POULTRY PARS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 5 August 1933, Page 2

POULTRY PARS.

By M. Watson Stewart, Massey College. BROWN LEGHORNS This is one of the varieties that were perhaps more popular when they first came out from England, than they are now, but still one of the very best egglayers bred and quite a number arc to be seen on the stations of South Hawke’s Bay. They are still bred in their place of origin—around the Leghorn district of Italy and arc there considered superior to the Whites. These birds undoubtedly carry 1 the faculty for highest possible egg production but, not having been bred so universally for the purpose, they, like the Blacks, have not the uniformity of laying capacity of the Whites. There are, as too often happens, two rather different types, classed us exhibition and utility, varying chiefly in size. The plumage colouring is gay and attractive and if novices are breeding them, they are as well to note the correct type to breed to. Utility hens arc -lib to 4tlbs.; exhibition birds are lib heavier. ,

According to the standard, the body should be wedge-shaped, wide at the shoulders and narrow!itg somewhat, towards the tail; the back long, and breast round aud prominent; wings are large, but well tucked up; the tail carried at 45 degrees in the male bird and a little loss high in the female. The. shanks should be fairly long and of a bright yellow colour, although this, of course, fades with heavy laying. The head should denote fineness in all points without, being weak; the beak fairly stout and coining beyond the front of the comb. In the male the comb must be perfectly erect, not too heavy and having deep serai ions, the five points being broad at their base. It should extend well beyond the back of the head, following, without, touching, the line of the head.

The plumage of the Brown Leghorn cockerel should have neck hackle rich orange red, striped with black, crimson red at front below his wattles; blade shoulder-coverts, and wing-bow deep crimson red; wing-coverts steel blue with green sheen; flight feathers brown and bay with black which does not show when the wing is dosed. The saddle is rich orange red and may have a few black stripes; breast, glossy black without brown feathers; tail, black with green sheen, any white being quite wrong. Compared with this brilliance, the hen seems sombre. The rather dark and vorv tight feathering gives a false impression of small size. Her hackles should be gold striped black; breast, salmon red, darker round head and wattles and ash grey on the thighs; body colour rich brown, stippled finely with black; tail black, the outer feathers pencilled brown. There is no doubt that the Brown Leghorn lias been utilised in the makeup of several of the newer breeds —the Rhode Island Red and the Wclsummo* in particular—and have assisted witn their capacity for egg production. It was a Brown Leghorn which won the single pen laying contest here last year. Hover Brooder. For the poultry-keeper who wishes to raise bigger units than are practicable with broody hens and is yet not in a very large way, there is little doubt that the portable style of brooder with a metal canopy, to be placed inside a laying shed, fills his requirements most adequately. Since these were first used, twelve years or more ago, there has been the ’ need for a type that are easily kept clean, can be regulated according to the weather and the age of the chicks, and is, of course, economical. Although improvements come along each year, it is doubtful if the perfect one has yet been found but our hope naturally lies in the use of "electricity. The coalburning typo are fairly suitable for very large units but are apt to respond all too readily to change of weather conditions, burning up too much if the wind is high or changes to the front of the shed, and going cold if the wind drops unexpectedly. Oil burners usually need cleaning every day, which at the height of the season creates a big task. So far the main disadvantage of electric brooders, us with electric incubators, is the necessity of storage batteries in case the current be, cut off for long enough to chill eggs or chicks. A new type is on the market this season, heated by means of a composition plate which holds the heat considerably longer than any ordinary element. The canopy is also well insulated and' has a special inter-lining at the apex, with an inverted cone of copper underneath, to deflect the heat on to tin? chicks. The'hover is fitted with a tiny “pilot” light to attract the chicks beneath the hover as the element gives no light at all of its own. The only remaining qualification for such a clean and simply run machine is that of economy and it is very doubtful iif, at present, the new type will be able to compete with oil burners in this respect. It remains to bo tried. Don’ts For Hatching. Don’t put “any” eggs for hatching, either for selling or for your own incubation. It is no use hatching chicks that have to be culled, either as dayolds. growing stock or pullets. There is enough of that necessary with the best selection. Breed well in the first place and so economise later in the wear. Then select every egg. You will find your reputation suffers badly from supplving settings uneven in size, colour or shell-texture. Don't set a broody hen until she has been tried out in the nest she is to sit. in. for at least 24 hours. Don’t set her until she has been well dusted, for lice, i with flowers of sulphur and given a good feed, for she has probably been starving herself in, the laying house. Don't set her'in the hen house, but make a special box ready with damp

sand and hay, away from any other birds or from where people pass often. She is better controlled if confined and taken off for a short time each day. Don’t put the eggs in the incubator until it has been levelled and the temperature running even, at something near 102 degrees for a day or so. Lay the eggs in the trays on their side, the broad end very slightly higher than the other. Mark either side of each egg so that you know when it is turned completely over. Don’t cither turn the eggs or feed the broody at any odd time. It is bad in itself and they may be forgotten unless a special time is kept. Broodies readily foul the nest if they are only an hour late coming off.