Poultry-keeping on money-making lines

Front matter

Don’t simply order “Chicken Meal” or “Chicken Mixture ”

under the impression that every Chicken Meal is SPRATT’S or that every Chicken Food is “CHIKKO.”

THERE IS ONLY ONE SPRATT'S CHICKEN MEAL viz., that sold in sealed bags and packets pidiniy printed: pr RAL 2’, and i ee THERE IS ONLY ONE | © ; . 4 “CHIKKO.”

Preface

NOTHER volume on Poultry Culture! Yet does not this highly important subject merit it? After lying dormant for so very many years the Poultry Industry of the United Kingdom

has suddenly ‘‘ pipped’’ its shell and the little British hen is in the future to show what a busy-body she can be. Whereas poultry-keeping was previously looked upon as a hobby, it is from now to be regarded as a serious business. People do not ask ‘‘Do you keep | poultry ?”’ but “Do poultry keep you?” Nor are they concerned over ‘Will poultry pay ?”’ but ‘“‘ How much will they pay ?”’

I have endeavoured to provide the reader with a sound standard text-book, in as many instances as possible touching upon details arising from special conditions. The cult of the domestic hen is very simple provided the recognised rules of the game are strictly adhered to, and a careful study of this work will, I hope, help the reader to discover the stepping-stones to success. The many pitfalls associated with the Industry are clearly pointed out, and with the aid of this book the wise poultry-keeper should succeed in avoiding them. |

If this book inspires a greater respect for the little domestic hen my labours will not have been in vain.

W. POWELL OWEN.

“Cooks’ of Orpington”

Under the entire personal management of WILLIAM H. COOK (eldest son of the late William Cook, Originator of the Orpingtons), “The well-known and reliable firm of Poultry Breeders and Exporters.”

Every Breed of FOWLS, DUCKS, BANTAMS, TURKEYS, G@ GEESE, kept and supplied at prices to suit all.

THE HEADQUARTERS for the Beginner, Poultry-Keeper or Expert, for the Hardiest Stock and Best Laying Strain, in EVERY VARIETY OF POULTRY, DAY-OLD CHICKS & EGGS for SITTING.

“BE eS

Our own bred strains are acknowledged in every part of the world as the to none, whilst ‘‘ personal attention” finest layers, most vigorous and relihas been the keynote of our success. able obtainable. Will you try them?

Sn raf

_ VACANCIES EGGS FOR SITTING. | BREEDING PENS.

DAY-OLD CHICKS. SINGLE BIRDS.

g FOR PUPILS. ?

Orpington Station is only two minutes’ walk from our Farm, and twelve miles from London.

Our Farm is the most complete and up-to-date, carrying a stock second

Visitors always welcome.

fer EXPORT ORDERS A SPECIALITY.

William H. Cook, ta, ORSON”

Branch Establishments SE EI TUE Telephone: Cray 39 Telegraphic Address: NOT ee ie Call. at LE TOUQUET, \ riser dios) ‘ eee FRANCE.

CHAPTER I Our Home Poultry Industry: Past, Present, and Future

Past neglect—Egg statistics—Our egg and poultry imports—The European War— Reduction of poultry stocks in Europe—Likely egg and poultry famine— Production v. consumption in the U.K.—Present v. possible number of fowls in the U.K.—Each county's duty—From importers to exporters—The foreign egg— Loss of millions ‘3 ee can help—The future—Solving the nena problem , ; . ; : ‘ , . ‘

CHAPTER II Branches of Poultry Husbandry

The fancier—The utilitarian—Eggs for sitting trade—Eggs for market—The preservation of eggs—Day-old chicks and ducklings—Raising table chickens and ducklings—The general ae ee 6 the Small Holder—Geese, Turkeys, Guinea Fowl, and Bantams . ; , d ° , ; ;

CHAPTER III All about the Egg

How eggs are produced—Periods of hatching—The egg and its sex—The egg and its structure—Egg-shells—Storing eggs for sitting—Incubating special eggs— Causes of small eggs—Causes of unfertile eggs—Marking eggs—White y. brown eggs—Breeding first-crosses— Abnormal eggs—How to test eggs. :

CHAPTER IV Hatching: Natural and Artificial

Natural hatching :—Natural y. artificial hatching—Broodies to select—-Reasons for failures—Hatching boxes—Preparing the nest—Setting the hen—Hatchable eggs— Management of broodies— oe = hens—Value 4 5 a Hatching time. ; ‘ ;:

