THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1479, 29 June 1912, Page 9

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

i POULTRY FOR PROFIT, ? „.T)Trmr nTiTinrmo VALUE AND VARIETY OF TOODS. —— ■— ■ , ... ..-it™' f„, nv,T. n„,, T .. r „„ Specially written for The DomiJilon by J. B. Jlerrett, Ohnatohurch. and published by arrangement exclusively for our readers. Questions on poultry matters 'will bo answared In thoso columns each week, and Bhould bo addressed to Dominion 'l>ffice. _____ . — —— — [Continued From Last Week.] ' ____ , _ . , • , , ' , ~ , Having -understood tho process by which the egg is made, and the elements rcquired for its manufacture, it is essential that tho beginner should bo familiar withthoso foods which are most readily assimilated in ogg-produotion. To feed certain foods continuously would mean that tho hen would accumulate fat,;iind thus incapacitate herself for egg-laying, while, to feed other foods to excess, the same hen would be so severely taxed as to injure the egg organs and ruin the health of tho fowl. Such variations, then, go to prove tho oai'o that should bo exercised in the selection of foods. The process of assimilation of foods by fowls is both chemical and organic. The -id idea that to feed grit for tho pur-l - Bof grinding up foods in the gizzard _ he fowl is quickly dying out. It was an-ays thought tlmt-grit was eaten by the fowl in order to rnill<tho grain./ It* is• true that rough grit and stones ■ have ;a roundpd appearance after being' in the gizzard, but this is due to the gastric iuice3 operating on the mineral elements, It is necessary to feed grits,; £ot for grinding purposes, but to supply the. mmeraV required for a quick assimilation and for storing in the blood of the fowl the necessaries for the formation of bones and feathera tho construction of It is a fascinating pursuit to study tho different chemical actions of tho digestive system of poultry, but tho beginner is advised to. gain his information from text books dealing with each departmcnt of tho sciences. . Biology, chemistry, physics, etc., all. have their , ini-. portance in poultry studies, and lie 'who desires to understand will bo interested in gathering information, from tho various sources open to him. It is, however, sufficient for' the beeinnor'to know that, for mashes, he may ieed his-poultry on pollard, bran, ground oats and maize, meat and bone, meal, eaoh in its proportion to suit the time of tho year. For grain he may feed maize,

(By Chantecler.)

wheat, oats, and barley. Should ho bo narrowed down, to a course of feeding on corn, ho may safely use pollard and bran for' niashos, and wheat for jyroin feed, A tablo of foods and their nutrition values should bo studied carefully. Tliero is a nan . ow or w ; ( | 0 m tj oll value in all of nm j a s ] loW j„g tho analysis w j|j 0 f interest and importance as the beginner gets further interested in poul-try-keeping. Reproduction. The pivot point on which the success of a poultry man turns is ability to reproduce stock. The profitable period of a fowl's life is so short in duration that the ponltrv-keeper is being constantly Con f,. o nted with tho work of raisin? stock, co , y a sheep, or a horse, once raised, jf s USD fulness extends for a number of years, but' tho laying hen lias a short an j j 0 tivo life. So advanced have wo b ecomo ; n tho production of strain that ]J cn called upon to lny her cluster 0 f eggs j a t\vo years, and for the demand, pays t]ie pena it y i n a short life. Then j 3 necessary, each season, to reproduce s t oe [;. an j according to his ability to do ' so th o beginner sinks ur swims iu jjj g new . Anyone can feed and look after adult birds with o, measnro.of success, but when jj. comej to chick-raising, it is the crucial in which but few are successful, Th( , re avo £0 mßn j. conditions necessary to o hi c k-raising that the neglect of any one o{ them js suro Mnf , jfe penalty. Women are USU nll.y ■ more. successful than Jq work, and not a few men owe a <jeal 0 f their achievements in pou itry culture to tho incessant care given growing chicks by a wife who has been interested in the pursuit. Owing modern discoveries the brooding of chickens has been greatly simplified, and w j le , To o y]y a f cw birds are required, thf expense of tho brooders, especially when tiio firelcss is used, is reduced to a minimum. ' Mating the Stock. The selection or tho breeding stock re-, quires a'great amount of knowledge. From the hens that .form tho beginner's stock, he has now to selcct his breeders. If ho has been he will have ,noted tho hens of activity, the hen that is bright in comb, sparkling in eye, and shows vigour, sound constitution and often seen in the nest box. There uro systems of selection by which tho breeders can bo picked. Thcso are useful in a study of the layer and are worthy of ncquirement by thoso who contemplate raising poultry in numbers. The beginner, however, can easily detect his best from his limited number. The

