THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1895, 1 November 1913, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

(By Chantecler.)

POSSIBILITIES IN CANTERBURY. The poultry industry in Canterbury is growing rapidly. An interesting article;, appeared in the Christcluircn "Press," by Mr. J. B.; Mcnett, as follows :— Thore aro few industries that givegreater promise of advancement in Canterbury than the poultry industry.' A few years ago, it was represented by only a few who made it a sole mealis of! livelihood. Prices for eggs and poultry wore low, while grains and foods we're) bigh. Instances of failure- were numerous, and many who had fostered the hope ot poultry-keeping boing a goldmine were forced to retire with serious losses. A change in prices ■ for poultry and eggs, and a cheapening of foods Boon' led to encouragement to take up poultry-keeping, and to-day there are scores of farmers, thear wives and daughters, making poultry-keeping an important branoh of their livelihood. Educational methods of keeping poultry and'grading and marketing eggs have resulted in tho industry growing apace. Just-, outside of San Francisco there is a small county, ft fow miles' square, that possesses more poultry than the whole of, New Zealand. Its climate.is much akin to Canterbury, yet it lacks the area and grain-growing facilities Canterbury affords. Canterbury is ideal for poultry-keeping.- Grain is cheap, climate is good, green food is abundant, and its markets are equal to any in the world. The province should be enriched by thousands of pounds annually through an intelligent method of poul-try-keeping Tlia Farmer's Daughter, It may come aa a surprise to many to know that scores of farmers' daughters are devoting much care to the .poultry, and instances aro not wanting where many young women, in addition to helping in the home, are earning up to £2 per week from the poultry-yard. The farm is specially suitable for an enterprising daughter. It costs her nothing for the land, buildings are easily obtainable, and the bulk of the poultryfood is given her by-her father.. Markets are easily reached by rail or motor, and best prices are assured, either for table poultry or for eggs. ; One fanner's daughter obtained an incubator this season and ÜBed it for' the first time in her experience, and from two hatches hatched' 516' chiokeris from .60 eggs. What .a spirit of independence and productiveness if 20 per cent.of tho 13,000 farmers in Canterbury had daughters interested in this way I In addition, there are the farmers' wives and sons, who,'in many. instances, are interested in poultry-keeping. Suburban young then and young men, also, have facilities for poultry-keeping that would add greatly to. their income without much sacrifice of time and labour,.

The Markets. i ' The Canterbury ma'rket N for table poultry is fully 30 per cent, bettor than , it.was five years ago, and the egg mar- ~ ket is 20 per cent, better. Canterbury . is fortunate in having most of the contracts for poultry in the Homo boats ] and, though the province does not actually export poultry to outside markets, •it has a big export business in the huge steamers that trade with the Dominion, f It is nothing for one of tho Home J steamers to take 700 head of 'poultry as she loaves port. ' The recent.'ship- [ roent of, eggs to Vancouver will,' doubtless,, establish. s a*fl»ar,koi f that ,will,.alK J 'sorb "tens'"'oF' v t'h'ousands- 'of eggs? each' spring. Other countries, a.lso, arfl . open ( i for.exploitation.JDiMl°#l3ti?JfßWm tl increasing. Eggs are becoming special- ] ly popular, and the uses to which they .are ;put multiply'oyory year.; The his-; ... cuit inanufacturer? and- pastry-cooks m T j the province are increasing their demands each season. Nothing looks so promising for Canterbury as her poul- , try industry. , '".•; , ■ 1 Canterbury's Poultry BtooU. . .By" judicious breeding: and rigid culling, poultrymen and tarmors are got- . ting three eggs where a few years ago they: only got one. Tho selection of '•.purebred stock has-resulted in greater profits being 'made from fewer birds. Canterbury poultry-farmers now havo srm'o-.of the-best laying stock in the . , i world, and America, Africa, England, ■ ;■ and'Australia(have;, this 'season sent 'hero-,for some breeding stock. It is , attribute to" this' province that the ' farmers- and. poultrymen understand , their V business. Canterbury poultry should in the near future he as well known as her lamb. Instriiotlon Needed. i-Though..much haß been done, much remains'to. be done. If in a few years tho industry increases in value as it has dons, what possibilities there arc when not one-tenth the production is being made of which Canterbury _ is capable. Tho smaller-settlement policy, the suburban'worker with his spare ground, the farmer with family must i turn to something that adds to the income promptly and: with little outlay. . Fruit-growing,: .vegetables, and' so on. have their limitations. To poultry all may turn as an adjunct to income. It is to be regretted that more, is not being done by tho Government to put instructors into the various ' districts of Canterbury. There is practically no instruction among farmers, and it is .the duty, of .those interested to solicit certain members of Parliament to watch their interests; A few such ( members as Mr. Witty would lead to a transformation in a very short time. The difficulty presented by the Agricultural Department is that suitable instructors are not obtainable.. Those who understand the business are doing bettor than a salary as an instructor would afford. Something could he done 'to got trained men durine tho off soa- . son. : Such men as Mr. Hawke, Papa- " nui;-or Messrs. Shaw and. Kent, if secured for,three months, would do untold good among farmers,' and impart much valuable information. The Burnham poultry farm which supplied stock and'sottim<s .to farmers has Icon practically closed this season, and,_while a demonstration farm nearer Christc'hiirch has'been promised, nothing definite has been announced;

