POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19894, 16 June 1928, Page 24

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.]

“Pullet.”—No, I do not recommend breeding from pullets. It does not follow that because you have already done so with results satisfactory to you that the practice is a good one. You might not. notice any falling off in_ the egg yield, dr in the size of the birds even if you repeated the practice for another year, but further continuance would almost inevitably prove disastrous.. One strong argument in favour of breeding from older birds, specially aniong high producers, is that, in addition to the ability to lay, there is the-',ability to live, which is a totally different and a most important matter. As an authority puts it, “Mortality is frequently at the..maximum towards the end ot the first laying season,, due to the strain of heavy production and physical exhaustion, whilst the developments of ovarian and other_ weaknesses is very much higher than is generally admitted. The fact that a pullet ■ has passed successfully through her first laying season and retains her vitality is proof that, in those directions, she may have the power of transmission. To have bred from a pullet, however good a layer she may prove herself to be, which either dies before she is eighteen months old or has developed ovarian troubles, has simply made for. future trouble ”

culls.” Culling poultry pays if it is competently done.” , ; Mr John H. Mitchell of J. White and Co., Chicago, would bar poultry and dairy products from New Zealand from entering -• tho United ' States. Speaking before an agricultural group ho concluded ■ his • speech as -followsT—“In my opinion,.■ .poultry. ; and: dairy products from .Europe, Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand should be barred from our markets by a protective tariff that would bo effective to the last’ degree. But-because Canada is .a-part'",of'our own continent, governed : largely- by: the same, climatic conditions that wo arc, whose people enjoy about the same living conditions that Wo do, and because through their, competition, we would gain an honest and equitable stabilising ’influence, I would recommend that tho poultry and dairy products of Canada be cither admitted free or under a very low tariff.” PAPAKUI EGG-LAYING COMPETITION It seems that wo have not yet finished with recording, the results of the twenty-third annual Panama egg-laying competition. In publishing results I have, all through the year, given the figures of the leading pens, recording numbers of eggs laid, and also tho weights of eggs, when such wore supplied to me. Now, so far us those leading pens are concerned, 1 am asked to inform ray readers of those cases where awards were not made because the eggs wero under weight. For instance, in test 1, single hen, open competition, for light and heavy birds, Mr E. V. Crouch’a While Leghorn is starred for underweight eggs, this brings W. E. Ward’s bird up from seventh to sixth place. In test 2, competitor entering three White Leghorns, to bo single tested, Messrs