POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 18809, 6 December 1924, Page 17

POULTRY NOTES

[Br UTILITY-FAXCY.3

For the information of a correspondent, •'LC.W.,” I said a week or two back that pamphlets issued by the Department of Agriculture, which gave information respecting the construction of suitable buildings for poultry, could be obtained Leo at the offices of the department in Rattray street. Such was the case until recently, but I now learn that a charge is made ot ls, and I may add the pamphlet is well worth the money. The Dunedin_ Specialists’ Young Bird Club at its meeting on Monday last elected Mr Eaquiiant as president, altd decided to hold an art union in conjunction with the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club. Sub-committees were formed to arrange for the forthcoming show, the superintendent being Mr T. A. Brown. At the recent Geelong show an interesting exhibit (says “Alpha,” of the ‘ Leader’) was a capon looking after a brood of chicles. This bird, an R.I. Red, was wol! shown by Mr W. G. Grants. In Brazil it is a common practice to rear chickens under capons. Tho natives flay the inside of the capon’s wings to make them tender, and then apply vinegar, after which their wings remain spread out. The chicks are then introduced and adopted, the capons proving themselves admirable foster mothers. England is evidently growing more and more enthused with tHe poultry “mania” 1 The Minister of Agriculture has conducted & census of poultry kept on holdings over one acre, and as a result the following figures are given Fowls, 50,755,000; ducks, 2,516,000; geese, 555,000; turkeys, 638,000. Commenting on these figures, the ■ ‘ Poultry World ’ says: “If we take it that a third of this, number are also kept by occupying holdings, we get the total of forty-one million fowls—a truly wonderful number, yet still far short o‘f what it might be. ’in 1921, the year of the previous census, the figures were: Fowls, 24,816,000; ducks, 2,391,000; geese, 517,000; turkeys, 415.000. This shows conclusively that the poultry industry is growing steadily, for the fowls alone _ are two and a-half million more than in 1908, when similar returns were made.” Long-time Lavers.—Mr W. Powcll-Owen, referring to a photograph of a Rhode Island hen which appeared in tho ‘Feathered World,’ says: This birr! was bred by Miss X. B. Maddison, of Dane Hill. Susses. In three years this hen has laid 603 i eggs, made up of 251 first year, 190, and 182. Now, if a hen can lay 182 eggs in her third year, she not only allows for plenty of profit as an egg-pfoducer over costs, but saves a lot in replacements. Supposing it costs 7a 6d to rear a pullet to the laying stage, and we keep 2,C00 head of stock, we have to rear 1,000 pullets each year to replace discarded hens. The 7s 6d covers a two-year life for each hen, and if we could make the same amount cover three years there would on a commercial farm be a good “extra" profit from this long-laying.course. Can it be done? I am always of the opinion that i selective breeding will give us what results we aim for if we work to definite objectives. I have seen this long-laying tested out by line-breeding for tho one objective of 500 eggs per bird' in three years, and with excellent results. Where layers ere kept commercially in goodly numbers, it does not require a 180flock average to pay. I have often been surprised, at. the low total of eggs per bird claimed as a paying total by some Working with 2,000 odd stock. —The value of pedigree or strain in fowls is perhaps assessed.' much higher than is warranted. The pedigree is excellent in its way, but unless the fowl possesses other recommendations in the way of type, laying power, etc., it will not be thougnt much of. While one or more chickens in a clutch of good strain may turn out show champions, or one ot them, perhaps, flourish