POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2669, 15 January 1916, Page 15

POULTRY INDUSTRY

ißx OhantkqijEß.) MARKET VALUES. Compared with last year prices nre slightly better, but aro not sufficiently high to compensate producer for the current prices of feed. This week eggs aro about twopence a dozen higher than for the corresponding period last year. The demand is good, and as production is certainly less, producers would be justified in asking for a more equitable price, seeing food values aro 60 high. Greater effort should be made to concentrate supplies, and unless this is 'done poultrymen will continue to make great sacrifices. In the matter o£ table poultry prices are good. There is a steady demand, and the market promises to keep firm. . THE VALUE OF CULLING. Now that, feed is 60 dear, it is imperative that every bird that is weak in constitution should be marketed. These birds will be easy to discern, now the moult is owning on. Birds that have passed their second season." except specially Eelected breeders, should also be sold as soon as the egg-layin? is done. Growing stock should be carefully wat<jhed, and all slow-niating pullets or those of sickly appearance, should be sold off. All surplus male birds should be marketed, so that only the profitable birds be kept. . WATCH THE BROODERS. Market eggs are usually effected by broody hens. Few people realise the harm , done by allowing brooders to sit on the eggs to be sent to market, especially should they be fertile.' A couple of .days on the nest, and the eggs are turned, and when sold cause trouble. In addition to this, the brooder if allowed to , sit will lose condition, and it will take .weeks to get her up into laying form. All this means .waste, of feed, and smaller profits. As soon as a hen is noted to be broody, remove her to a coop or pen, where she gains no access to nests. . We keep a pen with a perch under the trees, and find that' in .about three days the fever subsides, and the bird soon starts laying again. ■ , THE 'GROWING STOCK. When feed is .high in price there is a tendency to stint the feed. Do not accede to the proposal. Young stock | should be kept glowing. If they are underfed, they become stiinted, and never regain their constitution. Cull and keep a lesser number. The high price of feed will teach us all the weaknesses in poultry-keeping.' Growing Stock, if stunted in feed, will take much longer to mature, and will not commence to lay till the high-priced egg 6eason haß pasa'ed by. , MOISTURE AND INCUBATION. A correspondent at Redcliffs writes to say he recently hatched out eleven chicks from eggs set in a barrel, and another dozen from' a hen set on a hard dry floor, and*wants to know how such conditions effect moisture, and give such jjood returns. . Several' instances are given where hens' have hatched in a barn or hay stack with good results. You can take greater liberties with a hen than you can with an incubator. ." The" conditions are so different. The .hens bodies exude moisture of an oily nature which also prevents evaporation. In an incubator this process is absent, and usually moisture is necessary.

WHAT IS BUMBLE-FOOT. Another correspondent wants to know the cause of bumble-foot. We believe tlie trouble to result from tubercular tendency. Lameness in the joints of the leg are due to the same cause. There is some predisposing cause, and when an injury occurs,, such as bruised foot, or the foot 16 cut, the tubercular deposits become active and reveal themselves In the above complaints.

THE DOUGLAS MIXTURE. Another correspondent wants to know how to make up the Douglas Mixture. It is as follows -.-"Jib. sulphate of iron, ioz. sulphuric acid, ~- and loz. sulphur. Mix well in a. gallon of water, and give one teaspoonful to a gallon of drinking water. It .is an excellent tonic, especially when the moult is near. SUMMER CONDITIONS. Now the hot weather is with us, the birds need great care. See there .is plenty of shade, watch their fountains and provide an abundant supply of fresh water; supply an abundance of' green food. Have you a lucerne patch? It not, you lose the greatest and ■ cheapest poultry food. Lucerne is as valuable as bran. It tones up the system, enriches the blood, and keeps away disease. If chaffed and fed in the mash it cuts down the feed bill one quarter. Failing lucerne, feed cabbages, lawn clippings, beet, or garden waste. A PATRIOTIC POULTEYMAN. We heartily congratulate Mr. C. Atkinson on his enlistment. The Utility Poultry. Club will give him a farewell. He is an enthusiastic poultryman and will bs greatly missed. There are several young poultry enthusiasts at the front from New Zealand, and Mr. Atkinson will add ito the Dumber. Mr. W. Fazackerley also volunteered, but unfortunately could not bo accepted owing to a slight defoct in his hearing. . GENEEOUS POULTRYMEN. At the Utility -Poultry Club meeting held on Tuesday it was decided to open a list of all those willing to give, a trio of birds for Frencji poultrymen who had lost their birds through , the war. Several names were enrolled. It will bo an excellent gift, and New Zealand's choice birds will be greatly appreciated. It was also resolved to ask the New Zealand Poultry Association to request the Government to provide free freightage on the birds. THE EGG TEST FOR 1916. We acknowledge receipt from the secretary of the prize schedule of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club for their eleventh annual competition, which commences on April oat Papanui. Entries close on February 12. We will give further particulars of the test next week. Mr. C. Cussen, the Assistant Poultry Expert, is doing good work in Canterbury. His services aro being eagerly sought. It is generally conccded among poultrymen that the Government should • take over or at least, supervise the egg-laying tests being held' at Papanui. It is believed the proposal would be received with encouraging results, tuid efforts are likely to be made in this^ttr'e'etion.