Williams, Mitchell, and H. Williams’s birds aro starred, with tho result that J. Taylor gets fourth place. Another bird of H. Williams’s gets fiftli, and J. Maxwell’s bird gets sixth place. t . . lu the compc-tiiioii ior Black Orpuigton, single tested (three birds entered liy each competitor, one of Mr H. W. Beck’s birds, which laid 262 eggs! Mr R. M. Cookson’s, which laid 259; Miss Meyriok’s, which laid 235, are all starred for laying under-weight eggs. ' This brings Mrs Hcllaby’s and T. D. Halziol’s birds, which laid 249 and 245 eggs, into third and fourth place respectively. In test 5 P. Bailey’s R. loses first place and P, A. Cornish’s L.S. loses third place through under-weight eggs; one of Mr P. A. Cornish’s L.S. taking first place with 263 eggs, and another of his L.S. taking second place. ; Tho follow]nig is the prize-list:— TEST I. —Single Hen, Light and Heavy Breeds. First prize—H. C. West’s W.L., 234 eggs. Second prize—S. E. Davcy’s AA .L., 274 eggs. r Third prize—AV. Spence’s AV.L., 263 eggs. First prize winter test—F. Hawes’s W.L., 9S eggs. , First prize’ autumn test—A. AAoolley’s AV.L., 73 eggs. First prize greatest weight of eggs— H. C. AVest’s AALL., 6610 z 7dr. First prize best exhibition hen—Mrs J A. B. Hellaby’s 8.0. Winners of standard certificates—H. C. AA r cst, S. E. Davcy, AV. Spence, H. AV. Beck. 8.0. Black Orpingtons, AALL. AVhite Leghorns. TEST 2. —Three AVhite Leghorns, Single Tested.— First prize—A. M. Espio’s AV.L., 305 eggs. Second prize—A. C. Goodlet’s AV.L., 304 eggs. Third prize—H. Harris’s AV.L., 302 1 eggs. First prize greatest weight of eggs—* A. M. Espio, 6740 z lodr. First prize best exhibition lien—J. Taylor. First prize autumn test—A. 31. Espio. First prize winter test—A. I’Browne, H. AVilliams AV.L., equal, 105 eggs each. TEST 2. —Three Bird Aggregate Prizes.— First prize—A. M. Espie, 814 eggs. Second prize—M. C. Craig, 786 eggs. Third prize—A. 11. Browne, 771 eggs. First prize greatest weight of eggsA. M. Espio, 1,7710 z 2dr. First prize winter Lest—A. 11. Browne, 286 eggs. First prize autumn test—M. C. Craig, 185 eggs. Tho following qualify for .standard certificates—via., 260 standard weight eggs or over for single birds:—A. 31. Espio (2), A. C. Goodlot, H. Harris, J. Taylor, H. AVilliams (2), J. Maxwell, AV. H. AVest, J. Rattigan (S), A. K. Browno (2), A. Woolley, T. J. Richards, H. C. West, 31 C. Craig (2), J. W. Thomson, E. Dunstan (2), 11. A\ r . Rule, AV. J. Richards, T. Gill, A. G. F. Ross, T. H. Penrose. B. Kelly. Three bird aggregate standard certificates for 720 eggs or over (standard weight eggs):—A. M. Espie, _ M. C. Craig, A. R. Browne, IT. Williams, J. Rattigan (2). T. Gill. E. Dnnstan,.Mrs F Gorinski. TEST:;’.. —Three Light Breeds Other Than, AVbito Leghorns.— First prize—S. If. Mitchell's Ancona, 241 eggs, ■Second prize— 11. Pcnrcc s Ancona, 206 eggs. Third prize—11. Pearce’s - Ancona, 186-eggs. _ First.prize greatest weight of eggs— S. H. 31itchell olloz sdr. First prize winter test—S. 11. 3litchell, 67 eggs. First prize autumn , test—S. 11. 31itchell, 58 eggs. First prize best exhibition hen—R. Pearce.

