POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2854, 19 August 1916, Page 15

POULTRY NOTES

, {Br CHANracufß.) Government Judges. The show; season has been a busy time for Messrs. Brown and Cussen.. These gentlemen havo given a great deal of service to the various clubj without any expense. Wo sincerely hope when the season is over the clubs Trill write and thnnk tho Department of Agriculture for such valued help. Judging is a thankless job, and it is the, greatest evidence that a man's heart is in the industry when he decides to take it on. We do not read that any Government instructors give their services 60 generously as our poultry experts in New Zealand. The saving in expense is considerable.. We recently noted a good full hand given to a private judge, while the Government judge cost the club .nothing. The services of Messrs. Brown and Cussen must have saved the clubs a good round sum this year in fees and travelling expenses. Let us not forget this valued help. Fanciers are sometimes inclined to think that the Department's instructors aro for the egg producers alone. This season the fancy has been treatednoeratly, and it is very gratifying to knowthat the various clubs have appreciated the spleii'' did services of our Government experts. They mav make mistakes, as all judges do. but i« one thin!? exhibitors'may rest content—the decisions of tie instructors are ticketed impartially. Educational Work. The New Zealand Poultry Association has a great work 'before it. At yet ita power and influence have scarcely begun. The great problems before th» industry 'iue not from the point of production—the Government experts have this well in hand—but the commercial problems are of the hiehest importance. 'Who can estimate the heavy losses to the industry in the amounts paid for American eggs, Asiatic eggs, and the fall in prices consequent on their competing against usP What n, splendid work iihe association can do, nwl now we nerd the co-ooeration of all producers to attain results! Poultry Expert F. Brown's SayTngs. I .don't claim to be able to pick out! the best bird in any flock, but I could pick out the unprofitable birds. The only way to intensify the beautiful Is to take care and see that.is so. Best layers are not ; always the "Best breeder*. ' Instead of birds 'being judged by a standard they are often judged according to fashion. Try aid get two eggs where one was produced before. Mendel's law can no doubt help us, but I have never met anyone who can tell us ihow to apply it. The egg-laying competitions have done most to hrintr us'baclt to Hie ideal of the Bno-iish standard. The utility hird as we know it is th'e ; bet interpretation of Ludlow's plate. There manv theories in regard to breeding, but nothing is of much use but pTsctieal 'experience. Breeding for constitution must be the basis of successful poultry-keeping. Table Poultry. The excellent table poultry now coming into the market is proof that, the farmer soon adapts himself to the requirements of the market. Once he learns the duality of goods that command high prices, he is prompt to effect a change in his methods. Compared, with a few years ago, the change >is remarkable. Quietly and unostentatiously a great amount of education has been troing on among the farmers, and the table poultry industry is growing in importance. At an early date n big display of table poultry will be held in Chrit tchurch with" a view to further f.ducating the farmer and interesting him in this phnso of the poultry industry. The Wheat Problem. The wheat problem affects the poultry farmer as muo'h as it does anyone. A man with 1000 birds requires 1500 bushels of wheat per year with which'to feed them. Tho pollard or wheat meal will . absorb another 500 bushels, so that it is safe to say that the 8,500,000 birds in the country will easily consume 3,000,000 bushels of wheat. These figures aro a surprise, and Mr. Massey. when spoaking in tlio House recently, fully;, recognised that the poultry industry would suffer badly unless the farmer were induced to continue wheat-growing. Poultry can bo fed on other cereals, but none is so popular or economic as "wheat. As long as the price does not exceed ss. per bushel, the poultrymcn can do alright, and produce at a profit. When wheat soars ito 7s. and over, egg production is unprofitable. The high prices Inst year drove mmiy poultrymen out.of the business, and the public has had to pay dearly for eggs. It is to he hoped a satisfactory solution will be found to the problem. The poultry farmer will watch the situa-. tion \cith "• keen interest.' Distinguishing the Sex. In a number of .breeds of -the''meat order, the beginner ihns more or less difßoulty in distinguishing the males from the females when partly grown and feathered. In the males it will'be noticod the head is larger, wattles longer, and small saddle feathers can bo seen. Besides, the voice of the male is coarser, which will be noticed in catching ihim. Disinfectant in Straw.A'little disinfectant sprinkled amongst the straw in thß scratching sheds will help to seeq it sanitary. Free Range for Vigour. - Chicks intended : for breeding 6tockought to have free range, and conditions ' as favourable as possible to normal, , healthy growth. Cleanliness in Runs. Cleanlines in runs is just as essential a in the houses. Sometimes tlio yards are overlooked. The soil 6bould be turned oyer very often. An Amateur's Work with 12 Hens. An interesting table has been'compiled by Mr. A. Bates, of Cleveland Street, Brooklyn, covering the cost of keeping 12 hens and a rooster (selected Black Orpingtons) for a year, aud the receipts from tho sale of eggs, birds, etc. The period taken is from August 2, 1915, to August 2, 191G, and Mr. Bate® states that ho has chargcd up every thing,. even tram fares, when on li is way to purchaso food for the. fowls. The table is as under-.— ' .

Twenty pullets wared on ahove cost, average value ss. each ... 5 0 0 Actual cash profit 8 19 10} Total profit " 13 19 10{ N.Z. UTILITY POULTRY CLUB'S NEW COMPETITIONS. The official results of the eighteenth week ot the New Zealand Utility Poultry

•Receipts from Receipts other Cost, for eggs, sources. .£ r. d. £ p. <1. £s.d. Aug. 2 to 31 .118 010 n — Sep. 1 to 30 0 15 2 <0 7 10 - Oct. 1 to 31 0 18 9 0 0 7 - Not. 1 to 30 1 2 0 0 8 6 0 HR Dec. 1 to 31 1 3 0 0 13 1 0 16 B .Tail, 1 to 31 1 7 0 0 14 0 0 3 0 Feb. 1 to 2D 1 9 D 0 15 1 0 8 0 Mar. 1 to 31 1 2 3 2 9 11 0 i 6 April 1 to 30 1 2 6 2 0 10 - May 1 to 31 2 7 0 ' 5 9 8J - June 1 to 30 1 3 0 2 6 8 - July 1 to August 1 10 7. 3 1110 1 7 fi Total ... li 12 8 19 18 6i 3 11 0 iC s. d.