THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8560, 24 October 1913, Page 2

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

N.Z. UTILITY CLUB NINTH EGG-LAYING COMPETITION FOE FOWLS, RESULTS TO DATE. Special to the ‘'Times.'’ CHRISTCHURCH. October 23. For tho twenty-eighth week of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Clubs ninth . \IV-IyiuK com petition for towla LOl were laid, biiuKini? the total to haute "33.335. iaetails are as follows;- ToU ,

COMPETITION FOE DUCKS. For tho twenty-eighth week, of the fourth competition for ducks 244 eggs were laid, bringing the total to date to 3954. Details are as under:

TWO-YEAR TEST FOE FOWLS. For the eightieth week of the tworear egg-laying competition for fowls 165 i.'.ga were laid, bringing the total to date ,j 11,523. The totals are as under : Total Total

TWO-YEAR TEST FOR DUCKS. For tho eightieth week for the two-year egg-laying .competition for ducks 170 eggs were laid, bringing tho total to date to yUB2. Details are us under:— Total Total

BROODINESB. It u-oukl appear os though broodiness will finally 100 eliminated from such a breed aa the White Leghorn, or at least that birds of this breed will not become broody wliilo they are at a profitable ago. It io well known how high typo White Leghorn hens have become less prone to sit ns their laying power has advanced, and we have the statement from Hawkesbury Agricultural College that the White Loghoms taking part in the annual laying tests at that institution have declined in brooding propensity by 50 per cent. Of course, the raising of the average laying standard of the oirds taking part has had much to do with this, but nevertheless the tendency U just as marked at Hawkesbury as it has been in this country for, the brooding tendency to decline as the laying power has advanced. CHICKENS. Where chickets have no fresh grass runs they should bo provided with good scratching .itter. The green stuff provided for them should ho tender — ouch a thing as the trimmings of a lawn is useless. Lettugo or watercress, both chaffed, are excellent. Give the little ones some forked over ground to ■patch in. The exercise they will thus secure and the insects they will find will keep them healthy and vigorous. Keep a keen eye on vermin, and remember that chickens reared under hens are very often infested. It should be hardly nocesi) vinphasiso the importance of shelter from rough weather and shade from the summer sun. As with other classes of stock chickens should have fresh clean cold water to drink. TABLE BIRDS. Cockerels of the heavier breeds, which it will always pay to market in decent condition, should not bo stinted in their diet. Keep them growing all the time, as it is only by this means that gcod weight can be put on at an early age and they can bo made profitable stock. It is necessary to keep them by themselves and in a confined space. By curtailing the run accommodation for the ‘■able cockerels more space will be available for the growing layers and for the breeders, an essential to the development being aimed at. A TASMANIAN EXPERIMENT. At the Deloraino (Tas.) State poultry farm an experiment in poultry-keeping has been inaugurated. A building 15ft by 16ft haa been erected, in which some 50 hens will be housed. The principle of the experiment is that the fowls will never be liberated, but will obtain their exercise bv scratching in and about eight inches of dry litter. Food for the next clay is put in when the fowls are on their perches at night. The edges of the litter will then bo raked over it. so that the hens get to work when, they leave

their perches in the morning. The weight of the litter they have to raise will give enough exercise, and in the winter time it is thought that the litter will generate sufficient warmth to compensate for the loss of hot food. This is another endeavour to discover a short cut to making money- without much effort The idea of confining poultry' works all very well in wet weather (when it is most desirable, providing the bird-s have ample scratching accommodation), but to keep birds in all the time is obviously not conducive to good health. It may work well enough for a time, but even if it pays: for one generation birds kept under such conditions will not make desirable breeders, for they will not possess that essential requirement in the breeder—vigorous constitution. Again, if eggs are required at the dear egg season the bird requires the best of food, and nothing lias yet been shown to bo an improvement on a hot raash in the morning and meat at midday, with the grain fed in the litter in Hie afternoon, so that they may be encouraged to scratch in tho litter for any loose grains in tho morning. In housing high typo layers provision should certainly be made for them to be kept it side in bad weather, but runs should be attached so that the layers may have a run out in fine weather, while if the heavy layer is to do her best at a time of the year when she should be naturally taking a rest she must be fed to the very best advantage. This is where the Tasmanian experiment will undoubtedly fail. POINTERS. Green food is necessary for all ages of poultry- but doubly so for the little chicks. / Water and green food are cheap and verv important. Never under any circumstances keep more binds than you can take care of well. ... Be sure that the baby chicks have plentv of exercise. Keep them busy.. Remember full-fed chicks are paying chicks. It pays big dividends to hurry their growth. Always practise absolute cleanliness in feeding. Cull tho flock closely. Keen the best, and orenare the rest for market. Constant thought and judgment are necessary in poultry-raising. Su-cese with poultry depends sot so much on the breed kept as upon the management behind it. Seven black Leghorn hens belonginc to Mr C. Risloy. of 8, London road, Nottingham. have accomplished a remarkable eeg-laving achievement. Between November Ist and April 33th they laid 730 eggs, and from May Ist to August 31st six of them laid 501 eggs, a total tor tho ten months of 1231.

