POULTRY NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 22630, 23 April 1937, Page 2

POULTRY NOTES

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. “ Farmer ” (Kaikorai). —There are many “ fables ” as to the sox of geese, and admittedly the sexes are difficult to discern until the young stock are about four months old. Even with adult stock some find it a great difficulty. The gander is, however, always stouter in head and thicker in neck than the geese. Ganders have a weaker voice, and generally keep on the fringe of the flock when they are driven into a house or corner. They are first to turn and hiss, particularly at a dog. FOOD FOR FOWLS. The questidn of what is suitable food for fowls has often been raised in these notes, and it is necessary to do so. Many people have the idea that it is necessary to obtain a supply of cheap and inferior food so as to make poultry keeping pay. This is altogether a mistake. Damaged grain screenings (which in many cases are composed of more than half refuse), mill sweepings, rice meal, and musty or inferior pollard or meal may be obtained at a very low figure, but even then it is dear at the price. The best quality of food is the cheapest in the end, and, although birds may live on the inferior food, the egg supply is certain to suffer, and the birds themselves are always in poor conditiori, and never appear satisfied. In the cold weather and during the moulting season the quality of the food given should be of the very best, as there is an extra strain on the fowl during those periods, and if the system is not kept up by stimulating food the bird will linger through the winter or the moult, and not come on to lay until eggs are cheap. The difference in the best quality and inferior samples of wheat is only from 3d to 6cl a bushel, and in the inferior samples there is sure to be a lot of shrunken and shrivelled grain, which has little nutriment in it. The pollard or other meal given should ho of the best quality, and the addition of meal food will be found beneficial. The meal, however, should be given in moderation. WINS AT PAPANTJI. Mr A. C. Goodlet, of Kaikorai. is well to the fore with wins at the Papanui egg-laying test, just completed. With In's three birds in test 2 h© secured a first with 754 standard weight eggs; and in the Shaw Memorial test for single hens he secured a third, his bird laying 267 eggs. POULTRY INDUSTRY IN ENGLAND. The poultrymen in E and are not satisfied with the position of the industry. At a meeting of the National Poultry Council, held last month, the critical position of the industry was discussed. One suggestion was that an advertising campaign should be launched urging consumers to eat‘home-produced eggs. Another, that if by the same means the public could be made aware of the straits to which the poultry industry has been brought through excessive egg imports the Government might be forced to provide relief measures. HATCHABILITY. Sir Edward Brown, LL.D., in his book, ‘ Poultry Breeding and Production,’ speaking of hatchability, says: “ A fertilised egg does not necessarily mean a chicken. Domestication has undoubtedly resulted in a largely increased number of eggs per hen, and, under the more intensive conditions, a much higher proportion of embryonic mortality. What is commonly termed ‘‘dead in shell ’ is one of the most serious problems in respect to poultry husbandry ■on commercial lines. It is negligible among farmers and such as

