POULTRY NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10713, 16 January 1913, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES.

(By ''Utilitarian.'') Lawn cuttings, which make .such admirable green food for poultry, art* best mown us early a a possible in the day, while the dew l> still on the grass, and given to the birds at once. It should not be left to stand, as it will soon heat, and the birds will relish it more when eiit and given in a fresh condition, 'lhc writer is ac a loss to understand why .so many other ■writers for poultry .reader.s nearly always state that the green food should bo given at mld-('. , .iy. Tai-, we f.'.ntend, is erroneous; they require it all day, or just about. The only reason we can assume for "the .midday argument is that the bulk of poul-try-keepers have business which takes them away all day, leaving them a. brief spell at lunch time, dining which they can give some further attention to their birds, and which should best have been done prior to leaving home in the morning.

A second conference of Circle delegates will be held at the Hutt on the •16th inst. The Hutt poultry-keepers, though slow at first to take on the Circle movement, are rapidly making up for lost time, and they are to be congratulated on their progressive efforts.

Last week eggs declined rather considerably in Wellington. How-eve:-, poultry-keepers need not get alarmed yet, as this is not at a.H unusual just after Christmas. We can look I'm- a rise before long. The X. Z. Times is coming to the. front in its strong advocacy fi.r the extension of further ;:rganisulhn. Poultry-men should be thankful we have another section of the Press with. us.

There are a large number of subscribers to'the N'lz. Poultry Journal in the. Wairarapa, but unfortunately, from time to time, one hears of someone not receiving his copy. We have made enquiries more than once into the matter, and feel sure the fault does not lie with th'e office or the publishers, but in the event of anyone not, receiving his copy a -post-card to that effect to the Editor, will promptly bring another copy along. Don't hesitate to write if necessary. A local poultry man of some three years' experience intends to close down the business and devote his time 'to farm garden pursuits, and, to a 'great extent, the cultivation of [onions. On making enquiry as to the disposing of his somewhat commodious poultry houses, it is interesting ' to hear that the houses arc to be utilj ised for the drying of those odonferlous vegetables. Surely a contrast. ' A"sum of £3OO is not a bad record 1 for the sale of day-old chicles and settings in one season, but that is the amount to the credit of at least one man near Wellington, but. don't forget, his stock takes beating, and That is largely the cause of his success. Those who wish, to improve their breeding stock are recommended to look out from now on through the autumn months for their requirements. Breeders have to make room for young stock, and purchasers, by obtaining birds m:w. have the advantage of /studying th/nu tb'.-omrh the winter and prior to the next breeding season. When nos-u'ble, endeavour to siet thos" wlrc-h moult the latest. Th ; s will often delay the purchase, as the owner does not, as a rule, care to part. til) they off layincr. perhaps not. till .March or April, or even in some oas< : \ S not .before Slay. These late monitors, 'however, .should prove to be the most profitable ones to purchase, as thenare often the ones to re-comm?nce first to lay. Hens moulting in January are not to be generally recommended as breeders, though this does not necessarily imply the same with millet* or first ycir's layers. Still, for all that, the millet .that keeps gains right through the autumn is a consistent performer, provided, of course, she commenced ou:£-layinir at the beginnine of the winter and she would probably be ha<-d to boat for renroduction.