368 



Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 June, 1916. 



described above you have good material to work upon. As the beginner 



may experience some difficulty in indicating the best layers in his stock. 



I would advise him to use trapnests. By this method he can pick out 



his best egg producers with certainty, 



and by breeding from none but tested 



layers he can improve the young stock 



to a marked degree. By adopting the 



plan of marking your birds with rings 



you can keep a record of each hen's 



egg production. Celluloid rings of 



different colours can be procured, and 



all that you have to do is to note the 



colour of the ring as she leaves the 



nest, and mark the egg accordingly. 



Another point which is essential in 

 breeding strong and vigorous young 

 birds of good constitution is to allow 

 your breeding birds plenty of range. 

 A small pen is not conducive to the 

 production of strong chickens and fer- 

 tility, and although good stock may be 

 hatched under these conditions better 

 birds still would be protiuced from the 

 same parents if allowed more room. 

 Animal food is also very useful in 

 procuring good results in hatching, as 

 well as increasing the egg production. 

 But too much "is harmful and about 

 h an ounce to each bird two or three 

 times a week will generally be sufficient 

 for stock birds. The food given should 

 be fresh, sound, and sweet. The grain 

 should be plump and clean. Wheat 

 is, of course, the staple grain, but oats, 

 peas, and maize ai'e also to be recom- 

 mended in small quantities. Plenty of 

 green food should be given every day, 

 about noon being the most suitable 

 time to give it. The morning meal 

 should be a warm mash composed of 

 pollard, bran, peameal, and oat pol- 

 lard moistened with meat soup or warm 

 separated milk or water, working it to 

 a crumbly consistency. Fresh water 

 should be regularly supplied, and 

 the vessels thoroughly cleaned out 

 every day. Plenty of shell grit 



and charcoal should be provided, 

 and a dust bath is also very neces- 

 sary, consisting of wood ashes, sand, 

 and sulphur. The roosting house should be kept thoroughly clean, and 

 a sharp lookout made for red mites or other forms of pests which 

 infest poultry. Nest boxes should be kept very clean and well lined 



Punch marks on feet for iden- 

 tification of the different 

 strains and mating. These 

 marks should be made di- 

 rectly birds leave incubator. 



