POULTRY NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 54, 1 September 1934, Page 15

POULTRY NOTES

VALUE OF CEOSSBREDS

IMPROVING PRODUCTION

One of the largest commercial egg producers in the North Island has kept first crosses for many years, instead of purebreds. It is also interesting to note- that many advertisements appear in the English poultry Press for crossbred pullets, not always sex-linked crosses. In spite of the- very large number of small flocks kept in this country,. {me sees very few mongrel flocks "and. certainly Vtory few first crosses. There is ;a? definite difference between the first cross and a mongrel, the latter being inferior in most comparisons to purebreds. It is an' established fact that first crosses give what is termed "hybrid vigour. " Provided purebred parents of good utility .quality, are used, the resulting pullets from, crossing two of these purebfeds nearly always give better results than will'cither of their purebred, parents. This additional vigour is .something all breeders are continually looking. for,: since stamina must conic] before., anything else in a breeding problem.: Many - novices are not aware of this value of first crosses, and; ii just farm: fowls are required no hesitation need: rosiilt from crossing two breeds!. It is usual to mate a light breed -cockerel, such as a- Whito or Brown Leghorn, with heavy breed hens, since .the reverse mating : will not' always give good fertility. The ; Leghorn-Orpington cross does not produCe ,a pretty bird, but wonderful: layers: of- large eggs, and this cross, is -'very popular, in, certain United Stat&s districts. : A bettor cross is that of White Leghorn males to White Wyandotte hens, for the resulting pullets appear very like badly-bred purebred Wyaridottes, having pure white feathering and being fairly even in type. Then a Black Minorca, male to Orpington hens gives a- similar good cross, since the progeny look just like Black Orpingtons of poor type. The Minorca blood will increase egg size, a point which must always be considered in crossbreds.

Then we havo the value of sex-link-age, only resulting in crosses of a gold or buff male to silver females. The day-old chicks can be sexed at birth, since all the cockerel chicks are hatched with white fluff, whilst the pullets are buff coldurcd. It must be remembered that the gold must be* on the male parent's side. Most unfortunately the breeds carrying- these two colour factors are limited in number when high egg-laying ability is considered. The Whito Wyandotte, though pure white in colour, is classed as silver, since this factor is present' for use in sex^linkage in this breed.

The chief point against first crosses is that it is most unwise to use them as breeders. This means that two purebred flocks must be maintained to procure the stock for cross-mating, unless one is prepared to purchase the male lino from an outside breeder. Then there is one other important weakness in all first crosses; they are very strong sitters. For some leasou the crossing appears to intensify the broody factor, and thero is nothing more annoying than to be burdened with having to collect and shut up a large number of broody hens, every, evening during the summer months. Not only does it mean extra1 night"wori^ but there is a definite loss ;of egg production whilst the broodies are being cured. Provided first crosses are not used as breeders, they could be kept in greater numbers with good results.- : ■'