Feathered Fancy

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 139, 18 July 1914, Page 5

Feathered Fancy

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. H. T. S., Dunedin.—Your letter will be attended to.

..The Hokitika Poultry Society's annual exhibition of poultry, pigeons, and canaries will be held in the Shed on August 5, 1914. The classification of the schedule is good, and with such a liberal prize list good entries should be received. Mr F. C. Brown, Government Poultry Expert, will deliver a lecture on "Poultry Raising," and also judge the utility poultry classes, Mr J. J. Breeze being allotted the poultry open classes. The pigeons and canaries will be judged by Mr G. Priest. The Plymouth Rock championship for the South Island, West Coast section, will be competed for at this fixture. Entries close on August 1 with Mr D. J. Evans, hon. secretary, who will be pleased to supply intending competitors with all particulars.

While on schedules. Very few of the South Canterbury schedules came forward to local exhibitors. If entries are required, exhibitfcrs should be kept in touch with, and the schedule is the best means of advertising the good things.

Friar's Balsam (external). —Apply to any cuts or bruises. Also for use after dubbing, to check bleeding from torn combs, .wattles, etc.

At the recent half-yearly meeting of the South Island Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association, the Council was accorded a vote of thanks for the good work done. The past season has' not been a strenuous one. The societies are working well together, and everything points well for the future. The previous council had a busy time when the rules had to be revised, and during that term Mr T. H. Jones lent valuable assistance.

Again the question, who is the "breeder"? has been raised, and this time by the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, who requested a definition of the word "breeder" from the Council of the South Island Poultry Association. This body has decided: "That the son in. whose possession the eggs were hatched, and reared the chickens, was the breeder." This decision has several good points, and one in particular happened quite; recently. Ais a breeder of White Legfiorns, and disposes of eggs to B and C. Bis a careful breeder, and rears his chickens-well. C is a careless breeder, and, as usually is the case, his brood of chickens is a failure. The point is raised whether it would be fair to credit A as being the breeder of C's stock, when the poor results are due to C's inattention. B-'s stock, though being the same as C's, was good. Under the cireumstances/ the decision of the association should'meet the case.

I am informed that the Canterbury Egg Farmers* Association will make a very large consignment of eggs for the September shipment. . Some four chambers have been secured, and will contain 700 cases of eggs. Further shipments will be made during October, November, and December months. This should absorb any surplus of eggs during the latter months.

The educational committee of the Utility Poultry Club is endeavouring to

(By "GRIT.")

We do not advise anybody to keep geese, unless they can give them, at any rate, a small grass range.

When at the station last Saturday evening I noticed -a nttie pair of Red Baldhead pigeons consigned to "Mr G. P. Bradford, of the Cust, from- .Invercargill. Coming up on Saturday evening's second express, these birds would have to wait at the Christchurch "station until Monday mdrning, meaning three days on the road, when, •if they had been forwarded earlier in the week, the journey could have been done in two days.

The Fanciers' Live Stock Importing Club met on Thursday evening, and active operations have now started for the first shipment. The secretary has already received a reply from a London shipping firm. The club has received numerous applications for a copy of its rules, not only from local fanciers, but also from others outside of the Christchurch district.

At the last meeting of the United Pigeon Fanciers' Club, it was decided to hold a club show at the Christchurch Poultry Club rooms on August 1. The show will be among the clab members,

arrange July 28 as the date of the debate "Heavy Breeds versus Light Breeds." Messrs J. B. Merrett and, R. W., Hawke will have charge of the respective sides, and will be granted 20 minutes, to give their opinions; their assistants will be granted some ten minutes each. As a large, i attendance is expected, the place has not yet been definitely fixed. In next issue I expect to have further details.

Handy articles to keep about: Epsom salts, ircfe sulphate, oil of turpentine, olive oil, zinc ointment, glycerine, iodine, vaseline, friars balsam, boracic acid powder, powdered charcoal, cod liver oil, and chemical food. They are all useful.

Everyone hatches considerably more birds than are necessary. Keep a few and attend to them well.

During the first week in August the birds in the Papanui egg-laying competition will be weighed and judged as exhibition specimens. Messrs P. Dacre and F. C. Brown (Government poultry expert) have been invited to judge the birds as show specimens for the Studholme test. No hen will be eligible to compete that does not lay 1100 eggs during the competition.

