POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19127, 19 December 1925, Page 22

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.]

“Inexperienced.”—The food you say you give your fowls does nob account for the watery droppings, unless you are giving too great a proportion of bran to pollard. Seeing that your fowls get plenty of skim milk, you might reduce the bran considerably. 1 presume that in addition to the skim milk you are giving a regular and continuous supply of fresh water. Stale water—■ water in the sun—might cause the trouble. I am sorry I cannot say anything more definite. CLUB MEETING. Although tho weather was against a record attendance, unite a number rolled up to the monthly meeting of the Dunedin Utility Rouitry Club, and were well rewarded for coming out on such a cold and wet night. Mr Macpherson, who has been actively connected with poultry breeding for the last seventylive years, commenced breeding bantams as well as other pots in Scotland when quite a lad. Among other breeds kept by him, ho mentioned the old English Came, Minorca, and Black Orpingtons, and he still lias his pens of the latter breed. Mr Macpherson, in tho course of his interesting lecture, selected the breed which ho thought would suit best of ail to illustrate it, being the' old English Game, and it certainly afforded the speaker every opportunity of making clear his remarks, and stiowed that tho brood had been bred up to perfection and then made practically useless. After going into the subject very fully, which took up tho whole of the allotted time, members were invited to ask" any question they wished, all of which wore ably answered by the speaker. In moving a vote of thanks, it was mentioned that Mr Macpherson had always been a keen member, and still breeds "his few chicks each year, very often showing at our shows along with the rest. The president, Mr E. G. Hansen, was appointed delegate to represent the club at the annual meeting of the S.I.N.Z. Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association, to ho hold in Dunedin, January, 1926. Pemits were forwarded from (be club to that society. The next monthly mooting of the Dunedin Utility I ’on It rv Chili will ho held in January, 1926: notion and subject to appear in ".Poultry Aot.cs,” January 20. Wheat Supply.—The Minister of Agriculture has announced that, in compliance with a request by millers, growers, poultry men, and merchants, Iho Government has decided to control the market by purchasing and reselling both local and imported wheat. Control along tho lines decided upon will not involve any increase in prices of flour and bread, and trill allow of a reduction in tho prices of bran and pollard of £L per ton. Fluctuations in prices will bo eliminated, and growers will bo assured of fho prices agreed upon. These prices, it may be added, are at the present lime below importing parity. Tho milling industry will ho able to carry on throughout the year, with resultant advantages in the matter of supplies of bran and pollard. The arrangements, too, will eliminate to a largo extent unnecessary transference of supplies from south to north at a time when local production is materially short of our national needs, and poultry wheat will be made available in both North and South Islands at tho lowest possible rates. _ The proposal, therefore, has substantial advantages, and is more particularly desirable during a period of world scarcity and speculation. Tho remark in the foregoing that poultry wheat will ho available to poultry people “at tho lowest possible rate” means, it is to be hoped, that poultry wheat ’will he at least Is per bushel less than milling wheat._ In the past “control” has resulted in poultry wheat being more expensive than the best milling wheat. Possibly wo are. to have a lair deal this time.

