EGG-LAYING COMPETITION.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1037, 28 January 1911, Page 10

EGG-LAYING COMPETITION.

;By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent) Chrlstchuroh, January 27. There is Ueen excitement among poultrynien over tho contest, and Mr. Sail's splendid achievement has won him much appreciation. Tho contest is remarkably keen. i Individual totals for tho week:—Fisch, 37; Rangiuru, 36; Sail, No.l, 33; Wilson, 33; Sail, No. 2, 31, Leading aggregates to .date aro as follow;— Sail, 1218; Knight, 1213; Ealcli, 1196; Hawlce, 1189; Bradford, 1186.

The total aggregate is 54,921. Ducks: —Knight maintains an easy lead for tho week with 24; Scott, 22; Strong, 12. Highest aggregate: Knight, 1025; Hammond, 928. Poultry Complaints. Thousands of birds are annually lost through want of knowledge as to the treatment of some of the more common poultry complaints. Thero are 6omo diseases which it is unprofitable to try to cure, and prevention is tho secret, while euro is commercially outside tho question. It is wasto' of time to cure a bird that has contracted a violent at- . tack of roup. The bird should bo immediately- killed, and tho premises thor- . oughly disinfected, so as to avoid the spread of the disease among tho rest of the flock. Again, in tho case of a ruptured oviduct, it is useless to try and effect a cure. It is tho signal to the poultryman that he is forcing his fowls, and he should change their diet. There should be no diseases in a -well-organised and carefully-attended poultry farm. Thousands of fowls arc annually lost through bumblofoot. This is the result of high and sharp-edged . perches, hard floors, and tho presence of filth iii the yards. Once contracted, tho bird loses its vitality, egg-production ceases, and tho value of the bird is gono. Scaly leg soon spreads among a flock, and is the result of insanitary premises. The writer gave a euro for this in the notes last week. Vermin will do much to injure egg-production, and every care should; be taken that the houses are.sprayed.and the birds dusted with insect powder. ■ . . Moulting TimeMany birds will moult in the winter, as it is tho time of an annual change in the lifo.of tbo fowls. Somo affirm it to be' no tax on tho system, but tho prompt effect which it has on egg-pro-duction indicates that tho birds at this stage need all tho care ono can give them. It may be brought in quickly by reducing the rations, and feeding an abundance of green food. Most poultrymen in a. largo, way sell oil' their hens as they approach the moult, retaining only the 'secohd-jjear hens. required for breeding. It is undoubtedly tho most profitable method.when there.are conveniences for replacing tho young stock. The birds should, be got through .the moult as early as possible where winter eggs are required. .. The; Young Stock. The pullets, aro now entering; their.' laying season,, and thoy aro our chief resource for winter oggs. It is not advisable to force them to lay till March or April. Let them mature' thoroughly. If allowed to lay their first hatch of eggs before March' they will drop intp a moult,' and. lose time when eggs aro dear. The matured stock require to bo fed bountifully;' givo them all, thoy will eat. - Very early hatched pullets, are

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

> (By Chantecler.)

