THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1491, 13 July 1912, Page 3

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

_j —♦_— (By Chantecler.)

POULTRY FOR PROFIT,

DEVELOPMENT OF CHICK LIFE.

■ Specially, written for The Dominion by J. B. Jlerjett, Ohristoliurch, and published by arrangement' exclusively for out leaders. Questions on poultry mattered will be answered in. these column'e each week, and should be addressed to Dominion Office.' ■■.■••.■■■•■•■•

[Continued. From Last Week.]

The beginner should be familiar with the development of chick li£o in. the shell. To,the student of biology it opens a wide and interesting field for research, and a number of books are published that deal exhaustively with the 6ubjeot. Briefly, .we have in tho egg all the elements that constitute perfect bird life. Not a single atom is absent oven , to the iron that is Manufactured into a little pick-axe to coyer the beak of the chick and so enable it to cut its way. through tho Bhell without injury.to tho soft horny eubstance of the beak. ■. ' . ■ .. ■ Could Nature provide, a detail more minute?' ; In the system of respiration adopted by-the chick before using its. lungs we have one of the wonders of biology. . After being in the incubator for twenty-four hours tho sign of life may be noted. •• By. the third day the blood-vessels i epreading across the eggs are noticeable jn great numbers. These feeders convey to/ the centre germ all the different elements, contained in the egg. ,< There is a precise: moment for.every detail of growth. Even to the. piercing of a bone, the first beat of. the heart or tho initial respiratory movement of .the lungs. The progress of growth is continued till the eighteenth or twentieth day, according to the temperature at which the incubator is run, or the time given in cooling the eggs. I have hatched eggs on the nineteenth day,.and also on the twenty-fourth day. The protracted hatch is , not good, and results in heavy losses. ,The. chick up to its time of completion has extracted from the white of the egg its nourishment. It has breathed by means of its abdomen. The singular method of his breathing is one of the most marvellous problems of Nature. ' While breathing by means of the allantois," the chick gives us one of the finest demonstrations in. the whole organic creation—the most complete substitute for the lungs. On'examination, the surface of the egg is.seen to be covered with innumerable blood-vessels .leading out to the confines of the shell. Tho veins are bright red, and carry the oxygenated blood for the chick, while the arteries are deep crimson, and carry the' carbonated blood from the embryo. This is just the reverse of what .happens after the< ohick begins to breathe through its lungs. The process is reversed in the chick by lung breathing. From observations I have made I have : noted that the moment, when the; lungs begin their work is the .most critical of the chick's development.: The amount of air required seems to be greater and is to my mind the signal for the chick to begin -to liberate itself. It must puncture the shell or euffocate.. With its head tuoked under one wing it gathers all , its strength to work its little pick whioh is provided by nature for the purpose. This iron point fits on the end of its upper mandible and is as hard as iron. If it were not for this the' chick "could not pieore the shell.' The' head under the wing assumes a peculiar position, but it serves , the, purpose when partially revolving to cut off the upper portion of the shell."-:••-"■:; '/'. ■ : - The only purpose for which that scale on the beak is made is to break the 6hell. Two or :. three'days aftoT 'hatching the Boale falls off owing to the contraction and

hardening of the beak. It has served its purpose' and without it no chick could be hatched. When the lungs aro .'complete and the abdomenal system of respiration is abandoned the chick draws into ■its abdomen the yolk of the egg. Here again is a wise provision : o.f. naturo. Knowing the chick Would be helpless for three or four days of its life, it provides for the absorption of the yolk of tho egg which acts as food for three days after hatching. . It is this provision that enables us to ship tho day-old chicks from one'end: of tho Dominion to the other. The transit must bo made during tho first three days. The chicks need no food and ere well provided for against hunger. ■It is cruel to feed chicks for three days after hatching The food gets mixed with the yolk and assimilation is hindered. The little chaps will Boon let you know Iwhen they are ready for their first meal.

