THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1740, 3 May 1913, Page 19

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

—_4 (By Chantecler.) v

American Recognition. The Americans seem to be keenly interested in the advancement of poultry culture in New Zealand., Hundreds of requests have beeii received , all over New Zealand for complete returns, and methods of housing and feeding at last year's competition. In their poultry literature they watch us too. An American publication, for instance, published the following some time ago:— What strikes us as a most effective appeal to fanners is n circular, "Mr. Farmer; a Word to You," by Mr. J. B. Merrett, of Christchurch (editor of the "New Zealand Poultry Journal," and author of "Poultry for Profit"), which has been sent broadcast over the farming sections of New Zealand. Editor Merrett starts right off tho reel by giving solid facts to the farmers of his country, which should make them think and get busy at. once in improving the condition of the poultry As the facts presented by Mr. ' Merrott will prove equally valuable reading for the farmers and poultry raisers of the United States, we quote in part the following from above-men-tioned .circular letter:— Most farmers know the intrinsio valno of selecting good breeding stock. See how tho butter-fat returns are in- , creased -by careful selection of the. dairy herd. See how the quality and quantity «f wool increases-oy improving and culling tho sheep. See how tho wheat and oat crops give better returns by dressing the seed and selecting the highest quality grains. But how many farmers give real earnest thought to the quality of. poultry they keep oh tho farm? Then again, the best cows give tho .best returns 111 but-ter-fat, the best sheep give an unbroken staple, of wool only when, kept on the best of feed. The wheat andoat 6eed may bo of the best, but in ' badly tilled soil they give but poor returns. How then can the farmer expect to get best returns irom his poultry when they are badly housed and irregularly and insufficiently fed? We boast of our export of butter and it teaches ft substantial figure, but little Denmark, only slight y .bigger than Canterbury, can actually import as much value in\egßS as tne whole of New Zealand in butter.: Does not that make you think? ■ Agam m Denmark they have 39 head of poultry to each inhabitant, while here in New Zealand we have only 3 birds per inhabitant. Think of that! Now the people of ' Denmark are among the -shrewdest business people in the world. Do you ~ think these people would keep poultry, 39 each, if it did not pay? Not much. When you read of any writer saying! so, remember Denmark. These people who have a country one-fifth, | of our New Zealand, export three times as much butter as we do, and' .then iclip off their land another '.£2,000,000 annually in eggs. t 111 Remembering-the Dane, however, let us not forget that the quality of his products has been the keystone of his success in the world's markets. ' Danish Butter" and "Danish Eggs" are trademarks jealously guarded by the Danes. North Island Competition. At the poultry conference held at Auckland it was decided to approach the Government with a view to getting an egglaying competition in tho North Island. It would certainly be on advantage to have a competition here under Government supervision. We are not wanting in critics, both in Australia and America, who question the accuracy of our returns because the present test is hold under the auspices of a club, whose management committee are competitors in the con* test. ' There are"no /grounds "for: such an assumption, but it somewhat .spoils tho influence of New Zealand tests to have such aspersions thrown at them, store than half of the competitors are from the North Island and consequently it means considerable expense to forward their birds to tho South/ The warmer climate m the North is also likely to (effect the egg returns and give us still higher records. Mnoh of the plant at Ruakura could be utilised for a competition, so that the initial expense would not be very heavy. The Egg Famine. Contrary to'the belief ( of many who imagined that winter egg prices had gone for ever, we now have a. scarcity—and eggs at such a price that it makes us put on our considering-caps and look for the cause. Many that we have more poultry in the Dominion than ever we havo had. Well, if so, why the shortage? Is it because the consumption is greater? Others believed that, with the improved layers, housing conditions, and feeding, we'had almost mastered the problem, but from present supplies it looks as I if we had much to learn. While we increase the laying power, are we not in i danger of undermining the constitution? Heavy egg-laying must tell the tale, and Iwe have to pay the penalties. If the cause is throueh increased consumption on the part of the public, well and good. Surely the public will awaken and endeavour to get the "powers that be" to do more for poultry!

Beginners,. Be Watchful! Beginners should give every care to their stock during the cold months. Colds, catarrh and roup "are the order of complaints that are likely to make their appearance. See that the houses are not draughty and should the birds show any sign of colds, treat them promptly with peroxide., Neglected colds soon develop catarrh, and then comes, roup—the baneful scar go of poultrydom. Prevention is better than ou're, and neglect spells failure. Birds once infected with roup become useless as layers and breeders. The complaint indeed, has a remarkable effect in poultry, and though it may be cured temporarily, there is always the risk of its reappearance. It is also contagious and one caw neglected may mean that' tho complaint will spread right through the flock. 'Two New Thongs. "Popular Science Sittings" is responsible tor details of two new schemes in regard to, modern poultry keeping. The first concerns an automatic grain-feeder. A drum is fixed up on legs, and filled with grain, and there is a revolving toothed-wheel at its base. The wheel is ■ mounted on very delicate bearings, which admit of its movement at the slightest touch. Attached to the wheel is a shaft, which has at its end a hollow tube iiiled with wheat. .The fowls peck at the wheat, the wheel revolves, and the griin' is thrown out and scattered over the ground. Although tho article does not state whether the supply is exhausted by one movement, it ,is believed that it is not, only a certain quantity ■of griin being thrown out, and that after so many turns the wheel stops and is ready for action again, which time ought to eomo when all the wheat on tho ground is .eaten up, and the fowls want 6ome more. But fowls are curious things. Those that I know would, go on pecking at 'the wheat in the netting tube just for the fun of seeing the machine work, but apparently the English hens are not guilty of such levity.