POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 294, 9 November 1934, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”)

From now on there will be in most flocks a noticeable decline in the number of eggs laid, but, of course, a great deal depends on when the birds began to lay. For instance, the decline should not be so marked with pullets which did not begin laying until May or June. With laying hens, in their second year, which began laying fairly early, however, the decline in egg supply before the end of the month may be fairly considerable. And so from now on most poultrykeepers who have large flocks of birds begin their main culling operations. They practise culling more or less all the year round, at least every keen, observant poultryfarmer does; birds which aro not doing their bit are continually being eliminated, and about November or December the chief culling work is carried out. It is only by this means that what is at the best a loss can be reduced as far as is possible. From now until Christmas there will be a fairly active demand for poultry, and it is natural that the culls should go first. Ordinary readers should not misunderstand the word culls. These birds are quite suitable for table poultry, if fattened, but for egg production they have passed their best days, hence they are culls to the poultry farmer. Unless culling is practised fairly drastically every year, owners will sooner or later find themselves possessing anything but profitable flocks. If trapnests are not used, every poultrykeeper with large numbers of birds should have the necessary training so that he may discern by a glance which are tlie birds to keep and which to discard. Averages below 200 eggs now are on the border line between profit and loss and will continue so until food prices fall, of which there is no sign yet. Training is necessary in order for a breeder to become skilled in culling. The eye and the head are the best guides to follow. Weak looking beads and a pale eye are sure signs of degeneracy. Rarely will such specimens be allowed to remain in a flock where laying birds only are wanted. Some writers who study the eye carefully tell us that blindness in fowls is a sure sympton of chronic coecidiosis, paralysis and infestation with worms. If birds so affected are allowed to remain in the flock there is grave danger of the trouble passing through all of the birds and doing untold harm. Every bird with weakness in eye or head should be culled. The same applies to the overfat bird, or that lacking in size, with little or no indication of at least ordinary stamina. Finally, by handling each bird carefully, the poultryman will be able to determine if his rough calculations were correct. The hope of the poultry industry, “Optimum” in Farmer says, is to follow Australia’s example and export more and more eggs to Great Britain during our flush season. He adds: The campaign at Home against the enormous imports of eggs may seem rather alarming, but when the matter is studied it is found that it is particu - larly the import of eggs during their own flush season to which British poultry farmers very naturally object. It is, indeed, to countries in the Northern Hemisphere they refer. Britain is not likely to over-supply herself in the autumn and winter when our eggs are timed to arrive.

EGG-LAYING.

MASSEY COLLEGE CONTEST.

The following aro the results of the thirty-second week of tlie Massey College egg-laying contest:— SINGLE PENS. Section A.

J. A. Annan, W.L (5) 153 C. H. Barker, W.L 1 (5) 128 2 (4) 109 W. H. Barker, W.L., 1 (0) 92 2 (6) 103 3 (5) 132 Mrs R. R. Cannon, W.L. . (5) 179x Emery Bros., W.L (5) 128 E. M. Galvin, W.L 1 (0) 88d 2 (4) 121 3 (0) 58d H. Hutchinson, W.L (5) 143 G. W. L. King, W.L. ... (6) 124 A. G. Mumby, W.L 1 (5) 153 2 (5) 133 h (0) 18(1 4 (6) 162 H. Moreland, W.L (3) 115 W. J. McAloon, W.L (6) 98 A. J. Shailer, W.L (4) 128 li. Williams, W.L 1 (5) 144x 2 (5) 121x Whenuapai P.F., W.L. ... Mrs E. Youngson, Bk. L. . 1 (6) 163 (4) 87 2 (5) 132 D. Kruse, Anc 1 (2) 108 2 (5) 106 F. Lang, Anc 1 (6) 108 2 (5) 119 J. Smith, Anc 1 (2) 139 2 (4) 158 H. Williams, W.L 3 (6) 141 A. Strawbridge, W.L (5) 149 A. R. Watson, Br. L (5) 128 Section B. Miss E. T. Sorncr, R.I.R. . (7) 78 K. Mouldcy, R.I.R (5) 85 W. A. Larsen, B.0 3 (5) 97 T. Dowthwaito, W.W 3 (5) 137 W. A. Larsen, B.0 1 (5) 136x 2 (6) 155 Mrs Waddell, B.0 (7) 144x T. Dowthwaito, W.W 1 (4) 69 2 (2) 135 TEAM RESULTS. Section C. S. D, Morris, W.L. 119 155 49d 129 148 171 (29) 771 A. J. Davey, W.L. 144 120 138 139 104 121 (24) 766 C. W. L. King, W.L. 109 143 128 99 105 146 (35) 730 J. Graham, W.L. 121x 109x 119 108 109x 131 (29) 697 Mrs D. A. Slewart. W.L. 115 70 136x 92 141x 131x (27) 685 Mrs Geo. Hillman. W.L. 152 116 138 121 30 126 (21) 683 H. Poison. W.L. 124 69 lllx 120 126 132 (19) 682 Emery Bros., W.L. 72d 137 154 79 92 140 (22) 674 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. 145 156 9x 126x 118 116x (23) 670 M. Stephenson, W.L. 87 66 147 102 117 140 (31) 659 P. B. Harrison. W.L. 147 78 114 94 127 94 (29) 654 H. A. Lucas, W.L. 116 94 60 141 57 113 (26) 581 A. Strawbridge, W.L. 93 113 115 19d 106 123 (27) 569 E. B. Wainscott, W.L. 105 60 58 86 96 151 (26) 556 E. D. Wilkinson, W.L. 94 103 78 98 100 82 (30) 555 W. N. Laws. W.L. 98 99 82 66 73 111 (25) 529 J. Smith, Anc. 89 71 88 24 102 78 (22) 452 F. Lang, Anc. 79 91 5lx 53 62 34x (25) 370 Section D. Miss E. T. Somer. R.I.R. 149 173 165 70 170x 113 (26) 840 F A. Dewhurst, R.I.R. 100 12Gx 82 145 147 186 (32) 780 W A. Larsen, B.O. 96 182 56 144x 155 68d (26) 701 W E. Jones. R.I.R. 108 129 35d 136 128 109x (26) 645 “x” Disqualified egg weight clause. “d” Bird dead.