THE POULTRY WORLD

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 20 June 1931, Page 14

THE POULTRY WORLD

COMPETITIVE EGG CLASSES APATHY OF EXHIBITORS i (By “Tight Feather.”) Mr W. Scott, speaking at the poultry fanciers’ dinner last week in New Plymouth, was not far wrong when he" expressed the opinion there should be at least 40 or 50 plates of eggs in the competitive class instead of only six, nob one of which was exhibited by a fancier. Air Scott opined that poultry fanciers should consider the ■business end of poultry farming more and should take steps to place their products before the public. Strange as it may seem, the New Plymouth Poultry Show is not alone in the lack of entries in the competitive egg classes. This writer has attended many shows’ in the past 30 years, and it- is safe to say that this is one of the classes that has not increased in the numbers entered. In fact, it is doubtful if there are not less entries than formerly. This may be accounted for by the fact that, i while the average liens in the Dominion lay a great many more eggs per bird than birds of 30 years ago. the avearge size of egg is very much less. And while eggs, large and small, are sold at the same price per dozen, the producer is not likely to lose much sleep in studying how to increase the size of his eggs as well as the numbers. If eggs were sold by weight there would soon be an increase in the size, whether the producer be of the fancy or utility order. It behoves every poultry-raiser, whether of utility stock or the fancy, when mating up his breeding pens to consider increasing the size of egg laid as well as numbers. That this can he done the writer has proved. As is well known, the Silver Wyandotte is included among the breeds which are known as layers of rather small eggs. However, by careful selection of both male and females in the breeding pens over a oeriod of two years, we were enabled to give a guarantee with all settings sold that no egg would be included weighing under two and one-eighth •ounces, the majority turning the scales at two and a quarter ounces. All hens sold for breeding purposes carried a guarantee not to lay eggs weighing less than two and a Quarter ounces. Tlie same system of selection was used successfully with the following breeds: AVhito Leghorns, Silver Wyandottos, Black Orpingtons, Sicilian Buttercups and Rhode Island Reds. ;

The following was our method: The millets were handed with numbered 'egbands and trao-nested. All pullets which laid under the standard size set for eggs, misshaped, or thin shelled were removed from the pens as soon as proven. Toward the latter end of the laying period, before the moult, all eggs were weighed and tested for colour, shape and soundness af shell. Only hens conforming closely to type and of sound constitution were reserved to breed from. Mostlv second and third season hens found their way into the breeding pens, which were headed by strong and vigorous cockerels selected for certain fixed characteristics. First his mother had to ho a proven good layer of large size and good-shaped eggs. He himself had to he an extra, good specimen of. his breed, type and of sound constitution. Anv poultry raiser who breeds along these lines will soon evolve a strain of fowls which will stand criticism from the best judges. . A Taranaki farmer has a good little lock of American Leghorns with which be. has had every satisfaction, both Tom the number of eggs laid and also size. He also has a cockerel of the modern English utility type, the mother r of which is a proven prolific 'flyer,.. The farmer wishes to increase he size of his leghorns generally, hut I bis birds have laid so well he is loth L o part with them and introduce a bigger strain of Leghorn. “Tight leather” has been requested to advise f it is safe to mate the English utility cocker-el to increase the size and what vi 11 the progeny he like. As the same , problem is likely to beset other poul- j ’ i-y raisers, the writer will give his I -pinion through this column. j It is an understood rule in breedng that. as a general rule, as far as size is concerned, the sons take after ■he mother, and the daughters take after the father, so that following this! •■ule the pullets from the mating will probably he larger in size than the present flock, while the . cockerels will be inclined to the .small side. It need scal'd y lie pointed out that tlie White Leghorns who were early laying roninetition winners mostlv 'conformed to “he American type. Of course, if an English type of Leghorn is mated to American Leghorns, the resultant progeny will he neither one standard nor the other. However, if eggs and size are the only tilings that count, nothing else matters other than that the fowls remain pure.

A correspondent writes from Manawatu: “Concerning your remarks in reference to stoats climbing trees, I recollect that one morning when we shot four stoats we found SO dead millets at the foot of the trees. Stoats can climb like cats.” My correspodent some years ago was manager on what was without doubt a model poultry farm in the Manawatu district.