Notes for the Poultry Keeper

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7486, 9 June 1934, Page 9

Notes for the Poultry Keeper

(J. H. Kissling, Massey College.) EXHIBITION POULTRY Next week tlie Manawatu Poultry Club's poultry show will produce some of tho best fowls iu the country. Entries are slightly higher than last year and those interested in poultry lumping should not miss this opportunity of comparing their birds with those winning in the show. Tho best way of doing this is to exhibit, since only by comparison alongside the winners can a fair idea of quality be gained. The novice can learn much from observation at a poultry show, and tho opportunity of mixing with breeders should nfit be overlooked. Tho judges will always offer advice and criticism, provided they are approached at tho right moment. There is a mistaken idea that, show birds cannot lay eggs, and also that utility birds, such as winners of egg laying contests are not good show birds. In the extremes this idea is correct, in that the perfect show bird is seldom a record layer, but many of birds exhibited will bo of good utility quality and of tho typo preferred for producing good bodied stock for high egg laying strains. Tho breeds are divided.into two classes or sections; the fancy or open classes for straight out show birds with no limit to size and weight, and the utility classes which aro for birds comfonning to the utility standard, and which aro restricted to certain body weights. In some breeds there is no difference between the fancy and utility classes at all. Palmerston North is so happily situated that outries come from all over the North Island with a few from tho South as well and this show can bo classed with tho Christchurch show as one of, if not the leading show in New Zealand. More breeds and varieties are seen at these two show's than any other in New Zealand, and whilst entries in some classes aro not numerous, it is always interesting to see tho less common breeds. Those that aro keenly interested find difficulty in making time to see all the birds, usually concentrating on thoso classes which contain their own breeds. Apart from tho fowls, tho entries in pigeons and cagebirds will command attention, whilst both the cat and rabbit sections show increased entries each year. Preparation of Show Birds. In order to win in the larger classes entries must be well prepared. All white birds must be washed a few days before the show but there is no need to wash coloured fowls. Tho legs and face need cleaning and most important of all the birds must be tame and used to being handled. Tho winning bird is usually one that “talks" to the judge and struts about his pen as if he owned the world. A good head is always an advantage, since it catches the judgo’s eye, and denotes character. Typo and body conformation is most important, since typo makes the breed and all exhibits should be in tho very pink of condition. Faking will disqualify both exhibit and exhibitor, yet commonsense preparation is most desirable. Ono of tho leading breeders and judges in Australia onco mentioned that every effort must bo made to improve your exhibit. Whilst it is faking to pull out a feather, he said one could not be blamed if one held on to a feather and the bird flew awayl In other words, fake if you wish, but never bo caught, and never fake a bird badly so that any suspicion may be aroused. Pemales aro more easily got ready for exhibition than males, and are not inclined to fight so much after the show. Onco familiar with show* routine, prizes aro not so difficult to secure and the novice should make overy attempt to exhibit a few birds each year. There is nothing like first-hand practical advice and most poultrymen arc only too pleased to demonstrate how to prepare a bird. If a visit is made to any of the more prominent breeders early this week, good advice will be forthcoming. Never exhibit a bird which is not in full feather, and many adults aro still recovering from the moult, which restricts selectiou from tho flock. Tho successful exhibitor is one who plans well ahead, and who always has a second string to his bow. A Cheap Show Coop. When training birds for the show, or holding them from ono shew to another, plenty of single pens or coops aro required and a cheap training coop can bo made from a packing case. The minimum sizo would be about 30 inches square and high, but a little larger w r ould be better. Nail slats or netting on the front, leaving about four inches near tho bottom in order to facilitate cleaning out. Keep tho water and feed tin outside the coop, and see that plenty of chaff is spread on the floor. These eases can be placed in rows on a bench, and if a choice between two or three birds is difficult, place them in these coops and judge them with a stick just as they would be judged at the show. Often a bird which appears a good one in the yurd will fail to impress you when placed in a cage. If many birds aro exhibited it pays to purchase half a dozen proper wire cages. A field Day at the College To-morrow tho College poultry plant will be open for inspection and whilst this is not the best time of the year to inspect a poultry farm the birds in the egg laying contest always attract attention. Sunday visits are not encouraged, but on this occasion a party is coming from Wellington and an exception has been made. Unfortunately far too many of the contest pullets went into an autumn moult this year due to the fact that they had been in lay before coming to the contest. Such a moult stops production for from four to ten weeks, but leaves the i>ullct in good condition for a full laying season

