HOW TO GET EGGS IN WINTER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 15 June 1907, Page 4

HOW TO GET EGGS IN WINTER.

The "New Zealand Poultry Journal" recently offered three pcizes for the. best articles on "How to get Egg? in Winter." The winner of the first prize (£1) was Mr F. G. Fairey, of Nelson, whose article was as follows : — "To secure eggs in winter nefids a £food deal of forethought. If they are to be obtained from pullets they want to be hatched early according to the breed and be well cared for from the start. If the heavy breeds are chosen they should be hatched in July and August, this gives them time to be fully matured before they start to lay. and to start before winter sets in in earnest. It is in the latter end of uitumn that poultry faiirici-s in New Zealand want to get their ogj/s. Their pullets want to start in March just <is eggs are beginning to go up in price; they are now Is 8d in Wellington (February 23th). If the lighter breeds are chosen they should he hatched at the end of August, or the beginning of September arid fed from the start. If they seem to be coming on too fast, as they will in a fine " dfry season, feed a little lighter, it only needs a little management to get them right a( the time. If yon should be unable to get early chickens aiid have to depend on hens they should not be more than 18 months old, and of a good laving strain. If running at large, they should be brought in and yarded up. all the better if they can be placed under cover and kept dry. At the end of December thoy should be" given al! they can eat of good strong food. A mash of plenty of boiled meat such as sheep and bullocks' boiled hends cut up jind boiled well. While hot mix in equal parts coarse bran pollard, crushed oats, and a littlf pea meal, mixed up to a nice consistency, net too dry, a;id fod VtorJy in the morning. At midday give "a liberal supply of green stuff, 'rape for preference, for it is a splendid green food for fowls at any time of the year. At night feed wheat and oatf alternately. If meat is not obtainable use meal or green cut bone. Give alsr a feed of sunflower seeds three or four times a week — put a little sunlight oil cake in the mash. This ration should be fed in abundance, and no doubt some of the fowls will start laying but will soon start to moult if tho feed is kept up and will moult quickly, and will start to lay before the cold weather sets in. Then in ear ly winter in New Zealand we often have many sudden changes, these thf poultry farm (• must guard; against. The poultry farmer as a rule goes or feeding, the same ration, this is where he makes a mistake. When a warn' spell breaks iu as it does very ofter ■s-ith rain, the ration should be lighter. Put, in vegetables and mc« bran, and when the weather has set tied down again go on feeding as before. If the poultry fancier goes or feeding with heavy mash, the pullet; will break into moult, and it will bt good-bye wintcr-ieggs. Always havf plenty of sharp grit, oyster shell am' charcoal before them and give the fol lowing in water twice a week: — O)if tablespoonful to a quart of water mad< as follows: lib sulphate iron, loz sul phruic acid dissolved in i gallon ol water, bottle. If the fowls are kep ( free from vermin, and the house kept clean, and bhe fowls provided witr dust baths, yon will have no trouble t' secure plenty of winter eggs."