POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19724, 26 November 1927, Page 22

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.]

“ W.C.”—White comb may arise from a feverish—i.e.. overheated—condition of the bloods. Sometimes overcrowding is the cause; but, more frequently, damp quarters without sunlight. Feeding for eggs (and overdoing it) is responsible for the disease in. many cases. If treated at an early stage cocoanut oil rubbed into the affected parts will do good, but the cause of the trouble must be removed; otherwise no permanent benefit can arise. Epsom salts in the water for a few days will greatly greatly assist in curing. A method of curing white comb recommended by some is as follows: —Rub the comb every other day with carbolic oil of the strength of one in forty. Also give the bird plenty of fresh air, exercise, and, above all, green food; and for the next six or seven days give daily a teaspoonI'ul oi cod liver oil, mixed witli 1,0 drops of colcliicum wine. “ White Leghorn ” writes that he has a pen of White Leghorns of “Cloudlet strain,” and asks me to recommend a breeder who can supply a cockerel to mate with them in their hen year. Ho says Lis pullets are doing exceptionally well, and ho wants to mate them with something of the best. I make it a rule not to favor any particular breeder in my notes, but in this case .1 can, fortunately, bo consistent with my policy, and, at the same time, with my theory, when I say get your cockerel from the same breeder as yon got your pullets. Any breeder who has established a strain should be able to produce to order a cockerel of tho same strain—though of a different family—as pullets already supplied to a customer. It is those different families within a strain which enable a breeder to breed by selection of birds not too nearly related. Grousing different strains is almost as risky as crossing different breeds, for one never knows bow any strain has been created—i.e., what foreign clement has been introduced in past generations. I recommend 1 “ White Leghorn ” to read the paragraph on pedigree breeding which will be found in this week's notes. Dr Brown made a chief of the Sarece Indians! During the trip across Canada made by some of the delegates to tho World’s Poultry Congress, an official welcome was extended to them on behalf of the Province of Alberta by tho Hon. Geo. Hoadlcy, its Minister of Agriculture, and then, as tho editor of the ‘Feathered World’ puts it; “Tho other speeches safely over, the decks, or rather lawn, was cleared for making Dr Brown an Indian chief.” “This event,” says Mr Lower, “ was eagerly looked forward to, and the presence in our midst of a wonderfully apparelled little party of Sarco chiefs, who had come to pay so signal an honor to our president, kept cameras busy from all sides”; “but,” explains Mr Lower, “it is a pity that no photograph can display _ tho beauty and tho work entailed in these chiefs’ gala robes, and wo -were all hoping that Dr Brown would have to don their like, in order that wo might judge whether they be came him as well as those of his M‘Gill LL.D. _ But evidently such magnificence is not for a chief at the outset

of his career, and thus, after the stage was sot, witli an Indian girl from a mission school called in as an interpreter, an aged Indian solemnly admitted Dr Brown as a chief of their tribe, | simply investing him with a crown of : eagle feathers, and then extending tho irgh thand of brotherhood and announcing that in future ho would be known : as Chief 1 Bear Head ’ among the Sar- : tees.” Pedigree Breeding.—Mr C. A, Horne, , editor of tho ‘Poultry World,’ writing on “Pedigree breeding in Groat Bin tain 200 years ago and now,” deals witli his subpect in a very interesting ; manner, and what ho has to say de° I serves consideration by all who aspire to success in tho creation of strain which will reflect credit on their originators either in tho show or laying competitions. He reminds us that in the long ago, when cock fighting was ! a great sport, indulged in by all classes, | records of pedigree—parentage would I not ho written but kept within the I breasts of tho breeders—engraven upon ] their hearts, so to speak. “ They had,” ho says, “no idea of trap nesting, yet wo know that pedigree breeding was known and practised in the ages that ‘ are past for centuries and centuries. Those cock fighters of old knew the value of strain and_ their birds were all closely related in each distinct family, and seldom were tlio families allowed to be intermingled. Those birds wore bred for courage and stamina. They were tho result of a definite sytem of inbreeding. No fears bad they of old that inbreeding caused do*s generacy, as some would have us believe now. How far it may be true I (Mr Horne) know not, but I am told that in America this opposition to inbreeding, which is true pedigree breeding, is more pronounced than in 1 Great Britain, and that breeders there indulge in the crossing, or of families far more than do the British. When mixing takes place there can he no strain, and when there is no strain there is no pedigree breeding. “ Those cockers of old were so keen on keeping tho blood of their fighting races pure that they never suffered any liens different in breeding to be put down in yard or sitting boxes to those in the family They had no trap nests

