THE POULTRY KEEPER

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15977, 3 May 1924, Page 19 (Supplement)

THE POULTRY KEEPER

By “Moorftrwi.^

NECESSITY OF SHOWING. The necessity for poultry-keepers taking on active interest in shows and in exhibiting a few birds at the various exhbitions, particularly at their local fixture, has been stressed so often in these columns that further repetition should be unnecessary. However, at this time of the, year, when the shows are drawing near, it is as well to once more stress the need of utility exhibition. There is an Impression prevalent amongst 'ma.ny poultry-keepers that as long as a bird lays well her. appearance and breed type are quite unnecessary details, scarcely worthy, in fact, of consideration. Except in a few cases this erroneous idea has fortunately been dispelled* and up-to-date pouitrymen are now fully cognisant of the fact that high productivity was evolved hand in hand with breed type, and that when type is discarded breed characteristics must go, with a corresponding drop in the egg output. Results have proved conclusively that it is possible to combine a beautiful bird and a high producer in the one carcase, and the breeding of such a bird should be the aim of every poultry-keeper. It is certainly to be admitted that in years gone by when so much stress was laid on fancy and exaggerated points poultry-keepers who were breeding for eggs were doing quite right in refusing to show under such conditions. Now, however, New Zealand has a utility standard of its own —a standard which, when properly aplied makes for high production, allied to good looks. It is under this standard that ail pouitrymen should exhibit, for by so doing they know, provided the judge does his work conscientiously, that the awards will be allocated as nearly as possible to the birds which give evidence of breed type, together with high prqductivjty. The other phases of, showing should be so apparent that to make mention of them is scarcely necessary, but for the benefit of novices it would be well to deal briefly with them. The fact of a man showing even- a single bird prompts him to take an interest which he might otherwise npt have taken in the other birds exhibited. He compares their faults and good points, satisfies himself as to where one bird excels the other, and generally sizes them up. He is thus able to acquire a good “eye” for a bird, and learn more of the breed type than lie would by years of theoretical study. Then, of course, Re can compare notes with his fellow exhibitors and learn their methods. He becomes acquainted with the poultry fraternity, catches the glamour of the show-pen, and altogether learns to take a greater interest in birds than ever before.

THE WINTER SHOW,

The time has now arrived when pouitrymen should be thinking of making their entries for the forthcoming! Waikato Winter Show, which opens in Hamilton on Tuesday, May 27. The prize list, as it appears in the schedule, has been supplemented by a number of special prizes since allotted, including the Waikato Poultry Club Cup, this year to be competed for by Wyandottes, Entries close on May 8, and those who have not yet received schedules should make immediate application to the secretary. POULTRY-KEEPING. Ordinary business men are considered prosperous if their tunr-over yields a profit of from 20 to 30 per cent., remarks “Poultry,” Sydney. Men ’on the land may do business, showing from 100 to 150 per cent. The business man, as a rule, has to invest money in thousands of pounds, while his country brother often starts and continues successfully on an outlay of as many hundreds In cash. The royal road to fortune is a mythical track, and exists only In imagination. Success is achieved in most cases by knowledge, application, and determined to surmount initial obstacles.

Poultry on a run may be valued at os each on an average, and it is accepted as a fact that each hen returns profit of IDs' a year over feed costs. The amateur poultry farmer reads that such yields are usual, and he rushes into an undertaking that probably he does not know the rudiments of. The census of egg production, in Australia shows to what an extent the industry, has advanced, but no means have yet been adopted by which the total number of eggs laid can be approximated. In countries where the authorities recognise that the success of the individual is identical with the welfare of the State, the Governments take measures to ascertain what the results of the poultry industry really amount to, but in the Commonwealth the vast potentialities of a business that can be made to return a greater dividend than any other kown primary industry are left to the farmers themselves, who in turn, depend largely on poultry journals for their teaching and guidance.

Backyarders, with a few fowls probably eat all the eggs laid by their fowls; small farmers also cat all that they require, and sell the rest to the local storekeepers or dealer. It might be possible to obtain from these sources a fair estimate of the number of eggs and poultry disposed of; while the various markets and sale-rooms couid keep records of their egg and poultry trade. In ddition to eggstatistics thus obtained it would also be possible to calculate the quantity and value of the feed locally grown or otherwise unrecorded, that would be consumed by this unknown quantity of poultry. It would be quite safe to assume that the unrecorded business carried on by small farmers and backyarders would equal 50 per cent, of the present recorded business done with poultry. If this were known greater facilities would be offered for carriage of stock and feed, and a system of correct marketing inaugurated that would protect the present helpless poultry farmer.

SENDING EGGS LONG DISTANCES.

The “National Poultry Journal” quotes a remarkable instance of successful hatching ol' eggs sent across the Atlantic. Two settings were despatched from Suffolk (Eng.) to Canada. They must have been at least two days old when the journey of nearly 6000 miles started, and probably not less than three weeks elapsed before they were under the hens. The 24 eggs hatched out 1!) chickens, which is accounted a striking proof of the vitality of the stock. On so long a journey there was necessarily much handling and jarring.

POULTRY CLUB MEETING. The annual meeting of the Waikato Poultry Club is to be bold in. the club rooms, Winter Show Buildings, (entrance from Anglesea Street), next Wednesday evening at hall-past seven. It is to b-e hoped that there will be a large attendance of all interested in poultry-keeping.