54° Journal of Agriculture. [lo Aug., 1909. 



The whole of the flock run together, and are housed in a large well- 

 lighted shed, 120 X 40 feet, made of galvanized iron. In wet or 

 boisterous weather they are kept in. The outside run comprises the 

 whole of the surrounding luiddocks, but the birds seldom travel far ; in 

 fact, 7 acres is all they graze upon. 



Special attention is given to the comfort of the birds. They perch 

 at night in the centre of the shed, that portion being paved with' bricks 

 The perches are less than 2 feet high, so no injury results from th< 

 hard floor. Only one drinking vessel is provided, in the shape of a securely 

 fastened jam tin placed immediately under a tap which is constantly 

 running; the overflow is carried away bv means ot an underground agri 

 cultural drain. 



A rather no\el m,achine is used by Mr. Chalmers for mixing the mash. 

 He has a large square box which holds about ten kerosene tinfuls of feed. 

 Through this box is fixed an axle of i-inch iron piping, to which shafts 

 are attached, after the manner of a hand truck. On each end of the 

 box, wooden wheels are fixed, and on one side a lid securely closes in the 

 meal, which consists of 2| bushels of pollard, 50 lbs. of potatoes, and 

 2 kerosene tinfuls of boiled \egetables, .and occasionally a few minced 

 boiled rabbits, or dry blood mea], in all weighing about .150 lbs. Sufficient 

 hot liquid is added, and the box is wheeled down the incline where the 

 bird.sare usually fed. By the time it reaches the spot, the constant 

 churning has mixed the food to a fairly crumbly condition. The food 

 i.s then scattered broadcast on a space of about a quarter of an acre. Much 

 time is saved bv this novel, yet simple, device, which might well be 

 adopted by other poultry breeders having a large flock to feed. 



At the writer's suggestion. Air. Chalmers recently made a drastic 

 change in the grain ration, short white oats teing fed in lieu of maize to 

 pullets, with the result th,at the egg yield from 275 pullets increased in 

 six weeks from 55 to 173 per day. 



Twelve outside brooders are used. The\ are sheltered behind a thick 

 hedge, and the chickens are allowed out when a few days old. Care is 

 taken to place a wire-netting fence around the brooders until the chickens 

 become accustomed to their surroundings, when thev are given free range. 

 \^'hen tired, or cold, they return to their respective foster mothers. There 

 is no doubt that the early chicken thrives well; the loss is greatest with 

 those hatched out in November and December, when there is a shortage of 

 sweet and tender grass and insect life. 



Many make_ the serious blunder of feeding voung chicks on grain. 

 When 24 hours old they should have hard-boiled eggs and stale bread- 

 crumbs, with a sprinkle of dry oatmeal, .slightly moistened with warm 

 .skim milk, given five or six times daily — a little and often. A few days 

 will sLifiice to strengthen them. They then require more freedom; scratch- 

 ing for themselves they pick up insects and eat ofl" the tops of young grass. 

 They thus .secure a m.ixed diet and thrive well. Mr. Chalmers markets 

 all his cockerels when ten or eleven weeks old. I,as( \ ear's \oungsters 

 realized 4s. 6d. a pair off the farm. 



It is pleasing to record that Mr. and Mrs. Chalmers by their success 

 have exploded the idea that poultry does not pay. Their success also 

 indicates wherein lies the failure of others who ha\e foolishly attempted to 

 farm ])oultry and at the same time to carry on some other occujjation which 

 engages practically all their attention during the day. 



It is hoped this l)rief account of the " 'V'arrowee Egg Farm " may be 

 the means of further stimulating a dee])er and more actixe interest in this 

 important branch of farm work. 



