EGG LAYING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9439, 8 May 1909, Page 3

EGG LAYING.

A PROFIT OF 10s 7d A BIRD,

Following'are extracts from the report on the recent Nelson egg laying competition : * The competition jnst closed was the first in New Zealand to he conducted on the covered shed sjh tern, the birds being confined in covered pens iO feet by 4ft Bin, with feed troughs on the outside of the front of the pens, the birds eating their mash, drinking, and getting their grit and shell through slats. The system of feeding was rather different from that usually followed at competitions. Pollard and bran, being very dear and almost unobtainable part of the time, oats were used instead, boiled in skim milk and mixed, with bran and pollard and meat meal. The birds ate this readily, and laid well on it. The evening meal consisted generally of wheat feed in litter, though some times oats were used. It was found impossible to obtain a regular supply of fresh meat, so after the first two months the animal food consisted entirely of the Southland Freezing Company’s meat meal, with a little dried blood, the proportion being about 1% pints of meal and % pint of blood to every -10 pints of mash. This was found to answer very well, and gave good results, and saved a great deal of labour and time. Seeing that a good deal of experimenting had to be done in finding out how best to feed, etc. JthelresTilts were very satisfactory. Seven of the pens laid from 1200 eggs up to 12 fi 9Of these the winning pen, Frosfe T s, was unfortunate in going into moult soon after starting, and thus losing considerable time. One of the birds died some time before the close of the contest, and the pen finished with five birds. The average weight of eggs for the seven top scorers was Frost’s 28ozs a dozen eggs, Mrs Rogers’ 28ozs, Savage 26ozs, Ooleman and Black 26>£ozs, Jacka 26ozs, W. Hookey 27oza, J. Hockey 24ozs. THE FINANCIAL SIDE. The plant Is a very cheap one, bnilt of second class timber, covered With netting and prepared roofing. PLANT.

£ B d Oosfc of material for houses Estimated labour, 57 days, 29 15 0 at 8s Land used (including 4feefc at front and back of pens for feeding and collecting eggs, etc.) 18 feet x 180 feet, less than l-5th of an acre. 22 16 0 value say ... 5 0 0 —— —■ Total cost of plant Depreciation at 10 per cent. 57 11 0 and rent of land RECEIPTS. Total No. of eggs sold, 3310 doz., at prices ranging from lid to 2e, and 5 15 0 totalling ... 200 doz. eggs in water glass, estimated value, la 3d 177 11 2 a doz. 12 10 0 £190 EXPENDITURE. 81 sacks wheat ... 30 5 6 25 sacks oats ... 14 10 8 10 sacks bran ... 5 4 6 14671bs pollard ... 6 1 0 43^owe. meat meal and meal at 16s ... 3 12 0 Fresh meat bought 0 18 6 bkim milk bought 14 6 Kerosene, disinfectant and subdries 0 16 4 £62 12 7 1 2 Profit ... £68 7 7