POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 90, 10 January 1920, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES

4 (By "Chanticlier.") New Year Prospects. The past year was one of i lie l.eEt tho poultryman lias had. Prices for eggs were remarkably good, and avcuiged 2s. per dozen right through Hie year. Feed was dear, but the increased price for eggs was moro than sufficient to offset this. The present year does not hold such bright prospects. Even around Wellington wheat is costing 9s. per bushel. A correspondent al Packakariki states he is paying 9s. 3d. Tho coming harvest will probably result in a, great shortage, and wheat is expected to be. tOs. per bushel and possibly more. Jlran and pollard are also sure to increase, so that the poultryman ivill he hard hit. Poul-try-keeping will more anil' more become the work of tho specialist. Tho man in a small way will bo unable to compete. During the coming year producers will require to use more up-to-date. methods. Culling of flocks must be attended to. and no .birds kept that ca.nuot give a good return in eggs. Green feed must bo grown to keep the food bill dowp, while the markets mu6t be governed to" niako eggs a payable proposition. At tho present time it is certain the jjouitry industry is face to face, with a serious shortage of focd. The Government may help in this matter by importing maim and wheat, but even then prices will bo high. It matters little. If food is scarce prices must rise. Thousands of birds will be sacrificed, and the eouutry depleted of laying stock. The last year caw high prices, but the coming year will certainly bo worse. Tho Folly of Late Breeding. While the majority of fanciers will separate tho breeding pairs between now and tho end of January, there will he a few who will allow their birds to work on, probably for a. month or t,wo after that, date. The end of January is quite lato - enough for breeding. Later operations mean that the youngsters produced will be moulting in about April or May, when tile cold, damp nights are with us, and you know what a bail effect this will have on them. They will not east their feathers properly, and many of them will be what in known aa "stuck in the moult,' and to get them over that stage '/J 10 !' will need a largo amount of coddling. Not only are the youngsters handicapped by unseasonable breeding, but the old birds also are upset. The latter in most cases have been breeding sjneo the beginning of August, and it would lot only be foolish, but. very risky lo let thorn go any longer than the end of Jnnuary. "be fancier who has had five or *ix nests of eggs from ono hen in a season should >i> satisfied, nnd, whatever the dale may be, should break them up. No doubt somo fanciers will say, "I can just got another n"st from this hen, then I will "eparate." Yes, you must remember that if you wish to exhibit the hen at tho winter shows ■ you must havo her in the best possible condition. Ovorbrooding Taxes the Constitution, ! How can you do this if you have taxed I her constitution to the very inmost by i overbreediug? Many goad hens have been thus spoiled. Tho sccret of breeding pood youngsters lies in the quality and strength of the lions. Then why spoil them just for the sako of an eitra youngster or two, which may probably, being Jate bred, never thrive? So I advise you to ecpurntn not later than the end of neit month. If possible, put tho liens in a loft away from tho cocks, for if they see their old partners they will be constantly trying to. get at them, and this is cue rcaßon why some hens lay so much in tho offseason. And when a hen is continually laying if, is draining her constitution, then again adult birds generally begin to moult soon after they have ceased to breed for the year. If you allow the old birds to continue breeding too long, it will have too 'ill-effects upon liie moult. It will defer the moulting operation until the weather is cold and unsuitable; also hard and long breeding impairs tho constitution, and the bird is not in the robunt condition which is required to withstand the strain that the feather-chaiigiiiß business will put upon it, There is only ono conclusion to be derived from this argument, and that is to cease breeding early. I have spoken of this before, and what I have written above only emphasises my contention. If a bird is in a ill condition when it starts to moult, tho greater is tho chances of that, process being successful. Thus, by keeping the birds in good condition, they are more prepared to withstand the strain of nature's annual change.