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Evening Star, Issue 14001, 6 March 1909, Page 10

[By Minorca.] Being desirous to encourage and stimulate th-i poultry industry, wo have arranged with a member of the local Poultry Chib to edit this column, end will be glad to receive and publish any items of news or notes which will be of service to readers. Contributions and questions for answering should be addressed to “ Minorca,” Poultry ■Editor. ‘Star’ Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each week. "Minorca” will only answer communications through this column. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. “Anxious.”—Pnllcts often lay softshelled eggs when starling to lay. Give dried bone; stop soft food for a week and also stop the meat, as such food is rather forcing. Change the wheat to oats for a little while. Mr Robinson, of Invercargill, well known as a leading fancier in Brown Leghorns, 'has imported ‘through Mr F. Rogen two trios of Brown Leghorns. The two trios aromatcd by Mr Vorry. of England, one for pallet breeding, and the other for cockerel breeding. The birds arrived by ! the Kamara in splendid condition, and arc • credit to Messrs bpratt and Co., throngh wbum-they were sent, and also to the caretaker, who seemed quite proud of the birds. _ The birds are all gf fine size, the codt bird being a fine specimen, good in every respect, and the two hens mated to the pullet breeder were particularly good, having fine-sized lobes, well-cut combs, and good color. The pnlleLbrecding cockerel is dubbed, and looked happier without what had evidently been a large comb. The method of mating would be interesting to those interested in Brown Leghorns. The cock-bred cockerel won second at Leathenrhead (beaten by champion) and leoond Birmingham, and the pallet-breeder (dabbed) is bred out of Vcrry’s champion pen, and is eon of the hen that won first and special Crystal Palace. 1907, and first and Chalengo Cup for best bird in show at Southall same year. With regard to the pallets, one is a winner of first at Carshalton and first at Southall in 1908: another took second Wcybridge. second Leatherhead, and second Plymouth. The third took “reserve." Walthamstow, third Moy bridge, and third leather head. and the fourth pullet has not. been shown. Mr Wales. Mr Omand, and Mr Kimr also imported birds bv the Kuraara. The birds arc Sebright Bantams, and come trom Mr R. P. Porcival. of Cheshire. England, who is honorary secretary and treasurer of the Sebright Bantam Club. Mr W ates and Mr Omand have a triot each, 1 a pair. The birds are the first of this variety 1 have seen, and are interesting specimens of the bantam tribe 1 ney are evidently layers, as nearly all the hens have started laying and arc keeping up a good supply. This is verv pleasing, as it. allows the breeder to get some egg.- down at once in case of happening to the birds. To anyone who the birds for the first time they loolc I,ke mi nature Silver Wvandottes. bint of course, the type is different. The cockerels have no hackle feathers, and do not have fnc usual sickle feathers. This gives them i \ery tnm appearance, and makes them •'°k sharp and natty. The birds arc very quiet, and make interesting pets. The birds ire fine specimens of the breed, and have "on a number of prizes in different shows, and in the hands of such capable breeders ■iH no doubt produce some fine stock, he ! olio wing shows the winnings of the dutcrent birds :-The cockerel of Mr filir e \ S tn ° was , fir 1 8 . fc at the last Chester- ' ,f now - {®® of his pullets won first at Che te^ Ch ’ a vr t ,2 r ot-heT got second at to sterfield. Mr W. Omand’s cockerel amlpnUet were bred from a pair shown i one of the Feathered World’s’ recent illustrations The cockerel was “ reserve ” fhp* M n‘*Tw eater (the only time shown), and Prdace ?nd a f ° ihe - P™e ® lm “gham wnmere. The onTv t.'mo °T kerC Was fchirtl ' Kendal (the • ‘ \ shown), and the pallet L a sister to Mr Omand’s cockerel. ‘ •SEBRIGHT OR LAOED BANTAMS. (Extract from Lewis Wright.) a l to , hy no means new. datinnumch care m this case to get . ground color, combined with the necessary sVy black, at the same tirne maintaining an absolutely clear as well as rich ground. Sebrights require some w te . secT,re fertile eggs. The •in fertility is owing to breeding from hen feathered cocks. Cockerels which chance to come with such feather give better results m the breeding pen. The chicks aie delicate during the first five weeks, and require a lot of care. They should have >~r> dry, wcU-shelteied runs, and be absoIntely cut off from cold winds and rain, , hj a «cess to green food. The cock bird should have a short, square back, perfectly flat, breast full and prominent wings earned somewhat low, and tail somewhat up, giving to the little fellow a very proud, strutting, jaunty air. The comb should be heknet shaped, fairly broad in front, full of work, and with a fine lonleader curved towards the neck. The face should be inclined to mulberry The cockerels can never he got as deep a color as the pullets, still the deeper the better. Ibcy shoutd always have a certain amount of (frisky crimson about the eye. The ear lobes should be free from white, but. a little purple or blue ie an advantage. The eyes are very dark, beak horn color, short and stout, wattles fair size and nicely xoitnded, not folded or creased. Thev should be clean legced, of a slaty blue color. Ihe tail pbould bo fairly largo and well spread, nuife hen feathered, with no sickles or side-bangers, as in the other rroo-oombs. Occasionally a pickled bird will come, and such, if good in all other points, will make a splendid breeder, a? a much larger percentage of chicks will be produced from such a bird than from the somewhat unprolific hen. Head and tail should nearly meet in a bird of excellent carriage. The plumage should be a verv dear silvery white in the around, with a clear, sharp beetle-green black, but fine facing. Somc lacing fails by boimj a .sort* of brownish black, or in some strains orey edged round the black. In others tlmlacing may fail by reason of its disappearance at the extreme end of the feather, while some again are spoilt by reason of the increased width at the end of the feather, -which is doubtless a tendency after the polish or spangled form of marking. The defect is Principally seen in the krecr feathers of the tail. See that the secondaries of the wing are well laced right down to the lowest feather. Often two nr three feathers here fail. The tail covertshould also be well examined. They should be numerous and weQ and sharply laced. There should be no spot-timr or smuts or dusky a ppearance in the root of the la rge ti i 1 feathers. Such feathers are said *to be dandy or peppery, and are a serious bterrash. The silver hen is identical in groom! color and lacing with the cock, also in shape. She ie, however, much darker in face than her mate, and of course smaller all through, and with a neater and finer head. Long-backed pullets are a mistake. See that vour birds excel in short, square backs, as'well as in color, markings, and carriage.