TWENTY-THHID PAPANUI EGGLAYING COMPETITION. Leading Pons, Thirty-second Week, Ended November 12 (224 days). FLOCK TEAMS CONTEST (Six birds). Light and Heavy Breeds. —White Leghorns.—

Contributions and questions for answering: should bo addressed to Utxbty-Fancy, Poultry Editor, ‘ Star ’ . Office, and received not later than Tuesday of each week, “ UtilitjsFancy ” will only answer communications through this column. Advertisements for this column must bo handed in to tho office before 2 p.m. on Friday.

i in those days, and tho only way in which, they could keep their pedigrees true and pure was by this isolation of different breeds. This incestuous breeding, against which sumo hold up hands in holy horror in these > latter days, made our early English lighting cocks renowned in our own country and across the seas.” Of course Mr Horne is not advocating “indiscriminate” but “selective” inbreeding. He proceeds Unless there is inbreeding there cannot bo pedigree breeding, because the mere reiteration of a string of ancestors carries no value. To be of service each pedigree must bo the record of deeds done by tho birds mentioned either in tho cock pen, the show neu, or tho laying competition. Those breeders who indulge in a general propensity for crossing cannot possess a strain. By strain I mean a Jlock of birds which can be relied noon Lj breed true to type not only in figure, feather, and color, but also in utilitarian properties. “ It has been said, ami with mne truth, that the'Britisher is not an inventor, but lie is the greatest perfccier in the world. That this is so is shown in the many breeds of poultry which have come to Great Britain from other lands and in a few years have been vastly improved in every outward property. A glance through the list of breeds popular in Great Britain will show that at least-two-thirds of them are of foreign origin. They have come ti us from America, China, Franco, Belgium, Italy, Russia, and other places, but one and all have _ been vastly improved within a short time of their arrival in England. I refer to outward properties such as beauty of color, plumage, markings, combs, lobes, shape, legs, and feet. How has it been done? By pedigree breeding. A striking instance of what the careful selective system of pedigree breeding has done for British poultry breeders is seen in the fact that from Britain has gone forth to the countries of their origin specimens of these improved birds. As the British fighting cocks of old were famous because they were pedigree, or family, bred, so is it today with our Sussex, Orpingtons, Dorkings, Old English Game, Modern Game, Scots Greys, Dumpies, and others. So distinctive are the family characteristics of many of our British strains, that an experienced showgocr looking at representatives in the show pens is able to say even by a casual glance: ‘That is Tom Brown’s Bird,’ or ‘ That one comes from Jack Robinson,’ ‘ This is one of Smith’s,’ and so on. This is what pedigree breeding docs for those who practise it._ By long selective breeding ■within their own Hocks the family characteristics are so established and stamped upon the flock that not only arc they recognisable by outsiders; but they also increase the value of exhibits from the studs from which they emanate.” Feeding in litter.—Birds that have been accustomed to gathering their grain from the bare ground should not be expected to start digging lor a meal in deep Jitter as readily as do birds accustomed to that manner of feeding. ' They have to be taught that though out of sight tho grain is there and only wants working for. To start off with, a mere sprinkling of straw barely covering tho floor is enough, as the birds then see at least some of the grain. Gradually more straw may be strewn, so that real exercise is involved. , Dual-purpose Breeds to the trout.—Farmers who are keeping Leghorns and whose entire poultry revenue is dependent upon egg sales may find tins a good time to do some sober thinking in regard to the relative merits of Leghorns for dual-purpose bird|; on the farm. In interviewing a number of farmers recently wo found that it was those who had Leghorn flocks who were most dissatisfied with tlm present situation and tho least optimistic in regard to the Inure.—H.P.J. How Does He Got That Way.— “ How many eggs did your hens average to lay last year?” “ Don’t know.” “How much did it cost you to feed your lions?” ir Don’t know.” “What was the net income from your flock?” “ Don’t know.” “ What arc your plans for tho coining year?” “Selling out. Chickens don’t pay these times.” Perches for Youg Stock.—Authorities do not all agre whether a chicken should bo allowed to perch early in life or compelled to squat on the ground. One writer says; “Nature is a very reliable guide. When the wnlg feathers have sufficiently developed to allow the bird to use them, thou perching is at once indicated. n That no doubt is true, but, on tho other hand, if birds perch while very young the breastbone, which is little more than gristle, is easily beat. But after it has taken its more firm, bonclike condition it requires considerable pressure to bend it. .in the young bird tho crookedness is not caused by a break, but rather by pressure on the shape moulded. This is generally brought about by a small, round roost, the breastbone being brought down on the keen edge, and ' tho pressure caused by the head coun-ter-balancing tho tail, thus gradually forcing the bone out of its keel shape, and the indention becomes permanent as the bone hardens. Broad perches of about 3iu in-width should be provided, and these will suffice for the birds right ; through their career—from about eight ■ weeks of age.

