THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1103, 17 April 1911, Page 8

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

(By Chantecler.)

EARLY CHICKENS. How things change in poultry matters! A few years ago no one thought of hatching chickens till the spring. It was considered the natural time to liatch chicks, and fo Hie practice was upheld. There were .-avcral reasons for raising chicks at Ihis time of the year. Broody hens could not be obtained; hens would not commence to lay till spring, and the warm days suitable to the growth of the chickens were not far distant in September. Now everything is changed. We shall never again see 3s. a dozen for, eggs in winter; in fact, 2s. will bo rare enough. The advent of. the incubator to hatch any time during tho year, and the careful breading and selection of early layers make it possible to liatch chicks at any time of tho year. I have already seen hundreds of chickens for this season, so that winter eggs will be more plentiful than ever next year,' There are many advantages in early hatching. ■ By incubating eggs you are sure to breed from winter layers, and thus reproduce their strain. Then chickens hatched now grow quickly, and come on to lay in early summer, pass through the moult, and are on to lay in winter again. The poulIryman is able to give attention to chicks at a time when other work is slack. Of course, the poultry-breeder must-have conveniences to see him out the winter, and ample shelter and accommodation for his growing slock.

SELECTION OP BREEDERS. It is difficult to emphasise the one point in which success in poultry-keeping depends, but certainly the mating is an important feature of the work. Poul-try-breeding is a science, and it takes a great amount of knowledge and ability to select those birds that will mate to advantage. The poultryman selects his breeders all the year round, aud marks those birds that appeal to his judgment. In the matter of the male bird, care must be exercised that only those birds sound iu vigour and constitution shall pass the test. He must be alert in his movements, active in his attentions to the hens, and show strong tendency of a prepotent nature. The hens should be active and healthy, and keen, and have laid a high general average of eggs. Better to breed from three good hens rather than sis indifferent ones. Good stock spells profit, and it is by selection that profitable birds are obtained. The birds should not be forced, but fed liberally, to ensure good results.

THE VALUE OF NEW BLOOD. Wo badly need new blood among our New Zealand flocks. There aro a few private breeders who have given some tirao and gone to the expense of importing fresh stock. It is a mistake to inbreed, and among all our flocks in New Zealand there is a very strong fusion of. inbred stock. The result is that our biggest egg-producers are carrying with them a penalty. There are heavy losses among the Hocks, ovarian troubles among the layers, while the general he.iliii tho birds is hard to maintain. During tho last competition at I'apanui, though the birds were bettor honsed and. fed, there were heavier losses by denth through ovarian trouble than in any previous test. There is a danger that we are forcing too much. It is a good purpose to increase the general average, but the mechanism breaks down completely when we method it to over strain. The hen is a wonderful machine, but when we overdo things we aro going to pay the penalty. Tho introduction of some new blood would work wonders and help to koep up the vigour of our flocks.

THE STUDHOLME TEST. One of tlio most important features of the N.Z.U.C. competition is the Studholme test. A few years ago Mr. Studholme outlined a test that embraced standard qualities of a breed, number of eggs, weight and size of the birds, and, the aggregate weight of eggs laid. It must be admitted that Mr. Studholme was far-seeing in his provisions, as the test is most' practical. Owing to a largo proportion of the points being provided for in the table qualities the. Asiatic breeds stand a good chance. The prize last year was won by Mr. H. W. Bannehr's White Rocks; second, Mrs. Mahan's "White Leghorns; and, third, Mr. Kennedy's White Wyandottes. The prizes ore «CSO, ,£l. and .£" respectively. Mr. Studholme, in donating the prizes, has done good service, and the test he prescribes shows that general utility is much more to be sought after than mere number of eggs.

DRY MASH FEEDING. The conclusion of the Hawkesbury test has shown that dry mash advocates have srme stern facts to face in tho matter of egg record;. Mr. H. J. Stuart states that his "dry feed" pen at the Hawkesbury College test was reared on dry mash (says an exchange). "I found," he says, . "that it worked all right for a time; but about the same time that they knocked off at the competition my home birds did likewise, and it was only by n.n abrupt termination of the system ' that I got my fowls back on tho lay."

AUSTRALIAN TESTS. The final figures of tho Australian egglaying competition make some interesting reading. It is evident by the way Padman's pen is laying at Sugiaco that he will break his Gatten record of 1538. Tho following are the returns of the leading pens in each test:: — AUSTRALIAN COMPETITIONS. Hawkesbury. First year-April 1. 1910, to March 31, 1911. March. T'l. 1 H. Stammell, W.L 88 1321 2. F. J. Brierley, W.L « 1268 3. Hillcrest P.F., W.L 72 126?. Second year-April 1, 1908, to March 31, 1911. 1 March. 2nd yr. 2 yrs. 1 P Lowe, W.L. ... 105 i 045 2309 2. T. Partridge, W.L. 50 959 2327 3. J. Waugli, W.L. ... 63 981 ' 2280 Third year—April 1, 190S, to March 31, 1911. March. Ist yr. 2nd yr. 3rd yr. Tl. 1. A. E. Henry BO 17 1230 994 823 3047 2. J. Kelly, ' 8.0. 52 1288 958 774 3020 3. F. J. Brierley, W.L 8 1330 989 744 3063 Hawkesbury Ducks. First year—April 1, 1910, to March 31, 1911. March. Total. 1. G. Rogers, I.R. 60 1278 2. H. Short, I.R 58 1158 3. G. Howard, I.R 75 1136

Stcond year-April 1, 1909, to March 31, 1911. , „ _ March. Ist yr. 2nd yr. Tl. 1. &. Rogers, I.E. 13 1220 1244 2164 2. J. Dnnlop, I.li. 25 1235 109-1 2329 3. 1). Salter, I.R. 15 1902 1075 2107 Gallon (2) Complete. April 1, 1910, to March 31, 1911. , . „ „ March. Totnl. IA. H. Podmaii, W.L 132 1520 -■ Mr?. A. E. Kinncnr, W.L. 104 1433 3. h. A. Smith, W.L 88 1428 Koscworthy, S.AI Complete. 1- A. li: Padman, W.L 94 1513 2.Moritz Bros., W.L 93 1455 3. J. George, W.L 72 1433 Kybybolite, S.A. Complete. (Open Section.) 1. A. H. Padman, W.L 104 1151 2. Mrs. A. E. Kinnear, W.L. 83 1110 3. W. Purvis, W.L 87 1051 Subiaco, W.A. Eleven Months Gone. 1. A. H. Padman, W.L 113 1507 2. Shamrock P.F., W.L 106 l^3 3 ; Ballantyue, W.L 107 1313