Big poultry industry at hope

In recent years there have sprung up in the Hope area several industries, but none bigger than the poultry business. In this relatively small locality thousands upon thousands of chooks are contributing towards the dinner and breakfast tables of New Zealanders from North Cape to the Bluff. One section of the industry at Hope, Burdens, is devoted exclusively to providing table chickens, ducks and turkeys, while others are primarily concerned with the egg trade and with the raising of chickens for both these sections of the industry. Recognising the growth of the poultry business in the Nelson area, the Christchurch firm of Fleming and Co. decided to build a provender mill at Hope to provide bulk supplies to the poultry keepers and stock food for farmers in the province. The mill, in Ranzau Road, was nearing completion when we took these pictures.

Just how big the poultry industry is in the Hope district can best be gauged from these facts. At the poultry farm of Burdens, 26,000 chickens are constantly being raised for'killing, as well as 1600 ducks and 600 turkeys. In a year, 120,000 birds are processed for. eating. Not far away, Mr Reg Creighton has but recently completed a building in which will be housed eventually 5760 laying hens. Within this building is a completely automatic watering, heating and feeding system, and a mechanical device for collecting eggs cuts down labour tremendously. This battery unit, copied from American units, is one of the most up-to-date in New Zealand. When working to capacity he will collect something like 1,100,000 eggs a year.

In this photographic story we have visited Burdens and Mr Creighton's farms.

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The new provender mill which should be opened later this month

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The battery system in Mr Creighton's new unit