THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1240, 23 September 1911, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

(By Chantccler.)

Answers to Correspondents. "Fruitgrower."—Wo aro .not against the fruit-growing industry; wo even want poultrymen to emulate your enthusiasm. You deserve all you have worked for. "H.B."—Duck eggs aro more difficult to market than those of liens, and often- j times bring less. ■ "L.D."—To cure scaly leg cover the shanks with tor. In a few days the scales will drop off. "Novice."—Bathe the comb in peroxide and keep him separate from tlio other birds. Our Pressing Needs. Last week some reference, was made to tho fruit industry, and promised also bo giyo Mr. Brown advico regarding tho selecting and breeding of layers. \Vc have dealt with both items in this . week's notes. Tho trouble with lis is we do not make ourselves lieard. In our ranks we have some excellent men; men of ability, education, and. power, but they arc." never known. Why? Because they will not corno into tho light. . Tliey , are satisfied :with jogging along at a quiet paco and .reaping tho rewards of their own immediate efforts. As an industry wo have pressing needs. Why should fruit-growers bo guaranteed a penny per pound in export apples by the Government, with a dozen inspectors and instructors to help them in their work, whilo poulirymeii have to do their own experiments in export and meet tho losses that aro sure to follow initial work? Why should the fruit business, which is represented in value in New Zealand at about ,£250,000, be miles ahead of tho poultry industry that goes .nearer .£2,000,000? Why should there-bo a dozen inspectors and instructors for the fruit, and one, only one, for the poultry? Why should upwards of JC(000 per annum bo paid for instructors, clerks, and officials for fruit, and our expert, who works us hard as an man ir. tho Agricultural Department, get only odd a year,, and a cramped ofEco and no ono to assist in the distressing correspondence? Wo have nothing against the fruit-growers. We are glad to see them prosper. May they get all they can; they deserve it. We just simply use the comparison to show what a knock-kneed crowd we are, and how easily wo are satisfied. Help Needed. " Why do tie fruit-growers succeed? Simply because they havo a strong organisation. How is it held together? Because some of those most interested gave .£lO each to the funds. Here is a secret of success. Duriu" the past five years how much have poultrymen given to help organise? We verily believe it would average tho valuo of ono egg each per annum for tho five years. No, ire must support tho movement by practical help. Our organising fund is sma:l, and some havo dono well. A lot of work has been done with the few pounds gathered, but a great deal moro could have boon dono had it reached -£500 instead of .£GO. Work canHot be for nothing, and ho is sadly lacking in large-heartedness who expects it to bo dono by others with no expenditure to himself. Tiie Conference, The conference committee met in Christchurch last week. The following report is taken from one of the local journals:— A meeting of delegates to draw up tho programme for tho New Zealand Poultry Association's annual conference was held ia tho Christcliurch Poultry Club's rooms Mr. B. W. Hawkc (president of tho Utility, Poultry Club) presided. The Boys' Gordon Half Poultry Club wrote stating that it had been taking a keen interest in poultry culture, and desired to extend a hearty reception on tho first evening of t'ho conference to all poultrymen. The oifer was acceptcd with thanks. It was decided that tlio conference ■sh'riUld'bo held on November 7, 8, and 9, and the.following programme, was drawn 'upi ' v subject' "to confirmation' Tuesday, November 7, 10 a.m.: Meeting of delegates at Boys' Gordon Hall, annual meeting, report, election of. officers and general business. 2.30 p.m.: KcceDtion of delegates and visitors'. 8 p.m.: Iteception by Boys' Gordon ITall Poultry Club and lecture by Mr. J. If ore (Burniam), "Tho Hearing of 'Chickens." Wednesday, November 8, 10 a.m.: Paper "Commercial Aspect of tho Poultry Industry"—(a) "Local :Trade," Mr. A. E. Kent (Christchurch); (b) "Export Trade," Mr. S. B. Bull (Auckland); (c) "Import Trade," Mr. T. H. Rutherford (Masterton). 2 p.m.: Visit to New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's egg-laying competitions at Papanui. 8 p.m.: Papers, "Foods and Feeding," Mr. A. 6. Mumby (Otaki); "Preparing, Table Poultry," Messrs. F. C. Brown (Government Poultry. Instructor), and J. Mann (Templeton); exhibit of poultry and eggs, Messrs. R, Poundsford and J. B. Merrett. Thursday, Novembsr 9, 9 a.m.: P.-|per, "Observations from Competitions," Mr. • E. W. llawko (president New Zealand Utility Poultry Club); 10.30: Discussion of the Standard of Excellence for Utility Poultry, noon: Visit to Burnham State Poul-