: Brooding the Chicks. , 1 Great care is needed when you take the : chicks from the inoubatqr. Often the ibeginnera make a fatal mistake by ajlowiing their chicks to get chilled. r The brooder should be heated up to 100 degrees. They leave a , similar temperature m the incubator, and to. pass from this to a temperature of 70 or so is suicidal, ;and courts failure. The chicks get chilled, and nover recover from it. They get bowel'trouble, become droopy, and lifeless. • It is for this reason the fireless brooders , should be heated by_ some hot water bags or hot bricks, especially in the eariy part of the .season. Put the chicks in the ■brooder, trim the lamp, and leave the •ohdeks to themselves. Watch for their signal, when they are ready for food, but do not f«id them as soon as taken, from the machine. Brooders artificially heated by lamps or hot water pipes afford the chicks much comfort for the first week or ten. days. Each day the timperature may be.lowered a few degrees to accustom the chicks to lesser heat. Tho fireless brooders give good resulted They provide coverlets or quilts, and the , heat.on :the'dhicks' bodies is conserved. They need careful attention, and the ■chicKs require more training end handling thanin the lamp-heated brooders.. They ■are not as economical in labour as tho heated .brooders, especially when numbers of chicks are raised. I have used both systems, and' at maturity could distinguish no difference between the pullets of either system. ' .•■ . .

Feeding the Chicks. Aβ .advised, Nature lias pvovidcd the chick.with its food for three, clays after hatching. The' nearer we can get to that food the better results we obtain. In the first week I feed on , coarse oatmeal soaked in milk andbeaten-up egg. The oatmeal should be soaked two hours before using. It will soon absorb the moisture and dry out ready for use. A good chick-raiser may be used for the mid-day and evening meals. This contains all the necessaries .for chick life. Prepared chick foods may be used altogether after the iirst week,' A trough containing pollard and bran'may be left. before,, the' chicks, and ample water supplied. 'A good chick-raiser will contain all the necessary ingredients for rapid development ' and good health. Green, feed should be fed once a day. Chop this up fine and feed at noon. As soon as possible /the sexes should be. separated. This can be done at the age of two'months.: Keep the : brooders scrupulously clean. Thousands of chicks die annually through filth. You cannot .give the youngsters too much attention. They/will reward you by quick'ly coming to maturity, and soon begin to return you the profit, t ........,, .■.,■;■•.'

■'.'.'■ ; Co-operation, . '".'.■ v Poultrymen are , eadly neglecting 'their opportunity matter of--marketing their goods. "'They are at the mercy of

tho middlemen, have no say in market prices, and through their disorganisation are out of touch with the commercial side of the poultry industry. A good, sound co-operative company to handle poultry products in.each of the four centres would tend to equalise prices, and effect a considerable saving in commissions now being paid. Better qunlity would be given Hie public, and the poultry, industry would 60on grow to its.proper position in New Zealand. '. '

Government Deputation. The deputation that was to have waited on Parliament this month will postpone their visit till August. One of the opportunities afforded the new . Ministry in .tho development of in Now Zealand will be that of poultry. No industry offers n, more promising .future, and no doubt the Government will be qu.ick' to ■note its possibilities.

