POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 155, 27 March 1926, Page 26

POULTRY NOTES

(By

“New Laid.’’)

EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS.

The schedule for the twenty-second annual egg-laying competition organised by the Nev.’ Zealand Utility Poultry Club, and to be conducted bn their property at Papanui, Christchurch, during the ensuing year, came to hand recently. It is a very well got up publication of some fifty pages, and contains, in addition to tile rules governing the competition, several useful and instructive articles. No apology is necessary for reprinting below an article by iho Chief Government Poultry Expert, Mr. F. C. Brown, on .the subject of competitions gemyally, and more particularly jf the work carried out at Papanui. Since the year 1905 the Now Zealand Utility Poultry Club has held annual egg-laying competitions. That these and similar tests conducted in the Dominion have rendered valuable assistance toward uplifting the poultry industry no one can deny. For example, in the first competition held by the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, the average egg yield was 132.3 a bird, whereas in .some of the subsequent tests, and with a much greater number of birds competing, the average yield was over 200 eggs each. The past and present members of the club have every reason to congratulatethemselves in accomplishing to such a great extent the work they set out to do in - the initial stages of the club’s existence. One of its chief aims was to encourage the breeding of purebred poultry and the breeding from tested stock from an egg-producing viewpoint. The results achieved are more than gratifying. Not only has file average egg yield’ been steadily increased in connection with the competing birds, but in addition sonic phenomenal egg yields—indeed world’s records—have been established bv'pens of birds and individual specimens, records which before the advent of egg-laying competitions would have been thought impossible to secure. The following are some of the high egg yields produced:—A pen of six White Leghorns laid 1G32 eggs in 52 , weeks, whilst a pen of six of the same breed laid 2717 eggs in two years. An individual Black Orpington laid 312 eggs in 3G5 days. A Silver Wyandotte laid 277 in 52 weeks; a White Leghorn 33G and 317 in 12 months. Three Indian Runner ducks laid 850 eggs in 51 weeks. i\ pen of six birds of the same breed laid 1583 eggs in 52 weeks. Six Indian Runner ducks laid 2SB” eggs in two years, whilst an individual duck of the name breed laid 3G3 eggs in . 365 days By the agencies of these and other highlyproductive strains of birds heavy producing stock have been disseminated far and wide, until now the majority of poultry-keepers, both in the suburbs ii.nd on the farms, are possessed of stock of undoubted egg-laying value, which requires only to be bred and managed intelligently' to prove profitable. One of the chief weaknesses in the past in connection with competitions, which still exists But to a lesser degree, is allowing birds to compete which in no way conform to the standard breed characters or weight clauses under which the.', are entered. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club are aiming ;in the right direction to correct matters in this respect, as now any -birds that do not come near to standard requirements (including weight) are rejected. This has had a most desirable effect in improving the quality of the competing birds in the club’s tests. There- is, however, much room for improvement iu this respect, especial y that which aims at uniformity of standard breed type and weight requirements. Any tightening up of the rules which will further tend towards bringiug..about improvement in this direction is well worthy of the club’s earnest consideration. True, at the present t tune poultry breeders are or a more or less divided section, viz., those who believe <a breeding from tne best layers quite irrespective of size and breed quality, and those who aim. tor a combination or character including brepd type, good size, and pedigree of performance. Bo this as it may, experience goes to show that the best layer is not necessarily the best breeder tor the maintenance of a heavy productive strain. The New -•-eaiaud Utility Poultry Club in the past has encouraged ideals to be aimed at, many of .which have been attained to a high degree. Among other things by means of ottering special prizes by way or shields, etc., breed and useful characters in the competing -birds have been maintained at a high degree, whilst.the aiming for a 2oz. egg product has and will prove a lasting benefit to the industry. 1 , , The work achieved in the past by the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club in the conduct of its egg-laying coinpetitions need not be further dwelt upon, as tile results accomplished speak for themselves. If further progress is to be made the watchword of the club must be in regard to the future Higher ideals should bo aimed at both in regard to simplifying the methods of breeding for the maintenance ot highly-productiye stock, together with the feeding and. general management thereof, whereby the greatest profit will be secured over the cost ot production; Such matters as these, and the question of inducing a greater number of poultry-keepers to become members of the club, appear to stand uppermost for the club’s consideration. The members of the New Zealand Utility loultrv Club richly deserve the best support possible from one and all concerned in the welfare of the poultry lndustrv. T.n the past, and at present, their work, which is of untold \alue, has-been carried out as a labour of love, and in no way has it been due to dnect self-interested motives. The value ot P<r K -laving competitions was realised at the outset by the Department of Agriculture, which liberally subsidised the leading tests and continue to do so at the present time. ' j „ There is probably no other productive industry in which progress is being made as rapidly at the present time as m the poultry world. It is imposs.be to ; keen well posted in modern methods without a careful study of carefully written up-to-date hooks treating on special phases, of the industry. Give the radio a rest now and then, and devote a few of the coming winter nights to a careful rearlin<a of "oofl poultry books and to careful planping for the next season a work. There are many wavs in which the poni. trvman can mnke his head save his heels and increase his revenue if he .is willing thus to profit by the experience of others.—Reliable Poultry Journal. Red Mites.

If the amount of annoyance caused by red mites were in direct proportion to the size of the insect then the subject would hardly be worth mentioning. The red mite, however, though very tiny, can work a great deal of havoc among poultry. These pests can be found on closely examining the cut or sawn ends of the perches and.in crevices and cracks in the wood. They are often much Mnullej thuii a pin head and can only be seen to move at all when an attempt is made to dislodge them. This happens (or- should happen) two or three times a year at least. They live, as their name might lead one to suppose, on the blood of the fowl’s body; that is to say, they leave their hiding places at night. The birds suffer by being tortured throughout the night and are thus robbed of much of their vitality. The laying capacity of the birds is often appreciably lessened from this cause. . . ' . I have noted poultrymen striving to eradicate these pests by limewashing the sheds and fittings This is simply waste of time, at any rate as far as killing red mites goes. The perches, and particularly the ends of them, and the groves in which they rest, should, first of all. be thoroughly scoured with carbolic soap and water. They should then be saturated with creosote, and the walls, nost-'boxos and other fittings should receive a light coating of the same liquid. These operations should he repeated very often. The pon’trv man with of time would rot he overdoing it if he took these nrpeautions ea n h month, especially (lurin'? spring and summer. JNcnvFP TO rOBPFSPONBENT. te Anvmvq nsks. “Could T breed for stock I*r<ls, this eomincr soring, from docks ih nf wore hatched last Julv?", The answer i a in the affirmative, as it is usuallv found that for early eggs and fertility, first-year ducks are to be preferred/