POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 20322, 2 November 1929, Page 27

POULTRY NOTES

[By UTILITY-FANCY.]

Oontrfbtrtioo* maA for maewering should b**> " Poultry Editor, ‘Star’ Offica, md received not ay jf jeach week. “ Utility-Fancy * will only answer communications through this column. MmUataum* tat thfa cohmrn mrat be banded b3fow 2 **•**• ®“ Friday*

“Maxim.”—l do not see how it can h© contended that tho moon has any effect on eggs in the course of incubation. One’ man may think it does so, because of one or two bad hatches, but as hundreds of other people setting their eggs at the same phase, of the moon, get good results there must have been some other cause for his unsatisfactory experience. However, there are quite a host of superstitions respecting tho influence of the moon. For instance, the ‘American Poultry Journal’ is responsible for the following,: which appeared in its pages some time back:—“Tho hen sits, you set tho hen. Some old-fashioned folk have long com tended that you should set tho hen according to the moon.' Some modern folks have laughed at the idea. Science now comes' along and says • that the moon not only makes the tides rise and fall, but that the moon influences the weather, and it is an idle superstition to plant crops in the dark of the moon. The reason given is that when the moon is new it is on the average tho coldest time of the month. The two weeks that follow have a good chance of being warmer, thus permitting the seeds to get a good start in a warming earth, and to take advantage of the best growing days.’’ These notes have nothing to do with the sowing of garden crops, which are unavoidably affected by changes of temperature, but “ Maxim ” will note that the hen sits closer in cold weather, and the flame enlarges in the incubator as the out- • side temperature lowers. If the hen or j incubator do not respond to outside in-; fluences in this way, then “ Maxim j may blame the moon! I “ Woodhaugh ” writes: —l wish to ; express to you ray appreciation of your i weekly contribution respecting poultry, j 1 eagerly look forward to your notes each week. Tho extracts you give of j addresses by speakers at the HarperAdams and National Poultry Confer-1 enoes in England, and the results of experiments at American experimental stations, I regard as very instructive, j I do not agree with your argument! that the record layers of the season; should not be bred from. You con-, tend that such birds have necessarily been weakened constitutionally by this excessive production of eggs. I am a cowman as well as poultry breeder, and it is well known that the best milk producers are the ones to breed from. Why should it not bo the same with breeding from the best layers? Thanking you again for your instructive E °i e thauk “ Woodhaugh ” for his words of appreciation, and as regards hisstnc-1 ture I am willing to admit that I also know of good results from the breeding i from birds after excessive laying, hut would point out that as one “ swallow ■ does not make a summer,” so one or two or more exceptions do disprove the teachings of general experience. To, continue the practice he _ favours one j generation after another, is what leading authorities deprecate. He argues] that as high milk producers are bred | from continuously with good results, equallv good results should follow the breeding from high egg producers, hrthe two cases are not for a very good reason on a par, for milk is not productive—i.e., the cow does not deliver with , every pint or gallon of milk its contribution towards the production of a calf in the way that a hen does—whether mated or not—to a future chicken. Consequently milk production does not make such a great draw on constitutional vigour as does egg production. I have consistently advocated in selecting pullets for the .laying shed to pick out a few as required of the very best and most promising producers, and place them aside to be treated as prospective breeders. They will lay well without being forced for eggs, but having more outside liberty will be constitutionally stronger when bred from than their sisters, which have been forced for eggs, can possibly be. A few eggs may be lost to the market by this process of selection, it is well to remember that the breeding pen is the foundation of a poultry farm, and that the maintenance of vigour in the whole stock and the increase in average production is of sufEcient importance to warrant the loss of a few eggs from the best birds. In view of the fact that as a rule , tho fowls in the. laying shed are nunrated the following remarks by Dr Brown, LL.D., F.L.S., may suggest that there is another reason why after a season’s forcing for eggs birds are not in the best condition to bo transferred to a breeding pen. The doctor says: TJnmated Hens.—On two or three occasions reference has been made an these columns to a question suggesting itself, but upon which our knowledge is minute in the extreme, as to the possible influence of stimulating the ovarian activities of our poultry without giving an opportunity for tho exercise of those functions which under normal conditions accompany the production of eggs. Recently, in one or two directions, there have been indications of inquiry as to whether some of the losses which are undoubtedly very evi-

