THE POLTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1354, 3 February 1912, Page 14

THE POLTRY INDUSTRY.

(By Chantecler.)

The Late .Mr. John Rosa. The poultry industry has sustained a heavy loss by tho death of Mr. John Rose, manager of tho Burnham Poultry Farm. During tho past ten months Mr. Rose had been ailing, and, much to tho anxiety of his'friends, it-was plainly seen his health was failing fast. He tried a change in the North Island, but with no result, and, last Tuesday, ho underwent an operation. Tho case took a fatal termination, and ho died.on Wednesday morning. Tho funeral took place at Christchurch, and tho largo gathering which attended gave evidence of tho high esteem in which Mr. Eoso was held. For years ho was manager of tho Goternmont Farm at Burnham, and his capable effort won golden opinions. In his earlier days he was a fancier, and specialised in the Spanish birds. Ho was of a genial disposition, and admired for his sterling integrity.

The Best Breed for Eggs,

One of the first questions the beginner asks is: Which breed of fowls is best for egg production? It also seems to bo an unsettled question v.-ith a great many people who are not beginners, and who havo dono more or less experimenting. To those who aro engaged in raising poultry for market purposes, the matter of egg yield is a most important one. Heavy egg production is tho one objective point to v.'iich tho energy and thought is general!} directed, lint cemparathely few of those interested, says "Successful Poultry Journal" (U.S.A.), stop to consider conditions and profits by the experience of others. Neither da they study the details of management, which vitally affect the results obtained along this lino. Ono has only to investigate and'examine tho records made in competitive laying contests and experiments conducted by individual breeders to satisfy himself that egg production is influenced by other things than the type of the bird and the colour of Its plumage. The influencs which breed characteristics have upon egg production is so small, if any at all, that tho breeder need give himself no concern over it. Much better is it that lie learn tho best methods of feeding and the important factors in proper housing and general caro of tho birds. Thi. stories we road about this or that breed being heavier layers than some other breed are circulated by people who base their conclusions solely upon their individual ex. perience in comparison with that of someone elso who has not obtained as good results. The fact is that the egg yield of hens can be influenced through selection in breeding, just the same as can colour of plumage or shape characteristics. The breeder who makes it his business to know what individual specimens in his flock do towards filling the*egg basket and who each season his best layers for the breading-pen, will in a few seasons possess a flock with a higher average egg yield than can be obtained from a flock of the same variety not so mated and bred. It is a matter of common knowledge .that breeders have with the so-called poor_ laying breeds made a better showing in the matter of egg production than is claimed for tho average flock of some of the heavylaying breeds, and, in facti a majority of tho high records for laying have been mado with breeds : which poultrymen generally rate as inferior to what they are pleased to term the heavy-laying breeds. A hen will lay if she is properly fed and housed. How well she lays depends upon how favourable are the conditions uhdor .which she is kept. The feeding, the housing, and the general care of tho hen is in the hands of her keepo,r. If he does these things better than his neighbour, then he will get bettor results, even though the fowls are of the same breed and variety. The longer he systematically pursues his work along correct lines, the higher hla standard oi egg yield becomes, and the more fixed becomes tho trait of heavy laying in his birds. Tho people who buy lus stock will get 'a greater eg™ yield than will those who buy from breeders who do not handle their (locks in this manner, and this leads us to remark that there is a golden opportunity awaiting all who will bring their flocks up to the highest standard and prove to the buying public that they can produce tho goods. To those who are trying to solve the problem of which . breed lays best, we want to_ say don't spend too much time over it. Don't give up your own breed because someone else has another breed which lays better for them. Don't adopt some breed that you do not fancy merely becauso it is supposed to lay more eggs than your favourite. The short routo io success in' securing heavy production of eggs lies not in the breed, jmt rather in the weeding out of the drones of the flock and breeding from the heavy layers.