Artificial hatehing :—Choosing an incubator—Hot-air machines—Hot-water machines—On_ temperatures— Turning and cooling the eggs—Incubator charts— Dead-in-shell—Between the hatches ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ; ‘ j

PAGE vill CONTENTS CHAPTER V

Rearing: Natural and Artificial

PAGE

The mother-hen :—Early broods—Full broods essential—Coop and run—The rearing ground—Care of the mother-hen—Care of the ete Sctnes ty chicks to coops ; ; ‘ ; P : ; ‘ A ; ,

Fireless brooder and brooder-house :—Rearing without artificial heat—The coming of the Intensive system—The fireless brooder—The brooder-house—In a nutshell ‘ ‘ : :

The foster-mother :—Litier for floors—Introducing the chicks—Question of temperature—Hardening off—Over-crowding and _ over-heating—Filling the lamps—Mammoth brooders—Management . . «© « ‘+ © «6

CHAPTER VI From Chicken-hood to Pullet-hood

List of toe-punch marks—Feeding from one-day old—/rom rearer to cold brooder— From cold brooder to poultry-house—Shade and shelter—Care of exhibition youngsters—Sorting the culls—Marketing surplus males—When chickens ail— Pineda a a eS a Se

- CHAPTER VII Feeding for Eggs

Balancing a ration—Grains and their by-products—FPopular green-foods—Value of animal foods—Little. things that count—Dry-feeding in troughs—The soft mash —The evening grain—The food-house—Coppers and carriers—Troughs and hoppers—Automatic feeders . ; : : : x : eS ;:

CHAPTER XIII Month by Month

Year's work in brief—Early hatching—Care of the growing stock—Lime-washing— Garring and repairing—The mouli—New method to cure broodiness—Value of the cockerel-box—Value of shelters—Spring, summer, autumn and winter work e e e e e ° ° ° ® ‘ e ° 9 e

CHAPTER XIV Raising Table Chickens

Poultry imports—Exhibiting table chickens—Chickens required— Che plant—Methods of fattening—Killing—Plucking and Stubbing—Shaping— Marketing the birds —TCrussing—Petits Poussins—The value of feathers—Systems I know— Caponising + : ; ; ; ‘ . ans ; ; : ;

CHAPTER XV Ducks for Eggs and Table

Ducks y. hens—Housing and management-—Constracting artificial ponds—Feeding adult stock—Diseases of ducks—Hatching and rearing—Eggs and day-old ducklings—Exhibition duck cultare—Breeds for cggs—Breeds for table—Fancy ducks-—Raising table ducklings—-Fattening for the market ; ; : ‘ ix

PAGE ne x CONTENTS

CHAPTER XVI Book-keeping on Business Lines

PAGE Sales book—Expenditure book—Backyarder’s accounts—Incubator charls—Sitting-ofeggs book—-“Gemperature records—Chicken records—Egg-recording—Customers book—CGhe stud-book—Show records—On the eee ee yearly statement ° ° ’ ‘ ° ° ° 6

CHAPTER XVII A Clean Bill of Health Ghe hen hospital—Clean housing—Clean land—Clean feeding—Clean hirds—How to make a post-mortem—Purchasing fowls—Diseases and how to cure them—

Che medicine eee and what they denote-—A_ tonic for general use . ; : ; , ; : ‘

CHAPTER XXII What Readers should know LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Egg-preserving Pail . ‘ : : ‘ : ‘ , ‘ ; ‘ oe Training Pen. ‘ : ; : ° 3 , ; : ‘ i ee Washing Utensils. , " . ; : ‘ ; +, 2 Housewife’s Method of aia Testing ; ; ; : : ‘ ea The Ovary : ‘ ; ; ; ; i ; iy.