as a competitions winner, the others may be rank failures. Culls are bound to appear in every variety of live stock, no matter how long or excellent the pedigree may be. That pedigree or strain should be given, its full value must be admitted, but. the man who buys chickens on strain aioae will be sure to experience disappointment in some instances, even though the breeding may be exceptionally good. For instance, I may have a pen of birds of some well-known and highly-appreciated strain. I have not produced the strain, but bought into it. They are of identical strain us are the birds of the originator of the strain, and if I hold on to that strain.for a few gene- - rations their pedigree qualitication in succeeding years should make them more and more valuable as the years roll on. Yet in my hands, for lack of knowledge in mating ond feeding, and also through lack of suitable accommodation, my birds would become more and more worthless as time goes on. In buying pedigree stock the purchaser should want to know. the conditions under which it has been reared, and the best man to buy from is the originator of the strain, or else from one who, having purchased it, has improved on the original. The value of pedigree so far as utility poultry is concerned rests on performance and the power to transmit high performance to progeny. Hen roosts should be placed about 14in apart, so that there will bo room on them for the hens to be comfortable. A dis- , tance greater than this takes up too much ' space, besides making it hard in cold weather for the birds to heat a larger space per hen. It has also been found that hens prefer flat perches to round ones. It is apparently easier for a hen to balance herself on a flat roost, presumably because there is less strain .on the muscles of the legs. As a matter -of i choice, birds prefer a narrow, flat perch. They like to hook their toes over the edge of the perch, but they won’t stand flat-footed on a wide board. Yellow-skinned fowls rapidly lose the bright color of shanks and beak when laying heavily. Therefore, at the end of the season it u reasonably safe to assume that the hens that have bright yellow shanks have not been profitable. Fixing Wire Netting.—Hook the selvedge of the wire netting on tho top of \ the first postk-the corner post that is ■ well strengthened—unroll it, and secure it in a similar way to the last post; but, before doing so, strain the netting as far as possible to make it taut. Then fix the netting squarely and securely to the first post, with nails at Sin to 6ih intervals, or on alternate meshes, and put tho selvedge over each top nail on the intervening stakes; pull down the netting (when the whole of the top is hung), and nail it at the lowest possible part of each post, then up the post itself, if need be, pvery 2ft. This done, make the bottom secure to the ground with pegs every foot or so. Study Symmetry.—ln the rough gradi ing-out keep in mind balance and symI metry, because abnormalities are not | utility points. The bird you one after is the deep-fronted, chested type, with deep body, wide stance, and gracelul symmetry. She is very friendly, and walks balanced on the pads of her feet as if she owned the place. To the expert eye there is that touch of distinction or superiority about her which cannot he missed. She means business in her walk and actions, is friendly, yet inquisitive. When a piece of litter moves she must go and have a look to see what happened, just as when in the grass run this busybody type sees a leaf move, and wanders over to inquire into lt. Her whole outline, as stated, is_ tight and not baggy, her face full, eye high in skull and prominent, skull and jaw not pronounced (excess here will cause thick neck, sunken eye, and pinched face), and i neck swanlike or slender. In the fall- \ over comb breeds ike comb ‘will have a

