POULTRY INDUSTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 22

POULTRY INDUSTRY.

LEARNING THE BUSINESS.

HINTS TO BEGINNERS, I

VALUE OF EXPERIENCE.

BY UTILITY. " Chicks" writes from Kaitaia, to ask jwhat books on Poultry are recommended Tor his use. He is 16 years of age, and ,would like to go in for poultry farming, Sn a small way, for. a start

It it|difficult to advise any particular books, for the reason that he probably does not know enough to appreciate them and the advice and information jthey contain. Tho expressions "go in for poultry" and " for a start" seem to Suggest/an absolute novice, and he is probably in the same position as a gentleman in Auckland, who wanted to send his son to an English university for Special tuition in a particular science. jOn reflection, however, 'he came to the (conclusion that the youth did not know ienough to be able to learn anything at b university that would be of value, 60 he took him into his own factory for jfcwo years. The result justified this preparation, for at the end of that period he was convinced that his son knew enough to be able to drink in with avidity jthe accumulated knowledge that awaited (him at/Home.

However, if he wants a book, perhaps jthe best to begin with is the Bulletin Cn Utility-Poultry Keeping, published by the Department of Agriculture, and [written by Mr. F. C. Brown, chief poultry instructor. He will receive a Surprise on reading the first chapter, for (Mr. Brown states that he is frequently j-cceiving inquiries to this effect: "I pm thinking of starting poultry farming. {T know nothing about it and should bo pleased to receive information."

Apprenticeship Necessary. I To such inquiries Mr. Brown states jlhat the only honest answer is "Don't," land all, men of pxperience svill support his warning that an apprenticeship is necessary, under an expert'farmei 1 , 'if possible, before a beginner -can safely venture on poultry farming for himself. As for learning it from a book, this is lmjpossible, for it is only the hard school pf experience, and the lesson of numerous failures, / that would cause the ordinary young maD to act upon the advice of an jexpert who has had a lifelong expenjence at the game. It is a pleasure to encourage a beginner, provided he has in him the grit to win through, but on no account should he think that he can make a living out ©f poultry—if that is the meaning of this ijnquiry—f-until he has had a lot of expedience. The most , hopeful feature in the Snquiry is the " small way for a start," ifor that is the only way to avoid a big 3oss. Take a billet and keep poultry Jpurely as a sideline, at first, attending them mornings and evenings. If there !is not tjme to do. this, then that is certain prriot that the . inquirer is not destined 5 to become a' Successful poultry' farJmer, for if he was, he .would easily make (time, jji A beginner must -not put the cart beifore the horse—giving up his situation fin order to enlarge his flock. If he wants to make a success he must first satisfy jtaimself that he has the capacity to keep CIOO birds profitably while in a situation. 'Then, and only then, will it be reasonably Safe to throw up his job and depend on his birds. / • • ... : Beginners are two or three months late in making a start in November for the invaluable experience .of hatching chickens has been lost. However, better late than never, and even in November it is possible to make a reasonably good start by purchasing two or three dozen wellgrown chicks. That is quite enough foi the first season, and the pullets should be laying about next March or April, ■while the cockerels can be sold or t eaten in the meantime. For the next'three months they can spend most of their time in coop of the. largest size that can be easily moved about, with a large box for them to slee.p, in, not attached 4o the coop, so as to be easily moved. Building the" House/ " ' " j

During the next ,fpw. weeks, while patching the doings of the chicks as they increase in size, it.will be quite earjy enough to begin planning a house for them. Probably the best way to start iwould be to build on the principle of the houses at; the Mount Albert Egg-laying competition, for in that way if about two compartments are built at first, it is so easy to enlarge it as the flock increases. iThe design is not very material, so long as the front is wire netting, the back and sides wind-proof—for fowls detest a draught—dnd the roof water-tight. Corrugated iron makes the best roof, and it can be easily moved.

If our beginner is going to keep poultry Id a large way he will seize every opportunity jto see how other and oldar people keep their birds, not necessarily to follow them, but to check up their methodr. against his * own; *and check up both against a book such as has been mentioned/' Many a young man may be unconsciously making a mistake —for there are plenty of openings for errors in poultry keeping—until ho sees somebody else do same .thing and .realises his mistake. f'

Experience is the. best -teacher, but it is not necessarily the fastest, and fre®iently very valuahlo hints are suggested py inspecting another man's yard. So do not hesitate to learn by other people's their failures as well as their successes, and. -tho original fancy for poultry, which seem to have a fascination for many young people, will gradudevelop into a most interesting 'nobby, in itself and sufficiently profitable to bring an appreciable addition to the'earning from an ordinary situation.