dent in respect to high fecundity in bans may not bo to some extent due , to the fact that these hens are un- ! mated, and therefore production m that direction is only partially accomplished. Mother Nature never intended eggs to be produced which were unfertilised. As a fact the egg was intended merely for the purpose of continuing the race, and therefore the laying of the egg was preceded by the mating of tho two sexes. Here is raised a question upon which we have no actual evidence, it is all theory. Those theories may lead j us fai astray. On tho one side under normal conditions, tho wastage of seed, whether in animal or plant, is enoiraous. Many years ago, after a visit to the great oyster beds of Arcachon, in the south-west of Franco, 1 read a statement that each female oyster pro duced in the season 9,000 eggs for every oyster that was matured. Under such conditions wo have no knowledge as to whether tho eggs which did not come to fnition were fertilised. Probably not. That fact will at once indicate how difficult is the problem. It is, however, not at all improbable that, so far as breeding stock are concerned, it would make for greater vigour in the | progeny if the pullets were brought up in a nataral manner. Here, however,an aspect arises which is worthy of consideration—namely, that as it would appear under natural conditions the weaklings, unless virile, are destroyed or killed off by others, Nature is all the time making a rigid selection so that only the best reproductivoly arc left. | Perhaps we might apply this to poultry keeping It, however, leads us to the conclusion that our present system is entirely wrong—namely, we disregard tho difference between production and reproduction. Pullets which are hied and roared with a view of attaining tho maximum number of eggs for eating, and are never mated during at any rate the first year, are lacking in what is a natural function. Possibly there is a loss which means these are unfitted for breeding stock. 1 know that it would be impossible under our present system to carry out this absolutely. All that is necessary is to indicate the dangers which arise from these extreme sys- | terns. . ! Entrici representing 274 _ pens have l already been. received, so it is reported, , for the Commonwealth aond New Zealand egg-laying competition to be held at Cheltenham. All the teams will bo single-tested, so that tho egg production of each bird will be indicated. Ihe entry forms have only been issued a short time, so there is a probability that more entries will be made. The following are extracts taken from essays written by pupils of Standards V. and VI. in an Otago country town and entered for tho local poultry club s school competition. The essays were written some years back, and caused amusement when reproduced in the local Press. One youthful aspirant tor honours wrote: “To those that_ take a great interest in poultry the points aro very simple, but to an outsider the hen is just a plain hen which lays eggs. Among the very ■ interesting birds that come under the name of poultry there are many species—for instance, the male and the female. Tho male birds of tho well-known species aro tho rooster, who looks after tho hens; the drake, who looks after the ducks; and the gander, who looks after the geese. There can not be much said about the rooster except that he livens up the show with his lively crowing He is a very proud bird, is the rooster, as he struts about with his head up and uses his strong lungs to their fullest extent. The rooster is a useless bird, as ho lays no eggs. The only thing he can be used for ns t< be cooked and eaten for dinner. Some roosters think a lot of themselves, and strut about as if they are lords of creation. • Some roosters have a fighting disposition.” Another child’s production was as follows; —“ There are many kinds of poultry—Leghorns, White Rock, Manorkers, Black Orpingtons, New Plymouth Rocks, Red Spaniels, and many others. The White Whynedot is a good laying fowl. The Black Manorkers _ aro good hens. _ A very pretty bird is the bantam, which is very small and does not grow much largei. The bantam, a very small specy, lays eggs only half the size of full-grown hens. Other people keep Dotnls and many other different kinds of poultry. If you do not know much about the habits of your fowls at first they are very disheartening birds. They do not lie down to go to sleep, but sit on perches with their head under their wing. All roosters are awake at daylight and asleep at dusk unless some youngster or some animal has been making a row and kept the poor fellow awake. Some people give their hens some kind of stuff called Hen Pro- ( ducer, but I think brand and polard mixed with hot water is best or oats. They should not bo disturbed or chased —only at meal times, unless for some particular reason. Chickens should not be fed with anything but chicken food : or pollen mixed with water. It is a habit of fowls to cackle when they have ! done their day’s work, which is to lay one egg a day. The best plan is to have to sets of hens, one which lays in the summer and the other in the winter. In about six weeks the egg shrnld be hatched. Sometimes very few are hatched because they are otten. If eggs are being hatched within a month the owner may depend that ihe egg is starved. When the chickens are very young they should be kept tory quiet, as a noise will kill them. In a coop where a hen and chickens are kept the •wire netting must have holes as email as possible or the chickens are liable to • get out, and if there is a cat anywhere near it would probably eat t. In the , certain season, Autumn, most poultry I moult and loose their feathers. Some- | times when poultry moult it is very hard j for them tc recover their feathers again, j If hens get wet it spoils their feathers, j and they all come out. When birds are | put into the Show they have to be washed thoroughly. A hen is a pretty bird when it is dry. Men who are unable to work are earning their living by keeping poultry and sailing the eggs , or taking them to marker Old pi opt’, 1 or those of old age, take it as a hobby.” Don’t think that simply because you get a good price for a bird or a setting of eggs sent to a customer that you have made a good “deal.” Unless your customer is satisfied you have, in 1 fact, made a very bad “deal.” For; not only will he cease to deal with you, but he will “talk.” j Have yon ever thought that each ; chick which dies represents a loss of the original cost price of the chick, the value of the food consumed, and, if well bred, the future profits, ranging from 6s to 10s per bird. To save all the chicks precaution must be, taken to secure healthy stock, to arrange for plenty of room in clean, comfortable quarters, and to provide clean feed of various kinds. Clean, dry houses and yards are essential. Liberal use of disinfectants

and liming of outdoor yards helps to secure perfect sanitation. Tho _ water fountains should bo cleaned occasionally with antiseptic solutions.