male bird should bo purchased from tho specialist from whom the hens wero obtained. Explain to him what is required and he will forward a bird of close strain to tho hens, though not too closely lated.It is folly to breed from a cheap bird. A good breeding cockerel is always worth at least a guinea. Ho should be of good carriage, aetivo and olert and show good .standard points of his breed. When mated the eggs will not bo fertile for eight or { ten days, after which they may bo saved | for incubators. Of tho heavy _ breeds eight hens to a eockorel are sufficient. In tho light breeds up to twenty hens may bo given to one male bird. 1 LAYINQ COMPETITIONS. i Tile following are tho returns for the : oloventh week of tho New Zealand Util- 1 ity Poultry Club's eighth laying competi- 1 tion for fowls:— Total Total. for to Week. Date. Wm. Scull, Christchurch, Black . Wyandottes 10 140 Wi A. Nixon, Burwood, W. ! Leghorns No. 1 33 321 H. Leger, Weraroa, White Loghorns 30 248 John Wordsworth, Geraldine, White Leghorns 25 239 James Asliton, Hanmer, Silver Wyandottes 2fl 124 Martin Bros., Auckland, W. Leghorns 30 287 Verrall Bros., Swannanoa, B. Loghorns ' 30 289 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, B. Leghorns No. 2 26 238 Heretaunga P. Co., Silverstream, B. Loghorns, No. 125 290 H. S. Woodnorth, Winton, B. Leghorns 21 161 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, B. Leghorns, No. 3. 29 275 R. M. Smith, Auckland, B. Leghorns 26 122 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, Otak', B. Leghorns 25 122 R. W. Hawke, Papanui, B. Leghorns 17 198 R. Willis and Son, New Brighton, B. Leghorns 31 163 A. Fj. Wilson, Shirley, White Wyandottes 7 29 D. Stewart, Normanby, White Leghorns 25 197 Master G. Wilson, Shirley, IV. Leghorns 20 148 Romain Hunger, Lower Hutt, W. Leghorns 31 210 Mrs. R. W. Hawke, Papanui, W. Leghorns SO 244 A. Stevenson, Karori, White Leghorns 17 196 H. R. Wainman, Runanga, W. Leghorns 27 214 A. R. Browne, Petane Beach, White Leghorns 33 179 Frankish Bros., Wanganui, W. Leghorns 31 253 W. Knight. Lower Hutt, Silver Wyandottes 29 250 J. H. Shaw and R. James, Chch., W. Leghorns 31 210 W. G. Goodwin, Thames, W. Leghorns 36 146 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, Silver Wyandottes 30 270 A. E. Wilson, Shirley, Silver Wyandottes 21 ■ 103 Misses Bradley, Papanui, W. Leghorns ; 19 231 T. Kennedy, Rangiora, White Wyandottes 1 11 C. M. Peck, Avondale, White Leghorns 20 79 J. W. Green, St. Albans, White Leghorns 35 301 N. Solomon, Westport, Black ] Orpingtons 15 . 130 A. W. Irvine, Epsom, White Leghorns, No. 1 ; 26 281 C. Jr. Peck, Avondalo, Black Orpingtons 22 1-13 G. JT- Bradford, Cust, Silver AVyandottes 13 55 A. W. Irvine, Epsom, AY. Leghorns, No. 2 24 220 Heretaunga P. Co., Silverstream, W. Leghorns, No. 2 30 2G4 Midd'er.ark P. Farm, Riccarton, White Leghorns 25 228 T. Strong, Doyleston, Whito ] Leghorns 31' 103 P.,.Keller, Rollesto'n, Whito Leghorns 25 166 Porov Holt, Papakura, White Leghorns 29 232 W. Knight, Lower Hutt, Whito Leghorns 21 133 G. Anderson, St. Albans, Silver Wyandottes 18 136 J. W. Bradley and Son, Papanui, White Leghorns 30 116 Mrs. J. Mills, Dunedin, White Leghorns 28 203 W. O. Sail, Cust, Whito Leg- „ horns s* m .Crawford and Pudsey, Lower Hutt, W. Leghorns •25 257 R. A. Lazarus, Lower Hutt, W. Leghorns 33 omW. O, Sail, Cust, Siiver Wyandottes 33 Misses Radford' and Harker, Oliau, W. Leghorns 20 131 A. W. Adams, Sheffield, Silver Wyandottes 30 114 A. E. Kent, Shirley, Wliilo 1 Leghorns ". 09 304 J. Corrie, Beckenham, White Leghorns 29 159 E. H. Borchart, Eltliam, W. Leghorns 30 135 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, W. • Leghorns, No. 4 26 2SB 1 T. IC. Collins, Lower Hutt, Black, Orpingtons 24 118 Dominion P. Plant, Coromandel, W. Leirhorns 29 24G T. Kennedy, Rangiora, Silver Wyandottes 19 209 FOR DUCKS.

Returns for the eleventh week of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's third laying competition for ducks are as follow:— Total Total for to Week. Date. Tlios. Dowthwaite, Avondale, Indiui Runners 40 289 W. Knight, Lower Hutt, I. Runners 33 100 S. If. Scott, Onehunga, Buff Orpingtons 33 162 T. R. Hall, Wereroa, Indian Runners -12 219 P. Keller, Rolleston, Indian Runners 31 288 D. M. Peck, Avondale, Indian Runners 27 171 S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Indian Runnors 5 !)1 Hwetaunga Poultry Co., Silverstraam, I. Runners 41 336 Miss A. J. Donald, Dunsandel, Indian Runners 20 190 P. Keller, Rolleston, Indian Runners 11 26 A WINNER OP COMPETITIONS. The Egs-layinjr Competitions for 1910-11 and 1911-12 were both won by pens reared on "A. and P." Chick Raiser. The first essential for profitable poultry keeping. Obtainable from all Storekeepers.'