POULTRY NOTES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 420, 10 June 1922, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES.

(By “ Brooder.”) “There’s plenty of time yet,” said a competitor with hens in the egg-laying competition tit present, being held under the auspices of the Railway Poultry Club. His birds have not so far done well, but ho certainly knows that they will before the competition is much further advanced. ■ True, it is often found in those events that, ' it is not the bird which goes straight to business which always finishes on top. Sometimes it happens that from some cause, probably change of quarters, food, or tho like, that a bird is temporarily stopped from laying. Fowls are very easily upset and susceptible to changes, and the probability is that some ot tho birds in this ; contest, have not yet got into their stride. W. 11, West's Leghorn, in the Papartui test which concluded on March 31, did not come into profit Until 10 days after the start of the competition, and it finished with 330 eggs for 51 weeks, which most poultrymeu will admit is pretty good going. The competition locally lias now been goftg four | weeks it is true, but there is still time I for most birds to put up a decent showing. I “Some may say what does it matter? ( If our whites and blacks produce the goods why should we bother about their pleasing ' the eye, or filling the hill of u fancy or exhibition man? We want eggs, not shape, style, or feather. So far so good. But ' why should a first-class laying hen not be beautiful? Site assuredly cannot be any : worse for being true to tyi>e. whilst she certainly will please the eye us well us the pocket, and tints yield Iter owner pleasure 1 in addition to substantial profit.” So says ! .Mr C. A. House, the noted poultry judge : and journalist, who is to visit Palmerston North in the near future. The Railway Club are to he congratulated lor their enter--1 prise in securing an engagement. from this ! eminent English poultry authority. Showtime is almost with us and report has it that competition lor honours ' amongst poultrymeu ibis year is very keen. !Mr Li. Ambler, a noted New Zealand puilltiymun and judge, says that ‘ during the war there was an idea that the quality ' of uttr poultry would suffer, hut the reverse i was really the case, so that to day we have a stock in the Dominion equal to pre-war days, in both quality ami numbers.” There ' is no doubt that this writer knows what he I is talking about and ample evidence will be forthcoming in the number and quahlv of exhibits which promise to come ‘forward. | Intending exhibitors should now be carefully preparing their birds to please the 1 judges and if possible win the prizes offered. Remember that much depends upon the 1 general appearance of your birds. Make | them so thin they will catch the eye and appeal to the critics. Real good birds may I gain little more than a passing glance bej cause thev have not been properly pic- ! pared, and because their condition is such that a judge will consider u a waste of I lime to examine them closer. Granted, soup and water and any amount of sprucing Tip will not make a had bird a good one, but it makes a poor bird a better 0,10 'I 1 1 appearance, and a real good bird is world Mhis extra attention; besides, your pride 'on it will grow as you polish it and make !it more beautiful. As stated, votir chances lof success depend very largely upon tins j important point of “general appearance in ) P ‘d‘o fowls need a tonic? Of course they do. Often birds become mopish and perhaps lazy and thev need something to tone 'them up again. One of the simplest and i most natural tonics-thai is where .there I is nothing radically wrong with the bn os lis to be found in the ordinary onion. Hus lean he cut up small and placed m the masn. 1 But vou should he careful not to overdo tt, otherwise vou may line! that ilio l tho flavour. One of tho best remedies ■ known, however, is sulphate ot, iron, and • particularly if there are complications ot ■ diarrhoea. Ten ounces to the gallon of f water is recommended and has often done I wonders, 1 With ihe approach of the breeding season. 1 that is, for those who intend having very 1 early hatches, more and more attention 1 should he given to the breeders. Hie male bird should now he responding to carotid i ~reparation. His spirit is perhaps more than ■ anything your chief guide as to Ins Illness, i The moment vou notice that he scut lies out of the wav' when you appear, or hangs his tail feathers a hit. or looks down m ' tho mouth you may know things me imi I j-j.rhi with him. True, it »nm always , pleasant io have 61b of infuriated coe.iorel i {,,,,1 itself at your face the. moment you ■ walk info the run. but-there is always comfort to he found in the fact that you fed 1 you are feeding him rigid and..ns a result, - xonr chicks should also he fill of vigour ' Lack of vigour m a male bird is a fatal fault, and ihe bird should certainly not he nsed. Feed him wisely ami well, and ; sooner or later he should respond io He . treatment. If after he is mated you fi ‘ thin he is ton good to his nutis am • neglects himself, take him from the 1"’“ < daily and see that he gem np - nourishment. A larger number of lutiki ’ eggs should be forthcoming.