THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

(By Chanteclcr.)

Answers to Correspondents, "5.C.," Levin—Water gins?, obtainable from most growers, is the most convenient way to preserve eggs. If your requirements nro large, it would pay you to secure a steriliser. Or.o to do 100 eggs per hour costs Jla 10s., with enough pastilles to treat 10,000 eggs. Ibid.—Ton cannot tell the sexes in leghorns (ill they arc six weeks old. The prominenco of the comb and the wattles is the guide. "Anxious," Atea.—Your birds havo been over-forced. It is tho penalty wo pay for endeavouring to extract moro eggs than tho constitution will stand. If you wish to save tho hens, feed nonforcing foods and abundant green food. Particulars on feeding should havo been supplied. Note.—Will correspondents, when asking for information, givo symptoms and methods of feeding, etc. It is impossible to give advice if these particulars arc not given. Marketing Eggs, The producer cannot pay too much attention to the marketing of his eggs. It is certain that the quality of eggs now used is much better than that of a few years ago, but there is still room for improvement, and, if the poultry industry is to fjrow in favour, the question of marketing eggs must claim attention. Too many farmers treat the matter of egg production with scanty care. They form only a small portion of the product of the farm, and nenco the neglect. In warm weather eggs require to be gathered daily. If allowed to remain in the nest, they soon decompose. The worst feature about egg production is Ibat the males aro allowed to run with the females during the warm weather. Fertile eggs soon go bad. Infertile eggs will keep fresh for weeks, and henco it is very desirable that tho males be sold off. There are still a few people who claim that, for best results, the attendance of the malo bird is necessary, bnt that is only in isolated cases, where information on poultry matters is lacking. If the eggs are infertile and gathered daily, their quality is unquestioned. Any foreign substances attaching to the shell should be removed at the time of gathering. The eggs should be stored in a cool placo, and marketed twice a week. In somo parts of the world selling a bad egg is an offence, and it is certain there is room for great improvement in our legislation in this respect. The seller of bad eggs should be fined. Preserved eggs should be -stamped, and sold as such. There aro plenty of people who sell their preserved eggs in winter as new-laid eggs. Of course, the expert knows tho difference, but a great many people do not know, and it is unfair that the public should be misled. The conference at Christchurch, to be held next week, should discuss the subject, and, in the interests of the industry, endeavour to have legislation passed for tho purpose of making the selling of bad eggs an offence at law.

Co-operation. Every now and again poultrymen suddenly wake up and advocate a cc-opera-tivo concern for the purpose of marketing their own goods, aud supplying producers with foods ot first cost. Admirable as tho idea is, it has, in the past, lacked capable men for tho management. Such a concern requires a man who has a wido experience and knowledge of the business. Manv companies .that havo been formed for the purpose in New Zealand havo failed for want of good management, lien havo been placed in positions whose knowledge of tho business proved insufficient, with tho result that a great deal of money .was lost and poultrymen wero ■ disheartened, There are few men available to manage a business of this nature, and what few thero are capable aro doing too well on their own account to take up tho position. Were tho salary tempting enough, aud sufficient capital subscribed to givo a good man a chance, tho venture might succeed, but, unless a strong company is formed, such a venture is not likely to prove a success.

The Poultry Conference. Tho final preparations aro being mado for the Poultry Conference, which opens at Christchurch next Tuesday. A splendid programme has been arranged, and the sessions promise to be highly educational. The social portion of the programme is attractive. On the first evening the visitors will bo welcomed at a "social" by the Boys' Gordon Hall Poultry Club; on the afternoon following they will be the guests of the New Zealand Utility Club at the competition; while, on tho third day, they will visit Burnham. A special excursion' is being run to Burnham, and the outing to the Government Farm should prove of great interest. The papers and addresses which are to be given will cover a wido field of research.

