POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 16987, 8 March 1919, Page 4

POULTRY NOTES

Contributions and questions for answering should be addressed to " Minorca," Poultry Editor, ' Star' Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each iceck. " Minorca " vill only answer communications through this column. Everyone who keeps fowls should understand what are the elementary constituents of food and in what proportion or quantity they should bo given to supply all needs of the system. The chief constituents of food are albuminoids, carbohydrates, fats, and oils, and it is commonly" accepted that tho correct portion for layers should be one part*of albuminoids to four of the carbohydrates. Experience shows that the spring and summer prolific layer is not, save in exceptional circumstances, tho most profitable fowl. The autumn and winter layer, when eggs are high in price, isjthe best. Watch your birds carefully during March and j April, and keep the birds which lay best for the breeding pen next season. Those who intend to introduce new blood into their yards should look around at once and secure what they want. Cockerels can be secured just now at a fair_ price ; but if you wait until August you will have to pay a high price- for the good ones. If you visit the. young bird show it will give you an idea who has the best for your purposeIt is now time- the birds {or the young bird show were selected and given extra, attention. As tho utility standard throws a bird out for a crooked breast, make sure your 'entry is not deformed in that way. See the legs and feet are free from feathers in tho clean-legged breeds. Don't get your birds too fat, but have them a little on the plump side. The standard gives the correct weight, so see that your birds are well grown. A White Leghorn pullet should be about Alb, but should he cut- if she went much over 4idb. Don't send a bird to the show when it in so wild thatit will not show to advantaege. Last year some of the birds—and they were good ones—could not be judged because they were too wild. When the judge started to handle them they did their best to jump out of the show pen. Every breeder should enter a few birds. It is tho only way to see how your birds compare with other breeders. After the judging is over no one, not even the breeder, has a right to take lT*s bird from the "howpen, unless by permission of tho judge, in case of a discussion. If you do not feel satisfied with tho judging, ask the judge if he will point out- to where the winner beat your bird, but don't complain about bad judging if you ioso. Don't tell exhibitors what fine birds you have at home and how you could have beaten all-comers if von lia-d shown. If your birds are backward in feathering give a little hemp seed or a little sunflower seed. If your hhxls are too looso in feather, add some peas to their diet. Pigeon peas, either whole or ground, answer well. Don't show a ibhxl with scaly legs' If the birds show any sign of scale, wash the legs with warm water and soap and afterwards apply sulphur or tar ointment. .Repeat the treatment every second day until a cure is effected. Before placing the birds in the show pen give them a feed of nard food. A mixture of wheat, maize, and peas is best. Don't give too much, and don't give soft food for two days before tho show. Tho secretary of the Canterbury Egg Circle has purchased 2..CC0 sacks of wheat, and already several hundred bags have been delivered to members. The Government price is being charged plus half per cent, commission. Local breeders would be pleased to secure wheat at this priceif it is a good sample. At present decent wheat for poultry is practically unprocurable in Dunedin. The Christchurch .Show will be held on June sth, 6th, and 7th. The Wyandotte Club Show will bo held, in conjunction with it. The Dunedin Show will be held on June 19th. 20th, and 21st, the Rhoda Island Red Club's Show being held in conjunction. An interesting lecture was given by Mr Gibson last Saturday at Mr Love's farm, Green Island. A. full report appeared in the ' Star ' on Monday last. As most birds are now starting to moult, a little Douglas Mixture should be added to the drinking water. If you have not plenty of green food add an ounce of glaubera salts to each pint of drinking wator twice a, week. Keep the houses as clean as possible to give the birds a good chance. At a meeting of the Young Bird Show Committee, it -was decided to give every help to begintiers. A special committee was formed to give ad.vioo, and any breeder who would like his bird* selected or hints on preparing has only to send his name and address to the secretary, Mr T. Brown, Mormon street, Caversham. LAYING- COMPETITIONS. A good egg yield was recorded by the light breeds in tho egg-laying competition, at Papanui for the last week in February. Though tho teams with weakly birds ate fast retiring from the contest, the leaders fl.ro all going strongly. The heavy breeds averaged 17 eggs per pen for the week; T. Kennedy's Silver Wyandcttes and N. Nancarrow's Black Orpingtons contributing 25 eggs each. The ducks are slow in coining btfck to full profit, and KTeretauiura, and L. Wadham's teams, each with only ftvo ducks, promise to make a bold bid. The lea-ding pons in each test are as follows:

T. Wilkinson's pullet requires 36 eggs to oquad Green Bros, record j it has 41 days to go to complete the year.

SOUTHLAND. The higlieit scores in the Southland egglaying competition are as follow :

AUCKLAND. The leading teams at the close of the fortv-fourth week are as follow : J. M'Lean, B'lk. 0 1135 W. Scott, W.L 1065 .It. M. Smith, W.L 1033 BENDIGO. The leading single birds on February 5 "wore: 11. James, W.L 289 H. M'Donald, 8.0 278 0. Brown. 8.0 „. 263 Gedgo Bros.. 8.0 262 W. Shcvill, 8.0. 258

—Listht Breed Singles (62) .— H. W. Beck, W.L. .,. 4636653--33 1414 Cakler Bros., W.L. ... 5363543— -29 1390 Mrs Gorinski. W.L. 2554545--30 1389 Green Bros., W.L. ... 2655356— -32 1372 —Heavy Broed S 'intflfts (16). — T. E. Conway, B.C. ... 3232123--16 1073 W. Knight, W. Rocks 3331532--20 1013 and Dove, B.O. 3322332--18 1005 W. Bloomfield, B.O. 2312222--14 1O03 —Duck Conti *<t (7).— W. T. Green, LR 2222232--15 1354 W.T. Green, No. 2, LR. 201C002- - 5 1298 L. A. Wadliam, LR. 3233233--19 1292 Herotaunga P.O., LR. 3213440--17 1273 —Heavy Breed Single Birds (5), — T. Wilson, vS.W. ... 1110110— - 5 205 E. J. Ross, S.W. ... 1110111- - 6 190 —Light Breed Sing. le Birds (19).- _ T. Wilkinson, W.L. ... 1111111— - 7 281 T. King, W.L 1011C11- - 5 259 S. L. Beer, W.L. 0101100- - 3 246 H. Meadows, W.L. ... 1111011— - 6 243

Daily WciglitG.t'd Laying. oz. Total. Master C. Dixon 3535562--31 62i 1330 Chas. Thomson 6534542--29 535 1270 J. J. Schidtz ... 5645446--34—65g 1239 A. Pro van 5244523--25 53A 1230 Mrs Gorinski ... 4254435--27 61g 1202 J. Webb 6435534--30 61* 1200 M'Dougadl Bros. 3525344--26 54?- 1181