POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 18256, 21 April 1923, Page 14

POULTRY NOTES

[Bs UTILITY-FANCY.] Contributions and questions for answering should be addressed to ‘‘UtilityFancy,’’ Poultry Editor, ‘Star ’ Office, and received not later than Tuesday ol each week. “Utility-Fancy" will only answer communications through this column. Advertisements for this column must be handed In to the office before 2 p.m. on Friday.

TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Digger” writes; “As an 'interested reader of your notes, I beg to suggest a means I use with success in combating vermin in nest boxes. I take a good quantity, say, half a sack, of sawdust, and put on it as much sheep dip as the sawdust will absorb and remain friable. I put a good handful into eacli nest amongst the straw, renewing the straw frequently in hot weather. Also, I put some of the sawdust in the dbsting bath frequently. The birds do not eat it.”—l presume that a non-poisonous sheep dip is used. “ Beginner,” Wingatui.—You would be unlikely to win a prize with cockerels either thumb-marked or having “ fallingover ” combs. The combs should be upright and evenly serrated. It is, however, a good thing to exhibit a bird if only for the purpose of comparison, and there is just a chance that no other bird entered will have a better comb than yours, and yours may be superior in other respects. It would bo a poor show if only prize-winners were entered. EGG -LAYING COM PETITIONS. The financial statement of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, Christchurch, in respect to the egg laying competition, 1922-25, shows receipts to he £1,232 12s 2d, and expenditure £1,122 3s 9d, leaving a balance at bank oT £llO 8s sd. The assets are stated to bo £145 8s sd, less £IOO prize money still to be paid. The secretary (Mr Wilkins), in his reports, says I hat the 241 light brood birds averaged 209 eggs per bird, and the fifty heavies 190 eggs per bird, while the ducks averaged 260 eggs each. Phenomenal hiving was done by Mr R. W. Hnwlm’s No. 1 Indian Runners, which laid oil eggs, and Mr J. P. Drcwett’s Bnlf Orpingtons, which laid 334 eggs. These two birds were being retained for a further eight days to complete the year. The following is the list, of prize-win-ners in connection with the Southland Utility Poultry Club's seven til annual test hold recently. The average weight per dozen is given after the number of eggs in each case : —Single Bird.— First prize of £10: Andrew Love, Green Island, 500 eggs, 24.6520 z. Second prize of £6; Alex. Provan, Riverton, 290 eggs, 24.6170 z. Third prize of £4; Mrs F. Gorinski, Invercargill, 285 eggs, 25.5980 z. Fourth prize : Mrs F. Gorinski, Invercargill, 279 eggs, 26.6550 z. Fifth prize of £1 : Master M. Cnshen, Woodlands, 277 eggs, 24,0680 z. The following gained certificates of merit:—S. A. Fairclolh, Invercargill, 275 eggs, 26.2450 z ; A. E. Morris, Invercargill, 271 eggs. 25.0770 z; E. Noilson, Invercargill, 270 eggs, 24.108 oz; •I. Winter, Invercargill, 269 eggs, 25.9460 z ; John Thomson, Invercargill, 264 eggs, 24,1560 z ; Alex. Provan, Riverton 262 eggs, 25.2600 z; John .Scott, Titiroa, 260 eggs, 26.3240 z ; C. Berry, Invercargill, 258 eggs, 25.2200 z: J. B. Taylor, Invcrcmgill, 254 eggs, 24.7200 z. —Ducks.— First prize of £4, Alex. Pent, Invercargill, 265 eggs, 29.2C10z. —Special Prizes.— President’s special of £5 5s and £2 2s, special for heavy breed birds laying greatest number of standard eggs, S.‘ A. Fairelo! 1 1 , Invercargill. Special prize of ill Is for hen laying greatest weight of standard eggs, Mrs F. Gorinski, Invercargill. —Winter Test. First, Andrew Love, 92 eggs. Second, K. A. Faircloth, 87 eggs. —Autumn Test.— First, Andrew Lost, 59 eggs. Second, Mrs Gorinski, 58 eggs, —Winter Test (Ducks). — I'irst, Alex. Peat, 67 eggs. —Monthly Prizes.— Messrs C. Thomson, E. Ncilson (2), A. Provan (2), S. haircloth, Tracey Ring, Mrs M'Quilkan (3), ..Messrs W. Leith and A. Love. Death in the Hopper.—Our recent visitor from England, Mr C. A. House, in iris paper, the ‘ Poultry World,’ of February 23, says that a leading poultry farmer of his acquaintance declares that ho has finished with dry mash feeding ; “ Not because of the economic question, hut because there is death in the hopper.” He contended that dry mash feeding spreads disease, and ho gave a few instances of epidemics with dry mash feeding that were most alarming. “If,” says Mr House, “his conclusions arc correct, there is danger in dry mash feeding. His contention was that disease was spread by tho birds all feeding from tho same trough. Wo could not but agree, hut wo countered his arguments by asking : “ What about the water trough ?” I don’t think Mr House’s idea of a “ counter ” is in this instance very creditable to him, for two reasons—- (1) Because “two blacks don’t make a white” —i. 0., if there is danger of contamination through tho water supply there is no reason for allowing contamination through (he food ; and (2) because if tho water trough does not contain running water it can, and should be, refilled dallv; while the chief advantage in dry feeding is that it is labor-saving inasmuch as the hopper holds at least a week’s supply. I have before this directed attention to the danger of infection when birds are fed by hoppers. Tho water left in tho drinking vessel, when it is about to bo refilled, is, as every poullryman must have noticed, always in a soiled condition, and must he emptied out before fresh water is given. To a lesser extent, perhaps, it must be tho same with the dry food supplied in hoppers, and if there is a sick bird in the flork there is danger of infection. For disinfecting purposes poultrykeepers in Canada are recommended to spray their houses with a preparation of creosote, which also acts as a preservative of wood, a good spray pump being a most useful appliance. If stakes or supports of poultry runs are first painted with creosote they will last considerably longer; m fact, all parts of the poultry house, even the nest boxes and perches, will be benefited by a solution of half water and half creosote.