Future Developments. The chief sources of development in the poultry industry are improved houses, methods of feeding, selection ot stock, and the day-old chick trade. ■ Tliis latter development is" going to do much to make poultry-keeping popular. In place of having to keep incubators, and large numbers of breeders, the buyer can now secure what number of'chicks he requires at a small cost. The firelcss system of brooding is also simplifying -matters and lessoning expense. ' During the warmer months nn lamps are renuircd. Ready-made, chick freds simplify methods of feedi'ng'chicUs, so that chick-raising is_ simple, compared with old-timo methods. The spirit of co-operation among producers is . growing.. Cheaper methods of marketing and .securing of foods and requisites will result from this, and afford bigger scone to undertake the work that'a growing industry requires.

LAYING COMPETITIONS[Now Zealand Utility Poultry Club's Egg-laying Test for Fowls. Returns for twenty-ninth week.] Total Total ( for to ' week. date. 1 C. T>. C. E«2prs, Nelson, r ' ■ ■ White Loghorns 34 851

W. Scull, Christchurch, . White Leghorns 86 848 R. A. Lazarus, Hutt, Wli. 'Leghorns 33 846 W. Moreer, Howick, White Leghorns 35 834 Thos. Fazakerley, Woolston White Leghorns 33 824' R. •'/ James, Marshlands, White Leghornß 86 816 R. Wylie, Hutt, ■ White Leghornß 38 815 A. R. Browne, Petano / Beach, Wh. Leghorns 37 812 Heretaunga P. Ck)., Silverstream, Wh. ' Leghorns, No. 1 81 782 J. Oocker, Bromley, Wh. . Leghorns 32 774 T. Kennedy, Rangiora, Silver Wyondottes, 21—695; A. W. Adams, Sheffield, Silver Wyandottes, 35—703; A. E. Wilson, Shirley, Silver Wyandottes,/ 35—478; W. Knight, Hutt, Silver Wyandottes, 27—54 ( J; Jas. Ashton, Hanmer, Silver Wyandottes, 20—649; .Thos. Wilson, Marshlands, Silver Wyandottes, 25—555; W. 0. Sail, Oust, Silver Wyandottes, 36— 672; S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Silver Wyandottes, 28—628; A. E. Wilson, Shirley, White Wyandottes, 10— 671; T-. Kennedy. Rangiora, White Wyandottes, 29—572; King, and Watson (N.S.W.). Black Orpingtons, 20— 659; Verral Bros., Swannauoa;, Brown Leghorns, 31—721; J. H. Shaw, Christchurch, Brown Leghorns, 34—598; A. W. Irvine, Mount Roskill, Blue Mot. Leghorns, 21—552; H. Leger, Wcreroa, White Leghorns, 33—681; D. Y. Gibson, Herbert, White Leghorns, 34—670 ; Heretaunga P. Co., Silvorstream. Whito Leghorns No. 2, 81—758; T. M'llwraith, West Melton, White ' Leghorns, 722: R. W. Hawke, Papanui, White Leghorns, 29—716; J. Wordsworth, Geraltline, White Leghorns, 20—692; A. W. Irvine, Mount Roskill, White Leghorne No. 1, 85—610;' Middlepark P. Farm, Riccarton, White Leghorns, 30—629; T. White, Napier, White