lO Jan.. 1910.] Poultry Farming on Small Holdings. 29 



solution made by dissolving six ounces of crude carbolic acid to each 

 gallon of hot water, repeating in a few days' time ; after which \\ hice- 

 wash thoroughly the whole interior. 



Cleanliness, well-lighted houses, and good dust baths are the best 

 preventives to secure a fair degree of cleanliness and immunitv from lice 

 and mites. The droppings should be removed each da v. The scratching 

 shed litter should be replaced directly it becomes fouled. Plenty of sun- 

 light is essential to good sanitation and the construction of the poultrv 

 houses should receive proper attention. Common road dust mixed with 

 ordinarv ashes should be within reach of each bird confined in pens o' 

 winter laying sheds. Farm fed birds have plentv of scope and can easilv 

 find a dry spot for themselves. 



Everv settler is anxious to secure the best return from his pens, but, 

 failing to remedv the evil alluded to, he will lose an immense number of 

 eggs each vear, as the verv essence of the egg, viz., protein, is drawn from 

 the hen in very large quantities. 



Egg- Eating. 



This habit usually begins b\ the feeder neglecting to suppl\ lime food 

 such as is contained in oyster shell, bone meal, and burnt bones, all of 

 which are rich in carbonate and phosphate of lime, so necessary in shell 

 forming. If the birds once taste the egg, they crave for it. Many 

 remedies have been advised. One is to collect some stale eggs, and 

 scatter them about the yard; the, hens will then eat so many that they will 

 get tired of them. A better plan is to have special nest boxes, the floors 

 of which are sloped. Directlv the egg is laid it rolls to the lower part, 

 where there is a fair-sized hole ; the egg rolls into a small chamber 

 of the box away from the egg-eater, and there remains until gathered by 

 the daily collector. This safetv box is also a preventive to other hens who 

 may acquire the troublesome habit of egg-eating. 



Feather- Eating. 



This is even a worse vice than egg-eating. Birds confined in small 

 miserable yards and lacking a varietv of foods, especially animal food and 

 vegetables, will plvJck the small juicv feathers out of their companions 

 body, and I have known them to attack themselves, and make parts of their 

 bodies quite bare. The best way to cure this habit is to hang a boiled 

 rabbit or raw sheep's liver up just out of the birds' reach, and let them 

 jump for it. This will supply them with the food which, in the moulting 

 season, is very necessarx to feather making. It will at the same time keep 

 them active. 



Misshapen Eggs. 



One of the inquiries that ha\"e come under notice lately reveals clearly 

 that man\" breeders have in their flocks hens laying malformed eggs. 

 This is due to an ulceration of the oviduct, followed bv a dilated spot 

 where the egg in its course becomes partlv blocked, causing a ring-like 

 appearance in the egg when laid. It is most common amongst our non- 

 sitting breeds. Pullets that have been undulv forced by stim.ulating food, 

 condiments, and an excess of meat, become likely victims to the disorder. 



The remedy is a low diet, with plentv of vegetables. Avoid meat for 

 a time, and on no account should maize be given to birds affected. As 

 the complaint is an hereditarv one, breeding from birds affected with 

 ovarium troubles should be avoided. 