tor Week. to Bale. T. Kennedy, S.W 20 5i4 66b A. K. Wilson, S.W 22 4AS W. Knigflt, S.W 2 a 27 W. 6. Suii, S.W 30 630 35 609 A. H. Wilson, W.W. .. 25 561 T. Kennedy, W.W 33 543 King and Wateon, B.Q 31 639 31 687 J. II. Shaw, B.L . 34 56‘1 A. W. Irvine, B.L 25 331 II. Leeer, W.L Club. 35 648 11 erv t au u g a Po u 1 try W.L. No. .1 32 751 D. Y. Gibson, W.L 34 636 J. Cocker, W.L Club 37 742 Hcrctaunga Poultry W.L. 'No. 2 38 727 C. 1). Kggeie, W.L 33 817 T. Mcllraith, W.L 33 693 G. W. Hawke. W.L. .. 26 687 J: Wordsworth, W.L. 26 672 A. W. Irvine, W.L. JNo i ... 32 575 Middle Park Poultry W.L Farm 29 599 T. White, W.L 33 680 Stewart and Landsperg, W.L. 28 682 .1. A. Curne. W.L 37 675 P. Mason, W.L 34 726 O. Bennett, W.L 32 647 It. Willie and Son. W.L 35 674 Brackenfield Poultry Columbians Farm 28 66! P. Wylie, W.L 23 T. Vose. W.L 35 721 U. S. Wood north. W.L. 33 673 Mrs J. Mills, W.L. .. 32 K. A. Lazarus, W.L. .. 33 812 T. Fazackerlev. W.L. 35 791 A. W. Irvine, W.L. No, 2 36 632 Mrs J. Green. W.L 30 701 W. Scull. W.L 26 813 ■Dominion Poultry Plant W.L. 39 Mrs Ansley, W.L 27 64? Mawson Stewart, W.L. 85 73n W. Mercer, W.L 38 799 A. R. Browne. W.L. ... 32 774 W. Knight. W.L 27 709 R. James. W.L 33 780 ,T. W. Greon. W.L 34 707 J. Stenhenson, W.L. 28 667 Mawson Stewart. W.L. 27 739 N. Solomon, W.L. 32 734 Waincmi Poultry Farm, W.L. 34 710 Verrall Bros., W.L. 36 704 Totals 1701 36jS05

Total Total for to Week. Dale. W. Knight, No. 1. I.E. 36 665 W. Knight. No. 2, I.R. 35 596 Ileretaunga Poultry Club, I.E. 30 536 T. Doiv-thivaite, I.E. 38 ■532 W. Mercer, I.E 34 539 \£ias A. XVontfcld. I.R. ... 35 551 A. E. Browne, I.E 36 535 Totals 1 3954

T. Kennedy S.W for Week. to Date. 1763 .iomain id anger, B.O. a 1541 uer£ v t«un£ft i'oultryClub, J. W*. Groen. VV.L W.L. 35 2081 26 1973 it. Legor, W.L. 34 1996 \V. A. Nixon. W.L. 34 2163 Totals 11.526

T. Dowthwaite. I.B for to Week. Date. . 34 1876 llerctaung'a Poultry Club, l.K. T. K. Hall. I.B 31 1909 . 80 2082 P. Kcllor. I.B 1677 S. H. Scott. B.O. . 36 1528 Totals . 8082