THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

) (By Chantccler.)

Does Poultry-Kesping Pay? o This is ail old subject, and is reverted by nearly every beginner. "V.C.A." last \yeelt ..asked the question, among other inquiries. To answer it in the affirmative one must make stipulations. When conductcd on right lines, and by experienced men, it is n profitable business. The writer knows of one experienced man Who solcl exactly £568 worth of stock and eggs last year-from his two acres of poultry farm. Think of it! Eleven pounds, a week right through the year! His expenses, for advertising, etc., cost him £209, leaving him £7'a week clear, but it is not everyone that can accomplish this. It was by a man of experience.—one who loved his birds, and was not afraid of work, and knew how to cull, raise his chickens, and feed. One is inclined always to adviso .beginners not to select , poultrykeeping as a'living. If an apprenticeship is necessary to become a mechanic, chemist, or tradesman, it is also necessary in poultry-keeping. . Still, each year dozens of cases occur whero hopeful ones enter into the business without readily spend their few pounds of savings, and, in a fenmonths, give up the work, and brand poultry-keeping with a bad name. If these could spend two years on an up-tp-dato poultry farm, it would be the best means of learning the business. Otherwise tho beginner should start in a; small way, and gradually gain his experience before launching out oil to greater things. The men' who succeed aVe men who have had years of experience. As..a living, poultry-keeping a poor resort for beginners. ! ' ■ i How to Begin. '.While poultry farming.as one's whole njeans-of-support is to be deprccuted for • the begmiibr,' it is an excellent adjunct , for the working nliiii. There'arc'many J wiho pay their rent by poultry-keeping . in addition to attending their daily i w'ork. On the-intensive system, .even those who own only a few square feet ciin obtain good results. Tho writer sfjw tho balance-sheet of .a. man. whose, yfcar ended March 3L. He kept 160 ypung helis, 'and took £11G 4s. worth of eggs. His feed bill cost £44. He attended his work as an assistant in an ironmonger's shop, looked after his bjnls at the same time, and netted an additional 30s. a week to his income. Conversing with another,-whose lmsb'anil isj delicate, she showed mo how she had niade a clear profit-for the year-of £16 1 fi'om 40 hens. . keep poultry, in this . way is to make it profitable. One is . ] gaining experience for larger things, ; and,' in any case, little can be .lost. .. . Begin with a- fow well-bred hens in their second year, or, say, six eiii'ly-hatched. pullets, 'flic. .latter will cost, more, biit they- -when, they are' high Jin. price. Get the stock from a reputable breeder, and toll him that you want .] them, mated in .July. .You can then get | a chance to. practise, cleanliness, and a chance in the feeding of the birds. Later, vo.u. will have experience in the • birds with the same money rather than ten medium ones. The ..experience gained in'the first year will .give'you an idea . of what there is to do in poultry-keep-ing, -and with what success you : are likely-to meet. White Leghorns on Top. - With ■ eight pens in the lead of the competition, "and all white leghorns,' it is evident 'that breed-takes a lot of beating;' ' Their record- is, remarkable, andean, to students' : of .poultry 'ciilturc.. Thero . is-no '.doubt' about • their- returns. They are to relied upon. ■ To. those unacquainted .with our climate, American and English for instance, -they seem incredible. In any 'cas<>, we believe Australasians can show Mothers how to breed _ egg-producers.. Fanciers rule the roast in England, and have spent so much time in,studying feathers that they have neglected to study laying. Our white Leghorns aro years ahead of English birds. At an ■English competition held for six months tho leading pen of English white leghorns laid 35 eggs each, while wo have scores, of pens here that add a century to that number. White leghorns give promiso of being as popular as ever among poultrymen. For Judging Utility Poultry. Several readers havo asked for tho standard for. judging utility poultry. It originated from the, Department of It was drafted by Mr. J. Rose, of Burnham, to whom credit is duo. 110 is an old fancier, and,-during tho last five years, has shown himself a practical utility poultry breeder. He was subsequently assisted by Mr. I l '. Brown, who suggested valuablo alterations. Tho following is tho scale that has been approved by shows having utility classes-: — Eye—Large, prominent, and bright, 8 points. Face. —Fine, clean, free from wrinkles and feathers, 5 points.Comb—Single comb breeds, thin, texture fine, 5 points. Rose comb breeds, neatly set, texturo ' fine, 5 points. Neck.—Rather long, thin at head, 5 points. Legs and shanks. —Medium to short, with fine bone inclined to bo flat, 6 points. Keel.—Short, 5 points. Abdomen.—Deep, broad, full, and soft; texture-fine, 10 points. ' Feather. —Tight and'denso, showing ample fluff, 6 points. Colour. —English' Poultry Club's standard, including beak, eye, face, lobe, legs, .and plumage, 15 points'. _ . Carriage and shape.—Alert, body inclined oblong, full at crop, tapering from thighs to head, forming wedgo-liko appearance, 15 points. Size—Medium, or lib. less than English Poultry Club's standard weight clauses. In tho caso of Leghorns, pilllets 411b., liens 51b., cockerels 51b., cocks 61b., 10 points. Condition. —10 points. A perfect bird to count 100 points. Defects.—Same as English Poultry Club's standard. Faking, disqualification. . ........ Table Poultry Standard.—Sizo and quality, 25 points; youth, quantity, and quality of breast, meat,.. 30 points; straig'htness of keel, fineness of absence of offal and surface fat, 25 points; general appearancc, colour of skin, etc., 20 points. Dry Mash v. Wet Mash. Tho advocates of tho dry mash system will liavo some difficulty .to establisli their claim that the dry mash is Superior to the wet. I shall give shortly full particulars of a privnto test in which six hens woro selected from a flock for tho dry mash and six of ex- ' act.ly tho samo strain for tho wot mash. Tho honn in tho wet mash havo ' ; got nearly 200 egga ahead, Tho following nro tho final returns of tho Ilnwkesbuvy ninth (mnual competition, Thor.o marked with <m asterisk Jiavo been fed

