SHORTAGE OF POULTRY FEED IS THINNING THE FLOCKS

Wanganui Chronicle, 31 January 1947, Page 4

SHORTAGE OF POULTRY FEED IS THINNING THE FLOCKS

OHAKUNE MAN’S SACRIFICE (0.C.) Ohakune, Jan. 30. A severe shortage of poultry feed is evidenced by the present state of what was foimeily a large-scale ’ poultry farm at Ohakune, owned by Mr. F. A. Martin. Mr. Martin previously possessed 900 fowls, with a replacement stock of 400; but in successive stages he has been forced to cut his stock down to 150 pullets. When all farmers were asked to cull heavily by the Government Pouiliy Board, because of the shortage of feed, Mr. Martin cut hi s flock down to 700, and, when feed became rationed, to 500. In the last six weeks he has been forced to cull to 150. Mr. Martin has six large hen houses on his property. Two of these are capable of housing 250 fowls, one 150 and the two others hi). Another house, capable of stocking 150 birds, is partly completed. In an interview, Mr. Martin pointed out that this year he had intended increasing his flock to 1200 head, and to take up poultry farming as his sole means of a livelihood. He had managed to work his business up to a high standard. When th e present circumstances arose he had purchased two electric brooders and an incubator, but was not able to use them. At the height of the season, Mr. Martip added, iie had formerly supplied seven crates of eggs a week, with 30 dozen in each crate, but wai able to sell only one crate a fortnight, if he was fortunate. Before last Christmas he had sent 150 culls to be sold on the open market at Auckland, and had received 7s 3d tor each bird, but this year a consignment had brought only Is 3d each. He had telephoned ’lhe marketing firm concerned and had been informed that there was an absolute glut of poultry anil Auckland suppliers liad bad their birds returned, but, because of the distance Mr Martin lives from the market, it had been decided to sell them at a sacrifice rate. “If the birds had been returned I would have had to cut off their heads □nd bury them,” asserted Mr. Martin. Farmers would be selling their fowls in unprecedented quantities if it Was not tor a shortage of crates, it was stated. The dearth of food had made poultry keepers anxious to quit their birds at any price, he added.