Notes for the Poultry Keeper

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 44, 22 February 1936, Page 7

Notes for the Poultry Keeper

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY. 154,221 HOUSEHOLDS INTERESTED. “Recent statistics showed that 154,221 persons, or approximately 50 per cent, of the householders in New Zealand, kept poultry. The returns furth show *’’.at 117.9P°.

proximatoly 77 per cent of those householders kept under 20 fowls, and only 66 householders kept 1000 fowls or over at that time,” states Mr C. J. C. Cussen, chief poultry instructor of the Department of Agriculture, Wellington, in an article in the latest issue of the Journal of Agriculture, which should be full interest and information to local poultry-keepers. “The indications are thatthogreater bulk of tho eggs and poultry produced in this Dominion comes from the farmers or small producers, and this no doubt will continue to bo the position, although in rocent years there appears to be a tendency in certain centres foi more people to take up poultry-keeping on a larger scale,” he continues. The Ideal Site. If it is intended to take up poultrykeeping on a commercial scale, the selection of site calls for very careful consideration. The ideal class of soil on which to keep poultry is a sandy loam with a gravel subsoil—a soil which produces a good growth of grass, the gravel subsoil allowing of a good free drainage. It is an advantage to have a site which has a slight slope to the north, and which is sheltered from the prevailing bad weather by either natural shelter or a belt of trees.

“Such ideal sites are,, of course, not easy to find, but it is well to bear in mind that environment plays a very large part where poultry are concerned, and heavy, damp soil or exposed, bleak situations should be avoided. Even on some farms where only a comparatively small flock of birds is kept, if more consideration were given to the selection of the site for the poultry houses and runs the poultry-keeping would, in many cases, prove a more profitable and interesting venture. “Another point that requires careful consideration when selecting a site for a plant is the distance from a good market and tho average price of foodstuffs in that particular district. Generally speaking, the profit over the cost of production, even under the most favourable circumstances, is such that, ii valuable time has to be taken up in the carting of produce to and from the market, instead of attending to the rnoro important work of production, or if heavy freights have to be paid, much loss may result. Experience Necessary. “Experience has shown that the most successful poultry-farmers are amongst those who have either started by keeping a few fowls as a hobby and gradually built up their flock as experience and knowledge were obtained, or who first spent some time on a successful poultry keeper’s farm plant befloire starting out in business on their own account. “Unfortunately, some have started in the business and found- that they were unable to make a success of the venture, and in a number of such cases thoso concerned have failed to appreciate clio fact that poultry in large numbers is one of the most difficult classes of livestock to handle profitably, or that poultry-farming is a highly skilled occupation, and is even more dangerous financially to undertake without experience than other branches of production. “It is desirable, if a person wishes to take up poultry-keeping on a commercial scale, to first obtain some practical experience on the run of a successful poultryman, or start in a small way and gradually build up as knowledge and experience grow. ~ “One of the most important jobs a poultry-keeper should learn is how to cull his flock correctly. Generally, Feb ruary is about the best month during which to undertake the main culling for the year, as few, if any, of the good birds should have started to moult by that time. “Many poultry-keepers now realise the value of culling, and most of the successful commercial men cull regularly throughout the year, as this has been found necessary In order to keep the flock on the best paying basis. A number of poultry-keepers cull only once a year, during the autumn, because. they do not feel satisfied that they could males a satisfactory job of rhe business at other times.” “THE POULTRY BOARD NEEDS WINGS—NOT SHOES.” CANTERBURY CRITICISM. Sharp criticism of the New Zealand Poultry Board was expressed at a general meeting of the Christchurch District Council of the New Zealand Poultry Producers’ Federation, says the Christchurch Star-Sun. The complaint was made that the board was doing nothing to assist the industry in return for the taxation levied. “The board is not one of those which wants running shoes,” declared Mr Morgan Williams, M.P., “it wants wings, and unless it can show better results in the near'future, I shall do all I can to wipe it out of existence.” Although Mr Williams’ remarks were plainly supported by many of those present, the president, Mr W. , Turner, and one or two others, spoke in.defence of the board.

4 ‘ People have asked me what ■ the board has been doing, and I have never been able to tell them,” said Mr Williams. “Jt'is taxing the poultry producers and it can’t show anything for it.”

