UTILITY POULTRY.

Gisborne Times, 17 October 1908, Page 6

UTILITY POULTRY.

AN EXPERIMENTAL FARM

On the Mangapapa flats, in Ballance Street, is a small but wellequipped utility poultry farm, the property of Air. O. J. Alorell, grocer, AA T .liatiiupoko._ The farm is situated on five acres of open, well-grassed land, and though only established., about nine months ago, lias already a collection of over 200 birds of good quality, which are divided off into pens, according' to age and breed. Mr. Alorell is an enthusiast in his hobby, and promptly weeds out all unprofitable bird© by testing them on the “Hogan” system, and he does.not keep a hen .bird that will not Jay 200 eggs within the year. The White Leghorn variety, he states, is the most prolific layer, but _ the AYyandotte variety is greater in profit because the AYyandottes lay more eggs in winter, when 0 better price as; obtainable. The AYyandottes on the farm are of the Silver and Partridge variety. Air. Alorell has some , very handsome stock and lias gone to no small amount of trouble and expense in ohoosing his birds. _ One majesticlooking cockerel was imported from Air.- G. Ell, AVentworth, New South AYales, and is from the best strain in that State, while another—was the champion Wyandotte cockerel in the Palmerston North Show. As the birds strut about their pens, the visitor ig struck by their cleanly appearance and their fine quality,. The eggs produced are large ..and wellshaped, ajjfT the hens -are most fertile. - ■

The accommodation for the broods, .although as yet in the initial stage, has all been arranged..on the most up-to-date plan. The pens have all been laid out on an alignment facing duo north, which allows the. birds to get the sunshine during the whole of the day.,. The breeding pens are 30ft hy 12ft, and each pen contains a shelter : house 9ft by 6ft. In. each of the pens six hen® and one cockerel are run, and there is every accommodation. The young stock is run in lariger pens, and until the proper time the sexes are separated. • Air. Alorell has also a number of silver-grey Rouen ducks, bred by Air. Dyke, of Auckland. These ducks are the first of their variety to come to Gisborne. Their .eggs are of an immense size, and. the birds are very fertile. Mr. Alorell has obtained his first supply for breeding purposes only, and will probably exhibit some of the ducks 'in tlie coming A. and P. iShotr.’-.' ,

The Ilia telling is mostly done >by incubators, and .600" .eggs are at present being hatched in this manner. _ A. concrete incubating; cellar is being laid down to contain, the incubating machines, ias it has been fount! that ;in a cellar the wavm'th -is better conserved, and a uniform heat more easily maintained. The cellar, which is ,12ft by. 10ft by Bft, "will allow’ .‘about; .800 eggs to be incubated at, one time. Though the farm was started less than’ a year ago with 18 hens and 4 cockerels, Air,. Morejl has reared 4SO in all,/ weeded wt \inpronfc-

able ones, ahd-mmv sCildi.on.an average of 40doz .eggs to market cachwook, and those bring the highest, ruling prices. The fowls are fed on what is known as the 'dry,.system,.and mvc- daily supplied, with, plenty of milled bono and sifted grit.