POULTRY-RAISING.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 August 1922, Page 7

POULTRY-RAISING.

TEACHING THE YOUNG. DEMONSTRATION. A poultry club has recently been formed In New Plymouth in connection with the boys’ and girls’ agricultural clubs, the idea being to provide a competition for the children attending town schools, as it was felt that the field root . competitions were more for country school children. The first step in the practical work of the club was taken yesterday Afternoon, when about fifty children attended at the New Plymouth Technical College, where an address was given by Mr. L. Cocker, Government poultry instructor. Mr. A. E. Washer (cha’rman of the boys’ and girls’ clubs exedjitive) presided. whilst Mr. W. P. Okey (secretary of the Taranaki Agricultural Society) was also present. The instructor Impressed upon the children that the younger they were taught the A.B.C. of poultry-raising the better, for ones started on right lines they would keep right, and he had found it more difficult to teach older people than ft was to teach children. Mr. Cocker offered congratulations on the promotion of poultry clubs, an example which he trusted other centres would follow at a later date, but. it was first essential that, experience should be gained from the New Plymouth and Te Kiliti Clubs, which wore the only ones formed so far. Tn passing, the speaker mentioned that these poultry clubs were common and popular institutions In America. To achieve the aims and objects for which the club was formed, assistance must be given by experienced poultrymen as well as by the parents, for benefit could only be derived by this co-operation. He assured them the department was keen and sympathetic towards the project, and would render all possible assistance. The trouble being taken on their behalf was impressed upon those present, and an anpeal made that the children should give of their best in return. They must realise that fowls needed very careful attention, otherwise it '“as useless tn go in for poultryraising. Success demanded full attention being paid to details, and the art could only be taught by degrees. Poultry-raising, he said, should be looked upon as'a hobby, not as a task.

An adjournment was then made to Mr. Eva’s poultry farm, where a demonstration was given by Mr. Cocker. Dealing first of all with the management of the broody hen, he showed how to make the nest, how to dust the hen to free er from insect life, how to test eggs, how to feed chickens, and how a model coop and fowl-house should be Built. Mr. Cocker then explained why It was necessary to keep the house clean and how it could be so kept. The need for sanitation and fresh air was stressed, the instructor stating that fowls had no sweat glands, and therefore all bad gases had to be driven away by ventilation. Further, the house should be kept warm and free from draught, whilst the necessity for a deep litter for a scratching house was emphasised. "Get to know your birds, love them, and make, friends of them.” Mr. Cocker urged Poultry-raising, he could assure them, could be made a paying hobby. There was a threefold object in raising poultry for profit. Firstly, it demonstrated to them hnw to keep poultry besides being of practical value to parents and friends, whilst a direct gain was made from the money point of view. In the second place the knowledge gained would stand them in good stead in after-life, and this applied equally to boys and girls, for those girls who would live on farms or in suburban areas would find that the knowledge they had derived in their early days would stand them in good stead. Finally. It made them thoughtful. The question of poultry management was a wide subject, and the sooner it was mastered the better.