Mr Williams went on to say that he understood when tho board was form-

ed .that it was going to organise the

poultry industry as it was organised in (Sydney, but he hiid been able to find no signs which would lead him to believe that this was being done. ; “The board is actually hoodwinking the industry and giving it a sleeping draught ■ while it is bolstering up the uneconomic system which has been in opcratonfor years.” ; The p'resdent, Mr W, Turner, said that an important clause which had been originally in the Act governing tne board had been removed, and this had left' the- .mard r‘‘hout any power. He appealed for support for the board for a little longer'to see how it would get on. If that deleted clauso—which ADD poultry notes. 410 Oy. 18 related to’ control—could be, restored, everything would be all right,, for the board would .then .have a little power. The board in Sydney had the co-opera-tion of the Government, and that was what they wanted here. GENERAL. NOTES. Mr Thomas' Walton, Silsden, Yorkshire, who judged at 1800 poultry shows in Great- Britain and abroad, has died. A small amount of salt will supply usoi 1 minerals to the ration, but great care must be taken to see that not more than 1 per cent, is used, and it should be thoroughly mixed in the liquid used for mixing the mash. An excess of salt acts as a poison to fowls. In nature, that is, in a wild state, tho hen lays as many eggs as will form a nest, becomes broody, sits and rears the chicks. All this, of course, has been changed by domestication and selection, but nature to a certain degree still affects tho laying, since while nests are larger and intervals considerably, reduced, there are still periods of rests other than for moulting. Batches of eggs may consist of 12 or 50 or more. Feeding fowls is not a matter of giving out a stated quantity of mash, greenfeed, or grain daily. The art of feeding is to give every fowl or chick as much as it will eat up without lookling for more. A' second visit half an ; hour after feeding will always be worth while; one yard will have left some feed, another will have eaten every bit and be looking for more; it is a very simple matter to gather up feed left and give it .to tho yards insufficiently fed, and it. pays to do so. MASSEY COLLEGE EGG LAYING CONTEST

47th, WEEK'S RESULTS

Teams Results. Section D. R. H. Morrison, 8.0. 209 x 176 216 220 x 176 x 202 s (25) 1,193 Mrs R. Willers, 8.0. 217 203 d 224 136 d 23s 166 ( 9) 1,169 W. A. Larsen, 8.0. 155 160 220 x 196 137 233 x (23) 1,101 G. A. Edge, R.I.R. 170 121 188 197 220 204 (17) 1,100 E. A. Dewhurst, R.I.R. 183 164 215 150 189 191 (20) 1,092 Mrs N. H. Short, 8.0. 137 r 84d'130x 191 r 225 186 (15) 935 J. B. Duthie, R.I.R. 197 97 204 116 141 154 (14) 909^ W. E. Jones, R.I.R. 128 208 x 177 x 128 54d 182 x (11) 877 A. Wood, Lang. 190 108 r 189 x 120 78 140 (27) 825 M. L. Boyce, 8.0. 167 185 r 106 d 56 213 58 (7) 735 Section C. M. Stephenson, W.L. 204 235 186 r 243 288 224 (26) 1,320 Miss H. Keddell, W.L. 165 x 245 183 214 198 234 (29) 1,239 A. J. Davey, W.L. 186 223 202 209 217 119 d (22) 1,156 E. B. Wainscott, W.L. 201 210 147 d 111 235 x 203 (17) 1,107 H. Poison, W.L. (No. 2) 214 216 185 205 146 120 (20) 1,086 H. A. Lucas, W.L. 213 152 193 232 175 117 (15) 1,082 J. Graham, W.L. 230 156 159 x 198 313 d 182 (24) 1,038 S. D. Morris, W.L. 192 125 88d 210 214 179 (19) 1008 'C. J. Hubbard, W.L. (No. 1) 218 179 139'177 197 96d (19) 1,006 Mrs R. R. Cannon, W.L. 175 138 174 207 351 157 r (22) 1,002 Miss Moreshead, W.L. 63d 177 x 233 161 .226 108 x (17) 968 H. Poison, W.L. (No. 1) 138 90 144 171 178 181 (17) 902 Mrs M. L. Williams, W.L. 83 140 216 179 S3d 200 x (ll) 901 C. J. Hubbard, W.L. (No. 2) 129 189 96d 122 168 124 (11) 828 “i” Replacement. “d’’ Bird dead. Disqualified j egg weight clause*

Single Pens Section B. T. Dowthwaito, B.O. 1 (3) 252 3 (5) 230 W. A. Larsen, B.O. 1 (0) 218 Mrs D. M. Waddell, L.S. — (5) 216 Miss E. T. Somer, B.I.B. 3 (5) 210 V. J. Billington, B.O. — (3) 202 T. Dowthwaite, B.O. 2 (0) 184 E. Hansen, B.O. — (3) 177 Miss E. T. Somer, B.I.B. 1 (4) 156 2 (5) 156 W. A. Larsen, B.O. 2 (4) 130 K. Mouldey, B.I.B. 59d £:ction A. H. Poison, W.L. 2 (5) 276x A. G. Mumby, W.L. 2 (5) 255 (H. Moreland, W.L. — (5) 252 Whenuapai P.F., W.L. — (4) 241 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. 2 (4) 234 Miss E. Ladd, W.L. — (6) 234x A. J. Davey, W.L. 2 (6) 223 A. J. Dudson, W.L. — (1) 222 H. Poison, W.L. 1 (5) 219 E. B. Wainscott, W.L. — (4) 217 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. 1 (4) 208 F. Lang, Anc. 2 (4) 204 J. Beilly, W.L. — (4) 203 A. J. Davey, W.L. 1 (6) 201 F. Lang, Ane. 1 (4) 198 H, Poison, W.L. 3 (5) 198 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 4 (4) 185 3 (0) 173d Emery Bros., W.L. 2 (5) 167 1 (0) 114 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 3 (3) 96