POULTRY KEEPING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue LXXIV, 27 March 1918, Page 4

POULTRY KEEPING.

AN INSTRUCTIVE ADDRESS.

There was a representative gathering I of poultry fanciers in the Borough Chambers last evening, when Mr A. E. Salisbury Government poultry instructor, gave an instructive address under the auspices of the local Poultry and Cage Bird Society. Mr C. R. X Cum. ming occupied the chair and briefly introduced the speaker. Mr Salisbury, in his opening remarks, said his department had been endeavoring to foster the poultry industry by the dissemination of various classes of literature and by demonstrations and popular lectures. The country had now reached a very acute crisis in connection with the food prices, and he warned those contemplating poultry farming as a means of liYelihooo, not to engage in it unless they were men or-women who had: the necessary experience or aptitude for the business. Poultry farming as a side line could probably be made a payable venturej and it was in this direction that the industry should be encouraged. Only those m rather a b% way should take on; poultry farm, ing as thefr main business. Just now it was imperative that fanciers should pay particular attention to proper feeding of the birds. In this connection, on account of the serious shortage of food, steps should be taken to cull out unprofitable birds and care given to feeding the birds ■'.•'left in." There were many poultry, keepers who could not distinguish between true and false economy in feeding, and consequently tnere were to-day thousands of fowls continually going "hungry. ~He was more/than ever impressed withvtho importance of liberal feeding. For the evening meal the birds should be given a variety of grains, and for the morning feeding wheatmeals mixed with bran or pollard. There were three suitable grains for evening feeding, and in order of merit they were wheat, maize and oats. Maize was -coming into use more than formerly. Barley was a good food, especially if steeped in water or boiled; But "the best of all was lucerne, and if poultry keepers were to., go in. more for feeding Ibheir birds with lucerne they' would;greatly reduce the cosi of feeding. A liberal supply of grit should always be within reach of the birds. If animal food was given it would be better to feed the birds with this separately rather than mixed in a mash. With regard to a dry or wet mash this was a debatable question, and personally he considered it was more a matter, of convenience with the fancier, especially if he was in business and had to be at his office or shop at nine in the morning. Culling, as he had already indicated, was very essential, and .. care .should be taken to cut out from the flock drones and birds broken down in constitution, leaving in only the egg ' producers. After .dealirig, with points in selecting! , birds for the breeding .perij- Mr' Salisbury gave a demonstration with three birds, showing the good and bad points of the birds. In conclusion he spoke on the necessity for co-operation amongst poultry fanciers iti the dis-, trict, and mentioned that it was only by this - means that they could ever ; hope to make a success of the indus-

tryAfterwards the instructor answered satisfactorily a number of questions. Mr. 6...Stringer, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Salisbury, said he was sure poultrymen had appreciated his instructive address. Mb G. Grindrod seconded, and the motion was carried by acclamation.