370 



Egg-Laying Competition in N.S.Wales. 



[SEPT., 



of the grass in the pens), meat {i.e., cut up boiled liver) at 3 p.m., 

 twice a week, and grain at 4.30 p.m. The mash was composed 

 of pollard and bran, about three-quarters pollard to one-quarter 

 bran, more or less, according to the quality of the pollard, and 

 mixed up with hot soup twice a week, and other days with hot 

 water in the winter months, and cold water in the summer. The 

 green food consisted of finely chaffed rape and lucerne. This year 

 the grain ration was composed of three-parts wheat to one-part 

 maize, compared with three-parts maize to one-part wheat last 

 year ; and it is considered that had the birds been fed more 

 largely on maize the results obtained would have been quite 

 <equal to those of the previous year. Shell-grit and fresh clean 

 water were always before the hens. 



Marketing the Eggs. — The eggs were marketed in ordinary 

 patent egg-cases, holding thirty-six dozen, packed into card- 

 board fillers. The eggs were packed clean without washing, the 

 dirty ones being laid aside, also any that were too large for the 

 square space, or any that were too small. The eggs when sent 

 to market always commanded the highest rate, and often id. 

 above it. 



Mortality and Disease. — During the competition, fifty-three, or 

 «9 per cent, of the hens died. This included fourteen deaths 

 from a heat wave, when the maximum reached 111 deg. F. in 

 the shade. The whole of these deaths were due to diseases of 

 an ovarian nature, caused by excessive laying, with the excep- 

 tion of about four cases, which were from hereditary complaints. 

 No contagious or infectious diseases occurred. 



Prices. — The prices of foodstuffs were much lower in 1904-5 

 than in the previous years, and there was not so much fluctua- 

 tion. The prices charged under contract were 8|d. per bushel 

 for bran, and 9 Jd. per bushel for pollard. The average price for 

 wheat was 3s. 4d., and for maize 2s. 6d. per bushel. The cost 

 of feeding the 600 hens for the twelve months was as follows : — 

 "Wheat, £47 is. ; maize, £12 17s. iod. ; pollard and bran, 

 .^44 2s. id.; meat, £20 ; green food, £j 10s. ; shell- grit, £2 10s. ; 

 total, £134 os. 1 id. 



The monthly laying was : — April, 2,383 ; May, 3,383 ; June, 

 4,900 ; July, 7,782 ; x^ugust, 10,423 ; September, 10,216 ; October, 

 .10,829 ; November, 10,286 ; December, 9,409 ; , January, 7,769 ; 



