176 QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. [1 Mar., 1902. 
Poultry. 
DRIED BLOOD FOR FOWLS. 
Some hens are very obstinate in the matter of egg-laying. The production 
of eggs is, however, only a question of food. The most persistent non-layer 
will be induced to assist towards filling the egg basket, if she is fed with butter 
milk, wheat-porridge and a few chopped chillies. From the analysis of dried blood 
itis shown that this substance contains everything needed for the production of 
eggs. When feeding the fowls, it is a good plan to make them work for their 
food. Good scratchers will lay better than hens which squat down in front of 
a quantity of food and gorge themselves with no exertion. Therefore scatter 
the food amongst easily disturbed litter, and the hens will get plenty of exercise 
in searching for the grain. 
THE POULTRY TICK. 
As far as we know, that scourge of the poultry-yard, the tick, has not yet 
made its appearance in Queensland. But this immunity may uot last for ever, 
and should the tick arrive, poultry-keepers will have a bad time. The tick has 
the same effect on poultry as the cattle-tick on horned stock. According to the 
Melbourne Age, the pest has appeared in Victoria, and from an article in that 
journal last December we learn that it was discovered for the first time in the 
Government refrigerating works in Flinders street, where several large con- 
signments were being prepared for South Africa and Western Australia. 
Orders were at once given for a wholesale destruction by fire of the feathers 
and birds on hand; but, strange to say, the Chief Inspector of Stock, who traced 
up the source whence the birds had come, found himself powerless to act. The 
Leader had forewarned the Government some four years ago to prepare for this 
dreaded pest, and to use the most stringent measures to prevent its introduction. 
The Minister took steps to ensure careful inspection at the border towns, but 
no machinery was prepared by the stock department to go on to premises and 
destroy affected poultry, and now the pest is in the heart of the city. 
At the refrigerating works specimens of the pest have been preserved, 
and it may be interesting to know that the ticks, after being frozen for thirty- 
six hours, turned up as lively as crickets, and to show how rapidly they get to 
work on poultry, it may be mentioned that one breeder at Mildura lost 200 
birds in six days through the tick pest. 
The serious character of this pest is not generally known, and its appear- 
ance in poultry bred in the suburbs and sold in the city auction-rooms will have 
a startling effect on poultry-keepers. Once it appearsina poultry-yard there is 
nothing left but to apply the firestick and burn off the sheds, houses, and all 
woodwork on the poultry-yard or farm. For many years the tick has been 
known in South Australia. It is supposed to have come in poultry crates from 
Texas, in America, and whole streets have been decimated in Adelaide, so 
that residents cannot keep fowls through the ravages of the pest. Its habits are 
nocturnal, coming out at night from the crevices of the poultry-house and 
attacking the birds. The tick attaches itself tothe fowl with lengthy suckers, 
drawing away the blood ina wonderful manner. This is followed by fever, and — 
death quickly ensues. The strongest carbolic disinfectants are quite harmless as 
far as the tick is concerned, and the only remedy is fire. 
Mr. J. J. Fenton, the Government Statist, in recording the annual — 
production of poultry in Victoria, says :— 
“The principal miscellaneous product for which an estimate is given is 
poultry. The importance of this industry has, perhaps, never been fully 
