THE POULTRY YARD.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 May 1919, Page 1

THE POULTRY YARD.

.VOTES FOR XOVICES. Fowls that are kept year after year in small yards are apt to lose their vitality, which means fewer eggs and fewer chickens hatched. A\ hen you think yours arc becoming stale, it is good biisintss to obtain new blood from another breeder who is able to give his fowls a free wide run. The hardy outdoor conditions make for vigorous health.

Don't forget that greenstuff gives a rich colour "to> the yolk and increases tiie keeping quality of the eggs. Jts free use also means larger eggs. H«o man who has a big patch of lucerne is all right because with the use of this green food be gets more eggs, larger eggs, and eggs that keep Well. And a big thing when the prices of bran, pollard. etc., are high—he can make half his feeding consist of lucvrne, ami so do it cheaply. Cut the spurs of breeding birds. They were all right when the fowls were wild and wanted them for defence or attack. The domesticatbd birds do not need these spurs, which are now really ill the way. AVhen catching the birds, unless sireat care is exercised, the hands are very liable to get scratched, which may mean blood poisoning or lockjaw, both of which diseases have been caused by dirty spurs. The spurs should be sawn off half an inch from the shank and the cut- rounded olf with a hot poker in order to close it up against germ infection. Thvy will not grow and the bird will be better without it.

The fowl is a scratching animal, so let it scratch. If the run is free they will look after themselves. If confined they should be loose litter to kick about. Its use will give stronger birds, more eggs, greater fertility, and stronger chicks. A BREEDER'S OBSERVATIONS. ALr ft. l.egev. the well-known poultry breeder of Weraroa, supplies the following interesting note: iSome fifteen vcars ago, when egg-farming began to boom in New Zealand, and up till quite recently it was thought—and the illusion still lingers—that all that was required to increase egg production and keep it increasing till the cows camfe home (and after), was just to pick the highest producers and males therefrom, and by scientifically inbreeding, the problem was solved. Experience showed me that the claim was quite sound, up to a certain point. That is, for a few generations, everything wentf'along according to specifications. Further experience gav\j me convincing proofs— and I pointed out then to the arm chair theorists—what has gradually come to >bo recognised as a fact—that in spite of concentrated fast producing qualities in the stock, if there is no corresponding stamina or great vitality (some call it "grit" of "ginger") there is no result ; consequently strength is a chief ingredient 111 egg production ►Strength must therefore be maintained at all costs. Now, in too close and. continued, even if scientific, in-breeding, with '"egg" ends in view, we are burning the candle at both ends so to speak, or sort of expecting a hard-working dog to prosper and grow fat by chewing its own tail. In spite of man's science and cunning. Nature is not tfv be coerced beyond certain well-defined limits. Herbert iSpencvr says: "Nature is a strict accountant; and if you demand of her in one direction more than she is prepared to lay out. slie balances the account by making a deduction elsewhere."' In this case NatiuV will make a deduction from the bird's vitality first and through that, next from your pocket. The moral is: increase production through selection only to the extent that it does not impair vitality. To maintain the vital force pari pas.su with heavy production do only a limited amount of inbreeding. Heavy culling is necessary. Throw the exceptional vitality of a rare specimen constantly on " to the whole. Avoid the "near-enougli" policy. Breeding stock require ample loom, cleanliness, sunlight, pure air, the best of foods and exercise, and only mature stock must be bred from, doling stock must be reared free Irani checks in clean and suitable surroundings. Finally use all the brains available in your work.

T,HL VI I.I.AGK EGG FARM. After a short residence in the Otaki district. Mr H. I.egor, the well-knoWn poultry breeder, and proprietor of tho Village Egg Farm, has returned and takei? uj) iiis quarters iu AVeraroa again and is quickly getting the farm in order for the approaching breeding season. A "C hronicle" representative was shown over the farm a few days ago. Mr Leger stated that his main flock of breeding hens, which were looking in splendid order, were bred from his lamous Leghorn strain and were from two to four vears old. The flock had been severely'culled audi the remainder were an exceptfosally good lot of sound reliable birds. .They were already giving a good egg vield. One of the aristocrats of the'farm is a cock imported from the .South Australian breeder. Brooks of Clarendon. The Australian is a handsome fellow and was one of the best bred birds rai.'leil by Brooks three veal's ago. Some ol his stock was on view and a pen of eight pullets were a particularly fine lot. being bred from the best of the I.oger hens. There was also a pen of cockerels, which Avere spleiulidlv developed lor eight months birds. It is M,r Kegel's; intention to further dovolop lii»s fttiul stork .by tlii.s introduction of the Brooks strain and he is looking for good results. A teator.. of the owner's activities is chit'k rrtisin°\ ;incl> so Successful i.s J»o tu;\t. aithough his hatchings per year reach 4000 to 0000. bis orders always exceed Hi is bv at least 20(H). though he works his plant o the limit. This year the ,Kcrg Farm will carry 011 as usual and a Iron civ a number of orders are on the books. As' egg producers I.c"t»r s lie'-ilionus hav<* a noteworthy ieTord to their credit. This was gained in the Papanui (Cliristchurch) Egg-la>-in" Competition a few rears ago. I lie competition was ;v two-year one and six pullets laid over 3Ulbs weight o egas, ;i world's record. Moreover each hiia averaged 2161 eggs during the first Vnionths. The Leger entry was also first in the 151U5 competition at nlonlieim with an average of ——(ii eggs tor each of the six hens-