POULTRY KEEPING

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20427, 23 December 1931, Page 6

POULTRY KEEPING

PIGEONS AND CAGE BIRDS. (By Fancier.) NOTES. A Merry Christmas and a Happy an.) Prosporous New Year. Mr S. F. Marshall, secretary of the N.Z. Utility Poultry Club, leaves 011 Saturday on a trip to Auckland. The next meeting of the United Pigeon Fanciers' Club will be held on January 13th. Left to do their own choosing, chickens will eat three times as much wheat as maize, experiments at Ohio State University have shown. •'Milk is probably the best single food for growing chicks, and its use is strongly recommended," says George P. Goodeari, poultry instructor at North Dakota Agricultural College. The per capita yearly consumption of eggs in Canada is approximately 372, or more than one egg per day. This year it is estimated she will send 20,000 cases to Britain, each case containing 30 dozen. All shipments arc graded according to Canadian standard grades. At a recent Victorian show, the judge who was to do all the poultry was objected t<o by the controlling body because his name was not on the Utility list of judges. However, the Utility men refused to bench their birds uncier another judge, aiul in consequence the judge originally selected carried on and gave every satisfaction. . The rumour that a duty on pollard was going to be imposed caused a flutter in poultry circles. The i-uinour has been denied, but it may have the effect of stopping the poultry-farmer from complaining about the poor quality of pollard, bran and wheatmeal. Yolk of egg is known to possess invaluable properties, and for children there is nothing more wholesome than a drink composed of the yolks of two eggs, well beaten, and added to a quart, of filtered water, with the juice of two lemons and sugar to taste, says a correspondent in "Poultry." .Mr Jack Hawkins, 25 Barrio street, Snreydon, is an old soldier, having served in the. 11th Hussars in South Africa and in India. He is also a lover of birds, which he kept in the Old Land, and again when he came to New Zealand about 23 years ago. Between birds and his garden he spends much of his spare time. The breeds kept by this fancier arc Muffed and Clean Legged Tumblers and Utility Black Orpingtons and Mules. Ho showed me one he bred 20 years ago. I hope the veteran will long continue to enjoy his hobbies.. A championship, for Utility Langshans lias been allotted to the Christchurch show, 1932. Years ago 1 bred and judged both Modern and Croad Langshans. To the latter I once awarded a championship, and concluded the Langshan, any type, was one of the best utility breeds. Leading Christchurch citizens seemed to be of the same opinion, for I have seen them pen 40 birds in the. four classes for Blacks, and a few in the two classes for Whites. In tests they have proved their -worth, both as layers and table fowls. A team at Christchurch would remind one of old times and old friends. gome Big Prices. Mr W. Whiting, of Port Kelts, 8.C., owner and breeder of the world's champion White Leghorn, '.hicli laid 357 eggs, has recently sold one of ner progeny (a cockerel) to the Imperial Government of Japan for 500 dollars. One hopes Japan will favour New Zealand by > buying a few of her champion layers. The highest English price I can recall was £2OO, for a Black Bed Modern Game cockerel by Captain Heaton, and £165 by Miss Bilot for a Partridgo Wyandotte cockerel. For pigeons £IOO has been given in England, for Magpies, Carriers, Show Homers and at least one self Black Clean Legged Long-faced Tumbler, but the highest price of all was 1300 dollars, which J. B. Joel gp.ve at auction for one of J. W. Logan's racing Homers. Mr Fred W. Chambers. Mr Fred W. Chambers is the secretary of the United Pigeon Fanciers' Club, and knows his job. Though on the South Island Council, and a vice-presi-dent of the Christchurch Poultry Club, and a breeder of many sorts of fowls, it is as a pigeon fancier he is best known. At his residence, 12 Southey street, Sydenham, Mr Chambers has many visitors who .seo a collection that reminds one of a miniature zoo. Clean Legged Black Self Tumblers are in the majority, but there is a sprinkling of Reds and Yellow Clean Legs, and a pair of Blue Muffs. Next comes several pairs of Satinettes, and at the time of my last visit a much-needed Satinette had not long been hatched from a cross that should infuße more vigour in the Oriental Frills in tho lofts under notice. Among the other pigeons wtre a few Fantails and Croppers and performing Tumblers, and a pair of Gazza ModCnas, a variety new to Christchurch lofts, though more- popular in other parts. Among the other stock belonging to Mr Chambers are Black Leghorns, White Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds and Pile Modern Game Bantams. The cage birds here are a pair of Australian magpies, a pair of Budgerigars, and a variegated Norwich Canary that whistles beautifully. Four Chinchilla Rabbits, a Spaniel dog, a Persian cat and a ferret are also to be found at the home of Mr Chambers.