The Uses of Feathers. Ponltry feathers in this country are largely a waste of product. The poulterers are glad to dispose of them at a nominal rate, _or else thoy destroy them, whilo few private households now save them. The feather bed is no longeT in vogue, and few people save the pluckings for pillow making. Yet feathers liavo a good commercial value, but the in-. dustries which utilise them arc undeveloped here. "This State imports from .C 120,000 to ,£130,000 worth of eiderdown quilts annually. These are made of ordinary common fowl feathers, except for, perhaps, •t to 6 per cent of the most expensive descriptions, which are made from the down of the real eider-goose. Against this the feathers, of domestic poultry are destroyed hero, except for the small Quantities which for the past 15 years haVe been shipped to England b.v two business houses who pay 21d. per lb. for picked feathers. Now those feathers are reimported hero after being cleaned and treated, and wo pay Is. to 2s. per lb. for them." These remarks were made the other day by Mr. W. Kutnawsky, of Glenmore Roa<l Paddington, who is a manufacturer of feather mounts., for millinery and an expert of 30 years' standing in the feather trade. He had his hands full with liis own business, but ho considers that the whole of the business represented by the feather goods imported ought to be dealt with here, and all feathers produced utilised in this way._ 'The .waste of feathers in this country, in his opinion, means so much indirect loss to the poultry industry. It certainly dees seem incongruous that immense snms should be yearly going out of tho Stale for feathers, while our own product goes to waste or is sold at low figures. "The beautiful feather mounts often seen here in tho most expensive ladies' hats," says Mr. Kutnawsky, "are generally nothing more than the feathers of ordinary fowls artistically put together by skillod girl feather-workers. No one who has not seen the work turned out in my factory, for instance, would credit that common fowl feathers oould^be used to such purpose." And it is quite true. Ho frequently pays, ho says, as much as •2s. Oil. for tho feathers of one rooster of brilliant or unusual plumage, as is sometimes swn in some of the game or game crosses. Often ho buys such a bird and kills it primarily for its feathers. Pure white, bull', or black fcathors, or those uncommonly raai'kcd, arc most in wnuest, especially the tail and hacklo feathers. The feathers of most vnluo in Mr.-Kut-nawsky's trade'arc those of the turkey of anv colour but black. Those of tho white, buff, and lavender, or even the spec|dcd turkeys occasionally seen in the country, are much sought after, but the supply is never equal to tho demand. He says he is prepared to pay,2s. f>d. any time for the plumaso of a white, buff, or lavender turkey cock. To endeavour to supply his requirements Mr. Kutnawsky has established a- farm at Thirlmere, principally to raise poultrv of the most valued .plumago. He is prepared, he says, to buy turkorys of any of tho unusual colours mentioned at double market rales. Tho feathers of tho pure white goose are also of special vnjue, and ho also finda it necessary to pi" in for the breeding of these. "I could tako 100 such birds now if I could get them, and pay good prices," ho remarked. Tho millinery feather business is apparently ina healthy position. "Wo cannot cope with tlio demand." said the manufacturer. Ho thinks it would pay iwultry raisers to keep sfeparato the f'eaitlws of different colours with a view lo sale. "I.would willingly pay Is. por lb. upwards for them uncleanod,' and it would be worth while sondiug a trial lot la by. uoet."