The advantages pnre-bred fowls present over mongrels can be definitely set forth. Tn pure-bred poultry there is uniformity of typo, of size, and of color and markings. Such a._ flock will produce eggs of uniform size, shape, and color, and the chickens raised from them will dre-s into uniform carcases for table poultry. In a flock of mongrels there arc all sizes, shapes, anJ colors, with a corresponding lack of uniformity in eggs laid and the chickens killed "for market. Such a flock will never make the best use of the food given. They vary so much in size and temperament that hardly any two birds will cab the same, with the result that .some will not lay because they are too thin, not getting enough to eat, while others will fail because thev are too fat, getting too much to eat. In a flock of pnre-breds there is not this trouble. They are oven in size and temperament, and therefore can ail bo given tho same attention, and good .results can be obtained. Their eggs, being uniform in size, shape, and color, can be graded more easily than those from mongrels. Puro-bred chickens wilt make far better use of their food. They require less feed to make lib of chicken than do the mongrels, and as dressed poultry they .grade out larger and better finished carcasses. The foregoing applies to mongrels or cross-brcds —i.c., to fowls of no particular breed—but none of the arguments need apply to the first cross. I have soon many pens of first crosses uniform in size and appearance, producers of eggs of nnilorm size and color, and as easily fed as are pens of purc-brcds; and, I may add, cross-bred eggs are easily hatched, the, chick.ms are easy to rear, being constitutionally strong, and tho pulleis have been goal layers. To have first crosses every season it is necessary to have a pen of pure-brads for breeding purposes, and to mate them every year with a pure-bred cockerel of another breed; for, however good ibc cross-bred birds may be as layers or for table purposes, they are no good for breeding puiju.scs, for they only produce mongrels if interbred—mongrels that arc all that they are alleged to be in tho foregoing paragraph. .Presuming that they arc .first crosses—Say from a Leghorn mated with one of the heavy breeds, say, White Rock or White Wyandotte—and that they are mated to a White Leghorn cockerel, and tlio process continued with such mating from season to season, this would not be producing mongrels, but reinstating the Leghorn with a. little extra weight, and so with auv first crosses.

The poultryman who wants nothing but strong birds—and whore is the practical man who does not?—will not have anything to do with chickens hatched after tho twenty-first day. Ho says that if they are Into they are no good to him, and ho is right. The food supplied to chickens during the first threo or four months will make or mar them. There is nothing bettor than milk to bring them on; mix it in tho bran and pollard, and supply drinking water as usual, as milk is a food, and not a drink. If you take two boys of tho same ago and give milk to one every day and no milk to the other, tlio one supplied with milk will become bigger, stronger, and more vigorous than tho qthcr. It is the same with chickens.

It is a fact that the fowls supplied with an abundance and variety of food will lay larger eggs than tho natural will lay larger eggs than those fed only on bran and pollard and wheat. And tho quality, flavor, and hatching abilities of the former are greatly superior. If when a closed shod is being fixed up lor fowls tho floor is made six inches higher than fho natural surface of the ground, it will prove to bo an advantage, flow? in this way; Every year the Gin layer can be removed, and it will make good manure. And with another layer of fresh earth there is practically a new house every year.—‘ Farmer and Settler.’ Kffcct of Sunshine on White and Black Breeds Respectively.—Bavs the American ‘Poultry Journalßlack skin, or brown, is indigenous to the tropics, where there is an abundance of sunshine. White Polar bears are found in the arctic regions, where there is .scarcely uo_sunshiiio six months in the year. White Yorks are hogs bred in Minnesota and North-west Canada. Black Poland Chinas and Red Duroc Jerseys are favorites in Die corn belt, where the summers arc hot, because of so much sunshine and such direct rays of the sun. It appears that the .ultra violet rays of sunshine more easily pass through white, and animals with a white surface reguire loss sunshine to maintain a healthy body. They are, therefore, best adapted for northern latitudes. It is well known that Black Minorcas are popular in Mexico, and Black Leghorns, imported from England, where they know how to breed Black Leghorns, are popular around tho world in tho hot countries. Now conics word from tho National Egg-laying Test in England that very much sunshine was experienced from May 16 to June 12, 1925, and the great heat resulted in a good deal of moulting, especially in White Wyandottes. White Leghorns, in particular, failed to do themselves justice. Black Leghorns, on tho

Mr Proudfoot, well _ known in tho past as both an enthusiastic doggie, as well-as poultry, fancier, tells me that he now has some really good stuff in Black Orpingtons, Light Sussex, and Indian Runners at Jiis “ Peerless ” Poultry Farm. Waitati. Mr Proudfoot is a keen fancier, and as he has always kept tho best 1 take it for granted that his present .claim will bear investigation. A bird with a malformed beak should never be kept, as this defect prevents it keeping that wise provision of Nature—the little oil well at tho root of the tail—clean and in working condition. This well dries up and becomes a homo for vermin. Unable to obtain oil, the bird with a deformed beak cannot preen its feathers nor pick the insects from its body, ft lias difficulty in pecking its food, and consequently is unlikely to bo profitable. Better pot suck a bird before it becomes in a bad state.

