THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1972, 31 January 1914, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

(By Chanteclcr.)

Answers to correspondents. "J.T.W.," Nelson.—lt would be more advisable to mate a well-matured cockerel with the two-year-old hens. Your latter proposition is a good one. "H.," Wellington.—Feather eating is usually caused by too close confincrnont or lack of animal food. It is a habit contracted thnmgh a liking for the juice at tlio end or the quill. Boil a liver daily, and give the hehs something to do to pick at it. In every respect you arc doing right with tho poultry. "Anti-Co-op., Hutb.—As you do not sign your name I do not consider your criticism of value. Tho com- ' pany has not had a chance yet to show what it can do. As for the ability of its officers, ono has no doubt that tho directors can vouch for it. Do not discourago such work; join in and give it your-support.

The Conferenos. The programme published last week for the coming conference deals with many subjects that nro of immediate concern to those engaged in the poultry industry. Ono thing which the confororence will havo to decide is the extent to which commercial undertakings in connection with tho industry will be supported. It is evident that, if commercial aspects have to be assisted, a system of finance will have to bo instituted. Judging from the lack of enthusiasm shown by fruit-growers to their federation, it is quite unlikely that poultrymen will seek to maintain an association having j too much commercialism about it. 'it would be preforablo to keep the association solely for educative purposes, and tho annual conferences devoted to that end rather than to have a half-hearted effort for commercial ends that will only court failure. ,

The Two Years' Test. The tivo-year test for six laying hens will soon bo completed'. The event' 13 creating tn\ich interest among poultrymen, iwith the heavy lead whioli Mr. Nixoiijiad at the completion of the first year, it was almost a foregone conclusion that he. would win the second year's event. In six months the well-ftnown Herotatinga birds failed to make much headway, but, gradually, they have re-' duced the margin between them. It is too early to predict the winners oven yet, for strange things happen in thesetests.. A sudden relapse into a moult, and Horetauii£a's great achievement wilPbe-spoilcd. It is a great fight, and the next fciv weeks will bo an exciting time for the competitors. It is remarkable to note that !Wr. Hall's pen of dunks for the second .year test lias passed the hens; and are leading by 'about fifty eggs.

.Canterbury Egg Circle. The Canterbury Egg Circle is the second largest in New Zealand, being surpassed only by the Wairarapa Circle. The report just issued says:—"There is a largo increase in membership, and in the number of eggs sold during the past year. The membership is seventytwo, and the number of dozens sold last year was 36,250, representing £2132. All.of this money with the exception of bhe;peiwy per dozen for marketing goes to the producers. The highest price «btain«d..wiis 2s. 6d. lowest price lid., tho year being Is. 3d. per dozen. The experiment of shipping eggs to Vancouver -prove-d a great ; &uce«ss.,; As,a trial shipment there were large, losses'in breakages and frozen egs, but the fact that some of tho eggs sold at. 23. .per dozen shows .that the quality was Regarded as good. The circle intends exporting on a larger scale during the coming season, and experimental shipments will be sent to American ports in addition to Vancouver. The Panama Canal will place New York within easy d&tance for shipment, and, given suitable freight, stores, this splendid market will bo availa-Mo to, New Zealand. San Francisco will also wolcomo Canterbury eggs in winter,, so that the industry has a bright future before it. The egg-circle movement hiis clone- irmcli to iniVirovo tho qualitv of tho eggs' placed in tho market, and retailors find no difficulty in getting from two to threepence nor dozen more than .for tho ordinary, farm eggs. It is considered that the losses-in Canterbury each year from faulty marketing run into thousands of pounds.. Inferior prices, bad eggs, nnd breakagesall contributo to honvT losses. The circle expects to extend widely this year, and farmers nro beginning to realise what a benefit it i 3 to market their eggs in better form and receive higher prices in return."

Hot-Woathor Precautions.. Lins.pod boiled Jor two or three hours to a jelly and then mixed with soft food cannot be beaten for growing chicks, whatever age. It promotes good plumage and healthy growth. A handful of linseed between fifty chicks or, a dozen fully-grown, should be given,'say, twice weekly.. ■.'?'. .' . ''. Drinking *ator is often a source of grent danger. Many people think that as long as the birds' troughs are full of water all is well. . It would be almost, better if the birds had none- at all I Sun-heated water h bad for adult stock and fatal for young birds. Waterpans must bo placed in the shade, and if this cannot , be obtained naturally, then artificial shade must bo arranged. Never add fresh water to stale; what' is left from the previous watering must bo emptied out.' It means moro work, but trie results will amply justify tho extra labour. During a spell of dry weather tho usual watering-places are apt to becorno stagnant or run out. Your fowls must have pure water, oven if it costs money to get it. Seo that the roosting-phces are properly ventilated. Fowls need proper rest as much as a human beinc, and they cannot obtain it if compelled to sleep in stuffy ovor-heated houses. A roat of whit/vrrash over . the roof costs little, and will help to keep the fowls cool. \ Do not forget that insects breed with astonishing rapidity during warm weather: keep tho interior of the houses lime-washed, and give tho fowls themselves a dusting with some insect powder occasionally. All soft food that is not eaten should bo collected nnd _destroyed within half an hour of being put into tho troughs. It starts to turn sour very rapidly in the summer, and will set np ptomnino poisoning in tho. birds if eaten in that [ state. Meal is also liablo to detorior- ( ate very rapidly in warm weather. When the birds are kept in pens with no trees they must hare some form of artificial shade provided for them, such as hurdles, boughs of trees, canvas, etc., the provfded by the house is not. enough.' . Green food must he provided liberally,-and it must ho fresh, for all birds except those on absolutely freo range' The grass in tho pens gets burnt un towards the end of tho summer, and does not answer the same purpose as, when fresh and green in tho springtime. Every breeder should know that grit is an essential to success. Tts component parts may be varied. They usually aro broken shells and ston*a and crushed charcoal. Tho grit aids digestion" by grindim; tho food. In this way grit for a fowl acts in the place of teeth.

Dn not place grit, in nn open troiifrli in tho poultry yard. If "ou do, half tho stuff will bo scattered 'mid wasted. Put it in an old covered bucket or koroloae Us, in tho ildo cf whioh uroral

holes have been made, large enough I to admit tho head of the bird,' Directly you notice- a sick bird—ho matter what tho illness is—take it out of the yard, and scour out the water vessel with boiling water, to kill any germs that may bo hanging about. A aick fowl generally is feverish, and iover means thirst. Tlio bird drinks a lot, and in the process germs pro liberated into the water.