Leghorns, 29—709; Stewart and Landsperg, Normanby, White Leghorns, 27 —709; J. A. Corrio, Beckenham, White Leghorns, 38—713; F. Mason, Hutt Whito Leghornsi 29—765; G. Bonnott, Spreydon, White Leghorns, 32—679; R. "Willis and.Son, New Brighton, Whits Leghorns, 85—709; Brackenfield P. Farm, Riccarton, Columbian Wyandottes, 25—689; Thomas Vose, Carterton, White Leghorns, 34—755; H. S. Woodnorth, Winton, 35—708; Mrs. J. Mills, Dunedin, White Leghorns, 29—761; A. W. Irvine, Mount Roskill, White Leghorns/No. 2, 33—665; Mrs. J. Green. St. Albans, White Leghorns, 35—736; Dominion P. Plant, Coromandel, 'White Leghorns, 37—773; Mrs. Ansloy, Bromley, White Leghorns, 19—661; Mawson Stewart, Christchurch, White Leghorns, 35—765; W. Knight, Hutt, White Leghorns, 36—739; J. W. Green, St. Albans, White Leghorns, 33—740; I. Stepheson, Wanganui, White Leghorns, 31 —698; Mawson Stewart, Christchurch, White Leghorns, 29—768; N. Solomon, Wesitport, White Leghornß. 29—763; Wainoni P. Farm, Wainoni, White Leghorns, 34—744; Verrall Broß., Swannanoa, White Leghorns; 80 —784. FOR, DUCKS. [New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's fourth'laying test for ducks.. Returns for twenty-ninth week.l . Total Total for to ' week. date. iyW JJiighfc, Hutt (No.vl) , - r "Kdian Runners :;....'..•. 88' '702 W.-JKnight, Hutt (No. 2) . ~ (fiv.indian MhTMNiM X'Bs «£/J3l Heretaunga P. Co., Silverstream, Indian Run- ■■■- ners ......;.•......'...>. 81 ■ • 667 Thos.- DovrthWaite, • Avon- '• dale, Indian Runners... 89 671 W. Mercer, Howick, Indian Runners £6 674 Miss A. Donald, Dunsan- . ■...-. del, Indian.Runners ... 83 584 A. R. Browne, Petans Beaoh, Indian Runners 40 576

TWO YEARS' COMPETITION.

[Now Zealand Utility Poultry Club's two years', egg-laying test for fowls. Report for seventy-eighth week—twentysixth -woek of second year.l Total Total for to week. date. T. Kennedy, Rangiora, Silver "Wyandottes ..::, 28 1791 Romain Hunger, Hutt, Black Orpingtons 10 1551 Herotaung.i P. Co., Silverstream, White , Leghorns SO 2114 J. W. Green, Christchurch, White Leghorns 27 2000 H. Legor, Levin, White' Leghorns' 31 2027 W. ■ A. Nixon, . Christ- ; church, Wh. Leghorns 88 2198 FOR DUCKS [New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's Two Years' Egg-laying Test for" Ducks. Roport for seventy : eighth week— twonty-sirfh week of second year.l • ' Total Total for ■ to week. data. Thos. Dowlhwaite, Avondale, Indian Runners 31 1907 Heretaunga P. Co., Silverstream, Indian Runners .!...' 29 1988 ,T. R. Hall, Weraroa, Indian Runnors 34 2U6. P. Keller, Rolleston, Indian ' -• Runners -38 I' ls S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Buff Orpingtons 38 loub