THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1995, 28 February 1914, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

t Bright Prospeots. For many years the poultry industry ( has been iguored in estimating tlio valtio of Now Zealand's production. There are now however, that a new interest is being taken in the matter by tho State as well as by poultrymen themselves. ' Fanners also are awakening to tho possibilities and we inay look forward to a greater production! in egQ;s and table poultry as the prospects become better known. The .coming conference will no doubt do, much towards bringing poultrymen together, and it is hoped that the occasion will bo used to set a really good forward move going.

Keen Competition. The second year's test at Papanui is creating much interest. The first year's test resulted in a win for Mr. Nixon, who established a world's record. The present leading competition was-nearly'' two hundred eggs behind when the second year began, but'his pen has gradually. overhauled tho leaders, and today they are leading in tho second year's -test by twenty-live. At the rate at which the birds are laying Mr. Nunnerly should create/a new world's record ior a second-year test. It : is questionable if wo shall see sucli records again for many years to come. The present test will not approach their tctals by a large margin.

Ttio Table Poultry Problem. Tho very large numbers of small, poorly-developed cockerels of 10 to 14 1 weeks old, that have lately been offering in our markets, have had quite a disturbing effect upon the minds of beginners in the industry. But to the experienced poultryman it is only significant of one thing, and that is the extent to which late hatching was carried on last season. By late hatching is meant from the middle of October until far into December., If tho penalty of all this'was an. unprofitable price for cockerels, the lesson taught would bo cheap at tho prieo. Unfortunately, that is not likely to be the case, because, with few exceptions, where, they kept under specially good conditions,.the pullets of tho same age as the cockerels referred to cannot bo looked upon in any other light than as a likely source of trouble., It is scarcely possible that these poorly-de-veloped pullets can become "profitable lis layers, or fit to becomo breeders, and their susceptibility to'»roup and chicken-pox constitutes a menace to the early and better-developed growing stock.Poor , hatching results in the earlier months have . probably been the mcentive to unduly prolong the hatching, season; but it,is'feared tlat-there will; bo some very, ' severe disappointments. Another contributing causo to this state-of things is the facility with which day-old chickens are obtainable late in the season. This may provo a temptation, to beginnors to go in for more thaii they probably would otherwise do. The result is that as soon as the risk that is being run' is realised, the cockerels'are rushed into the market, regardless of what they will bring s ?' 1? P? the pullets ■ getting .the benefit of an extended' run; In consequence the market is 'clioked up with imsaleablo stuff, while at the same time! there is a shortage of better quality.

How to Avoid Dlseasa. One is often at tho numerous inquiries relative to disease. It seems.(,,as -»if». sonjO',begin-, ners have among' overy diseaso known to iis'."•

It is impossible'for the utility man to spend too much ;'timo doctoring' his bir'ds. _ His safety: lies in preventionremoving the causes that make for diserae. It is evident tho birds that"will contract diseases 'are ithose susceptible to them through I' pre-dispQsition—weak constitutions.' These must,bo got rid of at all hazards.- 7 They are.useless for egg productign, and will d<? no good 1 for tho table, 'and either of these is the object of their being allowed to, exist., If they fail to come up to tho standard of vigorous, healthy birds,:they must discarded.

Weak birds:have.no appetites. They cannot assimilate enough food for egg' production or accumulate fat for the table, A bird can only givo to us its surplus I that Us, it.will use the- food: for its maintenance,, and wo get the balance jnroggs or meat. • Why is it weak birds aro prone to diseaso? Simply because they cannot resist the microbes. The- battlers in their blood offer little resistance. Why aro, weak birds crowded with parasites. Simply because they have no strength to dust themselves vigorously. Tho poultryman who keeps weak stock invitos all kinds of- trouble?. No matter how willing one may be, to feed tho birds liberally,' if they lack a strong constitution-they are a prey for, diseaso. Full and. .plenty feeding must he adopted to avoid bringing on disease. If neglect arises hero, tne system of tho bird is lowered.', Its powers of resistance are lessened.. The poor weaklyfed bird becomes -a victim to all kinds of internal,and oxternal pests.

