IN THE POULTRY YARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17756, 17 September 1927, Page 15

IN THE POULTRY YARD.

IN PULL LAY. All well conducted and pr,openly, eared for hens are now in lull lay, ■ and it is satisfactory to be able to record that the price of eggs remain-s----at a pay-able level. An equally satisfactory announcement is' that those who are in the best position to. lorni an opinion say that the price is not likely to fall below l/,5 per’ dozen. -, That they have solid ground • for this prediction may be gathered from the fact that users of eggs in. a Very large way—bakers arid pastrycooks—hare now securing their supplies for next winter. In view- of the cost of food which the poultrykeeper has to buy, he requires a minimum of 1/5- per dozen for h,i‘> eggs.

• The annual report of the Agricultural Dep.anment.ha.s the. following: The poultry industry fs in a healthier position - to-day than for duMh’e years .past in spite of theypd.uetion shown in the number of fowls- kept. This reduction probably - represents tike-elimination of .the ; unprofitable birds, and. as the statistics reveal an increase in the number of holders of large flocks, a greeter confidence in the industry is /indicated.' The improved position’in regard to the supply of essential foodstuffs at a reasonable price is undoubtedly responsible for the optimism which no doubt, prevails, and it is hoped that nothing will occur to prevent a continuous supply of foodstuffs, particularly wheat, as without this (here cannot be success in the industry.

The poultry-breeding and experimental station which is being established at Wallaceville is now nearing completion, and it is intended to hatch out a fu’l complement of chickens during the coming season in order that it may be fully eotr’pped v.ilh birds for next season's requirements. iUtt'ngs of eggs will also be available for sale: also stock for breeding purposes, particularly male birds for mating. The report of the Chief -Poultry Instructor, for the year, is as follov:s: A matter for chief concern relative to the poultry industry is conveyed in the census returns taken during April last (19 26). These show that there were, including fowls, ducks, geese and turkeys, 3.781,145 he"d in the Dominion, as against 3,991,00!' in 1921, indicating a decrease of 209,8 64 birds. Fowls decreased numerically from 3,491,567 in 12°ito 3.308.354, a decrease of 183,18 3; ducks declined from 37 9,9 8 S to 352,030, and geese from 46,234 to 43,879. Turkeys, on the contrary, increased in number from 7 3,2 2 0 in 1921 to 76,852 in 1926. The heavy culling of stock and the curtailment of hatching operations which took place during 19 24 and 19 25 owing to the food shortage and the high prices charged for it were almost solely responsible for the reduction of stock during the census period. During the year high prices have generally ruled for fresh eggs and table poultry, whilst food-prices have been somewhat easier. Consequently the average producer has had a good year. By this, together with the prospects of a greater and cheaper food-supply, producers have generally been encouraged to increase their flocks during the recent hatching season. As a result, it is safe to assume that the reduction of stock which took place during the census period has been caught up, possibly exceeded. Whilst the census returns show a decrease in stock, it is pleasing to note that the householders keeping fowls, irrespective of other poultry, increased by 11,102. The most gratifying feature conveyed in the returns is the increased number of people keeping large flocks, or, in other words, sufficient to provide the whole or greater part of a livelihood. In 1921 ninety-six people kept flocks ranging from 500 to 900 and forty-one kept 1000 and over, whilst in 1926 there were 14S and sixty-six respectively. With the advanced knowledge now available relative to the breeding and management of large flocks, an extension of large plants may be looked forward to with confidence. Notwithstanding the severe test with which the, industry has been faced, it is gratifying to be able to report that 3293 cases of eggs, containing thirty dozen each, were exported to the London market during the year. These were sold at a f.o.b. price, and con-sequently-no official report lias been received - regarding them. Cabled ■'reports;-howeter, goTokhow that the line realised 10/- a case iuore than Australian or South African eggs.