THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8733, 15 May 1914, Page 8

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

N.Z. UTILITY CLUB IEN'TII EGG-LAYING COMPETITION FOR FOWLS. RESULTS LOU FIFTH WEEK. Special to the “Times. CHRISTCHURCH, May ID. Tho fifth wcck of the New Zcalur.tf Utility Poultry (.tub’s tenth egg-laying cuiiuic-dtioii closed on May tilth. Details aIC ' LIGHT BREEDS.

A FEEDING QUESTION,

Tt is not generally understood that fowls are not lovers of salt, and that this can be easily overfed, the consequences being often disastrous. Condiments, too, are a mistake. The only successful diet is tho plain and nourishing one, with a good supply of meat for the heavy layer, especially in the colder months of tho year. "The only things in the nature of condiments a fowl needs is green stuff and some charcoal. Tho man with a patch of lucerne or clover is fortunate, for green food should be a daily item of the diet, not an occasional luxury. THE MEAT RATION. There is nothing better as a meat supply for the heavy layers than boiled liver. A piece of this fixed to a stake or large nail, driven through a board will enable the birds to secure tho amount their nature demands. All birds are not of equal laying capacity - and the heavier the layer the more her nature craves for the nitrogenous elements contained in the liver. The writer once heard the Chief Government Poultry Expert, Mr Brown, state in a lecture that birds must bo allowed to balance their own ration, and experience has proved this authority to be correct in his statement. Let anyone put a supply of meat in a poultry house — iu which the fowls should always be fed. that is unless it is the confined, dark and insanitary structure it too often is—and watch the way in which the best layers will devour it, and how tho drones, to he found in the great majority of flocks, will ignore it. So with shell grit. The layers will rush it if they have been denied a supply for some time, whereas the non-layers will probably not look at it. American writers talk glibly about balanced rations —providing exactly the same character of food for every fowl on tho plant—hut they aro still experimenting to find the best mixture. The scientist can teach the successful practical poultryman very little in regard to feeding poultry; and it is rather apparent that notwithstanding the mass of so-called scientific literature issued in tho United States on the subject the best of our poultry men have little to learn from it when it comes to egg production, while French fatteners, and even English poultrymen can give the Yankee points'in- the feeding and marketing of table poultry. Tho American poultry-keeper with all his assistance from scientific investigations and their elaborate rations so accurately set out cannot get the eggs many poultrymen in this country can secure; and the keen American will admit it is the actual return in dollars which finally settles the question of comparative value of systems and methods. When it comes to tho breeding, feeding, and manage-

merit of animals, the best information is gained in the hard school of experience. It is not thr man with a scientific training who .makes the most rucocssful keeper of poultry, but tho man with an enthusiasm for the business who, making tho lull use of poncr of observation, acquires a good knowledge of the essential features and supplements this with tho lessons of experience gained by fellow poultrymcn working under similar conditions of sod and climate. The man who depends on theory to see him through is courting certain failure. The writer has known a poultryman who could talk theory by tho hour, and quite overawe his hearers with his mass of scientific data, but he was an absolute failure at practical work. Theory cuts little ice in tho business.

Tho fame of tho Herotaimga Poultry Company, Silverstream, as breeders of high-class birds, is. rapidiy sproading. Last week Mr A. G. Mtnnby, tho proprietor, received orders from both America and Fiji. To a well-known poultry fancier in Pennsylvania, U.S.A., he ispatchcd a magnificent team of specially-selected birds, ami an equally fine shipment of fifty were sent to a gentleman at Fiji. Air Mumby’s birds again came out on top at tho last Now Zealand egg-laying competitions, establishing a world’s record. A pen of six birds laid no less than 2717 eggs in two years. An advertisement appears on this page.

total . Tota V :eck. . Date Bro-ivn -Leghorns / Verrall Bros., Swannauoa ... 19 76 White Lefrhorns— W. Mercer, Howick 0 9 Verrall Bros., Swannanou ... 17 6." Dominion P. Plant, Coro10 21 IIcrctauiiRa __ P.O., Silver-1-1 70 Olciicoa Poultry Ranch, Ka-2-1 112 IJ 1 A. K. Browne, I'ctane, H.B. l.'i 4s Mrs J. Mills, Uuncdin 1:6 106 U. Clarke, Curistchurch, iw. '> ... U 19 Ransriuru Kgf? Kancli, Otaki la £>y 26 119 28 105 Keliabio P. Parm, Sandi20 95 Waiuoni P. Farm, Auckland 21 S3 ,T. Wordsworth, Geraldine ••• 25 81 H. S. Woodnorth. Winton ... 3 3 5 26 ]1 31 T. Moll wraith, We«t Melton 9 33 T.White, West SIiotc, Napier 9 12 23 63 B. P. L. Clayson. Eketahuna 17 27 P. .Tallies. Marshlands 7 29 2."> 98 K. A. Lazarus, Hutt 31 115 HeretaunRa P.O.. Silverstream, No. 1 25 115 Wainoni P. Parm, Auckland 2-t 68 J. W. Green, St. Albans ... 18 53 Willis and Son, New Brish22 80 G. Clarke, Christolmrch ... 16 21 ,T. C'orrie. Beckenham 0 0 At. Stewart. Christehurch ... 0 0 A. 0. Brailev, Hillmorten ... 0 0 A. W. Adams, Sheffield 27 91 0!alder Bros.. Oamaru 20 50 Ti. T. Wright, A mint 12 48 W. E. Green. St. Albans ... 11 25 t 2 21 129 R.C. White Leghorns— J. W. Green, St, Albans .„ S 5 Black Minorcas— T. Krarup, Palmerston N. 21 48

638 2248 HEAVY BREEDS, White W.yandottes— 11 48 White Rocks— J. B. Merrett, St. Albans ... 0 13 Buff Orpingtons— T. Pazackcrley, Woolston ... 27 135 Black Wyandottcs— Mrs .T. W. Green, St. Albans W. Scull. St. Albans n 10 ii 50 Black Orpingtons— Miss 11. E. Laing. Papanui A. K. Browne, Pelane, 11.B. E. Willis. Shirley J. B. Merrett, St. Albans ... 20 2!) 6 13 13 121 38 32 50 58 Silver Wyandottes— J. B. Merrett, St. Albans ... A. W. Ad&ms, Sheffield J. Ashton, Hanmer Springs W. E. Green, St. Albans ... 5 0 IS 9 11 (i 7 U 47 47 203 827 DUCKS. Indian Runners— T. Dowthwaite, Ayondale ... Heretaunga P.C., SilverWainoui P. Farm Greenithe, 0 21 0 30 7 0 0 57 n 49 14, 0 48 120