A Trip to Westoe.

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 47, 22 September 1883, Page 3

A Trip to Westoe.

(PBOX A COBBB8PONDBXT.) I paid a visit to the Westoe estate on Tuesday last, and was courteously shown over the property by Sir William Fox's ▼cry energetic manager, Mr Retemeyer. The especial object of my visit was .to report upon a new industry that Mr Retemeyer has launched upon, which, by the bye, is a great hobby of his, viz . poultry farming. Ihe whole of the yards and sheds cover an area of over three quarters ot an acre. The first point visiied was the main building, being the roosting housje, twelve feet by twelve. Tbis has moreable perches, and will hoJd about 150 birds. It has a lean-to 4 feet wide by 12 feet, in which are placed the nests, 50 in number. Tbe whole of these buildings are scrupulously clean and are painted with lime, as are also the perches, once a month, by which means the birds are kept free from vermin. The second building measures 24 feet by 6 feet 6 inches wide, and is divided into three compartments, the two first of which are used for roosting places for the youag birds at different. ages, aad the third for the younger birds which have been hatched by the "Patent Incubator," and as this process may be somewhat new to your readers I will try to give a short sketch of it as explained to me by Mr Retemeyer. The machine used is " Christy's 90 egg Hydro Incubator," which, as the names implies, is worked by boiling watei. The incubator hat the appearance of a box, 4 feet 6ia square, standing on four legs. There is a small bole on the top, having j a brass screw tap, and it is through this that the boiling water is poured. At the bottom of the box is a small drawer, which being pulled out shows the eggs. These aie kept up to the required temperature by withdrawing from 12 to 20 gallons of water, as the temperature lowe.B, and replacing the same by an equal quantity of boiling water. This has to be done twice a day. The eggs have also to be turned twice daily during the period of 'incubation, which ia from 21 to 22 days, according to the freshness of the eggs, and equality of the temperature that has been maintained during that period. As the chicks leave tbe shell they are placed iv a drying box,, also heated with water, in which they remain for 24 hours without food or water, when they are transferred to the " Home," a new contrivance of Mr Retemeyer's, and ar. kept in doors for three or four days. They should then be strong enough to be again moved to the <4 Hydro Rearing Mother," which consists of a frame 5 feet square, haying sides 6 inches high. In the centre is a box 18 inches square and 2 feet high, from the top of which to the sides moveable frames of glass are fitted. Ie the upper portion of the "mother" a small iron tank ia fitted for the hot water, but this is not used, as it was found very difficult to keep up the temperature during the nights and early mornings. Mr Retemeyer was very unfortunate with the first incubation, as during one very cold night they were all frozen to death, because the chicks remained out under the glass instead of going under their foster " mother." Mr Retemeyer tried a sheep skin fixed on the roof of the "mother" as a substitute for the hot water, for the chicks to nestle in, which answered admirably till the chicks grew bigger and stronger, when it was found that they got entangled in the wool and hangeu themselves. The plan now adopted is that of slips of flannel, which reach to the ground, stretched on to a piece of cloth, between which the chicks nestle. The second clutch is now three weeks old, and look strong and healthy, and will be moved to the second building previous 'y described, to which is now being added a chick proof yard, 30 feet by 12, with a " patent mother" of flannel strips, when the next clutch is hatched, and will pass from thence to the second and third compartments, and then to the main building. The fowls kept by Mr Retemeyer are of a superior class of pure breds, and consist of dark Bramah, light Bramah, Howdans, Spanish, white Leghorns, and last, but certainly not least, the Langshan. the. rooster beimg certainly a monster for his age, ten months, turning the scales at twelve pounds, and I think will be heard of at the next Wanganui poultry show. For the convenience of working the pure bred fowls, seven yards, 15 feet by 21 feet with houses 6 feet by 4 feet for roosting and and laying, have been erected, which of course keeps the breeds from getting mixed. Mr Retemeyer informs me that it is his intention to breed pure strains of each class, and also hens for sale as layers. He has be^n very successful so far, though in a small way, as from about 40 hens he got from 10 to 12 donen, when eggs were scarcest, aad. I think that if management and breed is worth anything in poultry Mr Retemeyer ought to sue* eeed. During my visit I had a look over the Westoe orchard* which contains over 600 trees of all kinds, from a gooseberry to an orange. These are kept in splendid order, and are aow covered with their spring mantle of bloom, bespeaking an ample supply of fruit further on. The flower garden is well stocked, and tbe rose beds are especially fine, and if grand names are any criterion collections from these beds wiR require beating at the forthcoming shows. A visit to Westoe is well worth the trouble.