SINGLE HEN CONTEST. Owner Enters Three liircls. —A.O.V. Heavy Ureeds. — Week’s

Week’s Weight, Eggs. oz. dr. Tl. J. G. Verrall oil 64 3 1,000 J. Llggins ... 32 66 7 996 A. Woolley 35 76 2 974 Green Bros. 34 73 5 962 H. C. West 32 74 0 960 F. H. Wilco '32 69 4 957 SINGLE HEN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. Light and Heavy Breeds. —Black Orpingtons.— Week’s Weight, Eggs. oz. dr. Tl. K. W, Beck . . 0 10 5 186 Mrs Heilaby A. M. Tispio . ;i 6 3 174 . 5 10 5 169 —White Leghorns.— F. Hawes ... . . 4 9 1 180 H. G. West . , 7 16 9 177 W. E. Ward . . 5 11 7 169 A. C. Goodlet . . 5 10 7 166 J. MTntosh . 7 15 1 166 G. H. Chambers 3 13' 7 164 W. Spence ... . . 6 13 5 164 SINGLE DUCK CONTEST. Owner Enters Three Birds. —'Indian Runners.— Week’s Eggs. Tl. F. R. Cotton,. No. 1 , 7 221 A. G. F. Boss, No. 2 . 7 21.7 G. Voice, No. 3 , 7 213 Win. Geo, No, 3 . 212 A. Adsefct, No. 1 ... . 0 210 F. it. Cotton, No. 2 . 7 206 Win. Gee (No. 2 trio) 201 No. 1 ;.. . 7

Eggs. Tl. P. .Bailey, 11.1.IP, No. 1 C 191 P. A. Cornish, L.S., No. J d 177 P. Bailey, R.I.R., No. 2 ... 6 139 —Black Orpingtons.— T. D. Oalziei, No. 2 6 190 G. A. Grainger, No. 1 ... d 187 P. M. Cookson, No. :i ... 0 183 G. A. Grainger, No. 2 ... 7 183 T. J). Oalziei, No. 1 7 180 WHITE LEGHORN SINGLE CONTEST. HEN Owner Enters 3 Birds. Eggs. Tl. W. 11. West, No. 1 0 194 A. R. Browne, No. J. d 190 A. R. Browne, No. 2 r> 188 A. G, Goodlnh, No. 3 7 18S H. Harris, No. 2 6 187 W. H. West, No. 2 6 186 G. 11. Mitchell, No. 2 ... 7 183