THE POULTRY YARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 637, 13 April 1929, Page 28

THE POULTRY YARD

GEO. H. AMBLER.)

(By

THE REAL ECONOMY

DURING the breeding season I feel more than ever compelled to lay stress upon the importance of economical production. By that Ido not mean merely producing eggs and stock at a low cost, for such an ideal might lead us in a direction wo least want to pursue; but rather that we should increase production at practically the same cost.

The word “economy” appears to be capable of as w idely differing inter- j pretations as any w-ord in our ! language. In its narrow- sense it ! may be taken to mean the saving ! oi money, and I know of nothing more likely to lead a poultry-keeper into difficulties than niggardliness in purchasing stock, plant, or food. On the other hand, in its wider sense it is synonymous with efficiency, and it may be taken to mean successful, careful and thrifty management. For an example, take the case of a person who, by commencing with good stock, good housing and judicious management, attains an average of 250 eggs per bird per annum from his hens, on the same running costs for which the man next door is getting only 150 eggs per bird. This is by no means an exaggerated simile. Many of my readers are averaging 200 eggs per bird per annum, and many more could not show au average of 100. The gulf between these two can be bridged only by the adoption by the latter of better methods and better stock, and the opportunity will shortly present itself to make a new start at a reasonable cost by purchasing eggs forhatching or day-old chicks from strains that have been cultivated especially for economical production. It is only within recent years that poultry-keeping as a home industry has been regarded seriously bv the rank and file of amateurs. The idea that it was purely a hobby was responsible for a vast amount of inefficiency and for most of the lowgrade mongrel stock and badly designed runs and houses that w-ere so common some years ago. It was frequently declared that more than 50 per cent, of the fow-ls kept in this country were incapable of earning the cost of their upkeep, and though no doubt that proportion of “duds" has been reduced very considerably, there is still good cause for the appeal which I am now making to speed up

the replacement of the unfit, both stock and plant. WHY KEEP POOR STOCK?

In the readjustment of prices that must be expected at this time of the year it is clear that there are means by which the prosperity of the poultry industry can be maintained. Even if egg values should fall more rapidly than food-stuff prices there is one direction in which amateurs can keep the balance in their favour. That is by securing increased production without. adding to the running expenses. The hackneyed phrase that a good layer costs no more to feed and house than a poor one may become stale through repetition, but it is one of the golden rules w-hich I would have framed and hung up w'here every poultry-keeper can see it until he makes it his religion. Why any amateur should keep hens which average no more than 100 eggs in a year when he might be averaging 200 is one of those problems that are very difficult to solve. However, if I were given two guesses, I should state first, that so many people start poultry-keeping before they have got a grasp of the elementary principles of the business, and second, that so many more are imbued with a desire for what I must describe as false economy—that is the saving of money at the sacrifice of efficiency. Just as the popular “sales” tempt thousands of shoppers on the look-out for a bargain, so the prospect of starting a poultry run two or three pounds cheaper than the other fellow- proves ail irresistible draw- to the thriftyminded whose experience is too slender to assist their judgment. However, the falsity of this form of economy is* proved by the fact that the so-called bargains are seldom the cheapest in the long run. Poultrybreeders very naturally aim to cater for all tastes and the fact that there are so many inferior birds on the market must not necessarily be regarded as the fault of the breeders, but rather of that section of the public w-hich demands cheaper “goods.” If tastes should change, and if, as 1 hope, amateurs become more and

more conversant with the real meaning of economy, and realise that a good start is essential to success, I do not. doubt for a moment that breeders will be prepared to deliver the superior “goods” at a higher price. Poultry-keepers will shortly be considering the purchasing of fresh stock for the 1929 breeding season and my purpose at this moment is to point out the opportunity which w r ill occur during the coming season to hatch and rear better stock. It is mere waste of time, food and labour to rear chickens from stock of low capacity when birds of high capacity could be reared at practically the same cost, apart from a higher purchase price for the eggs and chicks, which would easily be covered by the enhanced value of the produce. POULTRY IN THE GARDEN New Zealanders are essentially home lovers. That fact is brought home to anyone who takes a walk through the suburbs of our towns, or our country districts. The neat little front gardens, the larger gardens and pultry runs at the back all show that the majority of men are interested in making the home attractive. Every man who follows a hobby is the better for it. He is a better husband, a better father and a better citizen. No hobby is more interesting to a man’s family than that which combines gardening and poultry. A wellkept garden and a pen or two of valuable high-class birds, be they utility or exhibition stock, can both be made very profitable and pleasurable. It is not necessary to build expensive houses, but they should be snug and comfortable, free from draughts and damp The stock, however, should be of the best. It is not at all wise to run a flock of ordinary barn door fowls, mere mongrels, such as give very little profit and less pleasure. High-class stock cost no more to keep, yet the financial return is much greater than that from mere commoners, whilst the pleasure given to the owner, his family, and visiting friends is much greater. More than that the man who keeps good stock is a pioneer, a publicity agent, so to speak. Friends see his well-bred birds, they admire them and are led to keep a few themselves, and so the good work is spread. From one year’s end to another the combined hobby of gardening and poultry keeping provides interesting and productive employment of one’s leisure hours. The thinking out of the mating problems, the hatching of the eggs, the rearing of the chicks, the keeping of the records, the comparison of one year’s records with those of another, to say nothing of the expectations and anticipations arising from occasional exhibiting provides rest and recreation, and takes the mind away from the stress and toil of the daily vocation. A properly kept and well-managed small garden and poultry yard will