A bankrupt poultry farmer in Invercargill district claimed that his failure was duo to the destructiveness of weasels. In his sworn statement ho said that GOO pullets had been killed by weasels. In three days he bad killed forty-nino weasels on his farm. One critic thought that "much of tho mischief put down to stoats ami weasels was really due to ferrets. Toe-picking,—Very soon wo shall_ be hearing of toe-picking amongst chickens. This trouble usually starts through a morsel of food, after adhering to a toe, attracting the attention of the other chicks In their efforts to obtain that morsel, they sometimes draw blood, at the sight of which there is no satisfying thcni._ Tho bright, clean toes of healthy chickens, running on a boarded floor or on black or hard soil,, also seems to cause toopicking, the chick, apparently, mistaking the toes for worms. The best, and I think tho only, way to prevent toepicking is to provide deep, short litter, and to mix dry soil with it. By this means tho toes arc practically hidden by the litter, and when not hidden they aro so darkened by tho soil that they lose their atractivo and wormliko appearance. A Big Poultry Parmer Who Never Uses a Thermometer. —Mr ’Rodwe 11 (England), in a recent address, said that lie never used a thermometer in tne hovers. If ho saw the chicks lying comfortably at night, not clinging bo the lamp-guard, gasping for breath, but calm and spread out, it was a far better indication to him than any thcimometor. Mr Rodwell also stated that in his. experience late hatches were unprofitable. They .had missed the best raising period in the spring, and in the autumn, when tho pullets should commence laying, and _ daylight was waning, and the late birds progressed much slower, with the result that many did not lay until, tho following year. When selecting his pullets tor the laying contests his first regard was to pedigree. The next consideration was body—plenty of size, width ot back, sharp head, bold eyes, super texture, and pliability, and fineness of bone. He must have the best handlers with pedigree.and not the best handlers without pedigree—but the highestpedigreed bird ivould nob attract him if she had not tho frame and capability. Above all tho males must have pedigree; and stamina was not so essential in tho male as in the female in the case of the breeding pen. In hatching he never attempted to toepunch until the chicks were twentyfour hours old, and they wove kept in the nursery for forty-eight hours. Poultry keepers made a great mistake in feeding the chickens too soon. Culling.—A joko on a culler. The ‘ American Poultry Journal ’ indulges its readers with the personal opinion of a fanner on culling by a would-be expert. The farmer is reported to have spoken as follows: —“Wo do a lot of culling on our farm. Wo cull the seed corn, the brood sow herd, tho Hereford cow herd, and tho poultry every season A year ago a third-rate veterinarian who couldn’t mako a living at bis profession, took up poultry culling, and fingered out a lot of easy money in our township. Wo hired him to cull our 375 hens. I studied him in action. His method was a cross between Hoganising and osteopathy. Ono thing that more than any other impressed me was his speed. You sec, we paid him bv the head. Ho worked much faster than Ins old Ford. Wo “ fed ” tho birds lo him m a stream, the culls passing into a separate chute, tlpou completing his job, ho was reminded that wo had just driven m from a field a dozen hens that hadu t teen put through with the rest. Wo fibbed to him, for these were culls that bo had “ spotted ” early in the day. Wo desired to test Ids skill. Well, ho quickly passed eight of these twelve culls as all right; in fact, he thought they were better hens than tho average of tho others that ho had ek’d. We didn’t “ let the cat out of tho box,” but paid him, and ho disappeared. That night at supper Han said ‘lt wouldn’t lie a- bad idea to begin culling tho scoundrels, scrubs, salesmen an<T simpletons that are running around in tho country living on farmers. There must bo a lot of human