try Farm; 8 p.m.: Vapor, 'Modern Mothoils of Poultry Culture" (illu.-lnilca), Mr. V. C. Brown (Government Poultry Instructor). Selection and Mating. On September 12, Mr. I'. C. Drown,-', Government l'oulliy Instructor, gave u lecture at the request of the Scr Zealand Utility Poultry Club in tho rlP '* church Poultry Club's rooms on tion and Mating." Mr. It. W ■ ITawk© (president of the Utility Poultry Club) introduced the speaker to a -large audience. Mr. Brown said the subject lie had been asked to deal with that evening was that of selection and mating of birds to secure tho best results with regard to egg-production. lie intended to deal with sevc-rai- systems that were in uso throughout tho Dominion and in . many other parts of the world to-day. However,'before going into details, lie would like to impress upon liis hearers that even when the best systems were put into practice, success would not always follow-with any degree of certainty unless the question of type, when lixocl by certain lines of breeding, Was tho main consideration. ' Tho speaker demonstrated his ideal type with a White Leghorn hen, which was ono of tho six that won tho Utility Poultry Club's last egg-laying competition, lie minted out that the difference in form between the laying and tho table fowl, tho spare breast and tho large abdominal development of the layer contrasting strongly with the compact, fleshy frame of the table bird. He referred at length to tho systems of selection by early maturity, prominent eye, natural selection, lato monitors, trap-nests, singlo pens, and birds with tails worn down. Tho latter system he considered answered very well as a rongli and ready one. Fowls with their tails well worn down to a Stump were generally the best layers, whilst fhoso with the tail not down were drones. This applied chiefly to Leghorns and breeds of similar type. This system, the speaker remarked, was only of uso when tho fowls were laying in small and high nest-boxes, when the tail always meets on obstruction. Obviously tho oftener the fowl visited the nest-box,_ the more ragged the tail became. He maintained that the fowl which laid eggs lato into the autumn was a good guide for selection. Ho strongly 'favoured the single-pen system in prel'erenco t-o all mechanical methods for selecting for The greatest success would not be achieved, however, unless a man were able to pick out accordin? to laying type the best pullets, for obviously to select birds at random for single-pen testing might exclude the bestlaying birds in the (lock. He said some men and women were specially gifted in having a natural eye for. form, but to select the type desired.was a qualification which could easily be developed by observation, and study;-anil to the-keen poultry-man it was a most fascinating work." In selection by form the lecturer said tho shape of the hen denoted whether slio was built for- heavy laying or for meat production. The type ho advocated was of medium size, with tho maximum number of laying points and having at tho same time a fair table carcass. Tho main points to be observed were alertness, small head, iine texture of comb, i'iico' line and free from wrinkles nnd feathers, legs of medium length ' (with flat and lino. bone and well apart), keel short, feathers tight aud dense, body oblong shape, full at crop but tapering from thighs to head, thus forming a wedge-shaped appearance, and, above nil, largo abdominal development, and this of fine texture arid'froo from aiiy'flrshy feel. This type of bird was generally tho first to mature, first off tlio perch in tho morning," and last on at night, and had a business-like appearance. The loose-feathered hen was invariably a poor layer. Tho legs of a good layer always appear short because of the fulness and the depth of tho abdomen. This, however, would not be noticeablo in tlis millets before commencing to lay. Birds that have largo heads, overhanging eyebrows, exceptionally long legs, loose feathers, long beak'ii and narrow heads should not be bred from. Birds that are found' #ljw» the overage weight ot their breed should be culled out; it was a sure indication -that they wero utilising the feed for fat instead of converting it into eggs.