BRITISH MACHINE FOR SEXING CHICKS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26869, 23 October 1952, Page 3

BRITISH MACHINE FOR SEXING CHICKS

THREE-HOUR TEST AT FERNSIDE

A British-made chick-sexing machine was tested on the property of Mr N. W. Street, at Fernside, near Rangiora, on Tuesday evening. The test was said to be the first in the South Island and probably in New Zealand. Several hundred chicks were sexed without apparent ill effect. Those who attended the test included Mr E. Chambers, chairman of the Canter-bury-Westland Registered Poultry Keepers’ Association. The machine was given a trial of more than three hours, and it was stated yesterday that the machine would be of great importance to the poultry industry. After considerable practice, 100 per cent, accuracy could be obtained, and one of the main advantages would be that the machine would overcome the problem of too high a percentage of cockerels. The opinion was expressed that, after a lot of practice with the machine, the operator could sex 400 to 500 chicks an hour. It' is claimed that the British machine has greater magnification than the Japanese ones. It is also said that the machine method of sexing is slower than the manual style, but one advantage is the 100 per cent, accuracy when the technique has been mastered.

A poultry farmer at Masterton has been reported as having attained approximately 90 per cent, accuracy with a chick-sexing machine, but. with practice, considers he will be 100 per cent, accurate.