POULTRY NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 9979, 3 May 1911, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES.

(By Egg-o-tist.) There are many indications that the world's supply of tfhea. is likely to decrease iv the ii.ar future, and with an increasing population aa well, it is going to be a serious matter for poul-, try keepers, for wneac is certainly the staple food for fowls. Oats might give nearly as good results, if not quite, but a shortage in wheat will mean a correspondingly increased demand for otner foodstuffs, with a rise iv value thereof, accordingly. We might see au increased demand for porridge, oatcakes, and even oatmeal water, if tea goes on rising, and what is going to bo the price of oats then? Maiz9, too, might be more largely consumed, and iv tins case we should be iv a worse plight than ever. Dear wheat, oats aud maize, and the compoueut paits thereof—brau and pollard —do not constitute a cheerful outlook, unless the price of poultry produce ultimately balances matters. There is a good opportunity for some astute individual to timl some reliable substitute for the above articles, and rake iv the well-earued dollars for his discovery. The value of horse-meat, tor egg production, is evidently recognised in I_uglaud, as one of the poultry papers advertises that "cooked horsa meat at oue and s.xpemse per stone (Hlb) will be delivered ou request." The droppings from fowls are » good guide as to their laying. If they are dry, the birds will not be doing much laying, but when of a sott nature eggs may be expected. Therefore, if the former, increase rite green feed unless they are are getting already as ruuen as they cau eat. and al«o give more meat, in some form. This applies to

fowls bent for egg production only, aud not to the breeding stock, except in a much more modified form. There is no doubt wonderful results cau be obtained even when fowls are entirely confined. Down in Nelson i saw pens of Black Orpingtons, White Leghorns aud Wiiite Plymouth Rooks, owned by a Mr Clare, of that town, and his flock averaged over two rumred eggs per bird. They were iv tiptop condition, coo. aud seemed to thrive well under those conditions. I understand that he also had good hatching results last season. Mr 0. Uauberg. of this district, also telis of some good returns. Yrorn a pen of ten tau crossbiedLegiiorus audVYyandottas he realised, in twelve months, £1 Os each, value of eggs. That was a season or two ago, wheu eggs were a better j price than they were this last summer. These fowls were also entirely closed iv all the year. ■ I have come across the usual unfortunate ones who are getting no eggs now aud many scarcely any. With some it is quite their own fault; the fowls are allowed to shift for themselves. But, there are some who. though they are using meat iv some form or other, do not see the eggs they should be daily gathering. In this case first overhaul your houses, for the long spell of dry weather we have had this past summer has been very conducive to the propagatiou of the red mite; also largely increase the meat food," keep on by degrees, more and more,until you get the desired result, but watcii carefully that it is not overdone. If soft eggs or thin shelled one are getciug numerous, or the birds aDpear to be feeling the effects in any vvav, ease down agaiu. Experience is the" ouly sure guide in this respect. Ponltrymen must use their own judgment largely and learn tv study their birds' requirements. When they are not laying as they should, or anything is not right, do not treat the matter with indiffereuce, but put on your considering cap and try to overcome tiie difficulty yourselves. Experience is a stern master, but the best of all. In a local awhile back in this papei appeared au announcement that preserved eggs were being sold to some storekeepers as fresh. The Egg Circles aim to encourage producers to be honest in their oealings, and if this victim had patronised the local depot - lie could have depended ou getting J fair treatment. The Circle is now

selling preserved eggs as well as fresh, so there should be no difficulty in meeting the requirement of the public. The breeding pens of ducks should dow be mated up though it is uot early to commence hatching, but ducks being «o riinid are very easily put off laying aud the very Eorting out aud putting together of the various nens is sometimes sufficient to cause" a false moult and this would be a serious matter just as you wished to save up eggs for hatching. Better to lose a few eggs now, dear as they are, thau be disappointed later on. Each breed of ducks can be largely known by the egg. The Pekiu, for instauce, lays a large white egg almost round, while the ordinary Damdoor cluck lays what might almost be termed a "duck" egg—the sort of egg one expects generally to see from a duck, an oval shape. Bat the egg of the Indian Runner is quite distinctive. It i« often somewhat a trifle smaller than thf> other breeds, aud is of a pinkish white in colour and more oval than round. Sometimes green coloured eggs are produced by these birds ou no account should they be used for hatching if it is desired to keep to as near type as possible. Ducks, hatched Jast spring, may be used in the breeding pens this season it they are tuily developed aud have beeu layiug through this winter. By hatching time the eggs will then bo full size; however there will often be some that are not up to the mark in this respect aud should not be set. The results from small duck eggs, or for the matter of that, small hen eggs too, are not eucouraging. Though they iray frequently hatch out tho ducklings so produced are hard to rear, aud are almost always of a weedy description. Mr J. B. Merrett, writing ou the 24th ult. stated ha was getting his Circle started in Ohristchurch that weefc. May it boom along! Considering the enormous amount of time he has devoted to this subject he must be well pleased to at least see one in his own district. The North Island will have to keep the Circle pot boiling now if wo don't wish to see the South leave us behind. Canterbury contains some thirteen thousand farmers, nearly all of whom keep their feathered flocks, so Circles ought to eventually go with a will in that grain growing district. For the guidance of beginners in the feeding of fowls, the lollowiug is taken from the N.Z. Poultry Journal, being the ration given to the pens al the Laying Competition at Papanui. Whether it is the best that could be adopted is an open question, but al any rate there is no doubt that it is . very satisfactory one or else such mar velious records could not have been achieved. "Morning, before sevei o'clock, half a pint of grain is throwr in deep litter in the scratching shec to each six birds. \t 9 a.m. about . lloz of mash, consisting of two parte pollard, one part bran (by measure) mixed with liver soup. At 1 p.m three ounces minced liver was given I to the six birds, and in the eveiiiuj three-quarters of a piutof wheat wai thrown in the litter. Any birds tha appeared to be extra hungry wer given a little more. Ground oyster shell aud metal grit, and fresh wate were always before the fowls. Re i clover (chaffed Hand othor^ green foo _ were supplied.",;