The Oviduct : . : ‘ ; - : : i “ures Structure of an Egg . ; ; ‘ ‘ a MG First-cross Breeding . : - : : ; . ; : ; oie Egg-testers ’ ° ‘ ° ‘ : P . : ‘ : “ay Hatching Box . ‘ : . , , ‘ : . ; ‘ o- 46 Range of Sitting Boxes. ‘ é ‘ ; : meer Sectional View of Hot-water cidaliag ‘ ; ; ; =i R2 Sectional View of Hot-air Incubator . ; ; : : ; See Hen-coop.. ‘ ‘ . ‘ . ‘ ; ; , ‘ 92. cee Three-sectioned Brooder House . ; ; ; ° , ; . 65 List of Toe-punch Marks . , : , ; ‘ ‘ . : ey Oats in Sprouting-box ; ‘ : ; ‘ ; ; : ; » 80 Feeding Troughs . ; . ‘ ° ‘ ” ‘ : : » ge Novel Hopper . ° : . ‘ ‘ ; ; ‘ ‘ ; + > et Home-made Grain Feeder . . ‘ . ; ep ee ee The Laying-type of Hen . ° ; ‘ ‘ F é ‘ ; oe Breeding Chart . ' , é : : : ; ‘ ‘ ; » IOX ‘“‘ Fisheldotte”” Breeding Chart . ; Pisce ee ; Bae is: In-breeding . ; ; . ° ; : ° : ; » 104 View of Large Sincere , . . ‘ ‘ ; , «> 813 Intensive House for 100 Hens . . : : : ; : ° » 2I5 Double-decked Laying House for 1000 Hens . : : é ; - 16 Neat Design of Intensive House , ‘ : : : : . ny Plans for Poultry-Hovuses . : ‘ ‘ ° : . ‘ ; » %I24 Sketch of Perch Socket. : : : ; a oe wermvciing-shed under House es ee ee a A Useful Field House ‘ ; : : : ; ; ‘ Se Backyard Intensive House ‘ . : é : . . ; "Bag

Useful Cockerel-box . : ; ; = s ‘ : ; . e .140 Useful Scratching Shelter . ; : : ° ; : ; ‘ Tag Fattening Coop . : : ‘ ° ‘ : ‘ ; , © -147 Mode of Killing Large Poultry ‘ : ; : : ‘ : » 149 The Shaping Trough and its Result . Sage ety ors = RO Duck Fattening House : ; ‘ ‘ : ; : ‘ ‘ te 7: Useful House for Geese . : : : ‘ ° ; : ; eae ¢ i: Back-Garden Bantam House . : ; ; ; : : ° . 187 Points of a Fowl : e : ° ; ; ; . ‘ ‘ > 196

FORTUNES FROM EGGS

HOW AN OUTLAY OF 52 SHILLINGS MADE £74

A MARVELLOUS EGG PRODUCING DISCOVERY.

Ir there is one thing more than another on which the average poultry keeper holds strong opinions, it is on the foolishness of forcing poultry to lay eggs during the time they fetch the highest price. That attitude is unquestionably the result of bitter experience with so-called egg-producers, which, though they stimulate the fowl for a time, have such a serious effect on the eggroducing organs of the bird that, after a fittle while, the fowl is practically useless for laying purposes, and may as well be killed off to save_the expense of feeding.

That is the reason many thousands of poultry keepers condemn, off-hand, so-called poultry spices: pepper, cayenne, and other unnatural stimulants. And they are quite right in doing so.

FOWLS DO PAY.

But a new era has dawned for the poultry keeper, and it is now not a question of ‘‘Do fowls pay?”—they do pay, very handsomely indeed, and the profit to be made from them is only limited by the number of fowls kept. To many people that may seem a very Startling assertion.

But it is true.

COAXES—Does net force.

Karswood Poultry Spice copies nature, It contains ground insects, It is utterly and entirely different from any other spice on the market, being free from mustard and free from cayenne pepper.

A Wiltshire poultry keeper, whom we do not know, but who, after a thorough test of Karswood Poultry Spice, extending over seven months, achieved wonderful results, wrote as follows :—

The Banks, Lyneham, nr, Chippenham, 4th August, rg14.

Dear Sirs,—I have been using your Karswood Poultry Spice since January goth of this year, when I received the first 7-lb, tin from you.

1 have about 150 fowl, chiefly White Leghorns. They have done splendidly this year, and I am very pleased indeed with the results obtained through using Karswood Poultry Spice. Of course they all get plenty of good food and careful attention. I am certain that if more of your spice was used there would not be so many complaints about poultry not paying.

I was on the point of selling all my stock, because they did not pay, ut through using Karswood Poultry Spice they now pay splendidly.—-Yours faithfully, 2

(Mrs.) M. HALE.

