POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 31

POULTRY NOTES.

— The Balclutha Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Club's third annual show schedule of prizes is now in circulation — this year in book form. If tells of many valuable prizes, notifies that the show takes place on the 21st and 22nd of June, and that entries close on the 16th of same month. Mr Dunccn Watt is secretary and treasurer. —In reply to a correspondent I have to explain that to preserve eggs in waterglass the method ie to dissolve one part of silicate of soda (by measure) in 10 to 15 parfs of water that has been boiled, and cool down to the temperature of the atmosphere, reducing the density of the solution just sufficiently to permit the eggs to sink. The solution may be poured over the eggs, or they may be put in it, so long as they are quite submerged. Keep in a fairly cool place.

— Exporting Eggs.— A word in season to those sending off eggs to different parts of the. world. In the' first place, the eggs must be securely packed and sealed. A writer in a contemporary never said a truer wmd than that dock thieves are ready to pounce, down upon eggs as well as birds, but a greater danger is said to lie in the crew itself. When the sealing and extra precautions in packing ere observed, fhis may act as a deterrent. Not only do we seal every string, but we place signatures over every part that can be removed, and instruct clients to see that these signatures are not broken on arrival. Cases have come to our notice where eggs and birds 'have apparently been stolen by the knowing ones, and worthless stuff substituted in their stead. And whether on board ship or on the railway, no one seems able to determine, which renders the matter difficult to deal with. Still, if sealing wax be freely used, and the means we have pointed out adopted, it will absolve exporters from the charges of dealing fraudulently with their customers in distant lands, in sending them other than the kind and | quality of eggs ordered. — Fanciers' Gazette. —At the conclusion of the lecture on " Poultry Foods and Feeding," at Drouin, on April 26, Mr H. V Hawkins, the Government poultry expert, referred to the remarks made by Bishop Stretch at the University dinner on the " practical man." These remai'ks were considered By Mr Hawkins to I" be uncalled for, and a decided reflection on some of the experts of the Agricultural Department, especially those who at "present were giving lectures and demonstrations at the agricultural classes held throughout Victoria. He remarked that he had visited the residence ' of one of the University professors, and found wheat and, maize scattered •all over the poultry run, covered in filth and dirt — presumably " one-feed-a-week" style. If this was the manner the professor taught the students how to feed the birds, it was no wonder that the services of the "practical man" had to be requisitioned in order to put thinge on a more satisfactory basis. — The approach of winter will necessitate a close inspection of the yards and poultry houses by those who have the interests of the flocks at heart. Nothing will bring on roup and other ailments quicker than damp yards and cold and draughty fowlhouses. The drainage of the yard' and runs should receive careful' attention, and the surface should be prepared so that no water will lodge on it. Pools of stagnant water in the fowlyards will produce cholera, diar- ; rhcea, etc., as the poultry will, as a rule, prefer to drink out of .hose holes ir preference to the regular drinking t«bs«l. If a drain is required to carry away the surface water, it should be given a fair fall, and if pitched with stones or bricked it will be much more serviceable and more easily cleaned. The houses should be thoroughly renovated, and all cracks or crevices closed properly. A certain amount of ventilation is, of course, necessary, but this should be arranged co that the birds are not ex)>osed to any draught. The warmth of tho fowlhouse is conducive to the health and also the egg-production of the hons during the winter months, and additional heat may with advantage be provided. Felt, ruberoid, or other preparations of the same kind are very useful. They should be used as c lining for the fowlnouscs, and may be J fixed so that they can be taken off easily if required. Canvas, hessian, or bagging j can also be utilised for the game purpose, j It should, however, be covered with'a good* coating of lime wash so as to close up all i places where insect life might obtain a hold, i The floor of the fowlhouses should" receive attention. The floor 6hould always be about I 6in higher than the ground outside. It may be filled up with broken stone, and then co\ered over with a thick coating of clay, rammed down hard. A very good covering ran be made with eminent and sand. This is more expensive, but is better and more lasting than the clay. — Messrs A. Tapper and Co. (per Mr E. Reilly) ha-ve pleasure in reporting for wi?ck ending Saturday, May 12:— Poultry have been in excellent demand, and large supplies came forward for our usual sale on Wednesday, over 900 birds being catalogued. The bulk of our entries consisted of prime young rooster*, and for these record prices ] were obtained, a choice lot from Ngaparaand Waitahuna fetching 5s 3d to '6s per j pair. We would particularly impress on j consignors the necessity of birds arriving in Dunedin (if intended for our weekly sale) not later than Wednesday morning. The following are the prices obtained :~-Prime. young roosters, 2s 3d to 3s; good, Is 9d to 2s 3d; small and inferior, 9d to- Is odj hens, extra- good, 2s 3d; good, Is 6d to 2sj fair, Is to Is 3d ; ducks, extra good,- 2s- 6d 5 fair, Is 3d to la 9d each. Turkeys— gobblers B£d, hens 5d per lb. . Pure-bred -poultry. We received a fine line of" birds,and sold : — Silver Wyandottes', "5s 5' white Wyandottes, 3e to 4« 6d; buff Orpingtons, 3s to 4s; black Orpingtons, 3s 6d to 4s; brown Leghorns, 2s 6d to 3sj whit© Leghorns, 2s 95 1 to- ss; Minorcaa, Zs 6d to 4s; imported Indian runner drakes, 7& to 9s; Aylesbury, ss; cockerels, silver Wyandottes, 4a to 7s od 1 ; black Orpingtons, 3s to 8s; white Leghorns, ss; Minorcas, 5s each. Eggs : Fresh, in good demand, le lOd to 2s ; preserved, slow sale, Is to Is 2d ; cool store, Is 4d. Private sales of purebred poultry: We have sent to West Coast 6 white Wyandotte pullets at 12» 6d ; 1 1 cockereL 2fe ; 1 white Wyaadotte cock, 20s ;

2 silver Wyandotte cockerels {1 to Middlemarch, 1 to Gore), at £2 2s, 3 "redcaps at 12s; 12 white Leghorn pullets to Christchurch at 10s, trio of Hamburgs at 21s; 1 Muecovy drake at 20s; 2 American bronze turkeys at 255, and 3 light Brahmasat 10s6d each Export poultry -Prices remain unchanged.