THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1812, 26 July 1913, Page 19

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

~# . (By Chantecler.)

The Chicken Season. Now is tho time to got'eggs'down for hatohing. Every week is valuable, and the time will soon slipiby, and leave the indifferent without early hatched chicks. In order to get eggs in wihter, early chicks are necessary, especially in the heavy breeds. August and September we the golden months-, while for tho Jislitet breeds October may be included. Attor theso months tho chickens do not thrive bo well, nor develop so quickly. If broody hens cannot bo prpoured, then incubators should be obtained. They are not so troublesome as broody hens, and chiokens may be hatched in greater num-* bers. It is not a good policy to buy a email machine. Nothing less than 100-> eg size is of .much value. By the'time tfiafc the infertilea are tested out. and a fair percentage allowed for eggs that will not hatch, the results are small, and it is just as easy to look after 70 chickens as It is to look after 25 or 30. Chickens that are hatched in incubators ore of one size,' and give far better results.

A Coming Industry. One of the signs of progress, in the poultry industry in Australasia is the importation of a mammoth incubator, just installed by Mr. J. B. Merrott. iVoW.Zealand Poultry Institute, Christchurch. The machine has been imported from. England. It holds 3000 eggs, and is divided up into sections so that 300 «gga may bo hatched independently from those in tho next section. The machine is fireproof, being built chiefly of asbestos elate. The system of hatching is by hot water pipes heated by gcs. The devices for moisture and temperature are based on latest experiments. . A new feature is the egg trays, on which 150 eggs ate placed, and are all turned by a movement of Tollers, bo that tho wholo tray of eggs in a couple of seconds. The machine, is fitted with electrio light for reading the thermometers, «nd there is also an electric thermometer, which, rings' a bell should-the temperature-run above the desired degree. , ~ ,

A Determined Worker. Mr. W. Jossen, agent for the egg' circles In Wellington, has been on a visit to the south. In 'mi interviow by a reporter ot a southern paper, he gives much information on the <?gg circle movement, which is doing 'a good, work among poultrymon. Mr. Jessen 13 an enthusiastic worker, and exercisedgfeat self-denial when tho circles were started. It is one of the weaknesses, of po-ulfcrymen that-, they do not unite more in this' kind of work. In -'the-"course -.of -the -interview Mr. Jessen stated that it was only threu years since the egg circle movement was started. It began in Masterton as a result of a lecturo given thero by Mr. J. Merrett, of Christchurch, and the quantity of eggs to be disposed ,of at first was seventy-eight dozen weekly from the Masterton circle. That circle has now one hundred and fifty, members and upwards of ono thousand nine hundred dozen egg 3 are now -treated weekly from the circle in the spring. • In one month last year J8370 was. distributed among the membere of'the circle as the proceeds from the' sale of eggs.

Value of Egg Circles. Mr. Jessen stated that in addition to Masterton he marketed eggs for Hutt, Palmerston North, Feathexston, Woodvillo, Motueka, Eketahuna, Feilding, Johnsonville, and several other t districts where circles had been . formed. All tho eggs were sold through. th« cne agency, with, tho result that the graded eggs, stamped and guaranteed had obtained a better the producer and economised tne-'expense of marketiing. The grocers, who were tho chief oustomers of the circle, had expressed their satisfaction with the 'sys- ! tem. The movement was spreading all over.), the, North",; Island. At WanganuMhe ; circle had made aii arrangement with the grocers not to exceed a certain price for eggs in the winter, nor to allow them to come .below a given price in summer.

Pure Foods Aot, Regarding the effects of the Pure Foods Act, Mr. Jessen stated that it was the test thing possible for the poultry industry. There would be a great increase in the supply of eggs as egg powder could no longer bo used for cako-making. Tho price of eggs would not be increased greatly, as there were always plentiful supplies at the time of year when they would be bought for preserving.- There might bo an agitation for the removal of the ilnty on fresh eggs, but if this wa3 so a strong protest would be entered, as the industry was valuable to the Dominion and could bo easily increased to twice its present she.

W. Knight, Hutt (No. 2), Indian Runners G 197 Heretaunga P. Co., Silverstream, Indian Runners... 20 144 "hos. Dowthwaite, Avondale, Indian Runners 17 113 W. Mercer, Howick, Indian Runners , 0 182 Miss A. Donald, Dunsandol, Indian Runners .- 18 135 A. R. Browne, Petane Beach, , Indian Runners 30 121