Contributions and questions lor answering should be addressed to " UtilityFancy " Poultry Editor, ' Star Office, and received not later than Tuesday of 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.

good base, and swing well over and clear . of eye and vision. Telling tho Bex of Day-old Chicks. — • One of tho latest solutions of tho sex of day-old chicks is to hold tho chick in i tho hand, keeping it on its back with its head away from you. Then blow gently to part the fluff, and obtain a clear sight of 1 tho vent. If tho thicker edge of lip of the hitter is nearest the head, the chick is a male, and if nearest tho tail a fe-male.—Powcll-Owen. A lady and her husband got so interested in how and when a hen turned her ' eggs in the nest that they sat up all night after a day of watching to get the whole story of twenty-four hours’ sitting on tho part of Mrs Broody. They had a nest rather high up, made of a glass mixing bowl, so they could seo the eggs; and they had marked tho eggs carefully, so they could tell just what position each egg was moved to, both in the nest and as to being turned over. Diagrams of tlie egg positions were made, and it all sounds quite convincing, the article being copied from tho ‘Breeders’ Gazette.’ “ During two hours of close attention Biddy’s turning exercises were practised ten times, and each egg was_ shifted three ways—top to bottom or rolling over, end for end, and front to rear of keel. There were fifteen eggs, and each turned three times every twelve minutes.” They figured out that Mrs Broody planned and carried out 5.400 moves every twenty-four hours. “Utility-Fancy” thinks that had Mrs Broody been well dusted before she took to the eggs she would have been more restful and disturbed the eggs less. Scaly Leg.—l am being, asked how to cure fowls of this unsightly—and painful to tho bird —malady. As a rule T recommend first washing of the shanks, thoroughly drying, and then anointing with a mixture of sulphur and vaseline or lard. By this or similar means the shanks are cleaned for the time being, but it comes again if the conditions m which the birds are kept are not altered. Tliis trouble never comes where the perches are regularly painted with kerosene, as the oil kills the mites before they can get a .strong hold on tho birds. When it appears a thorough greasing with almost any oil or with lard will stop the work of ihe insects and prevent further op. rations. It is well to take preventive measures and grease the shanks of all the fowls two or three times a year. Where large flocks are kept in such a manner the disease has no chance to appear. It is essential to get tho chicks on the earth as early as possible, as they will go oft their legs if Icept for any length of time on a boarded floor. If any signs of leg weakness arc noticed a -small dose of cod liver oil will bo found effective. This must he given in the soft food—a small teaspoonful to thirty chicks, not more, until they are over ten days old, when the dose may bo increased. In rearing chickens in artificial brooders the tendency is to overcrowd. A brooder intended for 150 chickens may bo large enough for a week or ten days, but not for any longer. The chickens have grown, and to prevent sweating tho ventilation necessary is difficult to provide without causing a draught nr reducing the temperature below what is required. The safer thing to do is to put only seventyfive chicks into the- brooder advertised to accommodate 150; it will then comfortably accommodate its brood till they can be transferred to quarters whore supplied heat is unnecessary—i.e., to (ho cold brooderhouse. Rearing chickens in small lots is Nature’s way, and in the end will be found to pay bettor than running chicks in largo numbers. An English writer on this question says: “Tho introduction of American ideas in chicken rearing into this country has done an enormous amount of harm, ending in terrible losses. Tho dreaded B.W.'D. that we hear so much about has ravaged America, and is no doubt a penalty for extreme arfificialisra and tho attempt to apply mass production ideas to Nature. The safe course is a moderate one, and, as far as possible, in conformity with Nature, for in this way the best results will he secured.” The question “Is it essential tha-t brooder chickens be always dry underfoot?” is answered : Yes, whilst they are in the brooder or under tho hover; but they should, when outside of same, ho able to run on slightly moist or damp ground, otherwise there will be leg weakness. The four “G's” of feeding are; “Greens, grains, grubs, and grit.” In a wild state or on range (if domesticated) fowls pick up those foitr G’s in abundance, but when confined they depend for them on their owner. Excellent substitutes can be provided in skim milk, buttermilk, cabbage leaves, and ovster-shell. PAPANUI EGG-LAYING COMPETITION. Leading pens, thirty-third week ended November 22 (231 days). —Hock Teams’ Contest (Six Birds). — White Leghorns. Week’s Weight,

—Single Hon Open Championship; for Light and Heavy Breeds.— White Leghorns. Week’s Weight,

—Heavy Breed, Single Hen Contest. Three birds same owner.— Black Orpingtons. TL G. A. Grainger, No. 3 ... G. A. Grainger, No. 2 ... C. E. Graham, No. 1 J. P. Drewitt, No. 2-• Silver Wyandottes. W. Nimmo, No. 1 G. 11. Adcock, No. 1 *« 146 White Wyandottes. C. Bennett, No. 1 —Light Breed Single Hen Contest. Three birds same owner,— White Leghorns. Tl. F. Ellis, No. 2 _ 192 T. Dalgleish, No. 3 W. E. Ward, No. 1 ~ ~. ... 183 H. C. West, No. 1 G. E. Moodv, No. I - 186 W. A. Gee, ‘No 3 ... .- ~ w - 186 Brown Leghorns. Smart Bros, No. 1 ... Smart Bros, No. 2 ... —Single Duck Contest. Three birds sain owner. — White Runners. Tl. A. H. Wheeler, No. 3 185 Fawn Runners, J. W. Thomson, No. 1 _ _ - 183 W. Nimmo, No. 2 ~ - 180 ; R. W. Hawko, No. 2 ™ - ... - 180 IL A. Dawber, No. 2 ~. _ » 172

eggs. oz. dr. Tl. J. Liggins 53 64 11 3.0S0 c. V. M'Beath ... 35 68 10 1.033 w E. Ward ... ... 40 79 6 1,007 H. Williams ... 19 36 2 955 G. H. Bradford ... 27 5 21 947 H. Harrison ... 35 72 1 945 J. D. M'Kechnie ... 18 35 4 945

eggsoz. dr. n. Mrs F. Gorinski ... 5 11 6 182 W H. West ... ... 6 10 10 173 J. C. Cosgrave ... ... 4 7 12 173 Loader 5 10 3 172 W Newall ... 7 13 13 168 W Spence ... 4 8 7 165 Black Orpington 3. J. P. Drewitt ... ... 5 9 4 187 G. J. Wilkins ... ... 6 12 15 174