REMUNERATIVE POULTRYKEEPING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1755, 22 November 1917, Page 3

REMUNERATIVE POULTRYKEEPING.

LECTURE BY GOVERNMENT INSTRUCTOR. An interesting and instructive lecture was given by Mr A, E, Salisbury, Government Poultry Instructor, at Mr M. 11. Walker’s poultry farm, on Tuesday afternoon. In his opening remarks, Mr Salisbury said that, in spite of our exceptionally favourable climatic conditions for poultry raising, New Zealand was not producing sufficient eggs to meet the local demand, and as a result largq, quantities were being imported from foreign countries. The greater part of the imported eggs came from China in the form of desiccated whites and liquid yolks. There was a great need for the expansion of the industry at the present time. With the brcd-to-lay strain birds now r obtainable, and the knowledge of how to manage them on right lines, poultry-keeping could be made a remunerative undertaking. The great bulk of the poultry in the Dominion was kept in flocks of less than CO head. The aggregate number of fowls kept in large numbers as a commercial undertaking was only a small fraction of the w’hole. Mr Salisbury pointed out that though there were quite a number at the present time engaging successfully in poultry farming as an independent business, it was a mistake for beginners to imagine that they could make a living from poultry without practical experience. Just as with any other calling in life, it demanded a knowledge of the various details of the work. The beginner should either serve an apprenticeship under a successful poultry man, or begin in a small way, continuing in the meantime in other employment, and gradually increase the numbers of birds as (hey could be made to pay. The lecturer said that it was of the first importance to get stock of a good laying strain. There were good and bad strains in every breed. Some strains had been bred for fancy rather than utility purposes, while others tired for egg production might have become exhausted and weak in constitutional vigourThe self-coloured birds —black and white were to lie preferred to the parti-coloured varieties. Mr Salisbury said that the great question of the present time was how to produce economically. There w'as a danger of failing to distinguish between false and true economy. It was false economy to underfeed 1 lie birds. Tin; only way to get the maximum output from them was to provide them with as much food as they could cut. One of the host ways of effecting sound economy was to supply them with as much chaffed green food as they would (pit. Lucerne was the best of all, hut almost any succulent green food was suitable. For the grain feed a' mixture of wheat, oats and maize was recommended —the proportions beging varied according to the way in which Ihe birds relished the different grains. Barley was unpalatable to fowls in its dry slate, but it / * could with advantage be boiled and made to form part of the mash, this saving the more expensive meals. Meat or meal substitutes should be fed separately so that the birds could cat it according to their individual requirements. Skim milk was an invaluable food for poultry of any age, Mr Salisbury wont on to deal with the selection of; the most suitable type of bird for breeding purposes, demonstrating bis remarks by a live bird from Mr Walker’s yards. It was of first importance to select suit a tile birds for the breeding pen, and this as well as the culling, could best bo done during the Autumn, about February or March. There was a distinct type which denoted heavy egg-producing power, but combined with this desired type a bird must, posses a strong constitution, the points indicating which were stressed by the lecturer. In rearing chickens, the object should be to keep them growing from the shell to maturity without any Setback. The most common cause of mortality was chill, and this was very often caused by overheating. At this time of the year ip nearly every case coming under his notice, said the speaker, the pause of unsatisfactory results wqs continuing the heat in the brooders too long. At the close of his address Mr Salisbury answered a number of questions on various branches of the work. After a hearty vote of thanks had been accorded the speaker, those present were invited by Mr Walker to look over bis fine up-to-date plant, which they greatly appreciated, as it afforded an opportunity of seeing many approved methods in actual operation.