on dry mash, the others on wet masli. The figures speak for themselves: — H. Hammill (88) 1321 . E. J. Bricrley (10) 1208 llillcrest Farm ("2) 1202 E. Hopkins (87) 1212 W. T. Ely (03) ./ 1102 J. J. M'Kenua (02) 1171 Hillcrcst Farm (70) 1131 C. Kennett (09) 1123 C. Kenwav (55) 1110S. Ellis (71) 1119 E. Greentrec (59) 1111 ' E. Boxrell (72) 1109 R. Jobling (60) 1080 J. Gamble (01) 10SG C. Macdonald (31) 107-1 N. C. Rule (58) 1071 11. G. M'Kittrick .(32) 1007 R. J. Stuart (37) 1052 D. Morris (87) 1011 ' S. Champion (58) 1033 W. Smith (32) 1030 Forest Home (53) 1027 O'Hcarn Bros. ("5) 1023 G. It. Nichols (80) 1022 G. Hopping (44) 1018 Bright-Thompson (48) 101-1 *D. Kenwav (89) 1008 *C. C. Kennett (51) 990 D. Quinism (59) 974 Mrs. J. AY. Cox (46) 973 'Mrs. J. W. Cox (90) 05-1 E. Waldron (08) 945 T- Lawrenco (57) 920 S J. J. M'Konna (55) 020 A. R. Jardine (65) 901 1 A. E. Henry (63) 901 Roach-Trickett (31) 889 . C. Gooch (56) 879 i! S. Ellis (77) ....' 870 *F. J. Bricrley (2-1) 806 J. Plunkett (53) '. 828 "R. J. Stuart (27) 830 R. Plowman (53) 828 L. L: Ramsav (3) 774 Mrs. E. L. Scott (33) ~ 765 'E. AYaldron (37) ' 73-1 ■ Mrs. Scaysbrook (48) 093 F. C. Johnson (0) 085 ;j. J. Branu (38) 058 . *L. L. Ramsay (53) 511 Third-year-old Hens. As .showing the laving of the ; third-year-old . liens the llaivkesbiiry figures arc valuable. Compared with the oneyear hens they have done little more than half. This table from the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" is educative: 1 A. 15. llcnrv (47) 823 J. Kelly (52) 774 E. J. Jiriorlev (8) 744 W. Mitchell (36) 743 Forest Home (25) 742 I Mrs. Seavsbrook (57) 050 S. Ellis (32) 038 11. Ellis (20) 010 Bright-Thompson (14) 612 : W. Frame (7) 567 :Thc total laying of these pens for the three veal's was:—-F. J. Briorlev, 30G3; A. E.'llenry, 3047; J. Kellv. 3020; S. .Ellis, 2945; W„ Mitchell, 2913; Bright and Thompson. 2896; Forest Home .Farm, 288-1; Mrs. Scaysbrook, 2735; W. Frame, 2606; 11. Ellis, 2590. Duck' Cdmpetitiari. .. The following arc the final returns of the duck competition, lieltl at Hnivkesbnry: . Ssoond-ysar Ducks. • G. Rogers (43) 2464 ■ Dunlop'(2s) 2329 ' l!).. Salter (4-5) 2167 G. E. O. Craft (22) 2053 - , Hughes Bros. (31) 1987

Fiiiit-year Ducks. G. Holers (CO) 1278 11. Shun- (.58) 1158 (J. lloward (7.5) 1130 O.'Plowman (21) 112*2 (I. 15. O. Craft (2!i) 1120 T. A. Fuller (30) 1111 A. J{. Jardine (-10) 1113 liright-Thompsoii (03) 10'il) C. Konnv (30) 103-1 Mrs. 11. Waider (00) 1030 Mrs. 11. Levi (32) 1011 15. .1. Winton (10) !)<)•> A. W. llodsou (03) 008 li. M. llnssell (02) 007 AY. J. Wextcd (70) 031 Hugiies Bros. (32) 890 , S. Ellis (42) 801. W. lirougliton (21) BS-I (!. Cross (20) PO2 T. 11. Chapman (31) 830 ANSWERS,TO CORRESPONDENTS. "V.C.A.," Wellington.—Have dealt with your question in this week's notes. "1i..A1.," Seatoun.—Feather-eating is a habit contracted as the result of conlinement, and want of activity, absence of green feed and suitable grit. The birds have a tasto of the feather, and you may look for continuous trouble. Possibly there may bo only one offender; if so, remove her. Eeed amplo green food, and give animal food daily. See that the grit and sliell tin is-well sup-

plied. ll' unable to increase size of run, place bay or straw in run. and throw grain into it. This will give tlieiu exercise. Sonic poultryinen scrape the beak so that the leather slides through when the bird tries to draw it out. You describe one bird as being the victim. Anoint the part making an ointment of teaspoonful of extract of aloes to a cuplul of lard. "11. W.," Wadcstown. —Will accede to your request later. The subject is an important one. "Leghorn," Wellington.—No. 1, <loz. a day; No. : Jt is lino breeding. Study chart jniblisheil iu _Tiik J)ominion" three',Weeks ago. No. 3: No. Sex of the chicken is not determined till sixth day of incubation. "■W.W.," Johnsonville: Book is free. Apply Kditor, "Journal of Agriculture," Wellington.