THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9568, 26 January 1917, Page 2

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

SCIENCE SO-CALLED. Poultry-men throughout the world are being bombarded with cheap science —undigested theory—with the object of demonstrating what a reorganisation could bo expected in their industry were they to breed and feed their stock on scientific lines'. Generally the men wire are preaching this cheap science have no fixed idea of tire principles they undcavoutl to elaborate. Theory is good enough in its way. but only when it can oo squared with practice. T'bo other dav the British Board of Agriculture issued the results of some investigations made with the object of ascertaining the cause of tue mortality among artificially reared 'chickona which ns more or less disastrous m certain seasons and under certain conditions. Tiro finding was that the cause was due either to a weakness in tho vitality of tiro breeding pen or to the . presence of two different germs at early stages in the lifo of tho chicken. We all know that strong chickens capable of throwing off disease cannot be produced from weak parents, but ryhat of tho effect on tho vitality of chickens of a wrong system of incubating and brooding, to sayr nothing of feeding. The germ theory may bo nil right, but it eo l why have wo not tho mortality among chickens hatched and reared in tho natural way ? There is a great danger in poultrymen being led away to scientific claptrap. Tho .really scientific men who are investigating tho retention of science to poultry breeding and feeding are still principally speculating in the domain of theory, and we, may await some definite pronouncement from them before bothering our heads with scientific principles. Common-sense methods, combined with careful management and strict) cleanliness, arc the. (landmarks in successful poultry keeping. The meu wlro have brought domestic poultry to their present high standard of utility value knew little or nothing of science, and the successful utility poultrymen of the present day are those who, with a good knowledge of how to breed, manage and feed their stock conduct their enterprises on business principles. The man ivho tries to bring scientific principles to hear on the breeding and management of domestic stock is generally a theorist who experiments at the expense of his pocket. The writer would bo the last to discount the value of true scientific work; indeed, one of the needs of tho industry in this country is carefully conducted tests and properly conducted demonstrations at the State poultry plants, not necessarily scientific in nature but carried. out with sufficient exactitude to give tliem o- certain scientific value. THE BREEDING MALES.

When the breeding operations for the season have been concluded it is a wise plan to separate the male birds from the hens, as by this means they will probably produce stronger chickens next year than they would it allowed to run indiscriminately and freely with the hens throughout. But care should bo used and intelligence exercised. 1_ do not know enough about the physical effect on the male. bird—when he is suddenly’ changed from, a condition of free intercourse with the hens to one of complete celibacy—to lay down the law on the matter; still it is a mistake to absolutely bar him from sexual exercise for the several months between the end of one breeding season and the beginning of the next. It is wise to introduce. a couple ot hens to his pens on two days of each week. I’.y this means he is prevented from fretting and going off his food, as he almost certainly would do if completely barred from~the’company of the opposite sex.' If a -moderate--amount, of sexual intercourse is permitted the bodily health is probably better maintained it would be by a condition of complete celibacy, for the reason that the former is the natural ' manner of living and . the latter is not. PEESEEVING EGGS.

The best method is to use silicate of soda, better known as waterglass, It is cheap and effective, and is superior to any other method known to my experience. If the waterglass is cf full strength the proportion of one r.rrt to 19 of water will usually be found to bo right. The waterglass should be placed in an earthenware vessel, or a zinc bucket, -and very hot or boiling water should be poured on it in order to make a thin solution. The remaining part of the water, should be boiled, and may be added and stirred together while hot. or after it has cooled. When the liquid is quite cooled, half fill the vessel in which the eggs are to be kept —a kerosene tin thoroughly scrubbed out to remove the odour of the oil will do—rand place the eggs in. It there are enough fresh eggs to fill the vessel, l place them in n'rst, and pour the cool mixture over them till they aro covered. They should, be quite clean when put in, and are better if not more than a day or two old, though they may be added when a week oid. The test of the strength of the waterglass fs that, if too strong, the egg will float even when quite new laid. Eggs may be added from time to time as they aro collected, until the vessel is lull. About an inch of water should cover the top layer, and the vessel is best covered over and kept in a cellar, or other cool place. Care should be taken that no tainted egg is placed in, as it will turn tho solution musty, and have an injurious effect on the flavour of thn others, although not actually spoiling them. They should be- washed when taken out for use, and. those intended for boiling should be pricked at the larger end or they will crack with the -expansion, since the waterglass stops up the pores of the shell, by which means the preservation of the eggs is accomplished. As the solution prevents any air from getting into the egg, so it prevents auv from escaping when the egg is boiled. For general cooking purposes tho eggs preserved by this method are as good as tho best. It is safer to put down infertile eggs (that is, eggs from a pen in which no mule bird is kept), but eggs from u breeding pen, if put down fresh, and before germination begins, may be placed in the vessel and give equally good results. POINTERS.

Don’t forget that overfat fowls are worthless, both as breeders and layers. Kill or otherwise dispose of all hens after they are, at the oldest, three years of age. . Dryness and warmth induce winter laying—natural warmtn. and not that obtained by artificial means. You can save both money and grit by putting the latter in hoppers. They donY cost much, and save a lot.