POULTRY NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10704, 27 August 1912, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES

(By UTILITARIAN.)

It is frequently stated that incubator hatches do not give such good percentages as 'hens. . It is questionable which, since the days of reliable machines commenced, could be proved to be the victor. Hens are often to be seen coming along with a complete clutch. Every egg hag brought forth a live and sturdy chicken, and wo compare the incubator which will vary on the average from 50 to 80 per cent., and conclude that the old lien is still to the fore in maternal affairs. But

; of the lions that lay and brood away and conic home, perh.ips,aftcr a month to two months' absence, with no ! chicks at all, or peradventure, just one or two mud-hod raggled .specimens. Case?, like these are probably much more frequent than we generally sI,P--pose, and what wc don't see we don't always mu:«. In the incubator every eL'cv is known, and there is no trouble

iii reckoning up the percentage of live chickens, but when liens lay away, it is only by a mere chance that one •can really know the exact result of the season's operations. This is now the. commencement of the busiest season for the poultry keeper. More egg* to handle, and extra work raising the chickens.'. We have referred in. former notes to the brooding cf chicks and now it is opportune to remind readers, especially begin Mrs, the urgent need of keeping brooders scrupulously clean. Chickens standing close up together on the floor of the box very quickly cause it to become foul, and every day ia not

too often to clean; up when there are many. At the most two days is long enough to leave them unattended. We find river sand about the best material to have on the floor of the boxes. Mr G. R. Sykes, M.l\, has promised to assist the poultry deputation that is. to wait on Mr Massey.

I Amongst the various to he placed before the Prime. Minister is one for an experimental farm. We would like to suggest that seeing there is *>o much agitation now for an Agricultural College in this district the two could be run in conjunction ■ with each other, and if those who are advocating-the College were to get into touch with the poultry deputation (secretary Mr Mcrrett, Chrktchurch) it might be of some considerable value to this community. Mr. J. B. Merrett hay just written and published a book "Advice to Beginners" on poultry culture price Gd posted. The price asked would net he missed by anyone,'and we guarantee 1 that there will he several matters therein that would be cheap at five shillings.

The Australian Hen predicts high prices for table poultry in tho-near future. So do avo, Imt in the meantime there is more money in eggs. One, local enthusiast who contemplates renewing poultry keeping next month iy very jubilant, as he has for many yeSrs been, a firm believer in table poultry as a means of an honest live lihood.

There is evidently a growing demand for ready made chicks, as it were. Persons only requiring a few for their own use often find so much trouhle

in procuring a broody hen that they I will sooner pay someone else to hatch and rear for them. The proprietor of the Utility Poultry Farm had a request for chicks when veadxVo leave their mother, that is, about six week;;' old. Xot many like parting with them then. All the anxiety attached to rearing them is practically finished at that age, and though they may not have cost much to feed per head, there is always some losses to he considered as well as the labour. If chickens arc inclined to pen h' when young by all means let them do so. You will f-'Pc them come away at a great rate, but sjee that the perch is at least four inches wide.