LAYING COMPETITIONS,

The following aro the returns for tho Hth week of the New Zealand Utility Club's seventh egg-laying competition for fowls;— Total Total for to week. date. A, H. Badman, Adelaide, White Leghorns 18 985 A. R. Browne, Greenmeadowa, White Leghorns 30 1,238 T. Collins, Waiwetu, White Leghorna 25 1,089 C. M. Peek, Avondale, Black Orpingtons 30 973 G. H. Barnctt, Leeston, Brown Leghorns 25 1,036 Heretaunga Poultry Co., Silverstream, W. Leghorns 32 1,232 W. Ilalpin, Greemneadows, White Leghorns 17 1,127 W. Knight, Hutt, No. 1 White Leghorns 31 1,071 A. K. Wilson, Shirley, White Wyandottes 30 1,060 W. Knight, Hutt, White Leghorns 27 1,000 Verral Bros., Swannanoa, White Leghorns 25 1,051 A. E. Wilson, Shirley, White Leghorns 14 1,017 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, Otaki, White Leghorns 24 1,139 D. Stewart, Normandy, Taranaki, White Leghorns 14. 843 A. B. Menzies, Addington; Rose-combed W. Leghorns 12 930 Edgar Hall, Lower Hutt, Black Orpingtons 13 923 C, Hammond, Ruakura, White Plymouth Rocks... 24 1,028 G. Finn, Wellington, White Leghorns 9 1,012 Dominion Ponltir Plant, Coromandel, W. Leghorns 28 1,043 A. R.. Browne, Green meadows, White Leghorns 13 1,134 Mrs. R. W. Hawke, Papanui, White Leghorns 26 1,017 Mrs. J. Mills, Duncdin, White Leghorns 27 1,151 R. Willis, and Sons, New Brighton, B. Orpingtons 13 868 H. Meadows, Spreydon, White Leghorns 24 9G2 P. J. Keller, Rolleston, Campines 19 789 W. G. Goodwin, Thames. White Leghorns 20 1,092 R. Willis and Sons, Now Brighton, W. Leghorns ... 19 1,055 A. W. Irvine, Epsom, White Leghorns . 22 1,102 T. Kennedy, Rangiora, Silver Wyandottes 18 1,201 James Ashton, Hammer, Silver Wyandottes j 6 765 P. J. Keller, Rolleston, White , Leghorns 28 1,033 G.'H. Bradford, Cugt, White Leghorns 22 652 D. Y. Gibson, Herbert, White Leghorns 30 1,136 W. Nixon, Burwood, White Leghorns 31 1,227 H. M. Bannehr, Riccarton, Wh. Plymouth Rocks ... 20 820 Thomas Frethev, Maryborough, Buff Leghorns ... 23 1,089 C. L. Bridges, Wanganui, White Leghorns 22 991 James Maxwell, Masterton, Black Orpingtons 22 787 G. H. Robinson, Christchurch, White Leghorns 27 , 940 A.. E. Kent, Shirley, White Leghorns '• 27 . 1,026 W.- Balch, Belfast, White Leghorns 30 1,018 Heretaunga Poultry Co., Silverstream, W. Leghorns 21 1,189 N. Solomon, Westport, White Leghorns 20 1,018 A. W. Irvine, Epsom, White Jjeghorns 20 972 G. H. Robinson, Christchurch, Black Orpingtons 3 1,105 A. Stevenson, Wellington, v White Leghorns .28, 1,066 H. Leger, Wereroa, White Leghorns 20 1,016 W. O. Sail, Cost, White Leghorns 26 1,094 Master Gordon Wilson, Shirley, White Leghorns 1 11 1,022 A.' E. 'Ivinnear, Adelaide, White Leghorns .;..... 29 1,065 T. Dowthwaite, Auckland, White Leghorns 25 8-10 A. Tisch, Dallington, White

Leghorns 31 1,188 C. M. Peek, Avondale, White Leghorns 24 1,096 A. F. H. Sutherland, Wellington, W. Plymouth Pocks 18 773 T. Kennedy, Rangiora, White Wyandottes 38 : 1,111 A l . W. Adnms, Sheffield, Silver Wyandottes 22 919 W. Scull, Christchurch, Black Wyandottes . 15 1,017 W. Nrxon, Bnrwood, White Leghorns 31 1,211 Misses If. and M. Bradley, I'apanui, White Leghorns 20 1,224 J. W. Green, St. Albans, White Leghorns 28 1,144 356 61,767 FOE DUCKS. The following are the returns for the forty-fourth week of the New Zealand Utility Ponltry Club's second egg-laying competition for ducks:— ' Total Total for to . Week. Date. Heretaunga Ponltry Co., Silverstream, I. Runners ... 10 1,264 W. Knight, Hutt, Indian Runners 21 1,287 W. Knight, Hutt, Indian Runners 22 1,037 S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Indian Runners 0 672 T. Strong, Doylcston, Indian Runners 8 961 S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Indian Runners' 0 812 C. Hammond, Ruaknra, Indian Runners 17 1,043 Ai R. Browne, Grecnmeadows, Indian Runners 15 1,120 W. Hodgson, Cheviot, Indian Runners 0 . 802 T. Dowthwaitc, Avondale, Indian Runners 10 888 T. R. Hall, Woreroa, Indian Runners 11 1,055 B. A. O'Brien, Waihi, Indian Runners 19 956 P.J. Keller, Rolloston, Indian ■ Runners - 21 1,122 F. Webb, Levin, Indian. Runners 8 716 158 13,739