POULTRY NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 14999, 5 October 1912, Page 10

POULTRY NOTES.

.idvertiscmtkti for this column must reach the offict, by noon on Thursday. Contributions and questions for answering should he addressed to " Minorca," Poultry Editor, ' Star' Office, and received rot later than Tuesday of each week. "Minorca" v;ill only answer •communications through this column. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. '■Plymouth Rock."—Apply to T. Leedharn, c/o S. Solomon. Roslyn, or to Pete'Sinclair, Wyandotte Farm. Mosgiel. Ton say you "are not setting them yet; it. is time they were out, so the sooner yon put them down the better. This breed should be hatched in August or September if yon wish for the best results. GORDON'S SYSTEM OF HEN- ' .TESTING. Tho Supreme Court was engaged for two -days at Napier last week in dealing with an' action in which F. T. A. Gordon. . poultry expert, claimed £1,500 damages from the ' New Zealand Times,' Wellington, for alleged libel, contained in articles publisher] in that paper in which tho value.of-plointiffs system of testing.bird?. by which he claimed he'conld tell the , number of eggs a hen would lay, was impugned. After the dinner adjournment, on the first' day counsel for 'Gordon : retired from the' cose, and plaintiff from that on conducted his-own case. Sir John Findlay, K.C., for defendants, submitted ■ grounds for a nonsuit, but the jury decided to hear evidence for the defence. After deliberating'for nearly three hours the jury were unable to agree, and were ...discharged. _ It is now announced that Gordon is issuing an extended notice claiming £3,000 damages. • CARE OF THE CHICKS. After chicks have hat.che'd they should - be left undisturbed with the hen fnf £4 hours. The hen should then be given a. good feed of wheat if she will take it, and , also a drink. Hens are different in many .ways—some will'feed well while sitting, ' others will hardly eat at all. The latter should be well watched after the chick* hatch, as, being very hungry, they may neglect to keep the chicks warm. 'There are. various ways of feeding the chicks that . give good results, but bread soaked wit K milk and dried with oatmeal, and fed .. ..every four hours, is hard to beat. A little dry chick food should bo given at night., and a little left for the morning. Fresh water should bo given regularly. If the chicks are in a run where grubs, worms, and other insect life i* plentiful, no meat is required, but if they are in a closed .run a little meat- should be given occasionally. . Green food. in. the torm of grass, lettuce,'chickweed.'or cabbage, should be supplied from the start. It should be cutup in short lengths.- Some breeders forgetthat grit is necessary for chicks as welMis for the older birds. Dry bones.are valuable in forming the bones of the chicks, and preventing leg weakness later on. Keep the insect powder well sprinkled over the chicks, and also over the hen. Watch for head lice, or, better still, he on the safe side, and rub the chicks' heads with camphorated oil twice a week.. Keep the chicks busy. Tempt them with changes of food; the bigger the variety the better. Don't ken the hen with the chicks too long. When they are five weeks old thev »re quite able to look after themselves. " .The birds in the Christchurch competition laying very well just now.- Mr W: A. Nixon's White Leghorns are leading. wjth 770 eggs. In the duck competition Hall's Indian Runners are leading, with 743 eggs. -.-'".... Although a hen will hatch eggs under -almost any circumstances in decent weather, ehe will do beat if she is placed un earth, covered with hay or straw, in a quiet place, free from draughts and noise, and where no other hens can get near to disturb her. The best food for a sitting hen is wheat and maize, but no soft food. Sulphur or. insect powder should be sprinkled about the nest and over the hen once a week. - The- newest-laid eggs are the best for hatching. They are known by their clear color and the rough feeling of their ehcll , and "the size of the air cell. A new egg / will sink in water; as they get older and the air cell enlarges there is an inclination to float. It is not often we have the pleasure of a visit.from a fellow fancier as far north as 'Auckland. Being in Dunedin on business, Mr Miller, who is one of the leading ■ Minorca fanciers in Auckland, took the chance. to have a look around the Dunedin fanciers' yards. He does not fancy "•■\tb.o Rose-comb Minorcas, considering that, : Bflfar, they are only mongrels compared with a high-class Single Mkiorc a. Mr Miller is importing birds from the wellknown yards of Knowles-Morgan. He hae also 6ome fine birds in his own yards in.'Auckland, and secured first for one.of hia hens, and also the special for the best bird in the show up there this year. The Minorca fancy is very strong in' Auckland at:present. Several breeders have lately birds from Home, and keen competition is expected next year among the fanciers. It is to be hoped some of .theee good birds will find their way down here, and give the old favorite, . the Minorca, a new lease of life. I think for small town yards the Minorca is hard to heat, laying such fine eggs, and always looking clean and glossy.