POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 256, 26 September 1940, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”)

The breeding season advances. Soon tho incubators will ceiase work and the rearing of the chickens hatched wiil be the chief aim of all producers. September is usually regarded as the month of the backyard poultrykeeper; that is, the poultrykeeper who has no facilitjes, or few, tor chicken rearing. He it is who has to depend upon the mother hen for the few chickens he requires. Like most people, lie wants to rear pullets which will yield eggs in the winter, when eggs are dear, and thus he cannot go L>eyond early October if ho is to have winter layers. Unfortunately for many, broody fowls have not been very plentiful this year; at least not many have been ottered, for sale. Many people, however, have tried chicken rearing, buying day-old chicks and brooding them with varying success. A few simple rules must be followed, of course, but there is no reason why anyone without the popular broody hen should not do the' same. As stated, September is late enough if winter layers are wanted. There is yet time for a clutch. To leaVe it till later means that the ' progeny from the layers or breeders may he more or less weakly. 86 they are always towards the end of the season.

•There have ever been complaints about that much abused breed the Minorca. Says one who is now an enthusiastic owner of such birds: “The sight of Minorcas penned at the show definitely crippled any desire 1 had to take an interest in the breed. The aged males and hens exhibited with their blistered heads and oversized lobes, long sunken wattles and drooping combs, all combined to make the breed appear extremely ugly and altogether unattractive. Now, however, I iiave been introduced to the ideal utility bird, i find that the carefully bred Minorca, where exaggerations or extremes in any respect are avoided, is a type ‘which combines beauty with utility. It is pleasing to the eye and second to none as a producer. It is certainly true that the Minorca is hard to beat; It looks well, and works well if it is treated aright.” If there are more opinions like the above perhaps we shall soon 6ee the last of freaks which appear often in shows.