MONTHLY FIGURES.

52/- produced £74.

The actual cost of the Karswood Poultry Spice used by Mrs, Hale (eight 7-lb, tins at 6s. 6d. each) was £21as, The value of the 12,839 eggs obtained, worked out at the current prices prevailing, was £74 38. 4d.

Is it any wonder, therefore, that Mrs. Hale found her previous loss turned into a handsome profit? And Karswood Poultry Spice will do the same for your birds as it did for Mrs. Hale’s.

SIZES and PRICES.

Note the Economy.

2d, packet supplies r2hens 7 days. 6d. packet supplies 20 hens 16 days, 1/- packet supplies 20 hens 32 days.

7-lb. tin supplies 140 hens 32 days, 14-lb, tin supplies 280 hens 32 days. 28-Ib, tin supplies 560 hens 33 days.

SOLE MANUFACTURERS: KE. GRIFFITHS HUGHES (KARSWOOD) Ltd., 855, Deansgate Arcade, Manchestes,

POULTRY-KEEPING ON MONEY-MAKING LINES.

CHAPTER I Our Home Poultry Industry : Past, Present, and Future

Past neglect—Egg statistics—Our egg and poultry imports—The European War—Reduction of poultry stocks in Europe—Likely egg and poultry famine—Production v. consumption in the U.K.—Present v. possible number of fowls in the U.K.—Each county's duty—From importers to exporters—The foreign egg—Loss of millions of eggs—Ireland can help—The future—Solving the poultry problem.

S a rule the average reader neither cares for, nor troubles to digest, statistics, and it is only due to the importance of the figures as affecting directly our “Home” Poultry Industry that

I intend devoting a chapter entirely to this all-important subject. I propose serving up my menu in as interesting a way as possible, dealing with the egg and poultry statistics more fully than has been done in any previous textbook. Just as the angler baits up the swims before “‘ dipping ”’ his line in earnest, so do I intend this chapter to act as a little ground-bait before ‘ wetting ’’ my pen on the practical side of the Poultry Industry.

Past Neglect.—It has for many years past been a matter of surprise and regret to me that a number of our more deserving Home Industries have not been given their due respect. Especially has this been the case with the Poultry Industry, and the blame lies as much with the powers that be as with the British people. Here we have a self-supporting industry that has offered “‘ home ”’ producers a bonus of no less than £10,000,000 a year had they been eager enough to step in and produce more and better poultry. I refer to the huge amount of money spent yearly in poultry imports from foreign countries, totalling in 19i13—the record year—almost as much as the products of our own little Biddy realised. It is to show British poultry-producers the best methods of “cornering ’’ those ten millions that this. textbook has been prepared.

Egg Statistics —It is estimated that the United Kingdom consumes 5,060,000,000 eggs in a year, more than half of which is imported B into these Isles. In other words we might say that each head of population accounts for an average of some 110 eggs per annum—less than oneegg every thirdday. Great Britain consumes over twelve million eggs every day of the year, whilst Greater London alone uses up over two millions—about 115 tons—each day. Before the European War we were spending £26,000 a day on emported eggs, no less than £182,000 a week.

Our Egg and Poultry Imports.—It will be as well for me to touch upon, in this chapter, our imports of eggs and poultry. From the table given below it will be seen that even as far back as 1893 we spent over £4,000,000 on poultry produce from abroad. It will also be noticed that the figures have been increasing eech year until the record was reached in 1913.

Eaas. ;, POULTRY. Eaas, POULTRY, £ £ £

The European War.—Whilst the value of our poultry imports has been increasing each year, British poultry producers have certainly not been altogether idle. They have plodded on, but unfortunately on the same old lines, whereas a more progressive campaign backed up by the powers that be should have long since been put into operation. *Tis true that of late the British hen has been taking things rather more seriously. She has travelled all over the globe to meet in open Laying Contests the world’s best layers, and what is more, she has brought back honours, beating all comers. Again the world’s egg-record for four winter months is held by six “‘all-English’’ White Wyandottes, which laid 523 eggs in the 112 days. In time to come progeny from these heavy-laying strains will find their way all over the United Kingdom, and the result will be to the advantage of our Industry. This amply shows that we have the goods, and the authorities might have done worse than “commandeered ”’ (at the owners’ prices) the original parents or close relatives of some of these noted layers and acted as distributing agents of eggs and stock.