' N.Z. UTILITY POULTRY CLUB'S COMPETITIONS.

The official results of the fortieth week of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's eleventh egg-laying competition for fowls for the week ended- Tuesday, January 11, are as follow:—'

LIGHT BREEDS. , Total Total for to week. date. Verrall Bros., B.L 16 918 H. Leger, S.C.W.L 33 989 Waikato Egg li'arm, S.C.W.L. 32 1012 Calder Bios, S.C.W.L. 28 1013 Heretaunga P.C., No. 1» S.C.AV.L 23 943 N. Solomon, S.C.W.L 25 841 J. Wordsworth, S.C.W.L 25 810 Dominion Poultry Plant, S.C.AViL. '. 26 S3B M. P. Chapman, S.C.W.L. ... 29 Oil Mrs. J, Mills, S.C.W.L 31 1045 A. R. Browne, S.C.W.L 27 925 Peretaunga. P. 0., No. 2, S.C.W.L 18 901 T. il'll wraith, S.C.AV.L 27 SOI C. Warburton, S.C.W.L 25 755 A. G. Brailoy, S.C.W.L 22 998 W'fliiioni Poultry Farm, S.C.W.L 28 599 G. L. Hayne, S.C.AV.L 10 1009 A. W. Irvine, S.C.AV.L. 28 "867 Ashburton Poultry Form, . S.C.W.L 26 784 G. Catleral, S.C.AV.L 30 855 L. T: Wright, S.C.AV.L 35 5 1020 L. Macdo'nald, S.C.AV.L 30 806 Atkinson Bros., S.C.AV.L 31 882 A. E. Phillips, S.C.W.L 30 871 Dalrouir Poultry Yards, S.C.W:! 34 1017 B. P. L. Clayson, S.C.AV.L. 17 837 Bros., S,C,W.,L, Hi SSI.

Jack Green, S.C.W.L 31 1068 A. E. Wilson, S.C.W.L 31 1007 W. A. Nixon, S.C.W.L 20 SGi H. S. Woodnorth, S.C.W.L. ... 1!) 1008 K. Roxburgh, S.C.W.L 29 851 It. A. I-.a7.anis, S.C.W.L 20 833 A. W. Adams, S.C.W.L 2G 911 T. Fazackerley and Sons, S.C.W.L 21 SG2 W. Davey, S.C.W.L 31 902 W. A. Nixon,. S.C.W.L. 31 912 11. 11. James, S.C.W.L 30 BUt R. Mills S.C.W.L 28 998 S. L. Leggett, S.C.W.L 20 832 R. Willis and Soli, 5.C.W.L.... 29. !U2 Green Bros., S.C.W.L 20 819 Georgi, See, S.C.W.L 30 915 Ruugiuru Egg Ranch, S.C.W.L. 8 032 T. Kennedy, S.C.W.L 23 873 Caldor Bros., No. 1, S.C.W.L. 2(J 1010 R. W. Hawke, S.C.W.L 24 822 Mrs. MlCinnon. S.C.W.L 20 804 Green Hros., R.C.W.L 28 903 Totals 1310 4i,526 HEAVY BREEDS, Total Total for to week. date. A. W. Adams, S.W 15 K92 Green Bros,, S.W 20 766 13. Oakes, E.I.R 18 805 Cooper and Wainscott, E.1.R.... 15 913 W. A. Nixon, E.I.R 2 3M A. E. Wilson, W.W 23 GS-l T. Kennedy, W.W 25 887 W. A. Nixon, 8.0 32 925 W. L. . Walker, 8.0 30 912 E. Willis, 8.0 2G 1055 W. Bioomfiold, 8.0. 22 902 Totals . 227 8885 FOE DUCKS. TiTe New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's sixth egg-laying test for ducks. Returns for the fortieth week are as follow:— Total Total for to week. date. J. B. Merrett, I.R 13 845 T. IS. Hall, I.R 29 959 Gleneoe Poultry Ranch, 1.E.... 21 " 985 W. Davidson, I.R 20. 91G Thomas Dowthwaite, I.E 23 785 W. Knight, I.R ; 33 1109 W. Knight, I.E 27 850 Wainoni P. Farm, I.R 14 305 ' Totals 180 6751 The letters after each entry denote the breed, as under:—B.L., Brown Leghorn; S.C.W.L., Single Comb White Leghorn; E.C.W.L.,' Rose Comb White Leghorn; S.W., Silver Wyandotte; R.1.R., Rhode Island .Red; W.W., White Wyandotte; 8.0., Black Orpington; I .It., Indian Runner.