be noted 

 tliat they were not selected birds, as will be apparent to all poultry- 

 men when it is seen that two went broody duiing the test. They were 

 just ordinary *South African Utility AVhite Leghorn hens. 



Intensive Test. 



Eecord of eggs produced : — 



May 108 November 151 



June 91 ]Jecember 132 



Ju]y 129 January 102 



August 120 February 115 



September 156 March 133 



October 166 April 67 



Totd, 1.470 eggs. 



Note. — One bird was broody for four days (29t]i November to 

 2nd December). Another was broody from 10th to 21st January. 

 The number of eggs laid per diem ranged generally froin 1 to 6 " "" 

 one occasion, 3rd January, 9 were laid. -g th.Vi- 



oecured 



