POULTRY NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2818, 18 March 1908, Page 35

POULTRY NOTES-

Bt Terror.

—At the Bumham State Poultry Farm, near Christchurch, there is a pen of six pullets which, in eight months up to Saturday last, have laid 1102 eggs. Last week this pen laid 31 eggs, showing that they arc still going strong. This will beat any previous record sot up in Now Zealand. —We have now to hand the report of the results of the test on Hogan's system of detecting the best layers, which was carried out at an American experimental station under the supervision of Professor Jaffa, the director of the station, and by the Poultry-keepers' Association of Petaluma. Two tests were arranged in one — 40 of the best and 40 of the poorest layers out of a flotk of 200 were picked out by advocates of the Hogan system, and designated pens 7 and 8, and in the other test 80 hens were divided in two flocks of 40 in the same way, and numbered 9 and 10. Pens 7 and 9 were presumed good layers, and 8 and 10 the poor. At the completion of a 12 months' test the anticipations of Hogan's advocates were realised, the good pens beating the poor ones by 1720 and 813 eggs respectively. — The following article, which appeared in the Scottish Farmer on January 4 last, has been handed to me for reproduction in the Witness, and inasmuch as it exactly coincides with my own ideas and presents the subject it discusses in a moat reasonable and able manner, I am pleased to place it before my readers, though by reason of its length it practically absorbs all the space at my disposal: — POULTRY-FARMING: HOW IT CAN BE MADE REMUNERATIVE. More opinions and theories have been advanced as to the possibility of poultryfarming being profitable or otherwise than on any other branch of agricultural occupation during the past few j'ears. Theorists and fanciers emphatically state that it is impossible to make poultry -keeping pay on a sufficiently large scale to provide a lhelihood for anyone ; but, having seen this one, end very successfully in many cases, I differ from those who write in this strain. Failures have been found, but the cause of want of success is easily explained. If

any other branch of farming- were entered on with the same amount of knowledge of it as ie possessed by those who go in for poultry-farming and end unsuccessfully, the same result would be achieved, for }n spite of all that has been written about the necessity of understanding the business before embarking on it, many go in for it each year, and fail to make it pay. It is a regret that the majority of those who take up poultry-farming lack the energy necessary to make any branch of labour a success. | The causes of non-success are many, but the chief are an utter ignorance of the requirements of fowls and the soil best suited to them, as well as the conditions necessary to make the fowls pay. Then, ako, a want of practical knowledge of the treatment of fowls, want of energy and industry in those who take up poultry farming or keeping on a large scale, hoping for profit. The purpose of this article is to be helpful in advice, but it is essential for those who ridicule the possibility of maknig poultry pay on a large seale — large enough to provide a livelihood for those undertaking it — to clearly understand that when started by hard-working people who possess a thorough knowledge of the work, and a reserve of common-sense to help them over times which have not altogether been provided against by their previous experience, there is not only a possibility of success, but an opening by which a comfortable living may be made. In short, those who state that poultry-keeping for utility purposes alone cannot be made to pay cannot have had the opportunity of watching the progress of many who at the present time are gaining their livelihood solely from poultry-keeping. Neither can they have formed a correct eethnate of tho need for the production of eggs and table poultry on a larger scale than has ever yet been attempted. Those who do wish to earn money can do so by the means of poultry -keeping, but those who look upon it as a pleasant occupation, by which a comfortablo income can be obtained without work or inconvenience, will not make a siiccess of it, no matter how much capital they put into it, unless they employ a thoroughly practical man, who will have to be paid well, and who then <vill not have the same interest in making his work tell as he would do if he knew what his employer, by reason of h's own knowledge of the work, could appreciate the value of the many apparently trifling things and contrivances to which he gives his careful and undivided attention. My advice to those who have not had any previous experience with fowls is to Rive tip the idea of going in for poultry-keeping on a large scale altogether until they are able to gain knowledge so absolutely indispensable to success. Without th ; s practical experience, money is lost and disappointment results. Then it requires more enthusiasm to go through the winter and early spring attending to fowls and chickens, and to do it well, than it does-. to put in a certain number of hours in an office or workshop, dry and piotected against the weather, and with the certain knowledge that at the end of the week the payment for one's labour is assured. This phase of life requires to be emphasised for those contemplating poultry - keeeping. There is, too, a tendency amongst town dwellers to think of poultrykeeping as the means of liberating them from those restrictions which of necessity become irksome to all at some period or other of their lives. Such idealistic ideas of a free life and money easily earned lead many to failure in the poultry-keeping industry. Such forget that money they make must be earned, and labour must be forthcoming as well as ideas. Still the work is pleasant and recreative. A delicate man may profitably engage in it, if ho is able to be exposed to wet weather and other climatic changes. It is entirely through the belief and disillusionment so prevalent with amateurs that one has only to invest his money in houses, ! runs, and fowls, and provide food for them daily, a,nd thereby get the return in eggs and chickens, that poultry-farming is said not to pay. Having pointed out reasons why some have failed, a word about how others can succeed from a. practical view may be interesting. There are several branches of poultry-farming— the breeding of table poultry, combined with special fattening; the production of eggs for sale for consumption; and ihe fattening of fowls for the market. There might be added the breeding and rearing of purebred poultry of well-established strains and reliable quality, to meet the demand of purebred pullets and cockerels. Others consider poultry-breeding — that is. mating and rearing of fowls solely for exhibition purposes —a luorative branch of poultry-farming. All branches can be made pay if gone about judiciously. Housing, plant, runs, soil, climate, and breeds must be kept in view and carefully reckoned with. These heads have been each separately touched on practically in previous articles in these columns. True, the original or first cost of an enterprise prevents persons of moderate resources from making what in their judgment would be a safe investment. Probably there is no important branch of animal industry that requires so little outlay in labour and money as poultry-keep-ing. Unlike many enterprises, poultryfarming may be begun on a small scale, and conducted successfully with the expenditure of a very meagre sum of money. The poultry business furnishes a marked contrast to some other lines of work, which require tools and machinery to place 9, finished product in the market. Let the amateur 6tart in a moderate way, and let him delay long enough to learn the business thoroughly before much is invested. Failures and mistakes are certain at the start, but a prolonged apprenticeship pays best in the long run, and to one who passes the stage of a novice the greatett success is attained. Unless it is desirable to raise all of the grain which the fowls require on the same farms on which they are kept, comparatively little land is required. Especially with ducks and chickens, whereas turkeys, which are of a roving nature, need a wide range. Four or five acres provide ample space for 800 hens if kept in separate 6mall flocks. Fowls, like other classes of live stock, require more exercise when growing and developing, and do best on a large run or park, as so much depends on a strong body and constitution. Fattening fowls and laying hens, on the other hand, require comparatively small space, and do beet in confinement. Poultry-keeping brings quick returns. The product is quick in the market, and herein lies the seoret of poultry-farming being profitable. So little time being required f°£ the development of % paying' tmsineei