The Poultry Press has at the beginning of each year given a detailed account of the previous year’s imports of eggs and poultry, but the fact that we were spending over ten millions on foreign poultry produce did not seem to make things move any quicker. Then came the Great European War (August, 1914), which alone was the means of calling immediate attention to the excessive amount given yearly to foreign

* The record year.

OUR HOME POULTRY INDUSTRY 3 producers. We suddenly “discovered ” that those countries engaged in the struggle were the very ones that we mostly depended upon in peace-time for our poultry imports. The following table gives the number of eggs—in great hundreds (120)—imported in the record year of 1913 from the countries affected by the European crisis :—

Gt. Hundreds Gt. Hundreds

(120). (120).

Russia .. - ow, 2 hhh 5S 277 Austria-Hungary “ 883,651 Germany ns = 513,740 Bulgaria oe 2° 3,600 Belgium es ny 72,879 Serbia .. ee ee 4,512 France .. 3% oF 702,281 Rumania oe oe 226,190 Italy .. es ee 845,789 BEI es,

These eggs would be valued at about £7,000,000—something like two-thirds of our total imports.

All went well for a time, as eggs came into this country in decent quantities. Suddenly, however, Russia stopped her exportation of poultry produce—over 824 million eggs per annum—and other countries followed suit. They naturally (in war-time) wanted all the eggs and poultry their producers could supply for consumption at home. America and our Colonies helped to fill the gap, but the decreased import of eggs during the first six months of 1915 will be seen from the following table :— Number. Value, 1914 .. oe os dogde, 108,320 3% ee -» £4,393,171 1915 .. as ‘3 546,374,160 .. ee «« £2,404,227

Had not war been declared the ‘‘ import” figures of 1914 would undoubtedly have beaten those of 1913—the record year. In the following table are given the quantities of imported eggs from January Ist to July 3lst—the ante-war months of 1914—and also the figures of 1913 for the same period, just to show that the imports were still going up and up :—

Eaes (IN Great Hunpreps) Imporrep FROM JANUARY IsT TO JuLY 3lst, 1914.

Totals (in great hundreds) ee 11,658,404 12,023,323

Reduction of Poultry Stocks.—Soon after the declaration of war the prices of poultry foods began to rise, and in consequence far too many so-called experts recommended a ruthless reduction of poultry stocks at home. This was a mistaken policy, for it only scared proe ducers. I agreed to the immediate disposal of surplus stock—such as unnecessary male birds of all ages and old, unprofitable hens, for I have given this advice each year. I certainly think, therefore, that had many of the poultry experts gone into fuller details as to the whys and wherefores poultry-keepers would have had a better chance. At the time of writing there are rumours of a likely egg-famine, and the reduction of poultry stocks at home is given as the cause. I will, however, deal with this later on. What concerns us here is the reduction of pot stocks abroad. Wherever the Hun has planted his : | heel little “ biddy ” has found her

way into the stew-pot. Belgium, Northern France, Hungary, Galicia, etc., have been literally “‘ swept” of the little domestic hen, and Wilhelm II. has even “ officially ” reduced the poultry stocks of his own subjects (in Germany) from some seventy million fowls (before the war) to practically nil. When, too, Warsaw fell, the Polish peasants lost all their geese and poultry stocks to the hungry Hun. This reduction of poultry stocks must seriously affect poultrydom in the near future, and at least calis for a combined effort on the part of poultry-producers to set their house in order. With the high price of meat pouliry have been found a cheap and popular substitute, which must have reduced the pouliry stocks of the world still further. Likely Egg and Poultry Famine.—Rumour in well-informed channels has it that the United Kingdom must suffer from an egg and poultry famine, and this momentous question is certainly worthy of immediate attention on the part of Home producers. Those who have so far dealt with the question have not gone very fully into the subject, Years ago the “ new-laid ” was not held in such high esteem as a table dainty as it is to-day. We have suddenly entered into an egg-eating age, which fact must be borne in mind when dealing with the rumoured egg famine. America at one time was a big “ exporter ”’ of eggs, but of recent years she has realised what is in an egg and has “imported ” supplies from Europe to meet her demand. A similar change has taken place in other countries, and J have not the least doubt that ere long the demand for eggs and poultry in each country will have to be met by producers in that country. This is far from what is now the case, for the present yearly production of eggs and poultry in the U.K. may

EGG-PRESERVING DAIL,

ENGLAND 3 WALES | _

ITS POULTRY CAPACITY AND POSSIBLE PRODUCTION

(SEE TEXT)

J NORTHUMBERLAND \ !

