POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 245, 13 September 1935, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) A new breed has made its appearance in England, introduced from across the Channel by Lord Greemvay. It is known as the “Maran.” As far as can be learned, these birds are dualpurpose; they lay a large brown egg and have a good sized carcase; the cock bird usually weighs anything up to 811), with tiio lien averaging 71b. There are two colours, known as the dark and silver cuckoo. Now that the Barneveders and Welsummer breeds have found their way here, in all probability in time we shall see yet another in the Maran. Why turkeys should ho considered so hard to rear is puzzling to many. Surely the climate of New Zealand cannot he thought too severe. In England and in many much colder countries the bird is bred and reared with ease; indeed, in England there is no more popular bird for table use on festive occasions than the turkey, and were it not that the breed is so big it would he generally a favourite. It seems we can assume that the reason turkeys are not extensively bred in New Zealand is that their culture Is not well understood. What is perhaps needed most is absolutely fresh clean foraging ground. Long wet grass is very harmful to their well being. A large roomy house, allowing for the admittance of plenty of fresh air, is essential. Strange to say, the crop of the turkey is exceedingly small and, being a big bird, it follows that it should be fed often, frequency being more important than quantity. The birds should have plenty of liberty and must not be herded with poultry in a yard or restricted space. As with all birds, insect pests are a menace and should he kept under. The prices for these birds sometimes offered and accepted should not he taken as an indication of the true value. It would seem that either the public do not understand values or are unacquainted with the true worth of the _ birds. Rearers should try tie make tliei r_ own market and in time buyers will know the value they are getting. It has been stated that a starling under observation visited its young with food ten to twenty times an hour during the seventeen hours of its day. One day’s food included 269 injurious grubs or insects, four beneficial insects and 14 sings and snails. In 18 minutes 18 caterpillars of injurious moths and four wireworms were brought. If one starling -can be of such sen ice to the farmer or horticulturist of what service can a large number of fowls be to the orchardist as they forage about destroying many of the pests which infest the ground? Fruit-growing and poultry-keeping are indeed an ideal combination for an outdoor occupation It has been stated that the early slump in egg prices is largely caused by the operation of tlm new chilling regulations now in force. In the past, when prices were falling rapidly, large quantities of eggs were placed in cool store, to he sold later, as fresh eggs, when better prices obtained. The chilling regulations do not now permit of this being done, as the eggs on return from the chiller to the market before sale must he market “chilled.” Thus it is found that buyers who would have relieved the market to some extent by taking eggs and placing them in the chiller are not operating and, temporarily, the market being glutted, prices cannot otherwise he anything but low. It would seem, the industry is faced with a situation over which it has apparently no prepared scheme of control. It can do little to prevent the ruinous prices now obtaining. Until the industry is prepared to grapple with such situations so long will poultrymen stand to lose.

EGG-LAYING. MASSEY COLLEGE CONTEST. The following are the 24tli week s results for the fifth annual egg-laying contest conducted at Massey Agricultural Col lege, Palmerston North: — SINGLE PENS.

Section B. T. Dowthwaito, B.O 3 7 138 1 6 130 W. A. Larsen,' B.O. 1 6 115 K. iJansen, 13.0 5 11.6 Mrs D. M. Waildell. L.S. 6 113 V. J. Billington, B.O. ... 6 104 j\liss E. T. Sonicr, R.I.R. 3 6 98 T. Dbwthwaite, B.O. — ; . 2 4 97 W. A. Larsen, 13.0. 2 2 94 Miss E. Sonicr, R.I.R. 2 7 77 1 7 75 K. Mouldey, R.I.R. 1 59 E. Seymour, J3.U 2 35 Section A. II. Poison, W.L 2 6 134 II. Moreland, W.L 5 127 Whenuapai l’.K.. W.L. ... 6 126 T. Hazelwood, W.L. . . 2 5 120 A. J. Hudson, W.L 6 119 A. G. Mumb.y, W.L 2 6 117 11. Poison. W.L 1 5 117 A. G. Mumby, W.L 1 5 111 J. A. Annan, W.L 6 109 F. Lang, Am: 2 5 108 Miss E. Ladd, W.L 6 105r A. J. Davcy, W.L 2 5 104 E. B. Wainseott, W.L. ... 4 98 .1. Reilly, W.L 5 96 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. ... 1 4 93 II. Poison, W.L 3 5 93 F. Lang, Ane 1 5 92 A. G. Mutnbv, W.L 4.6 90 A. J. Davcy, W.L 1 5 69 Emery Bros., W.L 2 0 63 . A. G. Mumby. W.L 3 3 61 Emery Bros., W.L TEAM RESULTS. 1 3 53 Section D. R II. Morrison, B.O. 102 100 112 89 122 86 (291—611 Mrs R. Willers. B.O. 126 104 105 69 107 98 (34)—609 J. B. Dutliie. R.I.R. 66 95 123 85 78 86 (19)—533 F. A. Dow hurst, R.1.11. 114 76 103 98 68 68 (26)—527 M. L. Boyce, B.O. 120 47r 106 44 111 55 (13)—483 W. A. Larsen. B.O. 77 54 103 71 64 89 (29)—458 G. A. Edge, R.I.R. 65 42 79 94 95 76 (23)—451 Mrs N. H. Short, B.O 27r 52 67 87r 109 97 (31)—439 W. E. Jones. R.I.R. o, 84 74 33 54d 69 (26)—371 A. Wood, Lang. 78 47r 80 46 68 51 (20)—370 Section C. M. Stephenson, W.L. 82 107 64r 117 114 99 (33)—583 A. J. Davey, W.L. 82 122 88 117 96 76 (34)—581 S. D. Morris, W.L. 93 74 82 124 121 75 (29)-569 H. A. Lucas. W.L. 101 90 95 108 79 55 (26)—528 E. B. Wainseott, W.L. 74 91 94 61 117 83 (32)—520 Miss H. Keddell, W.L. 66 122 53 89 67 .13 (31)—510 Mrs M. L. Williams, W.L. 63 56 101 68 77 .14 (19)—479 Miss Moresluad, W.L. 39 60 118 98 112 41 (29)—463 C. J. Hubbard. No. 1, W.L. 94 54 83 70 94 64 (29)—459 H. Poison. No. 2. W.L. 101 106 72 103 48 28 (31)—458 J. Graham. W.L. 109 4 4 5 7 80 43 81 (29)—414 C. J. Hubbard. No. 2. W.L. 78 128 64 26 60 58 (27)—414 J. T. Hazelwood, W.L. 123 97 52r 26 61 33 \ 18) — ovd Mrs R. R. Gannon, W.L. 51 34 50 75 49 56r (24)— 315 II. Poison. No. 1, W.L. 41 21 34 55 61 76 (25) —288 ‘ V' —R c p i ace i n e n t. : ‘d ’ ’ —B i rd dead.