THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1599, 16 November 1912, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

(By Chantecler.)

Development of Trade. The ponltrymen's: committee for export trade from , Canterbury met. on Tuesday, last, and decided to ask the Government to send another trial shipment of eggs to Vancouver by the steamer leaving Auckland on November 22. The previous 1 shipment was successful and a. good price realised, but the egg market inyVancouver is highest in Decembor and !it is desirable -to test the Market vritli New Zealand eggs at that period. space can be arranged for another shipment .on December '20 the. committee proposes.;to send a substantial number of own account, and it is expcctod;.that iiext.; eeason will see thousands/'ifidoiensrseiit from New Zealand. MerbHahtsr in Vancouver are. very anxious tO -worTcvut) trade in poultry -and . eggs and; .'axe goffering, everj- inducement. for these ■: lines to be. shipped next season in large' quantities. Government Assistance, ' It has not cost the Government much to experiment with export trade, and they are to be complimented ,for taking up the business, as jio doubt the export of eggs and poultry in Ne\v Zealand will soon reach a significant-figure. Compared with opening up markere' fdT' other, industries ' the poultry industry has , not asked muoli.: With - a .'view-to the: export of eggs, producers are now endeavouring to get.over the "small egg" problem. There is no, doubt that- many of the eggs are undersized and.; below average . market- weights. .More attention'.will: have to-be given to the matter'as it is of tho greatest importance if highest values are » be looked for. . Grafton Competition. . . 1 The Grafton Experimental Farm (Now South - Wales) has drawn up. the'- following rules for the second egg-laying competition .to commence there on April 1,1 1913. The pens are to consist of six birds of any pure, breed,, not less . than seven, months nor more-than .12 months of age, and to bo bred by .the competitor.;' Eggs under. 1-iozV. \Vill .not count;,."and'i.a pen whose eggs' at the''expiration'."o£ four; months', do not 'a'veragijiyjlo?. to ,the dozen ■will not be eligible for 'tPiprize.' -The' entry fee is 20s. per Ipeh.'-' There- ;ar<i; offered/in.'nrizes fdr' the six best laying pens, !gl for the. best wihter laying.'Snar-; ket value of eggs, etc, v -1' ' ,■ Utility Poultry jClub. 'A ; A general, meeting of tho Utility Club pas held on October 29, 'Mr./A. E; Kent Ipresident) presiding over a good ince. '■ - . The Management Committee's _ report l stated that'it had purchased sufficient first Suality wheat at 3s. 7d. per "bushel for ]e current competition/ The, sub-com-mittee appointed ,to visit the. competition during : October ro]>orted' that there was an absence of red mites in the fowl houses or vermin on the birds.; The droppinirs. were devoid, of any blood streaks "or yellow discharge, agnifying that the' birds were.Jh perfect health.. Fresh scratoliing. material, had recently , been -piit in'--the sheds,, and. the runs, fown ,in grass . and. barley had ."made; rapid growth.". The Isub- . committee' recommended thatlthree of' the pens'.in the' spare" birds'.quarters should Teoeive similar' treatment.'.;; During tho. month- a; few soft-shelkd iggs had been .laid. The .com-mitteo:'; liad - directed the caretaker, to withhold.the';..sbft feed,fromthe, birds' showinff;;-signsA : oJ ; -;layine ; , Eoft" eggs.' birds ivliich-':are' fat ,or or laying; Email' eggs, and to';procure : ,s6me freshlyground oyster shell for. all the pens. Tho : ducks were in good- health ; ntd'giyins •«!»' excellent return of-eggs;-. 'One of the ducks in the leading pen had dropped into an early moult. , Competition Dlotry. ■v l v , /The!C6mmittee. : of'' ( of .the: English decided, on the" -following^'poultry-;dietry for-.eaoh pen of six pullets, which 'commenced; oft April 8, at the/club's Morning, before, seven,-o'clordKjfhalf-pini.i of grain (oats, wheat, split peas 'or crack-.: ed maize),'' thr6wm.;in ( ;;..deepy';;'Jiitter.; 'ffli: scratching-shed. ; .. 9 a.m.—Ma.sh (about lloz., mixed);?.-; If hungry a little more will be 'All that tiie birds do not .eat up eagerly should'' be removed, and less given next day.-. The mash to consist of tivo parts.pollard, one part bran'(by measure), mixed with soup and meat.' '--?; j: -' During morning - (when the birds are confined inwinter).—Green fodd; , such as lettuce, cabbage, plover, (chaffed), kale, rape or mangels will be supplied; 1 p.m.—About half-pint, of wfceat or oats. ' • , - ; ' Evening.—Three-quarters of a pint' of wheat. .'. ' '''. . . During the winter a little maize meal will be added-to-the mash. ' *, -All grain is fed 1 in deep litter!" and" a little more given ift,th"e birds-, seem': extra hungry.' -- -v., Ground oyster shell-nnd.metal;prit.- aad'i •fresh water is : 'alwa:yß before the 1 birds— an'artesian stream of-water runiiing 'Con-; tinuously through-all- the.duck' Tuns.. ~ !