DAY-OLD CHICKS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21561, 4 August 1933, Page 15

DAY-OLD CHICKS

METHODS OF FEEDING POINTS FOR ATTENTION BY UTILITY A Melbourne paper gives details of the method on which a former resident of Auckland runs his commercial eggfarm on a property of seven acres sloping to the Yarra River. Observing strict economy, and determined to make the business pay from the outset, he erected a row of pens and purchased 1000 day-old chickens. From these he raised 400 good pullets, making enough out of them to buy 1500 more chickens the second year, which increased his layers to 1000. The third year he bought enough chickens to increase his flock to 1300 layers, all of the one strain. Lacking previous experience he decided to buy all his stock for the first few years, and during the process of rearing them to gain the knowledge necessary to enable him to become a successful breeder himself. In the first year the pullets produced an average of 170 eggs each, but this has since been advanced to an average of nearly 200. Most of the green food used on the farm of this ex-Aucklander is grown on the flats adjacent to the river. It includes lucerne, silver beet, green oats and barley. A centrifugal pump is available, and all the fodder crops can be irrigated as required. The morning mash contains a large proportion of chaffed green stuff, which takes the place of bran to a considerable extent. Liver and other animal food are boiled and chopped up. Boiled barley and wheat have been found a useful aid to egg production when mixed with the mash. Pollard, boiled barley (or wheat), cooked meat, and a liberal supply of green stuff, mixed with meat soup or water, form the mash. This is given in the morning, and in a much smaller quantity at mid-day. Wheat is the favoured grain for the evening meal. It is much cheaper than it is in New Zealand. The nest boxes are on a three-tier system, which saves space and facilitates egg collection. The laying pens are 40ft. by 40ft., and each accommodates 200 birds. The floors of some of the pens are concreted, and the others are of earth. Plenty of straw is provided for littor. Export of Eggs

The experience in exporting eggs to England from Australia during the past season confirms the impression gathered by watching the market in London, that it is no use continuing shipping eggs that will arrive in London during the English spring. The last shipment from Australia arrived on a glutted market, and had to be cleared at 6s to 7s per " long hundred" (10 dozen). Even with this misfortune to drag down the season's returns the whole trade has been considered fairly satisfactory, the average price working out at between lis and 12s per long hundred, but the opinion has been formed that it is risky fop eggs to arrive in England after the second week in February. In New Zealand, where the export season is a very short one, to relieve the glut during the heaviest flush of the spring much better returns would be received if none were sent to arrive in London later than the second week in December, for the price begins to fall rapidly during the month, long before Christmas. When Mr. J. B. Merrett accompanied a shipment of New Zealand eggs to London he found that the principal demand was from the bak'ers who were in a large way of business. This explained two things that would not apply so readily if the eggs met chiefly a household demand; first, that the active demand does not continue right up to Christmas, and second, that it is easier to sell a large parcel of a few thousands boxes than a small lot, as these big buyers will not take the trouble necessary to make a purchase on sample if only a few boxes are available. Exporting Egg Pulp Having regard to the large quantities of egg pulp preserved every year for the use of bakers during the scarce season of autumn and early winter, it is interesting to note the export of this packing which took place last year and also in 1929. Its three most obvious advantages over the export of whole eggs are the avoidance of all risks of breakages in transit, the convenience of utilising all sizes and colours indiscriminately, so long as they are perfectly fresh, instead of having to grade them into half-a-dozen grades, or more, with the rejection of undersized or oversized to be held back for the local trade, and finally the economy in packing in tins, instead of in "cardboard cartons in boxes.

The usual packing is in 401b. tins, but Australian shippers have been advised to send_ in smaller tins, the object of which is not very clear, considering that the only demand is from bakers, who would need to lie in a very small way to gain any advantage from smaller tins. However, efficient export organisations are now established in OtagoSouthland, Canterbury, Wellington and Auckland, in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, and producers may be .assured that these bodies will have the very best information available to enable them to dispose of the surplus production expected during the next three months.

This will be appreciated by farmers,' for the local market has been following its usual downward course since the last week in May. It is only to be expected that prices will reach an unprofitable level after the end of August unless the glut is relieved "by the export of a pair proportion of the supplies sent in for sale.