. Instead-of waiting for disease to appear, and then hoping, to. effect a cure, it is better to ; use all possible and work for prevention. Poultry cannot'havo too much care, and tho; man who neglects them in tho ways indicated, above will promptly join tho down-and-out brigade and. pass from the ranks of poultrymen. : ' '• Another ' prevention of disease, is 'cleanliness. Wo firmly believe that the matter allowed to accumulate on boards, runs, and on tho floor of the houses aro accountable for much of tho 1 diseases that spread among the birls. Dirty drinking vessels aro a menace and a lurking-place for germs. Keep the premises clean. Paint.'tho perches at loast once a month, and spray tho houses with a good disinfectant at (oast twice a year. Another moans of spreading disc aso is drafty • houses; Many of the casps pf colds, croup, diphtheria, etc., . sepn among the birds aro duo to drafts, I havo seen fbwlhouses with half-inch cracks between tho boards. Think of a cold wind playing on tho birds body.

EGG-LAtING COMPETITIONS.

The returns forv_tho forty-sixth week jf tho' Now Zealand Utility Poultry Glub's ninth egg-laying test for fowls are as follow:—

.Total Total • for' to ' vreek. date. W. Scull, Christchurch, White Leghorns- 27 '1271 Dominion P. Plant, Cororaantlol, Whito- Leg- ■ horns . 23 1268 R. Wy(io, Hutt, Whito • Leghorns 27 ' 1272 W. Mercer, Ilowick, White Leghorns 25 1366 R. A. Lazarus,. Hutt, Wh. Leghorns 21 • 1308 A 1 U.' Browne, Potana ■ ; Beach, Wh. Leghorns 20 '128' i C, 1). C. Eggors, Nelson, • . Whito Leghorns ' 22 1272 Thomas Vosc. Carterton, ■ Whito Loghorns 17 1255 Herotaunga P. Co., Silverstream, Wb. Loghorns, No. 1 21 1-253 J Cocker, Bromley, Whito . Leghorns 16 1248 T. Kennedy) Rangioru, Silver Wyandottes, 0 —847 : A. W. Adams, Shefliold, Silver Wyando'ttes, 21—1062; A. E. Wilson, Shirfey, Silver Wyandottes, 6— 792; W.. Knight, Hutt, Silver Wyandottes, 8—868: Jas. Ash ton, Hanmer, Silver Wyandottes, 18—012 ; Thos, Wilson, Marshlands, Silver Wyandottes, 9

(By Chantecler.)