Contributions and questions for answering shook! be addressed : to “ Utility-Fancy,” 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 oohmra must bo handed in to the office before 2 p.m. on Friday,

AVERAGES FOR EACH TEST PER BIRD.

POULTRY Requirements.— Lucerne Meal, J. Meat ileal, Proto Nuts, Karswood Spice, and- Leg Rings,.—Binnie, St Andrew street. TUTOR SALE, 3 lovely Utility Minorca .1. Cockerels; good laying strain.—lrvine, East avenue, St. Hilda, TIMNE and Coarse Clock and Poult ay Food .JO and Grits,, also Karswood's Spice, and Celluloid Leg Rings for poullry —Bills, Ltd. TEST —Aggregate Eggs Throe IlinK— First prize—S.' 11. Mitchell, 537 eggs. Second prize—It. Pcarcc, 403 eggs. First' prize greatest weight of eggs— S 11. Mitchell, E'loOoz 3dr. First prize winlor test—S. 11. Mitchell. M 7 eggs. First prize autumn test-S. H. Mitchell, 115 eggs. . . TEST d. —Three Black Orpingtons, Single Tested.— First prize—(I. A. . Grainger, 273 eggs. Second prize—T. 1). Dalzicl, 265 eggs. Third prize—Mrs J. A. 0. Hcllaby, 249 eggs. First'prize greatest weight of eggs— G. A. Grainger, 5950 z Heir. First prize best exhibition lien—Miss M. Jr Meyrick. First prize winter test—G. A. GrainFirst prize autumn' test— Alisa M. J. Meyrick, 60 eggs. TEST 4. —Three Bird Aggregate Prizes.— First prize—T. D. Daiziel, 728 eggs. Second prize—J. Kingsland, 610 eggs. Third prize—G. A. Grainger, 6ns eggs. First prize greatest weight of eggs T. D. Dalzicl, l.Oliooz 3dr. First prize winter test—,!. King.v land, 207 eggs. First prize autumn test—T. D. Dnlziel, 115 eggs. The following qualify for standard certificates:—Single birds to lay sixty or over standard weight eggs, G. A. Grainger, T. D. Daiziel; three birds to lay 720 or over standard weight eggs,'G. A. Grainger. TEST 5. —Throe Heavy Breed Pullets Other Than Black Orpingtons.— First prize—P. A. Cornish, L.S., 263 eggs. . Second prize—P. A. Cornish, L.S., 169 eggs. Third prize—J. It. Griffon, L.S.. 165 eggs. . , ■ First prize greatest weight of eggs— P. A. Cornish, 5410 z 13dr. First prize best exhibition ben- -J. 11. Griffon. First prize winter test—P. A. Cornish, 67 eggs. First prize autumn .test—P. A. Cornish, .60'eggs. TEST o. —Three Bird Aggregate Prizes.— First prize—J. It. Griffen. 433 eggs. First prize greatest weight of eggs— J. R. Griffen. First prize winter test—J. R. Griffen, 82 eggs. First prize autumn test—J. R. Griffen, 64 eggs. Standard certificate for single bird to lay 260 or more standard weight eggs—P. A. Cornish (L.S., Light Sussex). TEST 6. —Six Bird Flock Teams for Light and Heavy Breeds.— First prize—A. Woolley, W.L., 1,553 eggs. Second prize—J. Liggins, W.L., 1,523 eggs. Third prize—F. Hawes, W.L., 1,481 eggs. First prize best exhibition team—J. Bobbitt. First prize winter test—G. J. Verrall, 607 eggs. _ First prize autumn test—A. Woolley, 347 eggs. £2 2s special prize for the six birds laying the greatest weight—A. Woolley, 3,3130 z lOdr. Standard certificates for teams laying I, eggs of standard weight will bo awarded to the following:—A. Woolley, J. Liggins, F. Hawes, Verrall Bros., H. C. West, G. J. Verrall, T. H. Wilce, Green Bros., W. E. Ward. TEST 7. —Three Ducks Single Tested.— First prize—A, G. F. Ross, 342 eggs. Second prize—Mrs B. Gee, 334 eggs. Third prize—F, R. Cotton, 333 eggs. First prize winter teat—F. R. Cotton, 118 eggs. First prize autumn test—A. G. F. Roxs, 80 eggs. TEST 7. —Three Duck Aggregate Eggs.— First prize—A. G. F. Ross, 911 eggs. Second prize—F. R. Cotton, 895 eggs. Third prize—G. Voice, 873 eggs. First prize best three exhibition ducks—F. R, Cotton. First prize winter test—A. G. F. Ross, 329 eggs. First prize autumn test—A. G. F. Ross, 220 eggs. Standard certificates will lie awarded to A.. .G. F. Ross (3), Mrs B. Gee (3), F. R. Cotton (2), A. Adsett (2), G. Voice (2), D. C. Webster (1), J. W. Thomson (2), 11. A. Dawber (2), H. W.; Beck (1), Mrs A. Little (1). ... -TEST S. —Flock Team Six Ducks.— First prize—ll. A. Dawber, 1,528 eggs... WINNERS OF SHIELDS. Wyandotte Challenge Shield—F._ G. Herridge. Leghorn Challenge Shield—J. Biggins. Orpington Challenge Shield—T. D. Dalzie). Duck , Challenge Shield—No competitor qualified in show points.

4 to 7 to o c: 9 Uc o rS o to C >* cJ to u O o tfi o '£ yi 9 • .‘^ C o A, M -1 H £ PS

Any other variety IS 6 156 3-3 (i 12 • 153 6 Single hen test 29 21. 231. ' 2c 8 1S7> C Heavy breeds test 32 32 202 26 Single light breed test... ltd 111 129 -- Flock teams ... Whole competition fowls 9" 8) 81 C 211 (:1 average ... 313 355 222 239 5S 1971 44 All ducks ••• 48 - ~~ 263 2-3 •IS — — — All fowls and ducks 361 — 220 2-3 — —