yield a munificent return on the i capital invested, to say nothing of the eggs, and occasional dinner without the expense of the butcher’s bill, a supply of fresh vegetables and a few flowers for the house. GENERAL NOTES CHRISTCHURCH POULTRY CLUB The following championships have been drawn by the Christchurch Poultry Club for their annual show to be held in June: Open Classes: White crested black Polish, 'sebright bantams, tumbler pigeons, clean-legged, long faced; Yorkshire yellow canary, clear, ticked, or variegated, non-colour-fed; crest or crest bred canary. Utility classes: White leghorn, female; ancona, male or female; cats, smoke, blue or black Persian, male, over six months; Persian, male, other than smoke, blue or black, over six months. The Christchurch Poultry Club is already receiving applications for schedules for t.he 1929 show. At the request of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club classes are being added for birds ringed with 1925-1929 1929 rings which have won standard certificates at the Papanui Laying Test. The Onehunga Poultry Club has had classes of a similar nature in its schedule for the past four or five years GRADING EGGS Messrs. Turners and Growers, Auckland City Markets, have inaugurated a scheme whereby eggs which are sent to them for sale are now being graded for size and they are to be complimented on taking the initiative. There is no doubt it is a step in the right direction and should be an incentive to poultry-keepers to keep only fowls which lay standard sized eggs. Whether or not Messrs. Turners and Growers are grading for quality and freshness I am not in a position to say. It is, however, most important that quality should be taken into consideration as well as size. I have, on several occasions, written strongly on this point, condemning the practice of some of our producers in not marketing their eggs in a fresh condition. A few weeks ago I called on one of our leading Auckland producers and he showed me several hundred eggs which he was keeping back for an increase in the market price. There may be others Good-bye Freckles. Stillman’s Freckle Cream Is guaranteed to remove freckles It Is also a wonderful skin bleach Booklet on request. Price 3s 6d a Jar. —E. W. Hall, 117 Armagh SL. Christchurch. 1.

who do the same thing and they express surprise when people give up eating eggs. Eggs deteriorate daily and, in my opinion, it is a dishonest practice to keep them for weeks with the object of getting a higher price. It is not fair to either ! their fellow poultry men or to the general public. PAPANUI TEST The birds in tile New Zealand Laying Test, just closed at Papanui, although having put up some fine performances have not reached the remarkable scores made by some of the birds in the Auckland Test. The 391 birds which took part in the Papanui Test, had, however, the excellent average of 222.76 eggs per bird for the 50 weeks. Four ducks passed the 300 eggs mark. Sixty-one fowls and 11 ducks were awarded standard certificates. The No. 1 Test, light and heavy breeds competing for J. H. Shaw Memorial Challenge Shield, was won by E. J. Ross’s white leghorn, iier record being 27S eggs. Test No. 2; Three white leghorns, single-tested, was won by H. Williams’s team, his leading bird laying 297 eggs. First prize for greatest number of eggs, J. H. Thompson’s pen with 665 oz 9dr. Test 3; Any variety light breed, other than white leghorn, S. H. Mitchell’s anconas. Test 4; Black orpingtons, three birds single-tested, .1. M. Campbell, 278 eggs, aggregate prize, J. M. Campbell, 701 eggs. Test 5: Any variety heavy breed, other than black orpington, J. R. Griffin’s light Sussex, 274 eggs. Test 6: Six bird flock team for light and heavy breeds, H. Harrison with 1,575 eggs. Test 7: Three ducks, single tested, Ist., H. A. Dawber, 309 eggs; 2nd.. R W. Hawke, 307 eggs; 3rd., J. W. Thompson, 305 eggs. ’ The three duck aggregate prize was won by J. W. Thompson's ducks with a total of 831 eggs. PERSONAL Mr. O. W. R. Walker, secretary of the New South Wales Bantam Club, has donated a silver challenge cup to the Canterbury Bantam Club for the best cockerel, any breed or variety, New Zealand bred, to be competed for at the Christchurch show. Mr. Walker has also signified his intention of bringing a team of bantams to the Christchurch show. The team will consist chiefly of wyandottes, Indian game, old English game and Partridge Fekins. Mr. Tom. Doig, the well-known

Wellington fancier, has donated a silver cup to the Canterbury Bantam Club, for best New’ Zealand bred pullet, any breed or variety, to be competed for at the Christchurch Club’s annual show. Mr. E. C. Jarrett, Government Poultry Instructor, informs me that a successful canvass of poultrykeepers, made by the Executive of the Auckland Poultry Keepers Association, has resulted in the filling of all pens at the Mount Albert Test. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS Tamaki Road, Papatoetoc: Sorry 1 am unable to furnish tne name of secretary yof Taranaki Egg Laying Test, Mr. Lon. 'Stewart, Normanby, is the caretaker and i have forwarded your name on to him. Khaki - Campbell Ducks, A.L.G., Devonport: The colour of the duck is khaki or dark buff all over, the back and wings laced with a light shade, and light f'eathers allowed in the wing-bar. In the drake the head, neck, stern and wingbar are bronze, brown rather than green, and the rest of the body an even shade of khaki or dark buff. They should not have any white feathers, although such feathers -would almost certainly appear where little regard had been paid to colour points in breeding. Cut Flight Feathers, Amateur, Te Aroha: I am afraid you -will find that the cut flight feathers of your white leghorn hen will go heavily against her in the show pen if the same is found out. Much of course, depends on the competition the hen is up against, and if the judge did not handle the birds then you might prove successful, providing she is good in other points. I note the cut feathers are not noticeable unless the wing is opened out. Thanks for your good wishes for The Sun. Discharge From Eyes, Rhode Island: The discharge from the eyes is the result of cold. Probably your birds roost in a draught. You cannot do better than bathe the eyes with a solution of boric acid or weak alum water, and after each operation administer two or three drops each of terebene and eucalyptus oil in a teaspoonful of cod-liver oil. I trust this will put them right.