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By “ UTILITY-FANCY ’*

are able to keep their breeding stock on range. In these the germ has been vitalised. There is growth 'for a few hours or days; when that is arrested death ensues. How far this may be due to lack of vigour in the seminal fluid as a result of debilitated physical condition of the male, or to weakness in the female, or to lack of elements in the egg to supply materials for development of the embryo, cannot be stated. In this connection, an important question arises—namely, that, whilst under modern systems of breeding there has undoubtedly been stimulation of ovarian activity, leading to a much increased production of eggs, whether there has been a corresponding glandular activity in production of the albumen—i.e., the white of the egg, which supplies the elements from whicli the body, feathers, etc., are formed? For example, if during the normal breeding season a hen’s body has the capacity for producing, say, 50 eggs, each of which has an ample supply of the elements referred to, whether, supposing she lays 100 eggs in the period named, there will be a corresponding increase of these elements, or that the supply of 50 eggs has to be divided among the hundred ? Should the latter be true_, that means every egg is deficient in its essential factors, which would be conducive to embryo mortality. This is an important field for research, difficult though that would be.” NON-BROODY HENS. In the case of Leghorns, Minorcas, and other non-broody breeds kept for egg production and not for meat, it is of importance to maintain the character of non-broodiness in its purity. Any pullet or hen that even “clucks” should be carefully leg-banded, or otherwise marked, so thqt there is no chance of including her later among the breeders. It would not take many generations of neglect to ruin the character of any originally high-class nonbroody flock. As the periods of broodiness are also those of non-production, there is a definite loss to the owner. Periods of broodiness differ widely from what are known as “ pauses,” during which ovulation ceases. Some owners of heavy breeds look upon broodiness as natural periods of rest. It is a common and very inaccurate habit of laying at the door of Nature anything not understood. It may be the design of Nature to utilise the period of broodiness as one of rest, but it seems unnecessary. Adelaide ‘ Chronicle.’ TABLE BIRDS AT THE POULTERERS. Mr W. Harwood, a poultry enthusiast who served his apprenticeship with Mr W. Cook, during a visit to Brisbane made some remarks which, perhaps, might with equal reason be made here. He said: “ It is tragic to notice that no appreciable improvement had l been made since my previous visit in the methods of handling and selling live and table poultry on the Brisbane market. Conditions of sale and display were disgusting to say the least; and the quality of the fowls submitted for sale and the poor manner of dressing did not make for any extension of consumption of poultry flesh. It is high time poultrymen took energetic steps to improve this state of affairs, which must react to their detriment.” BEST TABLE CROSS. The ‘ Weekly Scotsman ’ says that the ideal table chicken cross of to-day is got by crossing an Indian Game male with Light Sussex hens. There is a second variety built on exactly similar lines which is known as Jubilee Game. The only difference is in the colouring. The Jubilees have a buff ground colour and are laced with white.

SOME GAME VARIETIES. The Azeel and the Malay belong to the game family, and are used for fighting purposes in their own country. The Azeel is a low-set, small bird, but very coinpact and heavy for the size. The Malay is a very tall, awk-ward-looking bird, more after the style of the modern game, but on a more reachy scale. They are massive birds and often turn the scales at 111 b and 121 b. In the early days of poultry shows entries used to appear in the catalogues as of Scots game. These were actually what is known to-day as the Scots Grey fowl. They were reachy birds of black-and-white colour, being very neatly chequered from stem to stern. The males are beautifully marked and have been bred for colour and markings for generations, so that they have lost a lot of their fighting propensities. There are still, however, many Soots Grey males that could give a good account of themselves ’ in a fight. HOW THE MINERALS ACT. Calcium salts make possible the coagulation of the blood, and also are necessary for contraction of the heart, as well as the muscles. Sodium and potassium salts are necessary for the relaxation of the heart. Iron is necessary in the blood to enable it to nourish the tissues properly. Phosphorus is essential to every cell of the body. The various mineral salts regulate secretion and excretion of the various g’.ands of the body. The proper balance of the mineral content of the various body fluids is maintained. Minerals control the growth of solid tissue and the repair of injured organs. Mineral salts in proper amounts assist with growtli and development, particularly of tbe skeleton, as well as maintaining the vitality of the body. Young birds require greater quantities of mineral salts than mature birds. Calcium and phosphorus are supplied by ground shells, bonemeal, and by the legumes, such as alfalfa and clover. Sulphur comes from the proteins which are abundantly supplied to the growing bird. In selecting a ration for the growing bird, those feeds rich in calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium should be chosen, which, with the rich protein feeds, will go a long way toward maintaining a high mineral ballanco which is necessary for poultry. THE SILKY. The Silky is a native of India and China. It is a small bird, the cock not exceeding 41b in weight and the hen 2Jlb. The comb, wattles, and the skin of the body throughout arc bluish purple, the ear lobes being turquoise blue, and the legs blue-black in colour. The comb is rather small, somewhat resembling a feathered strawberry in shape. There is a crest on the head. In the male this points backwards and is about 2in long, while in the hen it is globular in shape. The wattles of the cock bird are long and pendulous, and small and round in the hen. The back is short, curving upwards from the shoulders, and falling again towards the tail. The latter is short. The legs also are short and well feathered, without being vulture-hocked. The toes should be five in number and well spread out. The plumage is short, fine, and as silky as possible, giving the appearance of hair instead of feathers. Silkies have many merits apart from their peculiar appearance. They are very tame and placid, doing well in a small, limited space. They are unequalled as sitters and mothers. They lay rather small tinted eggs. They are hardy birds, and the young ones are said to be easily reared.