POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 17922, 18 March 1922, Page 5

POULTRY NOTES

Contributions and questions Jot answering should be addressed to “ JJtihty-Fancy, Poultry Editor, ‘Star' Office, orul received not later than Tuesday oj each week. “ Utility-Fancy ” will only answer communications through this column.

“Breeder.”—The capsule consists of two copper plates or discs hermetically scaled and containing liquid composed of alcohol, ether, etc., which boils at a temperature of SBdcg, when, o! course, it expands. “Scotty.”—Paint'the throat with glycerine and tanic acid 7 parts and glycerine and carbolic 1 part. Any chemist will make this up. I’aiut by moans of a feather passed down 1 he- throat. I think you will iind this will soon heal the throat and stop the screech. Mr 0. Ridley’s White Leghorn pullet at the Papanui egg-iaying competition has been sold for £2O to .Mr H. Williams, who purchased Lady Cornwall some four years ago.

Tho optimism , (not to mention the energy) of the secretary (Mr Stunner) of the Y oumg Bird Club in promoting the interest m the forthcoming Young Bird Chow is well uphold by the entries received, there being nvn’ - 150 more than were received last year, and last year's show, it, may bo noted, was at the time a record so far as entries were concerned. In White Leghorns there arc 100 entries, 40 cockerels and 60 pullets. Black Orp.s. are well represented with 8 cockerels and 18 pullets, and, of course, pigeons and canaries show un sluing.

It is pointed out by a Home authority on poultry culture that one of the great fascinations in the breeding of poultry, perhaps more in the exhibition field than \yith utility stock, is the fact that there is great uncertainty ns to the results of mating. Although that is true in respect to external cluuacimi.slics, the same is equally evident in relation to economic properties. And, 1C it noted, the higher in degree of productiveness, whether of eggs or nf flesh, the greater will bo the uncertainties in the progeny. What everyone. who is dealing with poultry has to recognise, although some do so only after complete disillusionment, is that this work has not been and cannot be mechanical. Wo know very well, even in industrialism, that rigidity of production is very difficult of attainment. With all animal and plant life the constant tendency to variation manifests itself constantly, and up to the present has never been overcome. The exhibitor recognises that his breeding is more nr less of a gamble. Utility breeders lucre not yet arrived at that conclusion to the same degree. Yet it is undoubtedly true. As one breeder said recently to the writer (1 am quoting Mr Edward Brown, F.R.S.): “He never knew when mating up his stock whether the chickens bred from them would be high producers or duds”; but, ho went on to add, “ I must say that I like it that way.” How much the poultry industry owes to a determination to overcome natural influences of this nature no one can measure. When, therefore, we hear breeders speak, and read statements which assure the novice that ho has only to buy somebody’s stock and he is certain to secure highly-productive birds, then one wishes to make clear that such is never realised personally by those who make the statement, and therefore cannot be so with others. What Air Brown wishes to convey in the foregoing may, I think, bo summed up in the words he himself uses—viz., “Rigidity of production is very difficult of attainment” (“rigidity” meaning the quality nf resistance). Whilst the breeder is striving in one direction, Mature is pulling the other way. Breeding for increased egg production, for instance, is a fight with Mature. When Mr Brown says or infers wo arc not certain to secure iiighly-productivc birds from the very best laying strain be is right; but if questioned he would acknowledge that the probabilities of success were good, and on tho other hand, to expect superior layers from a common stock would bo foolish, though not at all impossible. Dr B. F. Kaup, conductor of breeding experiments at the Xorth Carolina Experiment Station and State Agricultural College, reports that experiments show that' high egg-production is transmitted by both males and females, and prove absolutely that a male bred from highly fecund stock transmits laying power to his daughters. A number of tests over a number of years gave the following results:—Pullets from common hens mated to common males (White Leghorns) produced an average of ninety-two eggs eacli per annum. The progeny of common White Leghorn lions mated to pedigree males produced an average of 135 eggs each annum ; and the progeny of pedigree hens mated to pedigree males produced an average of 163 eggs each per annum. A good judge is cheap at any price, but some would be dear at a giftl

Th£re are many judges who will not undertake (says ‘ Poultry ’) to judge a show unless they are paid an adequate fee, and we trust they will hold to their resolve. If they are to -remain independent, and if men of high principle, expert knowledge, and capable of sound judgment are to be pressed into the service of the exhibiting public they must be adequately —indeed, generously—rewarded. To put up judging engagements practically at public auction and to knock them down to the lowest tenderers is to drive away the best men, to disgust the exhibitors, and to put a premium upon bribery and corruption.

A Home paper says: “ Thera is need for our scientists to come down from the clouds to mother earth. It is quite the correct thing for them to use scientific terms and metaphors in the laboratory and classroom: but when writing or speaking to the ordinary every-day man of practice they should use common, everyday terms. As we overheard it said in reference to a remark made by one of the speakers at the conference; 1 That is the worst of these scientists—they will not call a spade a spade. Sodium chloride! Why not say common salt? Everyone would understand that, and not be wondering as to what is sodium chloride.’ ” The obtaining of eggs from your poultry during the winter months is not a matter of luck. If your neighbor gets them and you do not you should adopt his methods. _ You may find that on the worst days his birds have a commodious scratching shed thickly strewn with straw, whilst yours have to huddle about in a bare yard or in the dark roosting house. Again, you may find that ho feeds his fowls liberally and generously, and not, as you do, by measure. Seeing that ha gets the eggs, you may judge that his methods are worth following. The food consumed by the hen affects the flavor of the eggs laid. Birds that are allowed to scratch in manure heaps pr the. pigsty,,, or that have access to any-

thing rank or smelly, will produce eggs with such a strong flavour as to be almost uneatable. Doctors condemn milk from cows that drink stagnant water and that are fed on garbage, it is the same way with eggs—the food and water must he clean and sweet. Musty cakes are often caused by eggs from hens which have been fed on rank food.

