SOFT-SHELLED EGGS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21647, 4 December 1935, Page 16

SOFT-SHELLED EGGS

REPORT TO UTILITY POULTRY ,V.': ■■V : ' ■ That some of the hens at the competition farm of the New Zealand UtiUty Poultry Club were laying softshelled eggs and were otherwise not in good health was reported to the, monthly meeting of the club last night, by the farm management committee. Mr W. Turner presided. Several members present expressed the opinion that these weaknesses were caused by the birds not receiving a properly balanced diet, and suggested that experiments in the food should be carried put in &o attempt to prevent these troubles, Others were of the opinion that the ailments were due to constitutional weaknesses in the birds, and that alterations in diet would not. produce any improvement. It was eventually decided that the percentage of meatmeal contained in the food fed to the hens should be. increased. The farm committee's report also stated that there was a good supply of greenfeed. The report was adopted; The caretaker's report was also adopted.. The chairman reported on the poultry section of the show of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The egg entry had, he said, been the best for a "number of years, while the general quality of the entries of birds had been excellent. The -egg exporting committee reported that the arrangements for the club's proposal for the new system of grading eggs were well in hand, and that Messrs S. F. Marshall and Evans, had been appointed a deputation to wait on the Poultry Board and ibelarge exporting firms in Wellington which handled eggs from Canterbury, asking them to accept the new grading, system.

"I have information that Auckland will probably fall into line," stated the chairman. "That means that practically three-quarters of the Dominion, view with favour the new system of grading." The committee's report was adopted. ' The financial statement " showed *' a credit balance of £25 ISsSd, ~ 1