The conditions in connection with the Russell Cup offered for competition in connection with the egg-laying competi-" tion are as follow:—(1) Maximum number of points to be awarded to the pen of light or heavy breeds returning the greatest value of eggs during the competitions, 50 points, other pens in proportion; (2) maximum number of points to be awarded for average greatest weight of eggs per dozen, 40 points, other pens in proportion; (3) maximum number of points to be awarded for shape and quality of shell, 10 points, other pens in proportion; (4) only pens laying 1100 eggs will be eligible to compete. At the last meeting of the club, the president, with Dr C. Russell and the caretaker, were appointed judges of quality of shell and shape.

and a very attractive display is promised. The schedule is in the hands of I Messrs Kingsford and Menzies, and j .they have received a' satisfactory j amount of support. , !:

Sell anything not required for breeding, and that will not lay within a month.

The Christchurch Canary Club will hold a club show at the club rooms on August 5. The classes will be for clear and invisible tieked. Buffs and yellow, also visible ticked and variegated buff and yellow cock bird classes. Mr T. 11. J ones has been invited to officiate as judge.

I understand that a new Christehureb fancier has written for Mr A. Peat's fantails." The birds should have arrived on Thursday last, but going to press on that morning I cannot Bay whether they came forward.

Mr'C. Shepheard, of Lyttelton, is breeding with some six pairs of Mottles. He informed me- that he had sold one of his best birds to a North Canterbury breeder. He is also thinking of raising a .kit of performing tumblers. Quite recently I met two other fanciers that also have a liking .for the per-' former. RHODE ISLAND REDS. Before many seasons I am certain that this variety will be one of the most popular. They are considered excellent layers, and a fine bird for the table. A few days ago I was shown some dozen hens and pullets, brought by Mr F. Dacre from the North Island. They were an exceptionally fine lot, and were early disposed of. We have heard many discussions on the standard of Rhode Island Reds, and I will give the same for the male bird, the female following in next issue. In conversation with several of the most important l breeders, they speak of the breed as being a good general utility fowl, and it is a wonder that the Government has not attempted to popularise it as well as the other varieties under their control.

Male (shape-).—Head—medium size and breadth, carried horizontally and slightly forward. Beak—medium and regularly curved. Single comb-—medium size, straight, upright, and set firmly on the head with five even and welldefined serrations. Roseeomb—-low, firm, oval in shape, surface covered with small points, terminating in a small spike to the rear and conforming to general curve of the head. Wattlesmedium length. Earlobes—fairly well developed. Neck—medium length and carried slightly forward. Back —broad, long, and nearly horizontal. Breast—broad, deep, and carried in a line nearly perpendicular to the base of the beak.

ISody— deep, broad, and long, with keelbone extending well forward and back, giying the body an oblong look. Wingscarried horizontally. Tail—medium length, well spread, and carried well

I back, increasing the apparent length of the bird. Legs—medium length and smooth. Toes—medium length, straight, and well spread. Carriage—upright and slightly forward, giving an alert appearance. Ruggednesa is of vital importance. Weight —cock Bslb, cockerel 741b. Male (colour).—Beak —red hom colour or yellow. Eyes, comb, wattles, and earlobes—red. Neck —red, harmonising with . back and breast. Wings—primaries, _ lower web black, upper web red; eeeonct- ; , aries, lower web. red, jippe"r web black; , flight coverts "black, wing-bows and wingcoverts red. Tail —main tail feathers and sickle feathers, black or greenish black; tail eovertsmainly black, but may . become russet or red as they approach the saddle. Legs and toes —yellow j a line of red down sides of legs is desirable. Plumage —general surface coiotir v rich brilliant red, free from shafting, mealy appearance, or brassy effect cojour slightly darker on wing bows and back, but the least contrast between these parts and the hackle or breast the bjetter. A harmonious blending is what is de-, sired. Tinder-colours and quill of the feathers should be red or salmon. With the saddle parted showing the undercolours at the base of the tail, the appearance should be red or salmon, not whitish or smoky. Black or white in the under-colour of any section is undesirable. Other things being equal, the specimen having the richest under-colour shall receive the award.