POULTRY NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 136, 5 March 1927, Page 28

POULTRY NOTES.

(By

“New Laid.”)

The Auckland ligg-Laging Competition The schedule for the egg-laying competition to be conducted by the Auckland Poultry-Keepers’ Association is to hand, and gives some indication uf the keen interest displayed in this phase of the problems of poultry-keep-ing. This will be the ninth “single pen aud team’’ contest, aud the fourth occasion on which single birds have been tested. The illustration given of the ranges of houses and pens which have been erected on the Associations site at Mount Albert, afford some idea of the work which has been accomplished, and it may also be mentioned that this accommodation is sufficient for the wants of 432 pullets and 72 ducks, all of which are single penned. By this means, and by this means alone, is it possible for the individual records to be made by the birds, and the correct tally kept of their performances. The executive of the Association have made an alteration in the number of birds which will comprise each team, bv making it four in place of three, as in recent tests, but no increase has been made in the entrance fee payable. At the same time the fee for each single bird entered has been reduced to twenty-five shillings.

One would think that any' person entering birds in a public competition such as this would see that they were free from disease, and what are known as breed defects, but such is evidently not so, as the attention of intending competitors is called to the necessity for care in the matter. All birds have to pass the close scrutiny of the Government poultry instructors before being allowed to compete, but several failed to do so last year, and had to be returned to their owners, at their expense, naturally. A very considerable number of trophies and prizes await the owners of the birds putting up the' highest scores under varying conditions, and it is interesting to note that not only are numbers wanted, but that weight is to be considered also, as tho pullets have to lay eggs which weigh 24 ounces to the dozen, while ducks, have to shell out 26 ounces for a similar number. Schedules are obtainable from the general secretary, and intending competitors should forward entry forms as early as possible.

Limewashing Poultry Houses. The easiest and quickest way to limewash poultry houses and coops is undoubtedly by the use of- a sprayer. There are many different makes, almost all of which are good. They may be bought at a nominal cost, considering their saving in time nnd expense, and the thoroughness of the work. In tue long run they will cost no more than brushes, as a separate one of the latter is needed for-almost every job (states R. F G. in an exchange). However, I prefer brushes for work on fences, as lhe sprayers waste so much through the spaces between tho palings. Before applying the wash, throw a strong brine solution on the parts of the walls where vermin is known to lurk. Make this of salt and water, and have it strong enough to bear up an egg. It will do the work all right. My wash is as simple as it is effective. I use no expensive ingredients for if these had to be bought! would rather purchase lhe rencly-preparert Hee paint. The following method produces a very last wash, and is the best I haic eV Get l uuslaked lime (it goes farther than slaked). Slake it by pouring water in the bucket or barrel. Mix five P«rh' it when slaked with one part ralt and ten parts water. Use common ice cream salt if you have time to dissolve it. When it is to be used on vermin-infested places, add a little carbolic acid. ‘ Mix it thoroughly, and see that all the lime is dissolved, especially when a mites io crawl behind, and thus does 11 By° an means’ 1 houses crons a good coating this year, as it ,1s of groat benefit wherever applied. The Dust Bath. e(rect 1S Th/Ts X to the loose 8 earth of .an upturned sod like school boys to a swimming bath. Like Begets Like. You never need expect to g °Al S iikp’ thing from nothing. Like begets he, and if you do not have the good q allties in your present stock you cannot possibly expect to obtain wel -bred biidb. The only way to get clucks that will be uniform and show the marks of „00. breeding is to have parent stock that have been well bred l ll£> stock of even a email plant should be the very best obtainable. If you will but start right you will secure year after vear birds that will show their breeding and will be a source of pleasure and profit to you. Don't put all the big eggs on top of the basket. Tut all the big ones in one crate and get a higher rate. A potent fact in poultrydom is hat, as yet, no non-sitting variety produces brown-shelled eggs. Geese are very profitable for the reason that they are almost entirely self-sup-porting. . Don't, mix up obi hens and young pullets together. They don’t agree. Cull closely, for this is the shortest and surest road to success in poultiy kceninsr. Insanitary surroundings and overcrowded conditions in housing will sap awnv the strength of the fowls. All drinking vessels need thorough eleansinc'. even in winter, though less frequently than in summer.