LOW PRICES FOR EGGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21349, 25 November 1932, Page 18

LOW PRICES FOR EGGS

LESSENING THE DIFFICULTY

GRAIN AND GREEN FEED

B\' UTILITY

Tho necessity for economical feeding seems to be always pressing upon poultry farmers, but never rnoro insistently than in the recent period of low prices for eggs.

Ono way to lessen the cost is to reduce the grain ration, and this will circumvent the unduly high cost of wheat, for bran and pollard are both cheap this season. There is always a suspicion that grain owes its popularity as a poultry food to the ease and convenience in feeding the birds, but a largo grain ration is not required in tho summer time, especially when the season opens under such warm and dry conditions as it has this year. For winter feeding, howover, it is not so satisfactory to reduce the grain feeding so much, and this always brings up the question as to why there are not more farmers growing their own grain. This usually means wheat and oats, both obtained at an additional cost in freight from the South Island, and the former raised in price by the tariff against importation at the present low prices in the world's markets.

Facilities for Growing Grain While many farmers could grow their own grain, there is usually the difficulty over implements, so costly that it is unprofitable to grow in small areas, unless several could combine, but to those who specialise in poultry there is usually a still greater hindrance in the lack of acreage to make it worth while to cultivate grains that would largely become food for sparrows. Fortunately, this does not apply to maize, and those who have any spare land, however small, might well experiment in putting it into maize. Now is the time, if it is to be done at all. The harvesting is quite easy, as it can be gathered at any time over a fairly long period, whereas wheat and oats must bo harvested at exactly the right stage of maturity. Maize is also exempt from robbery by the birds, except pheasants, and can bo easily stored for feeding in the winter, without the trouble of threshing.

Of course, this latter point applies to a certain extent to wheat and oats, in feeding which the fowls are quite capable of doing their own threshing, but even if stacked in sheaves the actual feeding is not very convenient, whereas maize can be stored in small space, and fed in the cobs during the winter. For feeding in the summer, however, other methods may be adopted at lower costs than are usual, and without jeopardising the production of eggs. Frequent reference has been made to the advisability of utilising larger quantities of milk in some form. For those who have no cows of their own a convenient form is in dried buttermilk, which can be procured at 3d a lb. or less, according to quantity, and other preparations of milk are obtainable in a concentrated form which are equally nutritious.

The Use of Milk In the case of those who can keep a few cows, it seems likely that the early future will see an important development in using the milk to advantage for feeding pigs and poultry. Of course, this implies growing crops as well, for this is the surest way to reduce the cost of feeding, as there are many kinds eminently suitable for poultry. Of all the methods for reducing the cost of feeding poultry, there is probably none more neglected than the growing of a full variety of green foods. All who have visited the egg-laying competition at Mount Albert' are struck by the provision of this natural food, in quantity and also variety.

Tho mainstay is lucerne, not only for its valuable food properties, but also because it keeps on growing throughout the year, and is specially serviceable during a hot summer, when so many other crops are dried up. Put through a chaff-cutter when freshly cut, as required, it mixes conveniently in the mash, and the birds eat it with relish. The usual method is to start at one end of the patch, cutting just enough for the day's use, or regulating it so that the first to bo cut is ready again by tho time the last is reached. On the other hand, if at any time it gets ahead of what the birds will eat, it is not advisable to leave it to become over-ripe. Cut it as fast as it reaches the right stage, whether required or not. If it is not convenient to turn it into hay for the winter it would be better to cut it and bury it than to leave it growing hard and dry. Fodder Crops

While lucerne is admittedly tho best green crop for fowls, besides being the easiest to maintain when it is once established, there are other valuable crops which will add variety to the menu, and which can be given to the cows or the pigs if the birds cannot consume the lot. Cabbages and mangels give a heavy yield, and rape is much relished by the fowls when it is put through the chaffcutter. These, however, are largely seasonal, and do not produce a regular supply throughout tho year. Every crop is seasonal to a certain extent, for that matter, but variation in tho supply can bo largely overcome by specialising on silver beet and chou moellier.

If the seed is sown in the late summer, for transplanting as soon as the autumn rains come on, they will give a great yield during the winter and spring, and will keep on growing for months if the outside leaves are pulled ofF for use, leaving the plants intact. Planted in the spring—and it is not too late now—they will yield a succulent food during the driest summer.

TEEMING OF CHICKENS

ATTENTION TO SANITATION

When rearing chickens in "foster mothers" constant care must, be given to sanitation. Glean out any litter in the sleeping quarters at least twice a week, and if there lias been much heavy rain look inside to see if any water has leaked in and damped the litter. If so, remove at once, and replace with dry material. Damp sleeping quarters have a very bad effect on chickens.

J'eed all rations, either mash or grain, in containers, see that they are in a, dry place, and that no food is ieft to ferment. Keep up ' a constant supply of green food and fine shell grit, remember that (lie poultry keeper when rearing by artificial means has to take (he place of the hen. and supply the youngsters with all the little necessary trifle? that the natural mother would find for them.

Small holders should guard against overcrowding. Jis much easier to increase the stock of birds than it is to provide room for them. That being the case, if a large number of chickens have been raised cull early and severely always first of all eliminating any that, exhibited signs of any weakness or deformity. This will ensure sound birds, and give those left a better chance to develop properly. If the incubator is finished' with for the season clean out thoroughly and disinfect at once. Do not wait, and so allow germs and bacteria to multiply exceedingly- This having been done, paste paper over all holes, ventilators, and door joins, and store away for future use.