THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2109, 28 March 1914, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

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Canterbury Breeders' and tho Premier. Tho question of tho desirability of establishing an experimental poultry farm near Christchurch was plnced before, the Prime Minister (Hon. W. l r . Massoy) on Wednesday by ,a deputation of poultry farmers and others interested in the industry. Tho deputation was introduced by Mr. T. H. Davoy, M.P. Mr. G. Willis, representing tho New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, said that they wero desirous of tho establishment of an experimental poultry farm near Christchurch. There were new developments in the industry, which tho club could not undertake, and they thought the Government should attend to the matter. Experiments should bo conducted as they aro now in America. ! The questions-of housing and feeding,' needed investigation, from a New Zea-, land standpoint. • i Mr. J. B. Mcrrett, on, behalf of the Now Zealand Poultry Association, said! that tho publio men of New Zealand: had not devoted much attention to thoj industry of late, but it was worthy of; care. The .trade was worth li mil- 1 lions annually to the producers. Last year £5100 worth' of eggs and poultry had been exported from Lyttelton. Mr. Madsey: Where top' Mr.Merrett: They were chiefly taken away by the Some beats. There were 23,000 head of poultry and 20,000 dozen eggs exported. The rearing of poultry would bo a very profitable enterprise to small farmers, as had been pointed <sut by Lord Liverpool at Ashburton tho other day. He thought tbat the ex-, perimental farm should be close to Christchurch, as it would be then in a ! control position. The old farm at Burnham- was too far away. They' also asked that an. additional instructor should bs appointed. It was rather, much to expect one instructor to cover the i whole Dominion, satisfactorily. If they could not get an instructor for Canterbury, they would like to see one appointed for tho South Island. ... Mr. E. H. Ross, representing the ISouth Island Poultry Association, which ho said dealt more with fancy breeds, was, nevertheless, heartily in favour of the proposal of the Utility Club. 1 Mr. It. W. Hawke, who said he was a practical poultry farmer, urged the necessity for the careful recording of the results of all experiments, and their '.cost, so as to demonstrate to tho farm- ; ors matters with which they could not afford to experiment on their own farms. .

, Mr. A. E. 'Wilson salcl that whereas last year'they had chartered one chamber for the oxport of eggs to. Vancouver, they had this year four. ' ' The Prime Minister said that to es-' fcablish a farm would require at least; £500 for land, and £1000 for equip-, ment. Then there would be £500 a I year for maintenance, as theso institutions did not return a profit. Would .this expenditure,pay?. . i ,| .. Soveral members of,tho deputation 1 expressed the opinion that it would bo worth,' while. Tho whole Dominiou ! would-benefit by the establishment of the farm, and' the dissemination of tho knowledge gained as the result of its experiments. Mr. Massoy said that, speaking of experimental farms in general, he had been disappointed .that so few farmers oven residing in the district" where the' farms'wero situated took the trouble to .-visit them. \ i?Y ' *)«• f\ ■; Mr. "\VilliS said, ;that?'<lora.nßv<)f •poultry fanners from -all parts of the; Do-minion-came to Papanui to see tho | work ' of the Utility .Club. .. Mr. Massey: It might bo ' different 1 with poultry-farmers. In any case, I shall consult with the officers of thaAgricultural Department, and you shall have your answer in two'; or three weeks.-... 1 ' I

: Notes for tho Novlco, . To step fowls from flying out of tho yard you may pull a few flight'feathers (the big ones at the tip of the wing) and so ! make the bird lopsided. Another way is to havo no top rail anywhere. Plain netting stretched between posts makes the best fence for fowls. If there is a top rail the birds can see it and Jiave something to aim at. If there is not a rail thoy cannot see' the top, and 1 give up the flying business after blundering into the netting a few times. In the raising of chickens they will come on better if given a run in a good big yard. If you must shut them up, keep^thorn busy,with plenty'of scratching litter! , . ' • In purchasing pollard do not forget that it is tho/vhite floury stuff which gives the best results, both in egg and meat The yellow stuff that . looks like fiuo sawdust will not give nearly such ,good, results. .'. The white, floury pollard is \ not easy to procure nowadays, as the modern process extracts moro of the white contents. The country mills which have not installed the. modern machinery are still turning out the old, original white pollard,- so that, although difficult, it is not impossible to procure. , 1 You cannot mako something out of nothing, and neither can fowls," which, if thoy are not supplied with the proper food, will not, and cannot, thrive. In tho feeding of fowls, young or old, good pollard is a most important item. It is the bankbone of the mash for eggs, and mash makes quicker growth so far as the production of table birds is concerned. ' . You say you do not know good pollard when you see it? Well, try it this way. Stick your hand in tho bag, and if, when you pull it out, it is covered with floury particles, tho pollard, is gcod' stuff. It your band is dusty looking;, and has no floury stuff, sticking to it, the pollard is inferior in feeding value..

, Tho ordinary backyard poultry-keeper fcould not do bettor than put up a shed with a netting run in front of it, and beyond the run have a strip of land for growing green stuff. The shed to be 7ft. 6in. high in front, and 6ft. 6in. at tho back, with a gap of 6in. next the roof at the back for ventilation purposes. i " Tho shed to he divided into as many sections as desired, and tho runs should bo cut up ill the sarno way to give a yard 'in front of' each division. Each shed section should bo divided by fixing across the centre an 18in. board on its side on the floor, and tho space beyond the perchoa should bo filled with scratching litter. On cold, windy, wet days the birds should be confined to the shed, and they will keep clean, lay better, because of the warmer conditions,

and tlio gathering of eggs will be attended with comfort. On dry, sunny days, they should bo let out into the run in front of tlio shed for necessary exorcise, and when iho winter is over thoy may bo allowed to run outside for good, and will then bo quito fit for breeding purposes. If there is a run in front for exercising purposes, a 10ft. x 12ft. shed will accommodate 15 grown liens. Every three months or so tho scratching litter, should be replaced, tho old stuff being shovelled into a barrow, wheeled down the yard, and pitched over tho'fence on to tho greeitfeed plot. It is a good scheme for tho suburban backyarder, this semi-closed house proposition. Any tendency to simple diarrhoea may be checked by adding powdered, charcoal 'o the mash; sufficient to colour it, but riot to liiako it too black or the birds .will not eat it, and it may ho fed every day. . [ ■If your fowls are weakening in general vigour, as proved by poor fertility and weakly chickens, you could not do better than to obtain'a male bird from good country breeder whose fowls have ■a big run. Value of Culling. Culling now is imperative in' many yards; in fact, in all yards where it has liot already been attended to. Birds entering their- second year are moulting, and in.most'cases are falling off tlio lay, so if it-is not intended to keep them all on to next season now is the econ-omical-time to sell thorn for whatever thoy will fetch. Third-year birds may bo considered aged and® to. be taking up tho rooih and' the feed of young and more profitable birds- Every day they are withheld from market is a loss to the owner. • When starting to moult tho hen is heavy, but when, finished with the process she is at her lightest. This should bp . sufficient indication that at the commencement of ■ the. moult the births should be marketed;, as they are tlien most presentable for the table. Reniomber, tliat second and,third year birds take''a* Test''after moulting be-; fore they recommence • flaying. They, must do this in order to regain their lost condition'. " The-lien.'will build herself up in flesh before, she feels inclined to lay.