POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 124, 23 April 1927, Page 11

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) Seventy per cent of the total number of eggs producod in Australia are of the lgoz. standard. There is little wonder that Australian poultrymen would like their new export regulations framed so as to allow of tho shipment of two grades—namely 2oz and l£oz. The same difficulty was met with by exporters in New Zealand and much opposition was aroused to shipments of the lower grade. Trial shipments, however, have been sent from Australia and report has it that these have been graded “no better eggs for quality ever sent from Australia.” The shipment realised only 3d per dozen less than the first-grade. On heavy land there is often much sickness caused through yards becoming fowl sick. If time will permit, then, now that wc are nearing the wet season of the year, and before the breeding season comes along, no chance should be missed to clean up all fowl sick pens. .On light soils heavy rains wash the infected surface well and the water drains away quiclily. Not so with the heavy ground. If no system of draining is in operation the water often stands until it evaporates, leaving the sediment still on the surface and ultimately this residue causes sickness and disease amongst the fowls. All poultrymen should seek to assist nature in purifying their yards. They will find that draining, cultivation, liming and the use of other purifiers, especially during the wet season, are very helpful in keeping diseases down. The lucky few should do well if they treat their laying birds fair during the next few months. Already, there is an outcry against the high price of eggs. That there is just a few is proved by the price, which always reflects tho supply as well as the demand. Poultrymen, as the census figures also show, are fewer to-day in New Zealand than they have been for some years past; hence the public, if they will have the winter egg, will have to pay for it, and the few remaining poultrymen who remain in the industry will reap the benefit. As stated, therefore, with careful treatment the fowls should pay and, if the downward .tendency of cost in foodstuffs is maintained, well all the better. After the very lean years surely nobody will begrudge poultrymen the change in the fortunes of those who remain in the industry.