In a four-months' laying test held at Wyo College, England (ended January 31 last), it was found that the total food consumed was 6.8561 b, and the weight of eggs laid 1,0941 b ; that is to say, roughly, of food to lib of eggs. When the same relationship was worked out for the leading pen. which laid 322 (2oz) eggs in the four months, it was found that lib of eggs required 3.41 b of food to produce them. Throughout the test the food consumed daily per bird was 4.460 z. This question of cost of food as against value of eggs is a serious one when, as in large poultry farms, all the fond has to be bought. The practice of using only birdproof wire-netting to scratching shed shows that experienced breeders recognise that they caiinot afford to waste grain on sparrows ; but many poultry-keepers in a small way don't seem to regard the matter in the same light. I have over and over again seen grain lying in the open, uneaten. after the fowls have been fed to repletion, and wondered how it was that those responsible did not realise the unprofitableness of their wasteful methods. Where food is left to feed sparrows and to encourage rats about the place the birds cannot prove profitable. In some cases it would be to the advantage of the fowls if . the sparrows were more numerous, for then the fowls would have to look busier at meal times and food would not be left to sour or be soiled and become disease laden. Hungry fowls are generally healthy, and disease, as a ride is prevalent where birds are overfed.

Breeders who intend next hatching season to do business in the provision of dayold chicks should tako every precaution

from now on to ensure that their chicks are hatched from vigorous stock. Failure in this respect will result in there being only weakly chicks to supply, and consequently disappointment to tho purchasers and no repeat orders. The same remarks apply, of course, to those who sell settings of eggs for hatching. The Index Method.—The “index” is determined by measuring tho hen's performance for sixty days under the most favorable circumstances. It is then possible to measure tho hen’s ability to perform. The hen should be trap-nested through March, April, May, and Juno of the first year, and from this time take tho highest sixty days, from which tho hen’s index value is obtained. 'The hen which lays thirty eggs in thirty days has reached Nature’s' maximum rale of an egg a dav ; and if she continues for ton months at tin’s rate it is a 100 per cent, year’s work of 300 eggs, with sixty days left to moult and get ready for the next year. The average hen produces about one-third of her life's production the first year; then 900 eggs is considered a 100 per cent, life’s production. The index is taking thirty days’ production as tho rate, and tho next thirty days’ production as persistency, instead of using ten months and three years. The hen which lays twenty-eight eggs in thirty days and twenty-five eggs during tho next thirty days has an index value of 700 eggs for life, or 253 for tho first year. This is found by multiplying the rate twentyeight eggs by the persistency twenty-five eggs, then take one-third to get one year’s index. The index of the male is the same as that of his darn. —O. T. Patterson, in the ‘ Leghorn World.’ An English breeder is offering five prizes of £SO each to any of his customers who win laying contests. Tills breeder may sell a good many eggs or chickens at good prices on tho strength of his offer and bo none the poorer if none of his customers succeed in winning a prize. On the other hand, should oven one customer gain a prize, tho breeder’s £SO will prove a good investment.

Claims of the Dorking.—A reader of the London ‘Daily Telegraph,’ wiio has had much success with a flock of silvergrey Dorkings as winter layers and fleshproducers, pleads for publicity of the breed’s prolificacy when a good laying strain is required. He says: ‘‘The Dorking lays claim to being one of the oldest of domestic poultry cultivated, and is stated to have been imported into England during the Roman conquest. It cannot bo denied that the Dorking, whether silvergrey, colored, dark, white, or cuckoo, is a giand typo of table fowl, being massive and of imposing appearance, with nice square shape, deep lardy, and good length of breastbone —tlnee most important esseii-' dais in flesh-producing poultry. Such an excellent combination ensures birds with luscious meat on the best parts. There are ninny strains which give every satisfaction as winter layers Dorkings are of quick growth, and soon attain a decent size, and it is not uncommon for cockerels to weight 111 b and 121 b, with pullets a lew pounds less. The breed is usually very hard, and will stand exposed positions; hut unless reared and kept on light, loamy, and sandy soil it can ho rarely cultivated with success, as dampness proves fatal to birds of ail ages. For crossing, the Indian Game and Buff Orpington breeds arc utilised, and chickens make satisfactory growth. It may bo added that the increasingly popular French table fowl, known as tho Faverolle, contains much Dorking blood in its original composition, and is a very strong competitor with tho English five-toed breed. Those who have recently devoted attention to the shapely Faverolle have been agreeably surprised at the rapid growth of the chickens. However, chickens of the dark Dorking are fast growers, and experienced breeders testify to the young birds putting on -jib weight per week tor several weeks when they reach the tenth week.”

About 1011 > of grain per 100 birds per day is advised for the light breeds. The heavy breeds require about 121 h per 100 hens'per day. Feed the flock lightly in tho morning, giving about. 51b to sjlh per 100 hens. At night give all they will clean up. Germs do not develop in a dry poultry home, and the sunshine destroys many of them in a few minutes. A hen is a machine for taking food and manufacturing eggs. Grains, greens, grubs, grit, and gumption are five essentials. Try to imitate spring conditions in tho laying-house if you wish winter eggs.