“Hardshell,” of Adelaide, says; “ Permanganate of potash is a valuable article for the poultry medicine chest. The wide point of a toothpick dipped into a strong solution of permanganate of potash and touched to the sore of chicken pox will often effect ft cure. The same article applied to white comb or favus i? effective. . The solution is made by dissolving an ounce in a quart bottle of water. Each morning put one or more tablespoonfuis nf the .solution in the pail or dish of drinking water, using sufii ciciit to give the water a wine color. . Some poultrymen use it daily- the entire year. There is no bettor tonic than this solution. It is also a good antiseptic, and is excellent when added to the water used for dressing wounds or running sores. It is invaluable in cases of colds. Whatever I he. time of year, remember that fowls ca'nuofc lay eggs without water, as eggs themselves are 65 per cent, water. A very good and useful fowl is the .Rhode Island Red, and, being a utility breed, hardiness is of vital importance. Points to watch arc that (he body is long', broad, and deep; the neck of medium height, and carried slightly forward. The cock's color is a rich, brilliant red, with back and wing bows darker- red; tail and concealed wing featheis, black The recognised standard weight for cocks is t'/.ib, cockerels 71,1 b, hens and pullets Sib. Faults are fluffy plumage or (,'uchin cushions in females. light "yellow bills or black in bill, pearl eyes, long spike to rose combs, high or upright tails, and tendency to green in shanks.

By the way, Rhode Bland Reds, which are very popular birds, had their origin some sixty yrers ago in a cross between the males of the old .Shanghai, the. Chitta-gon-r, and the Red .Malay, ami the female fowls already existing at Little Compton, Rhode Island. in the famous Narragansett Bay, TT.s.A. It was not, however, until about eighteen years ago that an attempt was made to popularise them in England. Later, in 1900, the British Rhode Island Red Club was established, since when the breed has increased with wonderful rapidity in popular esteem. Bad-shaped Eggs.—Frequently when fowls are about to leave off laying for a period (he last few eggs they lay are misshaped, vary small, or thin-shelled. This is but a natural occurrence, as the reproductive system has nearly completed its work for Mm time being, and needs a rest. There is. however, another cause of unshapely eggs, and that is over-feeding, causing an over-fat condition nf the internal organs of (ho hen. When hens are kept in confinement the greatest rare must bo exerefred in their feeding and management- if they are to be kept in good condition. It is ncressary to give . them a well-balanced ration of egg-prn-dneliou food, and to foul onlv mnder-

at'.'-ly nn all fowl of faltoniiMr propensities. Two monk: a Rny are quite ample, with, in addition, some green stuff at midday.

A covering nf felt- and a coat of tar will lengthen the life of many a weatherworn fowlhonsc. Cleanliness in the poultry house is a main point; it averts noxious insects and direa.ses, which play sad havoc with hens. Moulting is a natural process, and not a disease; bill when hens moult badly their reduced condition lenders (hem susceptible to disease

Papanui Egg-laying Competition,—Leading pens, forty-seventh week ended March

.Single Birds. Hcavv : J. P. Drewett, 8.0., £53; it. 11. Christie. 8.0., 200. Light: C. Ridley, W.L., 262; E. Cole, W.L., 245; J. Logins. W.L., 244. Three Birds (same owner). —Light ; R. W. Coombs, W.L. —266, 252, 251': total, 769. Mrs Gorinski, W. L.—224, 250, 234; total. 713. J. Gunn, W.L.—253. 217, 225; total, 695. Heavy : F. IT. Lovell, S.W.— 244. 134, 204: total, 632. Snrosen and Arthur. 8.0.—223. 205, 193; ‘total, 621. A. E. Hounrell. R.T.R.-217. 218, 162; total. 597. Ducks : R. W, Hawker. T.R. —222. 505, 296; total. 734. A. C, Clements. 1.R.--250. 253. 217; total, 700. Teams.—Light : Vevrnll Bros., W.L.. 1,302; W. E. Ward, W.L.. 1,229,

Returned Soldiers’ Teams.—J. C. Musgrave, W.L., 1,372; P. R. Whitford. W.L., 1.252.

■ Southland Egg-laying Competition.— Leading pen, forty-seventh week ended March 9, 1922

Single Birds.—Chas. Thomson, W.L., 296; J. White, W.L., 273; D. F. M‘Donga!!, W.L.. 266: I). F. M'Dongall, W.L., 252; A. Provan, W.L., 261. Teams.— A. E. Morris, W.L.. 1,430; Trace v King, W.L., 1,412; Mrs Gorinski, W.L.,' 1,576.

.Ducks,—Alex. Peat. 1.R., 1,302 (one bird dead) ; Alex. Peat, W.1.R., 1,128.