THRIVING INDUSTRY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 98, 22 October 1913, Page 11

THRIVING INDUSTRY

POULTRY FARMING IN THE HUTT VALLEY OPERATIONS ON A 1 LARGE j ! SCALE. " i Years ago, when the pioneers of thai fertile portion of the Wellington district known as the Hutt Valley commenced to lay the foundations, of many smiling homesteads, few realised what an important "feeder" .to the City of Wellington the valley was destined to become. Industries, starting in the smallest possible way, have grown apace, till today the city is dependent to a very great extent on the products of the Hutt Valley. To the uninitiated city resident, who seldom, by occupation or inclination, finds his way into the rural districts, a visit to the valley at this time of the year means a revelation. Everything is quietly, but with no uncertainty, going ahead, and farmers, beekeepers, gardeners, and \he like, en« couraged by a season full of promise, work on contented and industrious. A PROGRESSIVE INDUSTRY. Slowly establishing itself as an industry of the utmost importance, poultry farming has now developed greatly. Very few years ago it could justifiably be classed among the budding' " infants " ; but with a city of Wellington's proportions so near afc hand it simply had to grow— that was inevitable. Farmers, who, for a start, launched out into farms of a few hundred head of poultry, found, as time went on, that bigger things were possible, and in order to keep abreast of the times and also satisfy the consumers, expansion of their acreage and big increases in their stocks were essential. At the present t(ime poultry farming is in a much better position than it has been for some years, and an air ol satisfaction prevails amongst the farmers. Just now the Wellington district can absorb all that it is possible for the producers, to place on the market, both as regards eggs and poultry. In the early part of last winter, however, a very bad spell was experienced and farmers were unable to satisfy the big demand. All through the winter months the supply remained comparatively low, but with the 'advent of the warm spring weather, a decided change for the better has taken- place. Thousands of dozens of eggs now leave the Hutt Valley farms each week, while there is also a big demand for poultry. AN EXTENSIVE FARM,. One of the largest and most up-to-date poultry farms in the Hutt Valley was recently visited by a Post reporter. Altogether the property in question covers an area of about 6£ acres, of which over five acres are devoted to poultry. With the exception of tho space taken up by the brooding house, the incubator room, and some small buildings, practically all the acreage is covered with poultry pens and cool, shady retreats -for the ducks and geese. Everything' that one would expect to find on an up-to-date ; poultry farm is there. In feeding the birds and collecting the eggß, the. easiest and most practical methods are employed — it does not pay to study - tradition. To picture an old-fashioned farmyard, with the 'mother hen leading her chicks proudly on the way, is to gain a totally wrong impression of a modern poultry farm, for, after all, . it is plainly a business concern. A characteristic poultry farmer has no time to waste on fads ; his method is nothing if not scientific, and Jiis ,one direct aim is to get his products on to the market. This done,' the rest will, of course, follow. THE, FEATHERED POPULATION. Diminutive chicks, confident "youths." full-grown ■ laying fowls, an occasional rooster, a little army of ducks, and a few stray Chinese and Russian geese ! Thus is the feathered population constituted— over .'SOOO in all, and more to be hatched. After taking a walk round the farm, one cannot help stopping to wonder ■ where all the poultry comes from. The answer to this query is simply that the incubators have been working since July, and that the young birds liave thrived exceptionally well, owing to the extremely mild Weather.' The hatching season finishes this month, and at the present time there are only a j few ducklings to come out of theiT shells. From the incubator, the "youngsters" are removed to the brooding-house, , where they remain ; until they become old enough to ! look around for themselves. At the present time there is a vast number of chicks in the brooder, and till arc 1 looking in splendid condition. Soon

they will have to take their places in the outside pens, and so face the varying fortunes of the feathered, tribe. An idea of the tremendous daily output of the farm will be gauged from the fact that out of the 5000 or so birds, from 1500 to 2000 are laying. Besides, there are many "young birds" coming on, which in Sue course will take the places of those at present accompanying their own, products to the market. "Oh, yes," says the farmer, "the money comes in all right, but it costs a lot to keep things going." And those who have the feeding and looking after of, say, ten or twelve fowls, will no doubt agree that what the farmer says is quite true. Five thousand birds to manage is anything but a small order.