TWO YEARS' COMPETITION,

—935; W. 0. Sail, Oust, Silver Wvandottes, 18—1061; S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Silver Wyandottcs, 15—1036; A. 13. Wilson, Shirley, White Wyanclottes, 8—803; T. Kennedy, Hangiora, Whito Wyandottes, 12—898; King and Watson (N.S.AV.), Black Orpingtons, 5 —940; Vcrrall Bros., , Swannnnoa, Brown Leghorns, 21—1181; J. H. Shaw, Christclmrch, Brown Leghorns, 18 — 1013; A. W. Irvine, Mount Roskill, Blue Mottled Leghorns, 9—650; H. Leger, Wereroa, Wliite Leghorns, 26—1185; D. Y. Herbert, Wliito Leghorns, 18—1112; Heretaunga P. Co., Silverstream, Wh. Leghorns No. 2, 21i—1235; T. M'llwraith, West Melton, White Legliorns, 23^— LI6G; It. \V. Hawkc, Papanui, Whito Leghorns, 15—1052; J. Woldsworth, Geraldine, Wliite Leghorns, 21 —10o7; A. ,W. Irvine, Mount Roskill, Whito Leghorns No. 1, 19—1067; Middlepark'P. Farm, Riccarton, Whito Leghorns, 11—070; T. Wliite, Napier, White Legliorns, 20—1184; Stewart and Landsperg,'Normanby, Wliite Leghorns, .12—1110; J. A. CJorrie, Beckenham, White Leghorns, 19—1187; F. Mason, Hutt-, Wliite Leghorns, 22—1164; G. Bonnett,. Spreydon, White Legliorns, 23 —1092; It. Willis and Son, Now Brighton, White Leghorns, 17—1100; Brackenfield P. Farm, Riccarton, Columbian Wyandottes, 20—1074; 11. S. Woodnorth, Wintfln, Whito Legliorns, Mrs. J. Mills, Dunedin, .Wliite Legliorns. 23—1210; Thos. Fazackerley, Sydenham, Wliite Leghorns, 17—1143; A. W. Irvine, Mount Eoskill, Whito Legliorns No. 2, 24—1115; Mrs. J. Green, St. Albans, Whito Leghoms, 26—1223; Mrs. Ansley, BromIg.Vj \\hito Legliorns, 18 —984,* Mawson Stewart, Ohristehureli, Whito Legliorns, 30—1215; W. Knight, Hutt, Whito' Leghorns, 24-1201'; R. James, Marshlands, White Leghorns, 9—1182; J. W. Green, fet.-Albans, White Legliorns, r Stephenson, Wanganui, White Leghorns, ' 18 —1132;, Mawson Stewart, Cliristchurch, White Leghorns, 23—1217; N. Solomon, Westport, Whito Leghorns', 25—1221; Wanoni P. Farm. Wainani, White Leghorns, 25—1271; Verrall Bros., Swannanoa, White Leghorns,'29—ll99.

FOR DUCKS. ; " ••[NW -Zealand Utility Poultrv Club's fourth laying test for ducks. Returns tor forty-sixth week.] -■. . Total Total for to 'V . , • ' week. date. W Knight, H'itt' (No. 1) • lildiau Runners ...; 13 1092 W. Knight, Hutt (No. 2) r Indian Runners 19 1009 ; Herotaunga P. Co,,Silvorstream* Indian Runners 1 15 ' jj| Thos. Do.vthwaito, .Arondale, Indian Runners 14 \ 939 TiV. Mercer,- Hawick, Indian ners .-12 .939 Miss A. Donald, Dunsandel, Indian Runners ... 17 922 •A. H. 'Browne, Petane Beach, Indian Runners 12 902

[Two-years' egg-laying test for fowls, lioturns for ninety-seventh week—fortyfifth week of second year.] • Total Total 'for " to:., ' ■- i . ■ ' • . week. dato. T. Kennedy, Runttiora, Sil- ' .7 * 21G0 Rom* fir Mmijto? . Hutt, . Black Orpingtons ...... 17 "1741. Heretaung.v I'. Co., Silver"stream, White Leg- : •horns ,29 .2595 | J. W. Green, Christchurch,- . - White Leghorns 24 28TS H. Legcr, Levin, White ' ' leghorns .....i 22 2448 :W.v A. iSiixoii, .Christ-. 1 church, W. Leghorns 10 • 2570 •• " FOR DUCKS ' / \ h;[Tivo Years' Egg-laying Test for • Ducks, Returns for ninety-seventh iWqfek—forty-tilth week of second year.] V ■ . Total Total ' • . for to weok. dato. fiios. Dowthwaite,- Avoni • 'dale, Indian Runners 18 2329 Herotaunga P. Co., Silver- ' stream, Indian Run-.. ' I'iqrs 18 2334 T. R. Hall,* Wercroa, Indian Runners 29 ■ 2646 ,P. Keller, Rolleston, In-. \ ■ dian Runners .' 13' . 2149 S. H. Scott, Onehunga, Bulf Orpingtons 9 1822