Poultry Notes

Hutt News, Volume 10, Issue 21, 28 October 1936, Page 1

Poultry Notes

(By "iSilkie.") LANOSHANS. This is one of the few original pure breads. They are known in some quarters as Croad Langshans ibceause in 1872 Major Croad imported them into England from China. In spite of un\yaranted opposition and unfounded statements .detrimental "to 'the .breed that it was a Black Cochin, they rapidly found ■ favour, wnich they justly merited. • . In Australia they are known as Chinese Langshans because they were introduced dircct from China. Judicious breeding has developed there a distinct type that is putting 1 up some good records at egg-laying contests. In the 1033-31 test at Hawkesbury a hen laid 310 eggs in 305 days whilst the average of some flocks runs albout 210 eggs in the pullets' lirst year. Their line carriage wad ibeautiful plumage make them particularly well equipped for show purposes. The Langshaii is a component of the popular utility Black .Orpington or , Australonp, in .fact the only difference in some types of Australorp is that the Laugshan is feathered 011 shanks luvi toe. Size is of lirst-class importance. The Langshau is a big fowl. It may be said that size is one part of type. The difficulty is to get the true Langshan shape with great size. On my last visit to Wallaceville a few months ago I noticcd some splendid specimens in cockerels and pullets raised from eggs i niported from IJawkesbury, Australia. Apparently the Agricultural Department is experimenting with 'this breed now that they have gone out of Minorcas. Anyone desirous of taking up this breed will find it a source of pleasure and profit. As a layer it is good, producing a nice large deep brown egg, and as a talble fowl, taken 1 all round, there is nothing better. j: V ; GENERAL NOTES. A very large single comb is not desirable from a physical point of view, and makes too much demand 011 a fowl's system without any compensating advantage. That is why it is desirable tc» dubb cocks that arc being used as (breeders for a second season.

When you are culling out unprofitable stock from your flock, do not forget the hen that starts laying Jatc. Besides phosphorus, the yolk c*f an egg contains iron, calcium awdi magnesium. So easily is the iron used' by the body that egg' yolk is considered an important source of irom in the diet, especially for 'infants and invalids. If you hatch & hundred chielcs calculate on rearing .from these forty pullets. If it is necessary to cut a hen's wing to keep her within bound's don't hack at it and. disfigure the bird. It is quite sufficient to cut the flight feathers on the outer joint of one .wing only.

RUBBER-SHELLED EGGS

A report from California credits Sir, Herman. Ivrumland with the discovery o,f a diet, which produces' rubber-shelled eggs, says "Poultry" (Eng.). Some yeai's ago Mr. .ivrumland toughened the inner skins of his hens' eggs by specialised diets. So lies started experiments with-a view to substituting ingredients of a rubber plant for the lime in eggshells, and thus producing a resilient shell . He began feeding' hens on the seeds' and chopped leaves of the Mexican rubber plant, and the liens, without showing any signs cif harm, produced eggs which Mr. Kruniland claims were almost flexible. They could ibe squeezed! out of shape without breaking. Although lie 'does not hope to produce a bouncing* egg, this poultryfanner wants to develop an egg that can be packed in flexible cartons, and travel without the usual breakages. RID YOUR FOWLS OF LICE. Creosote as a spray ot a- paint for roosts has a lasting effect respecting red niito and lice and is preferred to black leaf4o, ibeing much cheaper. Sump oil two parts, sheep *lip one part,-is also very effective as- -a spray or paint and cheaper than ercosote. Lear® to value advice when', coming from a good source. These notes are prepared Iby a (practical p»oultiy-keeper who gives of his experience extending over a lengthy period of tim<?^ " 'h ' SEPARATE THE; SEX'ES.

It is best" for the 'growth, of both cc'akerels and pullets that -th'cvy bo sepiiratdd..early in Jifcj—say, at eight or niixe weeks of age.