KEEPING THE CHICKS MOVING,

Growing stock should be continually shifted to fresh ground, and even where tho space is limited much can be accomplished in this direction by using temporary hurdles and not allowing the youngsters to run over the whole area. Minced raw onions should be given once a week from the time the chickens are a week old. Ido not know any better tonic. I believe, says Mr W. C. Ilugg, the noted Australian expert, in having a plain, dry mash before the growing stock, and giving them a wet mash as well. With this method of feeding their crops will be extended. If this is not done when they are young they will not bo able to consume sufficient food to enable them to produce large numbers of eggs. Cockerels should be separated from the pullets. This will give the pullets more room. Pullets shoud be placed in their permanent quarters at about sixteen weeks old. If left until they make A start to lay they might resent the change and go into a false moult. To summarise, it may bo pointed out that success in chicken raising depends on sound breeding stock; on correct incubation and brooding; on plain, wholesome food, plenty of direct sunlight and clean ground, and good, wellventilated quarters in which the birds will not be overcrowded.

TWENTY-FIFTH PAPANUI EGGLAYING COMPETITION. Leading Pens, Twenty-eighth Week, Ended October 19 (196 days). Test I.—J. H. Shaw Memorial Challenge. Light and Heavy Breeds. Black Orpingtons. Week’s Weight. Eggs. oz. drs. Tl.

J. M. Campbell ... 6 12 3 146 T. D. Dalziel ... 5 10 7 127 White Leghorns C. A. Stratford ... 7 12 12 180 A. M. Espie 6 13 6 167 E. J. Ross 6 11 8 161 E. Dunstan ... ... 6 14 3 156 S. G. Batten ... 7 14 15 152 T. D. Dalziel ... 3 6 10 151 Test II.—Whito Leghorn, Single Hen. Owner Enters 3 Birds. Highest Aggregates. Week’s Grand Total. Total. S. E. Davcv ... 7 7 7 147 175 173 T. D. Dalziel ... 6 6 6 161 139 160 E. Fuchs 6 6 7 157 140 158 J. Liggins 6 6 7 144 159 143 M. C. Craig ... 5 6 5 161 142 138 Miss Williams ... 4 6 5 154 154 130 O. M. R. Manhire 6 5 6 136 146 156 SINGLE HEN TEST. - Owner Enters 3 Birds. Highest Aggregates. Test m.-AD.V. Light Breeds, Other Than White Leghorns, Anconas. Week’s Grand Total. Total. R. Pearce ... 5 5 5 129 139 107 S. H. Mitchell ... 6 5 4 115 131 90 Test IV.—Black Orpingtons only. R. M. Cookson ... 2 5 5 ill9 153 154 A. R. Leckie ... 6 4 6 165 123 121 H. J. Ballin ... 6 5 5 149 104 126 Test V.—A.O.V. Heavy Breeds Other Than Black Orpingtons. J. R. Griffen (L.S.) 5 5 6 145 100 149 R. Drysdale (W.R.) 5 3 5 107 37 104 Test VI.—Flock Teams (6 birds). . Light and Heavy Breeds. White Leghorns. Week’s Weight. Eggs. oz. drs, Tl. M. C. Craig ... 34 71 7 866 Green Bros. ... 32 69 11 8oo W. E. Ward ... 27 59 1 848 F. Hawes 33 68 10 833 G. J. Verrall ... 30 72 8 79o J. Liggins 31 68 7t>7 Black Orpingtons. J, Kingsland ... 17 34 6 700 H. W. Beck ... 33 67 0 58/ Test VII.—Single Ducks. Owner Enters Three Birds. Highest Aggregate. Pekins. Week’s Grand Total. Total. J. W. Thomson ... 6 5 6 90 122 59 Indian Runners. G. A. Heath ... 7 6 6 184 168 162 A. G. F. Ross ... 5 6 5 144 181 184 J. W. Thomson ... 7 7 7 152 181 17o F. R. Cotton ... 7 4 6 178 157 173 H. A. Dawber ... 7 6 6 164 167 169