If you arc fond of talking abo it economics to all and sundry, bo careful to put your principles into practice. Feed the waste from your homo and back garden to a few bead of poultry, and grow some green stuff for them. People who “talk” and don t “act” arc not worth listening to. Produce something vour your own benefit and you will benefit the community at largo.

Contributions and questions for answering should be addressed to ** Utility-Fancy, Poultry Editor, ‘ Star ’ Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each -week. “ Utility-Fancy *' will only answert communications through thin column. Advertisements for- -thiv - column must be banded in to the office before £ psn. on Friday.

otlior hand, continued to do ■well, and Black Australorps distinguished themselves by scoring tho highest breed average for the month. “ The performances of thcso two breeds during the month,” reads tho report, ” con firm the view that black birds arc least affected by the heat.” 'Fowls are early risers, and seek breakfast about sunrise. Both old and young birds need iood when they begin to look for it. To lie in bed until tho sun lias been up two or three hours may be pleasant to the sleeper, but ho will never bo a successful poultry-keeper. Not only do the chicks want food and water, but they are anxious to get out of tho house or roosting place into the pure air and sunshine. Hatching Periods.—The number of days required to incubate the different varieties of poultry is:—Hen 21 days, pheasant 25 days, duck 28 days, peafowl 28 days, guinea fowl 28 days, goose 25 days, partridge 21 days, turkey 28 days. PAPANTJI EGG-LAYING COMPETITION. Leading pens, thirty-fifth week, ended December 5 (215 days). FLOCK TEAMS CONTEST (Six birds). ■ —White Leghorns.—

LIGHT BREED SINGLE HEN CONTEST \Thrce birds, same owner). —White Leghorns— Tl. H. Williams No. 3 ™ ... ... 231 H. Williams, No. 3 205 11. Williams No. 1 203 W. .1. Richards No. 2 203, M. C. Craig No. 3 200 Miss Jit. White No. 1 200 SINGLE HEN CONTEST (Three birds same owner, restricted to certain breeds). —Heavy Breeds.— Tl, C. Bennett, W.W., No. 3 ... _ ... 104 Hopkins and Sorenson, 8.0., No. 1 104 Hopkins and Sovcn.son, 8.0., No. 3 175 flakier Bros, 8.D., No. 3 1,4 H. Williams, 8.0., No. 1 167 SINGLE DUCK CONTEST (Three birds, same owner). —lndian Runners.— Tl. L. B. Monncell, No. 1 22S J. G. Grecnalado, No. 13 219 J. W. Thomson, No. 2 214 R. W. Hawke, No. I ~ 213 A. Cx. E. Ross; No. 3 203 L, ,B. Moaned!, No. 3 2U? FLOCK TEAM (Six ducks). —lndian Runners.— Week’s Eggs. Tl. H. W, Bock - - ... -‘R 1,217 EL A. Dawber ... ™ 32 1,062

Week’s Weight', Eggs. on. dr. Tl. W. E. Ward .„ M 70 1 1,125 I'd. Ck Craig ... Id (59 (i 1.08(5 Caldcr Bros. >2 7/> ‘J 1,00:3 Croon it 71 11 1,051 J. Biggins id ns 7 ;i ,oi5 G. 11. Bradford il GS 0 1,010 —Heavy Breeds.—• Rogers and Thomson, B.O. 22 19 4 l,nm B. Bailey, Jl.I.R. HO 59 Id 908 11. W. Book, B.O. 23 58 15 892 SINGLE HEN STANDARD TEST (For Light ami Heavy Breeds). —White Leghorns.—■ Week's Weight, Eggs. oz. dr. Tl. W. Newafl ... 5 ] 1 4 201 J. Higgins ... 7 15 2 19d J. Biggins n i;i H 1-1 Green Bros. 5 10 2 18:’, G. H. Bradford 5 ] 1. 6 181 W. Barrcll 5 10 11 180 —Heavy Breeds.—■ If. W. Book, B.O. fi 11 15 189 G. W. Black. B.O. d n id 16d C. Bennett, WAV. 0 0 0 112