THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3769, 31 August 1907, Page 3

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Mr Hyde’s Lecture. L. ■ Owing to the very inclement weather last evening only a moderate number of people were present to hear the Government poultry expert’s lecture in the Public H"all. Those who did venture out were well repaid and the information imparted should be of incalculable /'value to them. Mr G. W. Morgan J presided and briefly introduced I the speaker. In opening, Mr Hyde referred to the progressive strides Foxton was making. He regretted he could not postpone the meeting in order to allow a larger number to be present, but his time was ear - marked. He referred to the criticisms of the poultry fanciers in the press. He said the poultry fancier, the man who bred birds lor show purposes, had had his day both here and in Australia. The utility breeds, for eggs and table purposes, were the classes of birds that people found to their advantage to keep. Fancy birds for show purposes did not pay. Numbers of people were making good livings by keeping utility birds. The best particular strain as egg producers were the white Leghorns —the mediumsized birds; while for table ahd export purposes the heavier birds, Orpingtons, Langshans, Plymouth Rocks, were the most profitable. No amount of feeding would make a bad bird fit for marketing. He referred to the wonderful improvement in the egg market, and the profits accruing from same if people only went the right way about it, and quoted figures in support of his statements. Those who said there was nothing in poultry-raising knew little or nothing of the industry. To be successful and get the best results, it was necessarj' to have a knowledge of poultry farming. The Government were now' taking youths and men who wished to acquire a thorough knowledge of the industry, for a six to eight weeks’ course of training on the Experimental Farms. He advocated birds being sold by weight instead of at per head. A number of people combined bee-keeping with the industry to advantage. He gave some sound advice as to housing the birds. Birds required plenty of light, and sunshine, and the houses should be provided with windows placed in such a position as to catch as much sun as possible; the floor inside should be about six inches higher than the ground ; perches should not be nailed to the wall, but should be fitted in notches, and not placed too high. Drinking vessels should be washed out every day, and kept in a cobl place ; if the water gets warm and dirty it breeds fever. He said Foxton w T as an ideal spot for poultry raising, the only thing wanting is shelter. He would be pleased to give ad-" / vice to any one, and would send a \ copy of his book (of which 15,000 copies had been distributed), free on application. He then gave some good advice in reference to hatching by means of the incubator, which he preferred to the natural mother. Chickens should be left in the brooder until they were 30 hours old, during which time they should not be fed, otherwise it would bring on bowel trouble, and the chickens would die; first feed with grated bread crumbs and hard boiled eggs the shells to be mixed in together with a sprinkling of very small grit; after the first two or three days feed them on powdered oatmeal, and then get them on to broken wheat put through the grit machine. Later give them canary seed and millet, and put in some strips of meat which they cannot swallow, but which causes them to run about. Exercise was a necessary essential. Poultry required pilenty of grit. July, August, September and October were the best months for hatching, but not after November under any consideration. He impressed upon them to get rid of old birds. During the first year the birds laid the most eggs, and each year the eggs gradually got less. The hens were useless as layers after five years. "They should only breed from good laying strains, and only fresh eggs should go to market. In reply to questions Mr Hyde said pollard and bran mixed with scraps of bowed meat every other day, and grqin on the other days was the best food for laying hens ; barley should be well steeped before giving to the fowls ; Indian corn was a splendid egg producer, but should not be given too often; ground shells and slacked lime should be kept in a box in the pen; green food should be given daily to fowls kept in pens ; only give the fowls enough food they will eat up, but do not over-feed them ; 500 fowls could be kept to the acre, but he would not advise more than 200 ; the land must be turned over to make the fowls thrive; Singer’s Egg Producer was only good as a stimulant and if given two or three times a week would be alright; a good living could be made ' \vith less than 1000 birds, cost of \ fbpd was 4s or 5s per head per year ; each Ibird should lay 190 to 20b eggs per } r ear; he recommended Hogan’s American system to ascertain whether a bird was going to be a good layer or not. After a number of other matters of a minor nature had been discussed, the usual votes of thanks concluded a very instructive meeting.