POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1179, 29 November 1924, Page 11

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) ‘‘l think,” says a writer in thq New Zealand Dairyman, “tho present timo is opportune to put to death another little fancy or chimera connected with poultry keeping. Not only is it impossible to fore- - toll fertility, but tho question is often raised as to foretelling the sex of a chick which any given egg will produce. This is another impossibility, and for this reason: During tho first few days that an egg is developing into a chick, it contains within itself the reproductive organa in duplicate, and until the process of incubation is pretty well advanced both sets of organs are present, and then one set dies away. As the other set grows more prominent, so that you may dispose of the idea that it is actually possible,to tell the sex of the chick any given egg will produce.’ There are not a few people who still believe it possible to tell tho sex of eggs intended for incubation, and it is most amusing to watch how carefully they seek to hide from you their supposed reusons for saying a certain egg contains a male or female embryo. In not a few cases these very knowing people have forecasted tliut the eggs would produce chicks of a cerUun sex, and events have afterwards shown that the eggs were infertile. I think, ing' to the Dairyman we have scientific though, most of us are agreed, and accordproof that sex is not discernible before incubation. and perhups not until the process lias reached a fairly well advanced stage. Tho element of luck in the productions of pullets still plays and will, it is thought, continue to play a very important part. A week or so ago reference was made to the Scots Dumpy fowl. There are several poultrymen (not Scotchmen) who have not heard of these. The following cutting from a recent Weekly Scotsman should be of interest: —“The Scots Dumpy is perhaps the oldest of our Scottish breeds, and may justly claim to bo the national fowl of Scotland. It was known in Scotland when the Romans made their invasion north of the Caledonian Canal. Its origin is shrouded in uncertainty, but there is little doubt that it existed before the time Scots Grey made its appearance. In the remote Highlands it was weli known and existed in the pure state right up to modern times. Dumpies were used in the days of the ancient Celts as “tyme cocks,” the natives amusing themselves at cock crow. Short legged birds were preferred, because in tho time of (hreatened attack from neighbouring factions the cocks were put under creels or creenies.so that they might : ot crow, for in doing so they would lead the attackers to the sleeping hamlets. On account of this they were named “creepers,” whilst they have also, because of their peculiar stature and gait, boon known as “Golaughs, Babies, Slumping.