LAYINU COMPETITIONS,

The following are the New Zealand Utility ■ Poultry Club's returns for the 13th week of their eighth laying. competition for-fowls:— ... ■ Total Total •.■-■•■..■ for to •'■■.. ' week. date. AVm. Scull, Chrietchurchi Black ■ AVyandottes 19 176 W: A. Nixon, Burwood, White Leghorns- No. 1 31 890 H. Leger, Wereroa, White Leg- . horns 30 309 John Wordsworth, Geraldine, White Leghorns \ 25 ■. 294 James Ashton; Hanmer, Silver' Wyandottes 28 . 183 Martin Bros., Auckland, White Leghorns 30 346 Verrall Bros., Swannanoa, ' Brown Leghorns 26 343 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, Brown '.' Leghorns No. 2 ....;..; ;. 26 287 Heretaunga, P.- C 0.,. Silver- . stream, Br. leg. No. 1 26. 345 H. S. Woodnorth/Winton, Br. Leghorns 27 212 W. A. Nixon,.Burwood, Brown Leghorns No.. 3 27 328 E. M; Smith, Auckland, Brown Leghorns 26 169 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, Otaki, ' Brown Leghorns 32 180 R. W. Hawko, Papanui, Br. Leghorns .....; '..... 24 243 R. Willis and Son, New Brighton, Brown Leghorns ...; 28 .219 A. E. Wilson, Shirley White. Wyandottes ~.:............ 12 51 D. Stewart, Normanby, Wh. ■ Leghorns '. 26 251 Master G. Wilson, Shirley, White Leghorns 27 200 Remain. Mnnger, Lower Hutt, AVhito Leghorns 26 '265 Mrs. _R. W. Hawke, Papanui, White Leghorns 29 297 A. Stevenson, Karori, White Leghorns ./....':..„ 13 223 H. ,R. Wairiman, Runanga, AV. Leghorns ~..:......■...... 33 ! 275 A. E. Browne, Petane Beach, • White. Leghorns ....: ..32 246 Frunkish ■ Bros:; •. Wanganui, AVhite Leghorna ............... 25 305 W. Knight, Lower Hutt, Silver •• ■ . Wyandottes : '..; 81. 812 J. H. Shaw and R. James, ChristchurchWh. Leghorns 80 272 W.G..Goodwin,. Thames, Wh.. ■Leghorns- ;,; 24 202 W. A. Nixon, Burwood, Sil- ■ : ver Wyandottes 28 327 A. E. Wilson, Shirley, Silver Wyandottes-..'...■...... 34. IS4 Missea Bradley, Wh. • Leghorns ' 28 283 T. Kennedy, Rangipra, White ■•' Wyandottes- .-..: 9 24 C. M. Peck, Ayohdale, White ■ Leghorns ?,;.:.; 24 128 J. AV. Green, St. Albans, Wh. Leghorn?.:',;/. :... SI 861 N. Solomon, Wesfport, Black ■ Orpingtons ■",..■. .' 27 178 A. W. 'Irvine;''Epsom, Wh. Leghorn's No. I , .. 28 318 C/M, Peck, Ayondale,/Black Orpingtons ....; '..; 28 198 G. H. Bradford,' Cust, Silver ■• Wyandottes :■ -24 ", ; 96 A., W. Irvine,. Epsom, •'Vyhite • ■ , 1 -Leghorns No; 2 ...•..■.:1...V.'..,;2a.'-.-.''.267' Heretaunga,- V.- Co., Silver-- _ steam, Wh. Leg.Noi.2 ... 28 ' 319 Jliddlepnrk ■ P. Farm, Ricear- ■ ■ ton, White.Leghorns ......... 25 276 T. Strong, -poylcston, White Leghorns ;.;....'. 33 ■'105 P. Keller, ;Rolleston, White Leghorns ■;. 23 217 Percy Holt.Papakura, AVhite Leghorns 26 285 W. Knight, Lower Hutt, AV. Leghorns ': .' 25 . 181 G. Anderson';- St. Albans, Silver : AVyandottes 23 179 J. W.-Bradley and Son, Papa- . nui, AA 7 . Lediorns ......... 30 177 Mrs. J. Mills, Dunedin, White Leghorns .........:_ 27 259 W.'O: Sail, Cust, White Leg-' horns 31 177 Crawford and Pudsey, Lower Hutt/W. Leghorns 24 303 R. A. iLazarus, Lower Hutt, ' White Le?horns '. 28 322 W.- O. Sail, Cust, Silver Wyandottes ~;....: .'.... 81 160 Mis?*.? Radford- and Harker, : • Ohaxi> W; LfEfhorns -.... 22 195 A.-AV; Adams, Sheffield, Silver ' - '. AA'yandottes •„. 88 216 A. K. Kent, Shirley, White : ',--■ ■ Leghorns 22' 375 J.'Torrie, Beckenham, White : Leuhorris „...:....„ 35■•' 225 A. P. Bbvchart, Eltham, White ' I/eghorns ......;. ..'..;..;. 29 . 19.1 ■W.'A. Nixon, Burwood, White ■ Leghorns, No. 4 .:.......;.-. 27 • 345 T. 'K; ; - Collins.- Lower , Hutt,. ' .Black Orpingtons' ...'......... ,165 Dominion P. Plnrit, Coroman- ';■ del, W. Leshorns 29 807 T. Kennedy. Rangiora, Silver Wyandottes ', 24 .254 ii. .. :: ! .:"■■' . • .. FOR DUCKS. • Returns' furnished -By the- New Zealand Utility Poultry Olnb for the 13th week of the • club's third ■' laying competition for ducks are as follow:—' ; • ■ '■ •' ■ ■ ■ • ;:•■• . . . . Total Total r . ■ ■-. for to ..'.-.,..-■■ Week. Date. Thos. Dowthwaite, Avondale, Indian Runners 38 305 W. Knight,;. Lower Hutt, . Indian ■•'Runners- 29 158 S.-H. Scott,: :Onehunga, Buff Orniiurtons -.'"'; 29 222 ■T. R. Hall, >■.Wereroa, Indian Runners ■'....;.• 42 330 P. Keller. Rolleston,' Indian Runners, ;..... ; 82 Ssl D. M. Peck, Avondale, Indian : Runners. 26 225 S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Indian Runners 0 95 Heretannsa P; Co., Silverstream; Indian Runners ... 88 406 Miss A. J. T)onM,- Dunsandel, ■ Inrlian RnnTieTS 7 208 P. Keller, Rolleston, Indian Runners .......1 ...'37 83

