TIMELY TOPICS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 21, 16 April 1927, Page 24 (Supplement)

TIMELY TOPICS

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS (By GEO. H. AMBLER.) In the first place the successful practical poultrykeeper is of necessity a thorough business man. As a business man he treats his poultry, whether they number 10 or 10,000, in the light of a commercial enterprise, which demands the application of business methods quite as much as any other undertaking. Before embarking on anything approaching an extensive scale, he acquires as much theoretical knowledge as the magnitude of his undertaking requires. He starts in the smallest possible way and does not attempt to extend operations until he has thoroughly established his project on a sound, profitable basis. When he does extend operations he proceeds cautiously, enlarging only those departments which have proved the most profitable and simultaneously eliminating or remodelling those which have proved otherwise, always keeping within the bounds of his capital, and, if possible, reserving a margin for a rainy day. The successful poultryman is usually a specialist concentrating the bulk of his brains, capital and labour on the several departments of the industry which are best adapted to his particular circumstances. On the other hand, he does not put all his eggs into one basket. The practical man has always subsidiary departments which greatly augment his profits, but they are never allowed to detract frpm or defeat his objects, but rather to assist

them. The practical man is not antiquated or prejudiced in his ideas, at the same time he is not blown about by every wind of doctrine unless he lias substantial reason to believe that it will be to his financial benefit When he does take up a new departure, he experiments on a small scale. If the trial is a failure, the loss is inconsiderable; if a success, a valuable object -lesson is learnt, which is quickly followed by a remunerative project. The principal desideratum of the practical poultry-keeper is to obtain

the maximum of revenue with the minimum of expenditure. Quality is generally of far greater importance than quantity. On the other hand, the strictly commercial poultry breeder will not voluntarily increase his working expenses unless this action promises to increase his receipts in a corresponding manner. WASTE OF ENERGY The practical man is a theorist, but he is ever aware that mere fireside legislation is absolutely useless unless it is supported by practical application of physical labour. He regards his physical endeavours (like his capital), as an investment from which he expects a reasonable interest. He knows that good management applied to either land or livestock is a giltedged security, which never fails to yield a manifold return. But lfe puts brains into his work, and this enables him to accomplish his duties without waste of energy. Every poultry-keeper wishes to obtain the best results. Practical, theoretical and commercial knowledge alike show that the best results are usually only obtainable under the most favourable conditions. Now favourable conditions are not inherited by or thrown in the way of their recipients, but are. in most cases, the direct outcome of their own forethought, shrewdness and perseverance. The business man resolves accordingly that every condition favourable to the success of his undertaking shall be on his side. SITE OF BUILDING The poultry prospector’s first practical step is to select a site for his future operations. Having taken into consideration the extent of his capital and the size of his undertaking, he selects an allotment, a small or a large farm, as the case may be, large enough for his purpose, and preferably with a little margin to allow of expansion. It is essential that the land and buildings be in good condition, and that they may be situated within easy distance of a good market and a railway station. It is one of the principal aims of the utilitarian breeder to produce in abundance the out-of-season •egg. This is only obtained by adequate natural or artificial shelter. The practical man therefore selects a site that is dry. sunny and sheltered. The second stage is the fitting up. The houses should be both cheap and efficient. If they are efficient they are not dear at any price. To be efficient they must provide ample shelter winter and summer, day and night, and have some system of ventilation which can be adjusted to suit every possible climatic condition. As regards other appliances, such as incubators, brooders, coops, portable buildings, cooking apparatus, etc., the best are the cheapest in the long ruij. SPECIALLY BRED To achieve the highest results it is essential that the birds are specially bred for the purpose for which they are kept. If egg-production be the chief desideratum, the practical man keeps nothing but the finest strains of pedigree layers. He knows that a good laying strain will easily produce 50 per cent, more eggs than a poor one at no greater expense. Any level-headed business man can see at a glance that this extra 50 per cent, means so much more net profit. Yet it is a deplorable fact that there is a very large number of poor producers kept on a good many plants. With regard to feeding, the diet must be as economical as possible. The most economical foods are those that produce the most growth, flesh or eggs, at the least cost. Properly balanced foods such as those put up by the various poultry-food manufacturers, form a diet immeasurably superior to. and little, if any, dearer than, the too prevalent custom- of feeding wheat and bran - and pollard every day for 365 days a year, or 366 in leap years. It is of the utmost importance that the poultry-keeper make the most of his productions by selling in the best markets. If he keeps well-bred birds he will find there is a ready demand for his surplus stock and eggs at considerably higher than their culinary value. Undoubtedly the best method of reaching customers is by constant advertising. An elaborate system of book-keeping is unnecessary, but it should be sufficient to show the profit and loss in every department. Finally, the practical business man is never above learning. He learns from his own experience, he learns from the experience of others, and keeps in touch with the latest methods by regularly reading the most practical and up-to-date poultry literature that he can obtain. Many of the moulting hens will now be coming into profit again, though there will be others that are only just ceasing to lay, or are still in full profit. If records of production have been kept, and it is found that some of these birds have been laying since last autumn, they may be marked as the most desirable breeders, provided size of egg is satisfactory and they get through the moult without difficulty. These late moulters, however, generally have a harder time of it than the others, for a long spell of laying has exhausted their energy, and in many cases their moult is a sudden one, all the feathers falling within a few days. In such cases keep them warm and tempt them with attractive food, for such a quick dropping of the feathers may be a serious shock and they are liable to mope. Since it is probable that most of these late moulting hens will be wanted in the breeding pen in two or three months’ time, do not hurry them into laying again when the moult is over: a good long rest is essential for such birds if they are to produce rebust chickens.