Notes for the Poultry Farmer

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 65, Issue 5, 16 November 1942, Page 306

Notes for the Poultry Farmer

Egg Quality and the Marketing of Eggs in Summer

.. By

F. C. BOBBY,

Superintendent of Poultry Husbandry, Wellington.

Difficulties in egg marketing have been experienced during 1942 and many problems in this connection have yet to be solved. Poultry-keepers are pressing for these problems to be tackled without delay and now -the time has again arrived to urge poultry-keep-ers to avoid adding yet another problem, to those already existent —namely, the “bad egg” problem. Warm summer weather should be at hand and it is during hot days that deterioration in egg quality can so rapidly take place. _ There is a diversity of opinion in New Zealand as to whether the use of water for egg cleaning is a contributory factor in causing deterioration of egg quality during hot weather. It is a significant fact that both Great Britain and the United States of America look with disfavour upon soaking eggs in water and also upon the use of

egg-washing machines. America favours dry cleaning and Great Britain has urged for many years that water be used only to the extent of a moist cloth, which in turn must be kept hygienic by frequent washing. Care Necessary It is obvious that under present-day labour conditions, poultry-keepers will turn to any method or machine which will reduce daily routine work. For this reason the fact must be faced that water and egg-washing machines will be used this summer. Even so, poultrykeepers can help to an appreciable extent with this marketing problem of “bad eggs” by paying attention to the following simple points: — 1. Only dirty eggs should be put in water or over washing machines. 2. Egg-washing machines themselves become dirty. The cleaning surfaces over which the eggs pass should be cleaned regularly. These surfaces become slimy and a collecting place for undesirable germs or bacteria, which multiply'more rapidly in hot weather than in cold and once on an egg may gain, access to its contents via the pores of the shell. 3. Eggs should not be washed until they have cooled off completely. 4. Eggs, after collection at frequent intervals in hot weather, should be stored in a cool egg-room. At no time

should they be allowed to stand in the sun. 5. Warm eggs collected in kerosene tins and allowed to stand over night in these tins tend to “sweat,” thereby rendering deterioration in quality more likely. 6. The regular provision of oystershell and good fresh green food will help materially in shell texture and egg quality.

If consumers in the main centres, where egg rationing is still in force, receive poor quality or bad eggs this summer it will surely be a case of adding insult to injury. It is in the power of all producers to help to prevent the many complaints voiced in the past.

Chick Sexing

WITH the close of the incubation ' season it is of interest to review the position of chick-sexing in the Dominion. Chick-sexing has become an all-important operation in the management programme of many commercial poultrykeepers and any serious interruption, due to war conditions, in the usual plans for chick-sexing would have serious repercussions on . the poultry industry as a whole. This fact becomes more apparent when it is realised that approximately 1,400,000 dayold chicks were sexed by thirteen chick-sexers during the spring of 1941. This figure does not include chicks sexed by poultry-keepers themselves and there are a number of producers who sex only their, own chicks. It has been estimated that the destruction of unwanted day-old cockerels, as the result of sexing, has saved at least 800 tons of poultry food for birds of greater value to the Dominion under present conditions. The normal programme of chick-sex-ing was threatened to some extent at the beginning of the 1942 season by the war conditions at that time. Not less than four of the chick-sexers operating in 1941 were doing military service, while the question of petrol supplies for travelling was a further problem to be faced. Ultimately three chicksexers, namely L/Corporal J. C. Jamieson, Driver K. Gibson and Private Pirie were released by the Army in July for a period ending October 31. Seven New Zealand chick-sexers operating in 1941 were again available for 1942, while in addition Mr. Jack Clark arrived from Canada and Mr. C. C. Green from New South Wales, giving a total of twelve chick-sexers for the present season. Unhappily, immediately prior to the start of the season, one sexer was lost to the industry with the death of Mr. R. Fairey, of Green Meadows, Hawke’s Bay.

Arrangements were made with the authorities responsible for the release of approximately 2000 gallons of petrol to cover travelling of sexers during the season of four months to October inclusive. It was estimated from figures supplied to the Department of Agriculture that chick-sexers

travelled some 42,500 miles during the season of 1941. Hence considering the serious position of petrol supplies in the Dominion the allowance for 1942 appeared to be a very satisfactory one. Figures for the number of chicks sexed in 1942 are not yet available, but it is already obvious that' there are insufficient chick-sexers operating in the Dominion. This fact is clearly indicated by the absence of any wholetime chick-sexers in certain large districts such as Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay. Furthermore, it would appear certain that some of the chick-sexers are attempting to sex too many chicks in the course of a day and in consequence their efficiency in sexing suffers. It may be impossible to rectify these difficulties while the war lasts; in fact, these difficulties may easily be accentuated in the near future. That problems of this kind exist is fully realised by the Department of Agriculture and in consequence help will be forthcoming whenever circumstances permit. The immediate requirement is for additional chick-sexers and practical advice will be given to any who come forward for training -in this work. It should be understood, however, that the Department has no facilities at the Government Poultry Station, Wallaceville, or elsewhere, for giving practical instruction.

Answer to Correspondent

Feeding Laying Hens.

LEGHORN (METHVEN):—Is the following ration satisfactory for feeding laying hens, or should there be more variety? My fowls lay, on the whole, very well. Morning: Mash of pollard, bran, a little chaffed lucerne hay (good), and a little meat meal. Midday: A little whole wheat. Evening: Whole wheat. I nearly always feed milling wheat, but never bother with any other grain. I feed, of course, small green feed and oyster-shell grit (no other grit). I keep about 35 hens, and they have alternate runs, about 10 yards by 20 yards each. LIVESTOCK DIVISION:— The method of feeding appears quite good, and I would not suggest any change, with the exception that during the winter months it is preferable to include a little kibbled maize in the birds’ midday and evening meals. About one part kibbled maize and two parts wheat would make a suitable ration. Regarding grit, I would advise that oyster-shell and gravel grit be placed before the birds at, all times.