POULTRY NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10656, 11 June 1912, Page 6

POULTRY NOTES

(By Utilitarian.)

On. the majority of poultry plants there will be a material increase in the- supply of eggs this month, with ,a resultant increase in the consumption of shell grit. It is necessary, therefore, to minimise the nivmher of soft-shelled eggs, to see that 'all receptacles for the purpose are kept we.JI supplied with this shcllmaMng ir.;uo>rial. Those who have Itheiir own grit infills will have eppor'tunities of getting a supply ready on ■wet days, or iiu the evenings, which arc now «t their greatest length, and as it is but a short while off the general hatching seaer/n it is well to lay hy a supply of grit for the coming chickens, as plenty else more pressing will be found ready to be done then.

Hens off hiving scarcely touch shell grit, hvit make quick '-work of it when the eggs i:iive coming freely. Chickens require /the same (substance, in a finer form, if or ihe 'building up of the 'bones, crushed dry ■ ibonce being also »ui excellent litem for this. Guinea fowls aire con-side'red by m'any to be w:?ll worth while keeping on a poultry farm, as they are exceedingly quick at noticing any strangers, either human, a'.nimals, or lhawks. Immediately on observing anything unusual about the place they give voice loud enough to draw the owner's attention, and so give him or dior n'n opportunity of safeguarding the feathered .flecks.

Many will have "missed the bus" this season as regards obtaining the best prices for their eggs. This •should he a hint ,to breeders to hatch as soon as possible ito ensure plenty of early laying pullets for next winter. One egg at 2s 3d per dozen is worth .three in the height of the laying season.

The Palmerston Circle, like other egg societies, has mot escaped its vie- | rissitud'ee, .but ifirom reports just to hand the ,Organ,iser, Mr T. H. Ruthterfurd, states that a great improvement has 'recently been effected there. ; A new secretary ha;s been appointed, (and' also a hew committee, and the ■feeling amongEit tihe members is most optimistic. A great deal of the suc"cess, in fact, of the inauguration of the Palmerst.on' Circle is Hue to the •nintiring efforts of Mr E. C. White, ■an enthusiastic poailtryman of Linton, 'some eight miles .distant, In spite of "fche long distance Ibo attend, this does 'not deter hi,m from frequent attendance at th'e committee meetings. Ir 5s- men of Ms caliWre that tbe ; Egg Circles require tg push them right into /the ifron'fc Tanks bf commercial enterprise. They will fight for the right eve*ry time, in spite c'f all opposition. One might term them almost veritable Lloyd-'Georges.

' Wanted^—A Public Caponiser. No, •this is not an advertisement, but it is a position that might well be taken \up dn the neiar ■ f wture. The cry is Continually going' up that Boultrymen -will not take 'the itirouble to-" properly (fatten their birds for market, and itihait if they did so, a viery material advance in prices would result. In 'America men travel the country on tJiis 'husanees, fl'nd undertake the operations for a very few cents per bird. I believe caponising is. not of much value until the birds are kept till some five cr isfix weeks old before they aire marketed, and. this may not appeal to many wllio advocate marketing at three to (four months. There does not seem ,to be much demand yet in our large centres, for this .class of bird, but it is probably due to general ignorance on itihe mart of the contemner. .Still, 'I firmly believe tint if ai goodly number were so treated 'and & few .samples, liere and there, delivered to oUr weil-to-do customers (the demand .would speedily come for, •more. In some parts of the world people would be. horrified at ;the idea bf eating a. cockerel which had not I>een. previously been- caponised. We 'prefer steer beef to bull.