Poultry Notes

Evening Star, Issue 21717, 11 May 1934, Page 2

Poultry Notes

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

“ Thoroughly Disgusted ” writes: “ 1 am writing these few lines to you in the hope that you imay be able to give me a little advice which may prove of benefit to me. I have about half a dozen White Leghorn pullets which arc now about six months old and which I was trusting to provide me with some eggs now in the winter. Those pullets have been very Well fed and looked after, and yet to my certain knowledge they have moulted three times already. Of course, every time they moult it puts them right back—in fact, you would think they were actually getting smaller. They get a hot. mixed feed in the morning consisting of scraps mixed with bran and pollard. In the middle of the day they get a small feed of wheat and also duckweed or any other green food, and then at 4 o’clock they get another small feed of .wheat. They also have had the run of a piece of ground with fruit trees in it, which is netted in. Their run is a fine big, sunny one, which is covered in and very dry. They also have a. nice dry roosting house. Could you tell me of anything which would stop them moulting and bring them on to lay? Really -1 am so disgusted that if they are. going to keep on this way I feel very much like killing them, and yet it seems a pity to do that after having fed them for six months. We have had, poultry now for over twenty years, but never have had any fowls that acted like these have done. . If you could give me some advice that would remedy this state of things 1 should be very grateful.”-—lt is very unusual for pullets to moult three times before they are six months old. I imagine that “Thoroughly Disgusted ” is mistaken, and that all have gone through a moult once only, but at different times. A couple of birds moulting cast a lot of feathers, and if two more- moult later the idea may arise that moulting has been renewed. As a matter of fact pullets do not moult so completely as do hens, which often become- quite denuded of feathers before the new ones grow. The fact that these six pullets (six months old) are in such good quarters and are presumably being fed in a similar manner to birds kept in previous years suggests that there is nothing wrong with either the feeding or the quarters; consequently the chances are that, though climatic conditions have delayed production, they will soon start laying. GAME FOWL NEWS. ' [Contributed.} . The past breeding season has been .an exccphoaliy good one with the Otago game fowl breeders. All report having bred and reared good numbers of sound vigorous stags and also pullets. Mr ,1.. S., Woods, ■ who has probably one, •of-iffib'’ largest game fowl studs in Australasia, reports a real good season yvith-, young- . Biers from- his ‘principal strains—-viz., : Blue Downs (red duns, blue duns, and. blue reds), Q-rey Downs (greys),, Tas. Swans (blacks), and Claret Downs (black-fed crow-wings), and Pioneers (black-red crow-wings). The total number of game fowls in Mr Woods’s «tud number over 1,000. Mr M'Leod, Mr Meikle, and Mr Shirley, all.of Oamaru, report good news with this season’s work, and all have good bunches of stags and pullets in Duckwings (partridge-hred), blackbreasted reds i(wheaten bred), blackbreasted reds, and pyles. Mr K. Austin, of Elderslie, is well to. the fore in black brassywings and blacks. Mr Brown, of Dunedin, has a fine lot of well-matured and active stags from his three well-known strains—viz., Tyrone brown-reds, Altamuskin ginger-reds, and Kildare dark greys. Mr Boswell has a fine bunch of good Duckwing stags, and .also some very forward partridge-bred black-breasted reds and pyles. - Mf.F. Smith has some very promising Atkinson brown-reds well on and active. Mr Longhottom has good numbers of his brown-reds and cyclone greys, and earlv in the season he received a fine consignment of good game fowl from one of-the leading breeders of America. This consignment consisted of two stags,

I Contributions and questions for answering should be addressed | I to “ Utility-Fancy,” Poultry Editor, ‘ Star ’ Office, and re- ( 1 served not later than Tuesday of each week. “ Utility-Fancy ’1 j j will only answer communications through this column. j

