POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 87, 5 January 1918, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

(By Chanticleer.)

Hew Year Prospoots. During 1917 the poiUtry industry had its problems to contend with, the chief of these being the scarcity of feed. Tho question of price is one that can always oe adjusted, for if tho raw materials cost more, tho increased cost of the finished product can be passed on to tho public. In somo Quarters very high prices navo been charged for wheat and pollard, especially in tho North Island. As high as Bs. to 9s. per bushel for wheat and £10 per ton for pollard have been tho r.iling prices. It is no wonder the price Of eggs has soared accordingly, Is. Bd. and Is. 9d. poing obtained for the Christmas supplies. It would not be so bad if thoße f' ods Could be obtained in any quantity, but tho search for them is quite a costly Hem for the poultryman. Ho has to spend hours and hours in finding a merchant who can supply him with oven a fi'w bags at a time, and has to make several liips during the month, .whereas, if supplies were abundant one good load would suffice. Tho pressure Is very keen, and the time demanded of the producer for the buying of hiß food Is a very costly Item. It is fortunate that the harvest is near, and that this state of affairs promises to be remedied. Even the shipments of Austra lian wheat, from which so much was hoped, have not tended to alleviate matters. Samples of Australian fowl wheat leen were badly affected with weevil, and have been dear. The coming year holds littlo prospect for cheaper foods, and it • would he wise for all producers who can possibly do so to lay in their yearly sup ply as soon as the harvest is available. One of tho grains that must come into favour for poultry-kooping is maize, which can be Imported at a fairly cheap rate, while a fair amount is beinc grown in the North Island. Poultrymen do not valuo this food as much as thoy might do. Tho birds love it above all grains, and if fed on it from an early ago t.hey will always give preference to it over other grain roods. The use of mate would tend to conserve the wheat supply, and the importation of it is a much better proposltion than that of wheat. The price of eggs in 1918 promises to reach a recoror. The poultrymen must simply pass on the eost of production, or go out. of business. The public may cmplaln, and eggs becomo d- greater luxury, but no • other course is available. Those who have pullets now should not stint them with feed. To do this will arrest thoir growth, and spoil them for egg production during tho com Ing winter. There is a. tendency to cut down the food owing to its price and scarcity, but this is a foolish procedure and will carry its penalty. Tho main flock should be vigorously culled, and old birds and non-layors should be markoted. Fewer birds should be kept, arid as a result of better selection.and better feeding, onuai returns will be obtained. In 1918 poultrymen will attempt more np-tO:datc methods out of sheer necessity. Co-opant-tion Is needed in tho purchase of foods, and In the marketing of supplies. . Nothing would be of a greater boon to producers than to amalgamate now. and form one huge order for ,the supply of their year's food; Unfortunately, this needs organisation, and as'-no one seems firopared to pay for' the work to be done, t Is questionable if co-operation along this Mile will meet with much result. On the question of marketing products, better orftanisation is soon. Tins supplies are fairv well centred, and the adjustment ui the pricos is under control. The poultryman has nothing to fear. Bard work to will find in abundance, but it Is safe to predict. that the demand for eggs and poultry will bo sufficient to always assure him satisfactory returns for his labour. ■ Australian Wheat. Shipments- of Australian fowl wheat promise to relieve 'the market locally. Reports received recently ■ state that all available space has been booked by merehonts. Providing the quality is good, the wheat will relieve the c pressure on poultrymen. It will be quite two months ncforo much of the local wheat will be teadyfor market, and as many poultrymen will have used up their Btook, the position will be very acute unless wheat la imported. Table Poultry. The chief source of table poultry in tho past has been tho farmer. He usually grctf grain, had ample scope for tho birds and his wife attended to them. Tho position is likely to be seriously affected. Graft Is as scarco now with tho farmer »» with the poultryman. A visit to the markets'will 6how, from the condition of the birds, that many of them are bemg Minted in their food. They lack the priming of previous years, and tho greater bulk of the birds can only be c asscd as stores Fjicellont prices await those who have good quality birds, and it pays to teed well. .■>