THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1271, 28 October 1911, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY.

(By Chanteder.)

Answers to Correspondents. "R.C.," Karori.—Egg-bound. Batho the bird in warm water. Apply olive oil, though it is rare that such n bird is worth doctoring. The trouble is likely to occur again. "J.D.," Khandallah.—The conference opens on November 7. Every poultryman should endeavour to bo present. The Fad About Nature.

"We must get near to Nature, and follow her if wo want to succeed in poultry." Wo have heard that expression so often, and, just as often, we have longed to raise our voieo in opposition, frustrate these old ideas, and exposo their weakness. "Getting back to Nature" is an out-of-dato policy now. In fact, in poultrykeeping there is so much that is not natural that poor old Nature has got out of tho running, ller methods have all been supplanted by newer and better systems. Naturo is against us in our requirements—not for us. She's in favour of the hen—not us. What are Nature's intentions? She intends that the hen uhould lay 20 eggs a year, and then only to reproduce her kind; wo require 2CO. She develops the muscles, not tho eggproducing functions. She demands exercise in tho search of food, which we provide an abundance at hand. She requires maternal incubation, while we resort to artificial. Sho provides a certain rest to the hen, while wo expect regular and continual service. Sho leaves the hen exposed to the wet and cold of winter, while we insist on summer conditions. Nature intends an idle winter, while wo demand regular egg supplies. Whence, then, comes the harmony between Nature and us? Wo aro at variance. Our methods, our systems, are all antagonistic to those of Nature, which, in many ways, we must continue to ignore. What is required is not adhesion to Nature, but the exercise of common souse, a study of science, and a true understanding of tho principles of incubation, egg-production, and feeding. What's an egg for? Nature says to reproduce its kind. We say it is an article of food. Iloiv is it produced? Nature says by the spasmodic accumulation of elements collected as the result of continuous search for food. We say it can 1m produced in as many minutes as Nature saj's days, by a well-balanced ration containing the elements of the egg in a concentrated and easily-digested form. Nature's way is the long way; ours tho short. Nature intends a long and easy life. We cut this down and resolve the hen into a machine. It may all sound cold and hard, but why should tho hen cscapa service any more than tho horse or the cow, that are worn and spent in the service of man. The sooner we get into the subject of egg-production as a science, the sooner will profit accrue. Nature, in many issues, points the way, but, in many other ways, sho is faulty. Kim certainly teaches us a lot in the hatching of the chicken, but she is a poor guide in tho rearing of them, and her percentage of losses easily eclipses thoso of the novice.

Let those who have becorno wedded to | this old fad make advancement, get into I line, and mako use of nioro rational methods—methods which aro more com- [ mensurate with the business which we have in hand. Care of Growing Stock. Now that hatching is over, every care must be given lb tho growing stock. Many poultry keepers are negligent iu this, and pay dearly for the offence. From three meals a day the birds are reduced lo two. They are allowed to take their chance with the matured fowls, instead of being fed and kept separately, They become stunted in growth and there is no greater handicap thany'Tiaviiig stock that have'had a sclfback.".! It takes months to overcome it, and the birds are never the same, l'ecd the birds all they will eat and especially give them green teed. They will almos't live on green feed, if fed rightly. [t keeps the birds healthy. Fresh water and shade should be provided, and facilities given for exercise. Idle birds never retain good health or mature with vigour. Forcing food should not be used, and the producer should not aim at getting his birds to lay too early. It is a sign that should not be looked for by the man who can see around the corner. Give Hie young stock every care and attention and you will bo amply repaid when eggs count for money. The Paying Year, Though our requirements necessitate the hatching and raising of hundreds of chickens each season, we prefer it to keeping the layers. beyond their first laying year. We have proved that it does not pay to keep hens to go through the moult except for use as breeders. For egg production the expense is too great. Nearly three months' feeding are requircd'during which period no return is forthcoming. It costs something to rear pullets to constantly replace the stock, but it pays in the long run. The returns from the Ilawkesbury competitions just ffi to prove clearly that the first year hens are tho most profitable to keep. "Tho following are the returns for the six months of tho test just ended:—

For For 6 Pen averages. Sept. months. Third year hens 115 285 Second year hens 105 3GI First year pullets 127 530 The birds have all been fed alike, and kept on the same class of ground, so that it is easily seen that the first-year birds are most profitable. September being the natural season for all birds to lay tho difference is not great, but the increase was made during the winter when eggs were higher in price, thus making a great profit on the side of the pullet. Meat Versus No Meat, Here are the figures for the first six months for the Hawkesbury College experiment. Tho birds, feeding, housing, and general attention are, as equal, as human intelligence can make them:— Six Sept. months. Ten no-meat pens, avorage ... 117 5G7 Ten meat-fed pens, average ... 12-1 600 Conductor Thompson says that ho is now feeding green cut rape instead of lucerne, and it is his opinion that "whero lucerjlfl can be fed the whole year round, meat supplies could almost be dispensed with." A couple of mouths ago, without any proviso, ho said:- "Tho present demonstration clearly proves that meat is not indispensable. Now he says that even with the aid of lucerne, some amount of meat is indispensable. All along the writer has expressed the opinion that a certain amount of meat is necessary, and somo time ago said "that as _ the real laying period has now come it is probable that the meat birds will get away," and that is exactly what Conductor Thompson is beginning to discover. The no meat diet may make eggs all right, but pulpy stuff won't keep up a bird's stamina while meat will, and it is because of this fact that the meat-fed birds aro going to win.