488 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 June, 1500. 
for disease, unfertile eges, snakes, rats, iguanas, and accidents ; sowe will deduct 
50 per cent. from the above results, which will include cost of carriage to 
market. We still have a return of £260,000 and £520,000 for the first and 
second years’ returns respectively. 
Too little importance by far is attached to the poultry industry in Queens- 
land. There is money in it. As we pointed out last December, a shipment 
was made per ‘“‘ Himalaya,” from Melbourne m November, consisting of 1,720 
cases, representing 412,800 eggs (34,4U0 dozen), or aggregating 86 tons. The 
eggs were sold in London at 1s. per dozen. The whole expenses, including 
purchase money, freight, packing, &c., amounted to 9d. per dozen, so that there 
was a profit of 25 per cent. on the shipment. 
THE HOUSING OF POULTRY. 
By G. W. J, 
I is not altogether necessary that, in order to erect a fowlhouse, a man should 
be an expert carpenter, as any person who is at all handy with tools can soon 
put up a good substantial shed for large numbers of fowls, and at a very slight 
cost. Where a few fowls only are intended to be kept for the purpose of 
supplying household demands, a building can be put up with an outlay of only 
a few shillings for building material ; while those as intend to go in for 
poultry-raising on a large scale will require much more commodious buildings, 
and, consequently, will require more capital. If the buildings are to be on an 
extensive scale, it will probably be more economical to employ a tradesman, but, 
if the intending breeder has time and an inclination for joinery, perhaps it would 
be as well if he, with an assistant, undertook to do the building of the houses, 
sheds, &c., himself. If the houses are built by the breeder personally, much 
more interest will be taken in the pursuit than if done otherwise. Perhaps 
you have already some houses on your land that are at present unoccupied, such 
as sheds or stables, which may be adapted for the purpose, and will thus render 
unnecessary any further erection of buildings. The house or houses should be. 
carefully examined to see if they are thoroughly dry above and below, for 
dampness would not only prevent the fowls from thriving and laying, but would 
bring about many kinds of disease common amongst fowls not properly attended 
to. The hottses, whenever possible, should be light wooden structures, as they 
dry much more rapidly after rain than brick ones. Great care should be 
exercised in selecting a piece of suitable ground upon which the fowlhouses - 
are to be erected. It must be well drained and have a good aspect, as a bad 
ground-floor is always damp, and in many cases more dangerous than a defective 
roof; but both should always be avoided if the breeder is to be successful. If 
the ground is damp, and remains so, 15 or 18 inches of the soil within the 
entire surface of the building should be excavated, and replaced by coarse 
gravel, broken brick, and small stones, and if sand is plentiful I would advise 
that a good layer of same be put all over the floor, as it is a first-class disinfectant. 
A compost of lime, ashes, and sand will also be found serviceable, just sprinkling 
sufficient water on the mixture to settle it firmly; and if it were not for cement 
being so hard and cold, it would be everything that could be desired for a 
flooring material. Brick floors have likewise a disadvantage, inasmuch as the 
fowl manure gets between the cracks, and causes an unpleasant odour, which 
affects the health of the birds. 
Ventilation is the next item we have to consider. This is a matter of very 
great importance, and one that, if thoughtfully looked after, can easily be 
secured. No animal of whatever breed can grow and live if it does not get the 
requisite fresh air, and when we recognise that fowls spend one-third to 
one-half of their time in the houses you will see the importance of haying 
thoroughly clean and well-ventilated place. Without a fresh supply of air the 
oxygen soon gets exhausted ; and without oxygen. animal life cannot be maiD- 
tained. It is not likely, however, that the atmosphere will become so impure as 
to cause death to the fowls, yet it will cause them much injury, and prevent 