Duck Eggs Prejudiced. There are many people who are still prejudiced against the uso of duck eggs, fears ago, tho eggs wero strong in flavour owing to ducks having access to streams and ponds that were teeming with animal life, and ou which tho birds used to exist. Now that Indian Uunners are fed on the best of food and kept from tho streams,' their eggs aro a delicacy which few people value. Duck eggs are just as nourishing and free from strong flavours as the eggs from the hen, always provided that tho ducks are fed on similar rations. Tho producer of duck eggs should spend somo money in making this tact known. Instead of being one penuy a dozen more, on account of their size, duck eggs usually sell at ono penny per dozen less, because tho demand is weak. A Word of Praise. ; Australian poultrymen aro loud in praise of tho action of the "New Zealand Poultry Journal" in giving two of the five pens allotted to New Zealand at the Vancouver competition to Australia. Tho birds reached their destination'in excellent order. The "Australian Hen," the leading poultry paper of Australia, iu commenting on the subject says:— "But, as with poultry, the - humblest and highest in the land mix together in friendly intercourse simply because 'of their mutual love of tho feathered tribe, so this friendliness seems to bind the various scribes together, and though there aro occasional heartburnings, it doesn't take long for the storm to blow over, and tho weather to become calm again.

"With none havo wo hit it.better than with Mr. J. B. Merrett, th© very able editor of tho "Now Zealand Poultry Journal," which is published in Christchurch, New Zealand.

"Now, apart from tho 'scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' plan, let us seo whether Mr. Merrett has done anything to justify our readers in sending to him for a sample copy. "In the September 'Journal/ besides numerous articles of value ? we find a programme for tho second .New Zealand Poultry Conference to bo held in Christchurch in November next. With tho 'New Zealand Poultry Journal' we fought, fought and failed to get au Australasian Poultry Conference. Mr. Merrett, however, has been successful in getting- a New Zealand Conference going, and from the brief syuopsis of th© programme submitted, it will bo seen that, it is. likely to do a lot of good. "In another part of tho paper is an account of tho dispatch of tho New Zea-

land and Australian pens to the Yanciiuver Inyiiut I'mupi'litinn, and it is intcivsling lo'iioti> that, not only tho New Zealand coinpolilorn have to thank tho 'Now Zealand Poultry .lournal' for the chance- to compile, liir I his journal was tho means of getting livo pens allotted to New Zealand, and most generously allowed Australia to share them. In addition, there is news of l.lio New Zealand i'oulljy Circles, which, also, wero formed upon tho enterprise of this live publication, "Vcrilv enough for ouo month. T.hen wo thiulc of what Mr. Merrett has done for tho industry in New Zealand, we are not at all anxious that our own comparatively puny cll'orls should bo held up to the light of day. "It is ouito certain that every reader of tho 'lien' should tako the 'New Zealand Poultry Journal'; if that is doubted, get one free"copy and see if you can afford to remain without it."

A Flourishing Business. Tho present season may be said to be the first in New Zealand for the day-old chick business. That this system of obtaining stock has canght public favour is evident from tho fact that three breeders in New Zealand havo this season sold 11,000 chicks. Nearly all of this vast number have boon sent to various parts of the Dominion before the chicks attained three davs of age. The facilities for shipping chicks are fairly good, though, in America and England, they may be sent by post. This privilege should be given to New Zealand. The chicks are sent ont in small boxbrooders, and invariably arrive without a single loss. One hnndrod chicks were dispatched from the Christchurch Poultry Institute, and arrived at Stratford next day with only the loss of one chick. Bv buying chicks people aro saved the trouble of setting liens, waiting three weeks for a hatch, and arc sure of getting the chickens which tho buying of eggs involves. Next season will see a big mcroaso in this business, and, poultry breeders should prepare for this line ol industry if they wish to capture trade.

Technical Class for Poultry. The poultry class which was inaugurated a few months ago at the New Plymouth Technical School concluded its first Fossion on Wednesday night. The class has been attended by most of the large breeders of poultry, and has been very successful, Mr. Gordon, the instructor, having imparted much vrry valuable _ information on ponltry raiding, housing, feeding, etc., to his pupils. At the conclusion of the class the lady members entertained thor-o of the sterner ki to an excellent siipr>er, which wts riratly enjoyed. Sub«rqn.-nt!y, Mr. F. Bonlton, on behalf of the clsss", printed Mr. Gordon with a pipe and tobacco pouch, and in a few welf-cho?.en remarks told the recipient how keenly hi* instruction has been appreciated. Mr. Gordon, replying, said he should value the prwr.t very much, especially as it wen given to him in what wn?, ho believed, the pionfer poultry class of Australasia. It was tho first class of its kind that had held nnder the auspices of the Education Board. Continuing, Mr. Gordon raidl.e could not see why poultry men in New Zealand should not combine and follow in the step? of thoro of America, and make the pon'try industry one of the largest in the Dominion. - .