in danger of tho moult, whilo late hatched chicks will not start laying till early spring. Tho secret is to get the birds matured for March laying. If tho land is wet or exposed it will pay to provide closcd-in houses for the winter months. The egg business production is a sensitive proposition, and it is only by experience that all tho details are mastered. It is easy to write advice, but experience is the best factor. Green Food.' A correspondent from Marton (G.H.) writes to ask what is tho. best green food, and suggests the ' Maori' tliistlo. Tho plant is very succulent, and is suitable for growing stock, but, if fed to laying hens, it will flavour, tho eggs. Every poultryman should have his patch of lucerne, clover, or kale. Either of these will serve his purpose. Water.cress is also a good food, and should bo fed when obtainable. Lucerne is tho best green food. Professor Gorrell, in his numerous experiments, affirms.that it contains more food than bran. It is easily grown, and may bo cut five or six times in the season. The surplus may be cured and stored for winter uso. ■ Run through a_ chaff-cutter and scalded, it becomes quite fresh and green for winter uso. Animal Food. • Many poultrymen fiud difficulty, in providing animal food. They. are. not aware that wo have on tho market pared meat meals, blood meal, and beef scraps. These are easily obtained, and save a considerable amount of labour' and trouble. Green bone is no doubt tho richest of animal foods, but it is hard to get a regular supply, and necessitates a great deal of labour. In meat meal or blood meal we have the concentrated foods. They can be easily added to tho mash, and best results may bo obtained from them. Whcro fresh meat is obtainable they should be used,' as the soup is valuable in tho mixing of tho foods. ' Shell-less Eggs. Some, are troubled with soft-shelled - eggs. The supply of soft food should be curtailed. Oyster-shell powder should be added, to the mash twree a .week.;. Dry grains should bo fed...', A mixture of .wheat, maize, and.oats will relieve the trouble. The cause of this, complaint is over-stimulating food during tho pullets', growth. Export of Eggs. A Christchurch firm has received its returns for-two shipments of. eggs sent to London this season. The eggs arrived in good order, and after all ex-, penses had been paid equalled-local prices. In the cvont of our prices being low, it is encouraging to know that we have an outside market that will absorb oui; supplies. Foreign Exhibit. .. An exhibit of prepared poultry is being made.at Christchurch for dispatch foi; exhibition.. It consists of ducks, chickens, and turkeys, and will make an attractive display. . -'■■ Australian Gommer-J. The "Poultry Bulletin;" published in Brisbane, pays a high tribute to Mr. J., B. Merrett, editor, of .the '!New .Zealand Poultry Journal." In its January number it says:—"ln the pagos of the 'New Zealand Poultry Journal,' Christchurch,, Editor Merrett month, after.;month-.js. found making strenuous t efforts to :place"poultry raising" on * abetter footing in tho Dominion, and

the extent to which ho has succeeded in accomplishing this laudablo object is proof abundant of his exceptional methods of advocacy. Of tho humorous poultry monthlies published, few can lay claim to an equal measure of excellence in regard to their special articles on subjects of vital importance, or tho superiority of its get-up and illustrations, than tho 'New Zealand Poultry Journal,' and fewer still record the same satisfactory degreo of progress that has been mado in tho limited time that it has been in vogue. Fanciers ill; tho island States havo much reason to feel proud of the possession of such a high-class production as tho one in question, and doubly so at tho inclusion of such a talented personage. | as Mr. Merrett within their midst." Egg Clrolss. The egg-circle movement is progressing favourably. _ The Mastorton Circlo Has been in existence nearly a. year, and has done excellent work. It shows what poultrymen can do by banding together. Mr. Uoddingtou is an excellent secretary, and it is largely through his work that the' circle has proved such a success. Tho Fcildiug Circlo has secured the services of Mr. F. Arthui Simpson, who is well known in poultry •natters. Co-operation. At tlie late conference Mr. D. InmanTod stated that tho conference movement was.ton years before its time. This is scarcely correct, as tho conforenco proved itself a most > desirable event. It did more than was anticipated. Primarily it was arranged as an educational gathering, and not to become an active force in the commercial work of poultrymen. • If Mr. Tod meant that in co-operating we were ten years before our time, wo are inclined to agree with him. Judging bj tho active interest which .poultrymen take in marketing'thoir'goods, they will require another twenty years to get into line. ' . A Cood Story. I heard a good story when in Timaruthe othor day.' Tho parties interested were two prominent breeders of Wyandottes; one' is a resident in Tiniaru and tho other resides.in Victoria.' Tho'Vic-; torian wrote tho Timaruite inquiring if, ho would o'xehango a cockerel with him as ho had a' number of good ones on hand. Being a good-natured fellow *nd a good sport, tho. Timaru man replied that ho would be pleased to exchange a cockerel with him; whilst waiting in reply Mr. Timaru , took Mrs. Timaru round tho pens to, pick a suitable bird to send to Victoria, and' decided .-to send, ono that had been in the money more .thar. once in the past season. In a short time the ; cockerol arrived from Victoria and turned out to be a real waster. Mr. Timaru was so disgusted that instead of sending his prize-winner in exchange ho immediately returned the Victorian his own bird back' without even a lino in' explanation. Now comes tho amusing part. In a few weeks tho Timaru man received.a lettor from his Victorian friend saying ho had received tho cockerel in exchange for. tho ono ho had sent—"it is evidently," he said, "not one of your champions. I have sent him on to a farm, and if ho breeds anything any good I am to havo tho pick of a cockerel or two." So when tho Victorian got his own bird back ho evidently did . not know him, but'he lniew it was not of the Timaru champions.—"New Zealand Poultry Journal."