UTILITY POULTRY CLUB

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 224, 9 June 1923, Page 24

UTILITY POULTRY CLUB

government poultry EXPERTS AS JUDGES

The principal business at the last meeting of the Marlborough Utility Poultry Club was the adoption of rules and regulations. This having been disposed of, the following motion was carried unanimously;

“That in the event of the present egg circle being wound up, the commfttge be authorised to carry on the marketing of eggs for its members and frame rules, governing same, with power act.” A minimum price was fixed for the coming season’s settings of eggs, day old chicks, ducklings, and breeders, with a view to uniformity in prices amongst members. Several small accounts, amounting to 30s. Gd., were passed for payment, and a letter from the Wellington District Poultry Association re the marketing of eggs was received. With -a view to obtaining the services of the Government Poultry experts for the purpose of judging the utility sections of the local poultry show, the following motion was put and carried unanimously, the secretary being instructed to acquaint tho member for Wairau, m order that that gentlemen might ventilate the matter in the proper quarter: That this club considers that the Government poultry instructors are missing a golden opportunity in furthering their instructors are missing a golden opportunity in furthering thqir mstruction work by not judging at poultry shows when asked, and requests the member for the district to "do his uttermost to persuade the Government to revert to former times, when this could be done.”

HATCHING QUESTIONS When the proportion ef clear eggs is over 15 per cent., there is bound to be a large proportion of addled and dead in shell. Incubation does not start by putting 100 eggs in an incubator, but many months before then. Examine the hens and see whether they are not too fat. Feed chiefly oh wheat and oats, and littlo soft food. Ample supplies of greens, unless on free range. Try the alternated cockerel method. I am having 100 per cent, fertility on this method. If your male bird is 1921, try a cockerel and watch whether the hens are being attended to. An incubator should not vary more than one deg. up or down. Mino runs day and night at jO3 deg. by having the capsules tested and regulator parts oiled slightly, to ensure easy working. Try a couple of broody hens and see what the test on the fifth or sixth day denotes, then blame the incubator if the eggs under che hens are of high fertility. Perhaps there is vibration in your incubator room. I use circular pieces of old motor tyres under each leg. Cool and test eggs away from a cold draught.—J.A.C. in the “Primary Producers’ News.”

POULTRY-KEEPERS’ PROTEST At a meeting of poultry exhibitors and keepers, held on Thursday night, 31st May, the following resolution was carried unanimously:— “That an emphatic protest be made to the executive committee of the Waikato Winter Show Association, to what is considered an infringement of judges’ procedure, .in considering for awards those birds that have apparently been over-prepared by removal of tail and face feathers, thus altering the true symmetry of exhibits, to make them conform to the New Zealand utility standard, and that certain awards be cancelled for the above reasons.”