POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 102, 30 March 1929, Page 11

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”)

Discussion on the question as to whether lobes shall be left on dubbed birds is evidently not confined to the Manawatu district. Poverty Bay poultrymen aired their views recently and finally it was decided that lobes remain on.

There is no doubt that sales of eggs colud be greatly increased if the public had faith that they wolud always on purchase get a guaranteed fresh egg. Some poultrymen go so far as to state that the North Island has been overrun with eggs imported from a distance and that some proved by buyers to h.e exceedingly stale. This has led to a lessened demand, the public only using eggs thus bought for cooking purposes; for anything else, unless assured that they were fresh, they- would not buy. How this can be prevented and how poultrymen can make sure that only guaranteed fresh eggs will be offered the public forms one of the problems facing them at the present time. There are many more, but as Mr F. C. Brown, chief Government poultry expert, recently showed, something must be done, something which is in the interests of producer and user, if increased local sales are to be encouraged. Mr Brown said that the industry would never be on a proper footing until the eggs for local consumption were graded and tested at central clearing houses. The present Pure Food and Drugs Act provided for this, but the provisions had never been enforced. If poultrymen wanted the confidence of the user of eggs, the latter must be stamped and guaranteed. Since Canada had introduced this regulation, the consumption of eggs had increaesd enormously. That was the line that New Zealand poultry farmers should take; put their house in order, organise, and then use propaganda for all it was worth to convince the public that they could obtain the real article. It has been stated more than once that during the incubuting season grocers have been imposed upon by some unscrupulous vendor, who has sold eggs which were throw-outs at the first test. Who will deny that such eggs do a great deal of harm to poultrymen generally, incl tnidughe a poultrymen generally, inclduing the dishonest poultryman who sent them forward for sale? Poultrymen will be well advised to stop such practices. The buying public is waiting for a guarantee. Such being forthcoming, it is certain that the demand for eggs locally will increase and every economist knows what follows.

Everywhere it is being stated that, because South Island poultry farmers enjoy the advantages of a cheaper wheat supply, they are able to produce eggs more cheaply. Thus they are able to produce eggs, pay freight and dump these on northern markets, very much to the detriment of North Island producers, who, having to pay very much more for their grain, cannot afford to have their prices weakened by a competitor with an undue advantage. Hence the demand for some concession in the form of cheaper wheat to poultrymen, to which it is hoped the Government will pay heed. As the winter approaches, there will be increasing evidence of the presence of rats and mice in and about the fowl alul feed houses. There is one big argument against the use of dry mashes unless this is >kept in enclosed hoppers. It is that the fowls in their eagerness to secure just what pleases them scratch this dry mash about the floor, and if it is plentifully supplied there is wastage and encouragement for rats and the like to take up their permanent residence somewhere near. Now not only is this expensive, so far as loss in feed is concerned, but it is well known that these rodents are the carriers of disease. Every effort, therefore, should be made to root them out and destroy them. Feed well, but do not overdo it. Do not get too anxious because the pullets are not laying. See that they get enough and no more. An overfat pullet never was a prolific layer. Providing they are receiving a well balanced ration, inclusive of much green feed, they will come on when ready.