GENERAL NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 132, 30 November 1935, Page 30

GENERAL NOTES

Barley continues to be favoured by many poultrymen in place of wheat, and when obtainable ciieaper is recommended on good authority. In view of a possible shortage of wheat again this year poultrymen should provide for the future. Chick-sexing operations appear to have curtailed the supply of cockerels already, and many breeders have been able to sell their surplus, if not at a payable rats, at least at higher rates than in past seasons. Over 100,000 chicks were sexed in the Wellington Province this season, though these must be only a small proportion of those hatched. There appears to be ample evidence that sexed chicks thrive better than unsexed batches. The pullet chicks are more even in size and make quicker growth, an important point in chick management. Those that are inclined to doubt the prospects of "money in poultry" must be impressed with the increased building that goes on each season on nearly every plant. In some cases this is done in order to provide more floor space per bird, but in many cases it indicates increased stock. Motor-car cases are used in many instances, and if the timber is well saturated in creosote, it is cheap buying and quite suitable. Some of the earlier cockerels should be ready for killing soon and the quicker they are disposed o£ the better,. Just as soon as light breeds weigh over three pounds live weight, and heavy breeds over four pounds, they should be marketed and thus reduce feeding costs. Prices usually drop after the festive season. Once again two chicks have been successfully hatched from one egg! Poultrymen do not as a rule incubate uouble-yolked eggs, and if they did the result in most cases would be two dead chicks inside the egg on the twenty-first day, but just now and again two chicks will hatch out. One fancier las in pickle a chick with four legs, and another with two heads, but they did not live to break through the shell. When man rears hens that will lay two eggs a day regularly the poultry Ittdustry may boom properly. The Chief Poultry Instructor, Mr. C. Cussen, recently delivered a most interesting address to the Palmerston North branch of the Poultry Producers' Federation. In spite of a wet night a large number of members turned out to hear him and a return visit is ho-od for in the near future. Mr. A. Kitto, recently appointed to tho Wellington Province as a poultry instructor, was also welcomed. He

was previously in charge of the Wallaceville Poultry Station. Electric incubators and brooders are becoming increasingly popular with poultrymen, and in some districts the power supply is remarkably cheap, v.iiile labour is reduced to a minimum. Those fortunate enough to possess mammoth electric incubators report an excellent season and better hatches. The Hutt Valley supply of watercress is a boom to' poultrymen and many usis large quantities as green feed. In some cases it is chaffed up, but other/i just hang up bunches in wire baskets. Wire platforms for chicks under hovers are now in general use arid tha chickn show a marked improvement in general health. In addition they are more easily weaned from the heat and more easily induced to perch. One enterprising poultryman even uses them in his chicken runs to prevent the chicks scratching out the grass and running in too much mud. The supply of ten-week-old pullets is usually less than the demand, and' those anxious to procure pullets that will lay veil next autumn when eggs are dear should place their orders immediately.