POULTRY-KEEPING.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 364, 27 May 1911, Page 6

POULTRY-KEEPING.

WINTER EGGS. The present weather will nc doubt give egg production a set-back, more so where the birds have not ample dry-scratching - shed accommodation. In fact, it is useless attempting winter egg production unless sheltered scratching accommodation, in which the birds can be confined on wet and cold days, is provided. If the accommodation is ample and sanitary in every respect, and there is proper scratching material, the bird will not suffer in the least by the temporary confinement. Where the houses have been unfortunately constructed on a principle which does not permit of the birds being closed up in bad weather they should certainly be'"fed in the house, so that they may be induced to remain there till they receive their feed. Waiting about in wet weather in the runs for a feed cannot be good for them and must affect the egg yield. In the case of late hatched pullets the mere fact of these going to roost with wet plumage renders them liable to roup and colds. Of course, even if fed in the house fowls will dodge out occasionally into the runs, looking for the insect life almost sure to be there after rain. This, however, has not the bad effect moping about hungry in a wet yard waiting for the attendant to feed them will have. The high-type layer bred to lay in cold weather is artificial whatever way she is regarded and must be treated accordingly..

EGG-LAYING TESTS

The present system of awarding the honours in egg-laying competitions in this country ia wrong. The birds that lay the largest number of eggs in a season are not necessarily the most valuable bird?. It is not the fowl which lays the largest number of eggs in the cheap season, but the bird laiyng most of its eggs in the dear season which is most to be desired. Therefore the most valuable pen in a competition is the one which will give the largest return, based on the cash secured for its eggs. I noticed the other day that in a South African laying competition the position of the pens was determined by the weight of eggs laid. This is a better idea than calculating merit merely according to numbers, but it is not to be compared with determining thewinners according to the cash value of the eggs produced. If the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club is anxious to provide New Zealand poultrymen with a proper comparison as to the respective pens and the respective breeds which took part in its last competition, it can easily do it. All that is required is to calculate the value of the eggs laid by the several pens according to the ruling market rates from week to week. Then and only then would the most valuable birds in the competition be disclosed. The whole object of utility poultry-keepers at the present time is to breed hens to lay when eggs are dear, and the hens that will do this, given the correct hatching period and the proper management, are of the type most to be desired. The egg-laying competition should provide this important information.

A UTILITY SYMPOSIUM

There should be a good gathering of utility poultry-keeper?; at the National Dairy Show, Palmerston North next month. The fact that the birds will be judged by the Government Poultry Instructor, Mr F.C. Brown, on a points system and a breed and utility standard has encouraged a number of the leading utility breeders of this island to enter birds, and these breeders intend to foregather at Palmerston in an informal way to discuss matters concerning the breeding of utility poultry, from an educative standpoint. Messrs Inman - Tod, Willoughby Knight, E. Worthy, E. Hail, and G. Finn are among those who have already decided to be at the show. For the convenience of visiting utility men the A. and p. Food Company will provide a little meeting place behind its exhibit, where they may meet one another and disuss such things as the laying versus the table tpye. The opportunity will be unique for practical poultry men to extend their knowledge of the business.

A SEASONABLE NOTE,

Those who have not commenced hatching already should get everything in readiness for the season's operations. Incubators should be dismantled and thoroughly cleaned. Boil the burners in soda water, lit new wicks and t-e< ; that they work freely, Scrub the incubators inside and outside with hot water. Renew anything needed. When dry, paint the incubators inside and out with a sheep dip solution. Dirty incubators ore full of disease germs, which infect the chicken as soon aa hatched. Machines should be cleaned and disinfected after each hatch. Brooders should also be dismantled and every part cleaned and scrubbed and disinfected.

SCRATCHINGS

Only buy your siting from the guaranted egg-producer. Maize may be fed either whole or cracked, preferably in the latter way. Keep your eye on the nest boxes, These should be periodically cleaned out and disinfected. While the purebred costs no more to keep than the mongrel, the surplus stock will always sell at a better figure. Canned eggs, described as an evil vvhioh grew quickly in America, is one the authorities have undertaken to abate. A bacterial exairjifiatiqii of some £20,000 worth of canned eggs from China disclosed nearly every microbe known to science.