P-F: possiBLe NUMBER OF FOWLS P-P- POSSIBLE VALUE OF PRODUCE

Kok CUMBERLAND :

"DURHAM is

_.5 WESTMORLAND: a 4 Ste ree Chad NORTH RIDING iSLEOFMAN PML 2 : 5 %% ey rf X Pa Phan i ‘ WEST RIDING x Senate 6 / EAST RIDING iRISH SEA 2

LANCASHIRE } in ;

‘ANGLESEY CHESHIRE =| LINCOLN

DERBY | 12

,o 1 7, be , 10 ‘NOTTINGHAM CARNARVON t, \4., :, 4 oi : i T -

te + 1G cate. ohy. 3 : ‘ : age Pastas Ae cA Pe ed 4 . hes MOMERIONETH® OT i fx:

*" SHROPSHIRE ¥ 18 NORFOLK sac are 2: PH Lo LLEICESTER Ven pe os ads _ sce? MONTGOMERY, |. e a) a 19 £20.23) .

SOR GT. Ste TP . ‘. oy eA UA AT ae Bee pret . of af : eK i Sh PMA 2 ; zs = - , Pg AA ee we BN 5 AP “WARWICK 1) NORTHAMPTON “"RUNTINGDON;-. 4 SUFFOLK RDIGAN vos : "i fio ig ke 28 29 i iO WEST; EAST ar he fing Bi . Sab ae teen - 9 ke f : Not A 4, CAMBRIDGE ; 32%: 32 gases f J HEREFORD ”: et A “BEDFORD: ON esti : ° moet) A Ly a, 26 a nied ated sap te TS i ost at BRECKNOCK ° 2 3, 7 (BUCKINGHAM, 4\ ee ; Apes J ee CARMARTHEN } BT Foxroma ee: : .. ESSEX PEMBROKE: 34 PSG Pret th i : athe f 4 33 °°". % Maer _ J "GloucesTeR + 39; Got tn AO : BE NED 5 . = 38 a Sefer tp ORS ."" HERTFORD |.’ io a Bree Teese, ae, MONMOUTH ¢ i Pit Petty te “+ 42 # pode - GLAMORGAN “ 37 : ae a) i pee Z *s fea oe 36 are. F ss 7 BERKS ; x ATODLES EX: j 45 : : . ‘LONDON . > “, : °*. WILTS me EPA: Fa 7 : 44 A. So ceet eed verses, 2 Re Y - SURREY KENT ] SOMERSET ; ; ay A ness 51 4 HAMPSHIRE ee siee® , : ? { 50 Ca f os la ds ua) os 2 SUSSEX « ‘ oa ne AS rps LOMA te Sock 2 EAST + DEVON Fooet ae: we : “ 2 52 ; ” D oR Sec : eo G9 ae 35 © MT OS: 34 my 5 rms “ ¢ 3 ISLE°® WIGHT CORNWALL + U 53

ENGLAND AND WALES: ITS POULTRY CAPACITY AND POSSIBLE PRODUCTION.

No. on ma

27 28

) | p- County.

Northumberland Cumberland Durham Westmorland “¢- Nth. Riding West Riding Lancashire East Riding Cheshire ..

Derby Nottingham Lincoln Flint Denbigh ..

Carnarvon Merioneth Shropshire Stafford Leicester ..

Rutland Norfolk Montgomery Cardigan ..

Radnor Hereford ..

Worcester Warwick ..

—— ee LT RT Se

P.F.

2,025,330

272,943 |

398,315 |

493,226

No. on map.

County.

N’thampton Huntingdon Cambridge Suffolk Pembroke Carmarthen Brecknock Glamorgan Monmouth Gloucester Oxford Buckingham Bedford Hertford ..

Essex es Wiltshire ..

Berkshire ..

Midd! esex London Kent Surrey...

Hampshire Somerset ..

Devonshire Cornwall ..

Dorset Sussex Anglesey ..

Isle of Man

P.F.

P.P.

