POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 15

POULTRY NOTES

(By Cbanteclbe.)

THE EGG SUPPLY ■ It is a matter of grave concern that tho average c6niin6rcial cgji seen in the markets of New Zealand aro of poor Quality. The egg circles, wherein began the stamping and grading of eggs, havo certainly done excellent work, but their usefulness extends to a fejv. while thousands of dozens of eggs are lost for want of care. An impression is gaining hold tliat New Zealand is not producing sufficient eggs to keep pace with the demand, and that eggs from America and Asia are necessary to supplement the supply. It is to be' regretted that in a country like Nbw Zealand this should be so. Here we have a fine climate and can grow our own,foods and obtain returns from layers second to none in the world. Much educational work has been done by the Government to invprovo the production, but it would seem as if the supply of eggs is insufficient for our needs. There must be some reason for this state of affairs, and matters should be speedily remedied. Probably the dear feed of the past two years has driven'many out of poultrykeeping. The price of wheat and pollard has left little margin of profit for the producer, so lie lias 6old oft' his birds and now is a customer for eggs produced by other's. Another cause of shortage is the increasing demand for eggs. Each year tho ' demand grows stronger, and it is feared the extra production does not keep pace with it. Then we have the enormous waste of bad mul cracked eggs. Yearly these must run into thousands of pounds. Farmers should give attention to markets. For many years eggs have. be«n purchased without regard to quality. This has been unfair to producers that take pains in marketing good clean, fresh eggs, although recently such eggs were in such demand as to demand a premium. Still muoli remains .to be doiu- Tho adoption of so many imported liquid yolks has been encouraged because bakers and pastrycooks have lost so heavily ,in bad eggs. They havo had to pay for so many e£gs that have proved wholly unfit for use. Bather than submit to this they buy the imported article, and get at least in weight'what they pay for. If farmers and producers would attend to the following it would save thousands of eggs each year, and in vuluo hundreds of pounds. . Suggestions for tho farmer in regard to the production and care of market eggs:1. l'eed tho hens on clean, wholesome food, and provide an abundance of pure water in clean utensils. . 2. Keep tho poultry-house clean, sanitary, and free from vermin. 3. Provide plenty of clean, dry nests in darkened places. 4. Gather eggs at least once a day in cool weather, and twice in hot or wet weather. 5. Keep eggs in a cool, dry place. 6. Cover eggs with a clotli to. prevent fading. 7. Never keep egg 9 near kerosene, onions, fish, or any other strong-smelling substance—they .readily absorb odours. i 8. Do not sell eggs known to be bad or which have been in an incubator. It is dishonest. 9. Do not wash eggs. 10. Use the dirty, small, very long'and grass-stained eggs at home. 11. Never expose* eggs, for market to direct sunlight, rain,-or to extreme heat from any source. 12. Remember that eggs are perishable. 13. Market eggs as regularly and frequently as possiblo. and market so as to centralise supplies. U. Secure suitable crates for home use, and thus prevent breakage' and slight cracking. , ■ , 15. Kill off, dispose of, or get rid of the male birds after' the breeding season. Their presence in tho flock after December 15 is costing New Zealand farmers thousands of pounds each year through the sale of i partially incubated eggs. In CVtnada and America, under the' Adulteration Act, anyone selling bad eggs : is penalised. . The fine is i£f(l and costs for the first offence, and up to six months' imprisonment for subsequent offences.

, Mastertou exhibitors were fairly sucdessful at the Woodville poultry show this week. Mr. W. C. Gourlay took ten first prizes for working homer pigeons, and Mr. J. Dixon nine first prizes . N.I. UTILITY POULTRY CLUB'S NEW COMPETITIONS. The official results of the fifteenth week of the Now Zealand Utility Poultry Club's twf.lfth cgg-layinc competition for fowU for the week ended Tuesday, July 25, aro ai follow:— LIGHT BREEDS. Total Total for to

