PROFITABLE HENS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2862, 20 January 1909, Page 35

PROFITABLE HENS.

Mrs Fred. Wilcox, who wrirea some very good articles in American poultry paper-, tells how she bicd the 24 hens from which she made 200dol in six months, as follows : —

In the first place I will say that I began with the right kind of birds, and they were properly fed and cared for. In order to make this plain I must go back some years. When I began breeding the white Wyandottes I noticed from the first that some of my hens were batter layers than, others. My hens were not trap-nested but as I had taken up thi* work for m* health and am passionately fond of it, * spent much time with my flock; conse quontly I became quite accurately ac quainted with the merits of each individual hen. I saw, too, that some of the chick J matured much more rapidly than others, and that these wore the first to lay and made my best layers. Th?refore I began to brood only the best birde, of course at the time' keeping one c\ e on the Standard 1 of perfection wiiile with tha other I closely scanned the egg- basket. However, I noted that the liens thaf came- nearest to standard in build ronlcU not always keep pace with tho-o birds having little longer bodies with more of their weight back of their legs and a very broad fluff, so I began to breed two different types in build, yet keeping- the standard requirements in my mind at all times, resulting in the production of two distinct strain-*.— - one for exhibition (and I must cay these bird-s are splendid egg machines) and! the other for the production of eggs and broiloi s. A' pullet of thh strain began laving at the ape of five months and a-half." She has laid 27 e%:>,=. in the last 30 days and62 egjr-, since <.h^ began laying-, the 15th of .July, ju=t 71 dais ago. When people understand the importance of thorough breeding pucc-o.ss will be more easily attained and failures will not be -q numerous. I haie no doubt said enougl on the suhiect of brA«<]; n <r. At another iimo I will take up the feed question, a-> tlie^e thinps have all lod up to and cnab'^d mo to make such a gcodly profit from 24 hens in six months. CENTRAL PRODUCE MART (LTD.). Me-srs Roilly, Srotl, and Gill, proorietore, report for the week ending Satur-

day, 16th inst. : — Poultry: Supplies coming fc, .yard are quite equal to local requirement® and prices on a par with last we&k. At our sale on Wednesday hens realised from 2s 6d to 3s 6d per pair ; young roosters, from 3s 6d to 5»; ducklings, from 4s 6d to ss ; ducks, from 2s 6d to 4e ; and geese, 5s to 6s ; turkey gobblers made 9£d per lb. Eggs -have been in excess of requirements, and realise J from la Id to Is 2£ per doen. J/utter has slow sale from 6£d to lid. Pigs are mak'ng better inquiry, but prices are unchanged. Pullets have good inquiry, and would realise high prices if of good quality. Correspondence and consignments respectfully *>iieited.