~ 440,359

OUR HOME POULTRY INDUSTRY 5 be put at £15,000,000, whereas the total consumption is about £27,000,000 per annum, leaving about £12,000,000 to be spent each year on imported poultry produce.

Production v. Consumption in the U.K.—The nearest cut, then, to preventing an egg and poultry famine at home is for poultry-producers in the U.K. to supply the demand. This is an easy step! The United Kingdom can only boast of a mean average of less than half a fowl per acre of cultivated land,—the statistics being taken for holdings of one acre and upwards,—yet it has been proved that three fowls per acre could be kept without any displacement of other stock. If each county in our Isles carried its full number of poultry stock the possible production would stand at something like £50,000,000, and as the total consumption is but £27,000,000 this would leave a good margin, and place us in a position even to export eggs.

There is no reason why, once the poultry stocks of the U.K. were improved (and there is at present much room for improvement), the production should not be £100,000,000 per annum. It will surprise readers to know that there are but one or two counties where the yearly production exceeds the value of eggs and poultry consumed each year in that county. Shropshire, Cardiganshire, and Anglesey fall in line here, as the following table shows :— e475

Yearly production. Yearly consumption, Excess.

Wales alone spends over a million and a half pounds per annum on foreign eggs! Her present yearly production ts only £567,961, yet if she carried her correct number of fowls she could produce eggs and poultry to the value of £3,000,000. As may be seen at a glance, no egg famine could be feared in Wales if she produced her maximum amount.

I have not room to give figures for all the counties, but to show how behind the times are producers in the U.K., I append a table giving the yearly production and consumption of eggs and poultry of a number of counties taken at random :-—

Yearly Yearly Yearly consump- Yearly consumpproduction, tion. production, ion. £ £ £ £

If, on the other hand, each of the above counties kept its “possible”? number of poultry stock, the amount of yearly production would be something approaching the figures given in the table below :—

Possible Possible yearly yearly production. production.

£ £ Cumberland F 559,580 Staffs. - 593,131 Cornwall 611,116 Beds. * 255,276 Somerset 852,793 Surrey 259,682 Wiltshire .. 724,746 Glamorgan : .. 264,061 Hertfordshire , a0) wom eeu Cheshire .. ie .. 632,492 Essex .. a oo. t0a,000 Lancashire os -» 793,681 Sussex 4 es «» 656,729 Carnarvonshire .,. «» 171,410

The above figures are on the light side and are only for holdings of an acre or more. Ten per cent. must be added for holdings under an acre, and the manurial value must not be omitted. The manurial value would amount to: Kent, £122,792; Sussex, £109,455; Essex, £132,154, ete.

Present and Possible Number of Fowls.—In touching upon the number of fowls in Great Britain we must go back to the last census of poultry taken in 1908. The breeding stock of the country then may be said to have consisted of :—

Fowls. | Ducks. Geese. Turkeys.

At three fowls to the acre the “* possible’ number of fowls that could be kept in the United Kingdom is given below, also a rough estimate for Ireland :—

Total number of fowls forthe U.K. 150,286,000

® The above table includes the Census for Ireland taken in 1912.

OUR HOME POULTRY INDUSTRY a

The value of the present and possible production of the United Kingdom is given below :—

Present Prod, Possible Prod, £

If we add two million pounds for small occupations, we may be said to produce at home poultry supplies to the value of £15,000,000. The table appearing below gives the number of fowls at present kept in the county quoted, and for the sake of comparison the “ possible’ number. The counties named have been taken at random :—

Present. Possible.

Present. Possible.

Replacing Imported Manures.—The high value of poultry manure is well-known, and in keeping an increased number of poultry stock we should have to regard the manurial value—roughly 3s. 4d. per acre —as well as the increase in the production of poultry supplies. We should then have the following manurial values :—

£ England .. - =e ms ~~ Se Ote tat Wales 3 e. 3 <s es 461,733 Scotland .. is es = 807,639 Total .. “ -» £5,349,109

This is worth attention, for we spend something like £3,000,000 a year on “‘ imported ”’ manures.

Each County’s Duty.—I am so confident in my assertion that Great Britain must carry her correct number of fowls if her Home Poultry Industry is to hold the position it should that I give below the possible number of fowls that can be kept in the various counties, with the possible value of produce.* The production figures do not include the value of manure, which has already been dealt with collectively.