woi'k. dflt". Verral Bros., SiL 23 344 Bryckenfleld Farm, B.L 24 232 W. T)avey, W.l. '... 20 295 J. B. McTrett, W.l/ 24 340 E. Q. Shearman, W.L 27 J27 HerPtaunfM. Poultry Co., W.L. 33 2£o H. Ball, W.L 13 301 >f. Aj Owrin. W.L 27 325 Dalmuir Poultry Yards, W.L.... 9 343 Mrs. H. Graham; W.L 27 266 J. Wordsworth. W.L 4 196 H. E. Boss, W.L : 29 . 330 R, H. .Tames, W.L 19 246 .0. J. Norton, W.L. 19 • 3C6 Alfred Katoii, W.L. ...• 7 ■ 283 JC, H. Walker. W.L. 23 229 Green Bros. (No. 2), W.L 26 323 H. ' Leger,, W .L. ....: 31 290 J. Nancarrow. W.L.. 30 ,372 Calder Bros.. W.L. 33 . 404 R. Pounnford, W.L. 24 ,JM A. W. Adams, W.L. '- 25 ' 3?0 A. E. Phillips, W.L. 27 383 T. Kennedy. W.L 12 222 V. J. Hill. W.L. : 25 253 B. T. L. Cliiyson. Wi 26 302 T. E. Conwaj HI 19 275 Poultry Co. (No, 1), W.L. ... a ■ 345 ■Ransiuru Ecs Ranch. W.L 29 3E6 S. Dick, W.L a i 2E6 G. Gee,. W.L. 13 ' 2/<l H. C. Yates. W.L. 24 267 E. P. Amyes, W.L 25 333 A. E. Wilson V, L 17, 332 Jfe. J. Mills ft 1 il ' 377 A. G. Brailey. W.L 18 160 Green Gros. (No. 11. WJj. 29 2SB- - Bros.. W.L :. 25 32? A. A. "Flearc, ■ W.L -/3 283 L. T. Wright, W.L.' !1 286 Tn ufility Stud, W.L 29 309 T. M'llwraith, W.L K 211 E. A. Lizarus, W.L. !6 263 TT. W. Bower. W.L. !7. 22-5 H. S. Woodnorth. W.t. 10 212 H<>kowhilu Poultry Co., W.L. ... 26 244 Oalder Bros., W.L. 20 • 331 3. B. Morrett (No. l),' W.L. 29 295 Jack Green, W.L.... 18 363 Totals UCS 1M99

HEAVY BREED TEST. Total Total for to week. detn. T. Kennedy. W.W 15 125 Green Bros., W.W 20 199 W.- Knight; ■ W.P.T! IS 245 A. S. Conner. It-T.lt; 23 264 Miss K. Willis B O 21 366 C. ,T. Norton, 8.0. ...: .- 9ff T. E. Conway, 8.0. 36 385 J. Nanearrow. 8.0 25 318 Jfis« J. .Tamos, 8.0 30 356 T. Bowthwaite, S.W 2a 291 A. W. Adams, S.W, : 25 153 Totals 266 2957 SINGLE PEN TEST. Total Total for to week, dot" A. S. Cooper, B.T.R S .59 A, S. Cooper, Jt.I.R ,1 79 E. TT. .Tames, W.L 4 80 T: L. Wright; W.L 3 . • « Eangiuni KEg AV.L.' 4 et Bros., IV..L 5 72 Calder Bros,. W,L. :: 6 77 W. Davey, W.T. 6 m ,T. B. JfeTrett, W.L — 21 A. E. Wil<on. W.L _ . M Mrs. J. Jfills, ; W.L fi 83 Atkini-on Bros.; WT 4 « n. P. L. Clayson, W.L — 61' J. Wordsworth, W.L 5 8 Totals ,52 , 823 FOlt TinOKS. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Clnb's «#Tcn»h p"«r-I»Tlnff t«5». for .duck* Eetnrns for tho fifteenth week are as follow : - Totfll Total for to wp"1:. da W. Kniglit. T.R 23 203 TTerPtanncn. Pon'try Co., T.E. ... 35 H. W. Bower, I.tt — 40 458 Totals 98 1090 Tho letters after esr.li entry denote the hreod, ns niider;—B.L.. Brown Lerhorn; WL Whit/> Leghorn; S.W.. Silver Wvni,. dott/c; E.1.E.. Ehotje tslenfl Eeil: W.W.. Whito Wvonrtott": 8.0.. Bltck Oriin?t"o: W.P.E.. Wjhite Plymouth. Rock; 1.E., Indian Runner.