POULTRY-KEEPING.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17124, 27 October 1917, Page 7

POULTRY-KEEPING.

FORTH.

AN EXPERT'S VIEWS

INSTRUCTIVE ADDRESS AT TAY-

Poultry enthusiasts gathered in force at Mr. U. P. Hill's poultry farm at layforth on Thursday, when an instructive address was given by the Government Poultry Instructor, Mr A. li>. Salisbury. The meeting took place beneath the shade ot a large macrocarpa tree, where an improvised platlorm and seating accommodation had been arrano-.

Jn his opening remarks Mr Salisbury pointed out that the subject was tar too big a one to deal with m more than passing review during the aiternocn. Ihe ground couid not be fully covered in one address, and he theretore proposed to give a general outline ot the subject. The great question at the present time was the economical production of poultry and i ggl\-?iQ "^ustry had been very hard hit by the war. owing to the high h«T)°A I ? ec? ssary foodstuffs. This had led to both false economy and true economy. ft Some people had made the mistake of half-starving their birds, and the result was they got very low returns in consequence. This was false economy. Proceeding} Mr Salisbury said New Zealand was not producing enough poultry to meet its own requirements I'or years past there had been talk about over-production, but that time had not yet come, and appeared as Jar off as ever. There was no better country than the Dominion in the world tor poultry raising, as was proved by the record New Zealand birds had put up. There were large importations of eggs in shell from America and liquid yolks and dessicated whites from China. This should not be. Ihe Department of- Agriculture was endeavouring to foster the industry.

■Hie speaker Wancanni was one of the best places in the Dominion for poultry raising, as the climate and the light loamy soil were ideal. He believed "the industry wls going to be a big factor for success m the progress of the district.' There were two ways of taking it up. As a side-line or a business it was very profitable. The great bulk of S tlocks were small-from 40 to 70 head of birds. The independent poultry businesses were only * fraction of the whole. People who understood poultrvkeeping- were doing ve*ry well, and man y were making good money for egg production. The market was open ■oo all There had boen failures tJnough inexperience, and it was theretore advisable for anyone ia serve an apprenticeship under a practical person, or else begin m a, small way. The Department was assisting with visits and lectures and the publication of a poultry bulletin, also advice in the Journal of Agriculture. The Department was also suppiymg breeding stock and eggs tor hatching-out good utility strains. • J

.Continuing, Mr Salisbury said that anyone with a small area—say ten to twenty acres—could combine poultrykeeping with dairying and fruit-^iw-ing, etc. Much of the food foi the birds could be grown, and the fowl manure was a good fertiliser for the land. There was money in poultry tor the table. Usually jirfcy per cent of the chicks were cocKerels, and alter two years the old hens Jiad to be disposeci.or.

A question often asked was "Which is the best breed?" On the Government poultry farms in the Otao- 0 and Auckland districts the breeds in fowis were: White and jtfrown Leghorns, Black .Mmorcas, and in ducks, Pekin black Mmorcas, and in ducks Pekin and Indian X miner.

It was more a matter of strain than breed, and Mr Salisbury' urged breeders to aim at a bird true to type and colour. SUi e White Leghorn was a great money-making bird, although vie _ ..Black Orpington was becoming a serious rival, and in tact Was now pernaps, the most popular bird in Australia.

Mr Salisbury proceeded to give an interesting demonstration with a number of Mr Hill's birds. Picking up a Wince Leghorn hen, he said it was a good bird, as evidenced by the wea^esnaped body, tapering to the end. Other good characteristics were a wide saddle and good depth. He pointed out that the narrow-chested bird should oe avoided, as that meant insufficient crop and lung capacity. Mr Salisbury adaed:. Get birds with a good chest. IJont breed from knock-kneed stock Ihe main point is a good constitution' Look ior the keen, outstanding eye the beak short and stout, the head fairly fine, the neck fairly long, tight feathers, and good abdominal development, v

February and March were the right months to pick breeding birds, and to cull out the wasters. Jb'or the present he would advise breeders to.feed economically and look after their birds Malt the flocks were insufficiently fed' owing to the idea that if the birds got too much to ea£ they got too tat. Laying birds could not be fed too much. They should have full and plenty according to their appetites, until they were satisfied. There was"l--no need to mind weights or measures At the same time, food should not be wasted. Green feed chaffejl was economical, and lucerne, silver beet, closer or water-cress would save the food hill. Sharps at the present price was a dear iood, and it had a lower feeding value than wheat meal. Lucerne chair was a good substitute for bran and a valuable ingredient was linseed ! cake.

Mr Salisbury said a few years ago breeders tried to get down to a balanced ration, but it was found impracticable in use, as one bird might lay JoU eggs in a season compared with another's 100 eggs. Instinct guided the bird as to what it required in the way of food. Another necessity was access todean, fresh water. Skimmed milk was one of the best foods, but it should not be given as a drink alone August and September were the "best hatching months for heavy breeds, ana Uctober for the light .breeds. ' Mr Salisbury strongly urged that birds be run ou fresh ground In towns many people kept fowls in on© section year after year, whereas if they changed the birds on to another