POULTRY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 100, 22 January 1927, Page 28

POULTRY NOTES.

(By

“New-laid.”)

Answer to Correspondents If ‘‘lnquirer'’ will kindly forward his mime and address, ns required in the ease of all correspondence, the questions will be replied to in due course.

Supplying Our Customers’ Requirements. Publicity has been given tn a conference which was held recently by representatives of the poultry producers, the bakers and pastrveooks, and the Secretary of the Department of Industries and Commerce, -with reference to a request that permission lie granted for the importation of eggs, both in shell and iu pulp, and as one of those who represented the poultry industry, I was struck by the necessity for two improvements in particular, in the conduct of the marketing side of the business. One was tlie necessity for the greater realisation that both the producing and the baking and pastry-eookiug, or shall we say catering, businesses are very essential to the public welfare, ami that to a very considerable extent their interests are identical. Such being the case, the sooner that both sides adopt tho “get together spirit, the better for .'ill concerned. There is an old saying that one-half of the world does not know how the other halt lives, and it is probable that more knowledge, on each side of the other fellow’s work and difficulties, would be of good effect. For example, how many of th) poultry producers realise the enormous quantities ot eggs which are used by the caterers, not only by way of eggs it* shell, but also in the form of preserves and pulp/ On the other hand, what do the caterers, who have their own special trade problems to contend with, know of the difficulties besetting the poultry farmer. Could they realise the technical questions relating to breeding, the losses caused by young stock by bad climatic conditions, coupled to the fact poultry keeping is a three hundred and sixty-five day job every year, (except when leap year tacks on another day, when that day also has to be worked), to say nothing of the fact that the feed question is a matter belond their control, a more kindly’ feeling might be engendered in the breasts of some of their number. . , . The second matter for improvement is in regard to better organisation of the poultry industry, and particularly in relation to the official body, the incw Zealand Poultry Association. The annual conference of this body is composed of delegates from affiliated egg circles and co-operative bodies, so that a producer, no matter hew large or how small, unless a member of one of these bodies, can have no say in the affairs of the association. There being no organisation in Auckland similar to those obtaining ,in the other chief centres, and that being the city from which came 'he chief complaints of insufficient supplies for the bakers and pastrycooks, it would appear that the neccssitv has arisen for some more effective link between producers and consumers, than at present is the case. This can best be effected by a revision of the constitution of the association, whereby genuine poultry keepers, living where no co-operative body is operating, may become members of the association on payment of an annual fee. The question of voting powers is quite a simple one. and eligibility for office should also be open to all. whether delegates from other bodies or not. ITeeclingr Confined 'Poultry.

After manv years’ experience in raising farm poultry. I have, for two years, kept mv fowls confined, and find it ouito a liferent proposition (writes “L.M.K in :in ovr!nn»*e) The expense is greater, and 1 kept careful account to see if it paid for the extra work, for, of course, the work is a great deal more. Although both and work are increased, I find it much ’“nie satisfactory to have the fowls want them, and whore I can got bettor acquainted with thorn, for there is ns much satisfaction in being thoroughly acquainted with one’s hens and . knowing their characteristics, ns there is m being atquninted with one's friends. Of course. I had to reconstruct, my ideas and methods of feeding to satisfaetor.lv meet, the changed conditions, and in mv opinion tint is where so ninny Poom’- f-•“ in the poultry business. I hey cxikll on. svstem or set of rules to hold good mine, all conditions, without carefully considering whether or not they can reasona.il' be expected to bring desired results. J. Uivn for vears been a careful reader of t» . noultrv and agricultural Press, but find it necessary to consider carefully many rules there laid down, changing them to suit, ni) conditions, rather Ilian blindly aeeeptin„ them as facts. For instance, some oi tl.o least experienced amongst the writers advise feeding meat meal and green food, but two or three times a week to fowls that are confined. It costs much less to teed nn.it meal only occasionally, and if . ls •' easier to feed grains from the bin han greens from the garden, so there is both monev and work saved. . , ... n But let us look a little carefully into the matter. Fowls unconfined eat great quantities of green food every day, and nil tue insects thev can find. Doesn't it seem reasonable that they will do bettor it given as nearly natural conditions as possinie when confined? It seemed so to me. and I started out to feed on that plan, but. dt first I did not have all the green food 1 needed—not having planned for it in advance —neither could I always get meat meal, and sometimes for weeks at a time was compelled to feed both meat and greens very sparingly to avoid being out of them entirely. Experience proved that m.v theory in the matter was correct, and 1 found that a regular daily supply—especially of the meat—gave much more satis, factory results. , .But here again judgment must be used. If fowls are unconflned, it takes them all day to pick up their “meal of meat and supply Af greens. I fed the meat meal in the morning mash, but that was gobbled up quicklv: then they sat around m tnc sun or *dmdc, according to the season, ami did nothing for hours. The green stuff, too was eaten too quickly, so T thought oi a better wav. I food later in tho morning, and find that they now go directly to the scratching ground and hunt there for the remains of the night’s grain until near feeding time. Instead of the mash I put the meat meal in bran one morning, and in pollard the next, and feed it dry—as thev do not. ent it so rapidly—unless I want to add red pepper, ginger or sulphur, then we make it into a mash. I feed sparinglv, leaving them with some appetite, and within half an hour or so scatter a little oats in the litter, which keeps them busy until noon. I feed greens two or three times a dav, just before or after, the regular meal. 'So far my method has proven satisfactory, although I will probably see where I improve on it as I give my fowls more and more attention.