A WINNER''OF COMPETITIONS/ The Egg-laying Competitions for 1910-It and 1911-12 were both won by pens reared on "A. and P." Chick Eaiser. The first essential for profitable poultry keeping. Obtainable from [ all Storekeepers.*

LETTERPRESS PRINTERS.

DOMINION. AWARD PROPOSED. The hnlf-y«ar]y meeting of the Wellington. Letterpress and Lithographic Printers' and Machinists' 'Union of Workers takes place this evening. The report says that the union has been fortunate of late in not having many members oiit of work. The membership stands at 129, as against 120' last term. "The case for a Dominion award Iβ well in hand, writes the secretary of the federation, and any delay now can be attributed to causes over which we have no control, chiefly the arbitration mach-, inery allowing for Dominion cases to be heard. Our demands have been forwarded to the Master Printers' Association,, expressing the wish that the case shonld be heard by the .Court direct, reply being received that so soon as counter-proposals had been, drawn iip no obstacle would bo placed ih the wny by that association." "A.3 directed, we used ©very endeavour to further federation or amalgamation between kindred trades, and we desire to thank the Typographical Federation for a similar effort. Although unsuccessful, we Unvo hopes for the future, and are inclined to think that this 'model award' of the Employers' Association will do more in this direction that all the .reports we could write."

A PARK FOR MIRAMAR

VEXED-MATTER'.FINALLY SETTLED. For some years there has been a kind of passive trouble between the land syndicate known. as Miranmr, Limited, and tho Miramar Borough Council, over tho disposal of a : block of land, 48i acres in extent, situated at Miramar North, and which . for somo s_ears5 _ ears l\as been called Miramar Park. When the syndicate was endeavouring to sell sections in the vicinity of the Park, and was anxious to get the tram service and roads completed to tho block, it was given out that the block would be reserved as a park, and on that understanding people bought sections and settled there. : Some- time ago Miramar, Ltd., proposed cutting up a portion of tho Park lands, but were checked by the Borough Council lodging . a caveat against the company's title, on the grounds above stated. After years of "strained relations" respecting this debatable area, an amicable agreement has been arrived at as tho result of a mutual compromise. Miramar, Ltd., has agreed to give the Borough Council a block of eleven acres'of flat land in tho south-east corner of the original block, and another reserve of thirty acres on tho hills to the extreme north of the estate and abutting on to the Military Reserve, in return for which' the ;council lifts the caveat off Miramar Park. It is understood, that the land company admits that it was morally lyrand to 'do something in return for municipal benefits, and what it has done is considered by the council authorities to be quite satisfactory. The eleven acres on the flat will make a fine permanent recreation ground, and the hillside reserve has decorative possibilities.