usually makes poultry-keeping 1 an attractive field for those having little capital, and who must enter some business that will bring quick returns. With the modem facilities for rapid transportation, the various poultry products may be sent to market hundreds of miles distant, and be placed before the consumer in excellent condition. Ea^e only a few days old maybe served as food after being shipped hundreds of miles by express. Superior products create new derrands. Since more attention is now paid to poultry-raising in this country than was given to the industry a few years ago, many highly-prized special products have been produced, which find a ready market at remunerative prices in nearly all of the large cities. As soon as a worthy article is produced regularly, customers are ready to purchase, and herein lie great profits to the experienced, careful, and studious poultry-farmer. Better work' with poultry will eventually ensure better products, which find ready sales, and in turn create new demands. My advice to each person who ie about to enter the poultry business is to produce the best which the market affords. The greatest, skill is required to furnish the best, but; articles which are produced with great skill and a thorough knowledge of the business usually yield the greatest profit. — Messrs Reilly, Scott, and Gill report for week ending Saturday, the 14th inst. : — Poultry have been in short supply, and prices well maintained. At our sale on Wednesday we catalogued some nice lines and sold under keen competition: Hens at 2s 6d to 3s 6d per pair ; cockerels, ' 3s to ss; ducks, 3s to 4s; ducklings, 3s to ss; geese, 5?; pullets, 5s- to 8s; no turkeys on offer. Eggs : Large supplies to hand. Storekeepers' parcels at Is 2d. and stamped and guaranteed Is 3d to Is 4d per doz. Butter ie in fair supply ; bulk, 10a to Is ; farmers' pats, lOd to Is ; separator, Is to Is ld per. lb. Honey, slow of sale at from 4d to 4£dV Beeswax in fair demand at Is 4d to Is 6d. Horsehair, Is 6d. Pigs: Good inquiry, 5d to 6d being .paid for choice baconers. Prime rendered "fat sells readily at 18s to 22s per cwt. We confidently recommend consignments of prime table poultry; good price* were realised.