IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

Waipa Post, Volume VI, Issue 278, 6 January 1914, Page 4

IN AND ABOUT THE FARM.

POULTRY NOTES.

POULTRY-KEEPERS’ PROSPECTS

IN NEW ZEALAND. New Zealand has a splendid climate, suitable to the highest degree for poultry-keeping. The record obtained by our last competition of an average of 200 eggs from 360 birds proves this, while the leading pen of six birds averaged 272 eggs each for the year. It may safely be taken for granted that such an achievement in egg-laying will not be surpassed except under similar climatic conditions. Though we have scratching-sheds at our competitions here, the past winter has been so mild that there was no necessity to confine the birds in the houses. There is no snow, and the rainfall is very low. The soil in most districts is of a loamy nature, though in some places it is heavy and unsuitable for poultry in winter. Where this is the case winter houses are built, and during the rainy season, which varies in the Dominion, the birds are confined in the houses. OUR FOOD SUPPLY.

We are specially fortunate in being able to grow our own foods for poultry. Wheat for three years, best quality, has averaged 3s 6d a bushel; oats, 2s 3d ; sharps, £6; and bran £4 10s a ton. Green food is plentiful. Lucerne, clover, silver beet, water cress, and lawn grasses grow abundantly. OUR MARKET. We have a growing demand for our eggs and poultry, and we are not coping with the demand. Eggs have not fallen below Is a dozen wholesale this year, and sold at 2s 6d in winter, the average for the year being is 4d. The many uses to which eggs are being put creates a demand, and other reasons may be assigned for the rise in price, as four years ago eggs were 9d in summer and is 9d in winter; average is a dozen. The rapid adoption of the white leghorn as an egg producer has robbed. the farmer of his broody hens, so that production is in danger of being lessened, and while the specialists have increased their flocks, I believe the production on the whole is less. Table poultry has suffered for the same reason, and some of the prices I obtain in the auction market would make your Sussex fatteners mouths water. For Christmas I sold all the decent table chickens from 8s to 10s 2d a pair ; ducklings, 7s to 9s 6d. These are auction prices for live weights. One poulterer assures me he has 300 choice roosters ordered for Christmas at 18s per pair. Hens (boilers) during the summer are cheap, 2s to 3s per pair, but dear in winter, 3s to 6s per pair. Turkeys average is to is 3d per lb live weight in auction; goslings 7s to 12s per pair. There is no prospect of these prices falling, as they have been steadily rising the last three years. EXPORT TRADE. In addition to our own needs we have a promising trade with Vancouver. This season we sent 10,000 dozen eggs in one shipment, and secured Is lid a dozen which gives us is 5d net. Eggs at the time of shipment were selling locally at is. We are assured of an expanding trade, and as their seasons are opposite to ours we can send during the spring and get their high winter prices. For export we have no poultry to spare, our prices being better than we can obtain elsewhere. DEMAND FOR PRACTICAL MEN.

I have scores of applications from immigrants as they arrive here, but what do I find, scarcely one of them has ever operated an incubator or set a hen. They ask my advice on the matter of starting poultry-keeping for a living, and seem surprised when I say “ No.” They have the same idea as many have had here, that poultry-keeping requires no practical knowledge or previous experience. In New Zealand we have had several glaring failures from men of this type. They gave poultry-keep-ing a bad name until we gave such publicity to the fact that inexperience and inability were the causes, that men reflect now before investing in plants. I am surprised with the number of newcomers who get here with the idea that poultry-keeping is simple work. Many of them expect to begin with £SO and get a living, and seem offended when I say “ hands off.” What we are doing is discouraging the muddler and the inexperienced from entering our ranks. We have dozens of successful men here who are doing well at poultry farming, and are making from £5 to £lO a week, but they are men who could succeed in any walk in life —men who are not afraid of hard work, who are attentive to detail, men who have initiative, and who have passed through the mill. The men with rings on their fingers and fancy waistcoats are not the men we back for success in poultry-keeping. There are many aspirants here, and our advice to them is stick to your present jobs, and get experience in a small way. Learn how to raise chickens, and when you can prove you can raise 300

pullets in a season then you may launch out on your own. WHAT WE WANT FROM ENGLAND.

If there are men in England who want to come here and make for success as poultry-farmers, they must say “ Yes ” to the following (i) Have you worked incubators and raised by your own personal efforts iooo chicks in a season ?

(2) Have you had at least two years’ practical experience on an up-to-date poultry farm ? (3) Have you £SOO capital to lay out in plants, stock, and to keep you going till your flock gives you returns ? There is room for this class, but we do not want the Johnny who has never had a blister on his hand from hard work, vvho has never cleaned a dropping board, or who scarcely knows a hen from a rooster. We have plenty of that sort here. I have written the above as fair as human mind can write. We have a big future here in poultrykeeping, and fortunes will be made at it, but let only the practical begin. As for those who want to come from England, I would advise their having two years’ experience on a plant here to learn practical things, and become acquainted with our climate. If one wishes to start on his own, and has capital, then let him command the services of someone who has made a success of poultry-keeping, and who can safely show him the way. We are always interested in Old England and what she is doing, our blood is warm that we may aid each other in the exchange of ideas