two hens, and two pullets. 'They are of the well-known and famous strain, Sid. Taylor’s brown-reds. We wish Mr, Longhottom every success in his venture, and we feel sure that he has received fowl of the right calibre. America, Ireland, and Spain no doubt lead the world in game fowl. The South Island (N.Z.) Game Fow’l Club will hold its annual show' in conjunction with the Oamaru Poultry Club’s jubilee show' at the end of June, and a bumper entry in game fowl is anticipated. Probably there will be over 100 entries going from Dunedin alone. Christchurch, Invercargill, and the West Coast fraternity all report a good season. s DUNEDIN FANCIERS’ CLUB SHOW. This combined show of dogs, poultry, pigeons, canaries, and children’s pets which takes place next month should prove one of the best ever held. The schedules will be obtainable shortly, and the secretary of the club (Mr Thompson, North-east Yalley) informs the writer that entries were already prominent in all sections. He contradicts a rumour that the dog section will be withdrawn. The Dunedin Fanciers’ Club renewed affiliation with the New Zealand Kennel Club for the fifty-third time only last month, so the idea that any other body of dog men can obtain affiliation With the New Zealand Kennel Club within the territory of the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club seems out of the question. Mr Thompson states that it is only a small section of the “ doggie ” members who have left the senior club, and who propose a local kennel club. There is no reason why the dog fanciers should not form a local specialist club and yet continue to exhibit, at the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club show. The pigeon and canary men have their specialist clubs, and the Utility Poultry Chib members bold their monthly educational meetings, yet they all continue to exhibit at the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club show. In the interest of the fanciers generally it is necessary to remove whatever causes of discontent there may be for experience gained in, the past shows that only a combined show attracts a paying crew'd. The Rhode Island Red cockerel which gained the first prize at the Yming Bird Show and owned by Mr H. Pocock, is furnishing into a nice bird. 'This fancier has also a fine pen of pullets, and by show time they wall ho seen to advantage. Light Sussex breeder Mr A. B. Armour this year possesses some young stock of the famous Falkenstein strain. Mr Falkenstein, of England, was chiefly responsible for the proud position that Light Sussexs occupy at : .the present time. Stoats and weasels seem to he playing h'avqo.nvith the poultry breeders at Kaitangata. Mr AV, S. Jarvie, the wellknowii jibreeder and show' competitor, .has been .one of the unfortunate ones to have' suffered. The litifity Poultry Club has allotted the sum of £3 3s as special prizes for .competition in the utility classes at the Dunedin fanciers’ annual show'. These specials are open to utility club members only. ■ Mr J.■ A.' Boswell, veteran Old English Game breeder and exhibitor, has been spending a holiday in Christchurch, Visiting the yards of several Old English Game breeders. This keen fancier intends benching a number of bis birds at ’ the forthcoming Dunedin Fanciers’ show. A visit was recently paid to .the poultry yards of Mr AV. Crowthers,

[By UTILITYFANCY.]

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Macandrew Bay. This fancier has gone into it in a wdiole-hearted manner. The pens are well constructed, being on the hill and getting all the sun available. Trap nesting is practised, and the pointers are got rid of. The pens comprise AA'hito Leghorns and Minorcas, and amongst the latter were seen what my informant regards as some very nice pullets, colour and type being very pronounced, it is very encouraging, considering the short time that tins fancier has been connected with poultry, to learn that lie is doing so well. Messrs A. S. Jarvie and R. AA r . Thompson, who are judging at the Dunedin Fanciers’ Show’, have also bee*h elected to judge at the AA r aimato Poultry Show', Mr Jarvie judging open poultry, Mr Thompson judging canaries. PRODUCTION FACTORS. It is the breeder who uses with discretion what is knowm of egg-produc-tion factors that will make the quickest progress in improving egg production and. egg size, w'bilst proper selection and mating improves hatohability and vigour. Experience proves that if a given pullet matures early, lays at a high rate, has no pauses, and is a most persistent layer, she will invariably have a good annual record. It is possible, how'ever, that such a pullet may be what is known as a freak bird, one of a flock all similarly bred and which are low’-avernge producers, and when such is the case it does not follow that birds bred from her, will emulate her in productiveness. If a pullet which matures early aud proves a good producer is of a strain of good layers, she may be relied upon, if suitably mated in her hen years, to - produce offspring as good, if not better, than herself. Strain is an important factor in selecting breeders. - PAPANUI COMPETITION. “ Maxim ” asks for the results of the 1933-4 Papanui egg-laying competition. They were as follows ;—• Test I.—L. P. Hawke (B.O.), 275 eggs. 5680 z 4dr, first; J. H. Jones (W.L.), M, 264, 5790 z lOdr, second; Miss A. M l ,ln tyre (AV.L.), M, 260, 5700 z 4dr, third. “M ” denotes certificate of merit. Test 2 (owner enters 3 birds). —C. Bartley, 849 S, 1,8200 z Bdr, first; AV. Turner, 806 S; 1,7240 z 6dr, second; S. Dick, 790 S, 1,6920 z 14dr, third. “S ” denotes standard certificate award. Test 3 (owner enters 3 birds). —J. Campbell, 725 S, 1,6510 z 15dr, first; L. and S. Brumby, 722 S, 1,5420 z 15dr, second; B. Cotterell, 721 S, 1,5150 z 2dr, third. Test 4 (owner enters 3 birds). —Miss F. Kerr (B.O.), 558, 1,1370 z 13dr; C. Sanderson (R.1.R.), 551, 1,1980 z lOdr; S. Atkinson (L.S.), 547, 1,1270 z 4dr (no prizes). Test 5 (owner enters 3 birds). —Miss Keddell (AV.L.), 1,561 S, 3,1950 z 12dr, first; J. Liggins (AV.L.), 1,422 S, 2,0510 z lOdr, ■ second; AV. Turner (AV.L.), 1,421 S, 3,0030 z 4dr, third. “S” denotes standard certificate awarded. Test 6, Ducks (owner enters 3 birds). —A. G. F. Ross (1.R.), 828 S, 2,5520 z lidr; J. N. Thomson (1.R.), 824 S, 3,2280 z Bdr (no prize). AVyandotte Shield, Test 4- —F. Kerr Orpington Shield.—B. Cotterell, 149 points, 1; J. Campbell, 143 points, .2; H. Williams, 137 points, 3. Liggins Shield, Flock Teams.—Miss H. Keddell 1. Canterbury Co-op. Poultry Producers’ Shield.—C. Bartley, 849 eggs.