1921.] 



Notes on Poultry-Keeping . 



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Chicken Rearing. — By May a large proportion of the chick< as 

 have reached a stage when the pullets and cockerels will 

 thrive much better if separated. Some difference in the 

 feeding should be observed; young cockerels if kept in a soft 

 and well-fed condition will require little if any fattening 

 provided they are separated from the pullets, and they will then 

 be ready for table at from 10-14 weeks old. They may be kept 

 upon a restricted range, in a grass pen for preference, whereas 

 the pullets will grow and thrive better with free run and a less 

 generous diet. 



Sussex ground oats or barley and maize meals with a due 

 proportion of middlings should be given to cockerels in a wet 

 mash twice daily, with a feed of wheat at night time. One 

 feed of wet mash with a small feed of wheat at mid-day and a 

 liberal feed of wheat at night will suffice for the pullets on a 

 free range, but an additional wet mash is necessary if the 

 range is limited. As an alternative under these conditions 

 dry mash may be used in place of the wet mash. 



Young Turkeys. — Unless the young turkeys have the range 

 of meadows and hedgerows with access to nettles and other 

 wild green stuffs of which they are very fond, troubles are 

 likely to arise. The too free use of starchy foods in the, 

 dietary of turkeys is a frequent cause of loss, and an abundance 

 of green food is essential. Insect life is also needed, and the 

 provision of a substitute when the birds have a limited run 

 is more difficult than in the case of chickens and ducklings. 

 Young turkeys do not readily eat fish meal, but granulated meat 

 of good quality and free from bone can be given, though the 

 use of freshly cooked meat, bullock's liver and lights, finely 

 chopped, is much to be preferred. Middlings, Sussex ground 

 oats, and maize meal can be used — the two latter in modera- 

 tion — and boiled rice if mixed with the meat. Practically 

 50 per cent, of the bulk of the food consumed by young 

 turkeys should consist of fresh green stuff. 



Ducklings. — The rapid growth of ducklings renders them 

 particularly attractive to the rearer of table poultry. They are 

 ready for market from 3 to 4 weeks earlier than a chicken 

 and can be raised upon smaller spaces. Boiled rice constitutes 

 one of the most valuable foods, but this cannot be considered 

 economical at the present price. Middlings with maize and 

 barley meal or wheat meal with 10 per cent, of fish meal 

 should be used up to 5 weeks of age, after which the quality 



