POULTRY NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 7 October 1913, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES.

(By Utilitarian.) Mr F. Brown has uttered many a sage piece of advice with regard to poultry, and his suggestion in the last issue of the Department's Journal, that societies should encourage the quality of eggs, both outwardly and inwardly, in preference to size, is commendable. A three-ounce egg, though large, is not necessary delectable. At all shows, where prizes are given for eggs, they should be carefully examined; weight, of course, must be given fair consideration, but the air cells, indicating age, the bloom on the shell, _ and the internal appearance, denoting health of the birds which laid them, require close attention on the part of judges. If this was done, it would tend to encourage farmers to be more careful in the marketing of their eggs, and they would learn that inasmuch as "all that glitters is not gold," so all, apparently, nice-looking eggs are not always a healthy article of diet. In these days of growing enlightenment, a few bulletins printed and circulated 5y the Government amongst farmers, giving particulars as to care of storing eggs, with iriYormation concerning yolks of eggs, etc., might be a good investment. The poultry division does distribute pamphlets to those who ask for them, but tile general farmer who, though he keeps fowls, has not much interest in them, and seldom inquires. Let a leaflet on the subject be posted to every man on the lan 9, and some of the literary seed would doubtless find congenial soil, and tlius another step would be made in the advancement of the poultry industry. Chickens, after removal from the brooders, will frequently tend to crowd up "in corners of their houses at night time. When there are but a dozen or so no great harm is likely to eventuate, but when in mobs of twenty or more, especially in such numbers as fifty, this crowding is apt to result disastrously. In the first ■place, it is urnvise to have more than a couple of dozen together, until they have taken to perching, when numbers may be increased according to the size of. the house. To check the crowding, all the corners should be blocked, or fenced off. in such a manner that it is quite impossible for the chicks to crowd into them. This may be done by tacking a board up, of sufficient height to prevent them jumping over the top. which the mischief would be infinitely greater, or better still, wire-netting in place of the board answers very well. The netting has the advantage of giving ventilation to those on the inside, and so reducing the unhealthy heat otherwise generated. Unless there is any particular reason for preventing early perching, the chickens jnay be encouraged to leave their corners by having very low perches in the houses, say, six or eight inches off the floor. ,

The New Zealand Industries Company has had a very attractive offei' in connection with exporting eggs to America. The same company is,now through its secretary, Mr F. H. Cooper, issuing notices of allotment of shares to applicants. 'J'here appears to he good indications of satisfactory prices for preserved eggs in this Dominion next winter; egg farmers take note, and preserve while you may.