ahead, and such pullots usually lay better towards the close of the contest than thoso that started with a rush. As usual tho Black Orpingtons load tho teams, since tho heavy breeds usually lay bettor in the early winter months. The two Ancona teams have suffered a setback, since they had to be penned with White Leghorns and all 12 pullets went into a full moult but will soon be back into lay. Early Chicks. If a broody hen i 3 obtainable it is a good plan to have a few extra early chicks. Hatched in July the pullets will commence laying soon after Christmas, and will lay well through tho early autumn, making good breeders the following spring. Often fertility is not very good early iu tho season, especially with heavy breeds, and if possible two hens should bo set at the same time, giving all the chicks to ono hen if very good hatches aro not obtained. Pullets make good sitters at this time of the year, but they should be well tried out with a few dummy eggs for at least three days. Make certain the •nest will not bo flooded out, and dust tho broody well for body lice. Peed her onco a day on grain only, taking her off at tho same hour each day. EGG LAYING CONTEST 10th. WEEK’S RESULTS Single Pens

Section D. W. A. Larsen, 8.0. 42 54 32 42 34 50 (27) 254 Miss E. T. Somer, R.I.E. 0 38 42 1G 49 5S (33) 212 F. A. Dewhurst, 8.1. E. 0 37 24 20 47 57 (2G) ISS W. E. Jones, E.I.E. 31 32 35 34 30 20 (22) IS2 “x” Disqualified; egg weight clause, “d" Bird dead.

Section A. J. A. Annan, W.L. — (5) UCf 44 C. H. Barker, W.L. 1 (4) 2 (0) 10 W. H. Barker, W.L. 1 (4) oo 2 (3) 31 3 (4) 45 Mrs R. R. Cannon, W.L. — (6) 57 Emery Bros. .AV.L., — (-■1) 40 B. M. Galvin, W.L. 1 (5) 40 • 2 (5) 29 3 (2) 37 H. Hutchinson, W.L. — (5) 45 C. W. L. King, AV.L. (4) 19 A. G. Mumby, W.L. 1 (5) 40 O (5) 36 2 (0) lSd 4 (5) 44 A. Moreland, W.L. — (5) 35 W. J. MeAloon, W.L. — (0) 6 A. J. Skailer, W.L. — (5) 23 H. Williams, W.L. 1 (4) 47 2 (5) 47 Whenuapai P.F., W.L. — (5) 51 Mrs E. Youngson, Bk.L. -1 (Si3S 2 lo) 47 D. Kruse, Anc. 1 W 24 2 M) 23 F. Lang, Anc. 1 ( J -) 20 2 (6) 37 J. Smith, Anc. 1 (5) 42 2 (5) 45 II. Williams, W.L. 3 (4) 35 A. Strawbridge, W.L. — (3) 38 A. E. Watson, Br.L. — (1) 34 Section 33. Miss E. T. Somer, R.I.E. — (0) 22 K. Moukley, E.I.R. — (2) 2 W. A. LarseD, B.O. 3 (0) 0 T. Doutkwaite, WAV. 3 (4) 23 W. A. Larsen, B.O. 3(5) 50 O (5) 50 Mrs Waddell, B.O. — (7) 47 T. Douthwaite, WAV. 1 (0) 0 2 (5) 45 Team Results Section C. , Mrs Geo. Hilluiau, W.L. 43 42 4S 20 25 27 (17) 209 S. I>. Morris, W.L. 23 40 10 23 46 49 (22) 209 Emerv Bros., W.L. 45 36 40 16 21 2S (21) 195 A. J. Davey, W.L. 39 26 44 32 27 25 (19) 193 J'. Graham, AV.L. 25 24 33 41 23 24 (20) 170 H. Poison, W.L. 43 7 42 14 21 37 (26) 169 C. W. L. King, AV.L. 32 34 3S 9 12 43 (24) ICS J. T. Hazelwood, AV.L. 47 47 7 26 IS 22 (23) 167 Mrs D. A. Stewart, AV.L. 26 17 40 20 19 39 (26) 151 P. B. Harrison, AV.L. 39 22 16 17 34 16 (17) 144 A. Strawbridge, AV.L. 17 41 30 19 15 22 (20) 144 H. A. Lucas, AV.L. 10 37 7 45 2 39 (16) 140 M. Stephenson, AA r .L. 12 8 43 17 2S 27 (22) loD E. B. AVainscott, AV.L. 25 3 S 16 22 51 (15) 125 E. D. Wilkinson, AV.L. 14 19 S 31 16 0(5) SS AV. K. Laws, A\ r .L. 7 26 6 17 12 16 (19) S4 J. Smith, Anc. 2 2 0 10 8 3 ( S) 25 F. Lang, Anc. 2 7 2 1 3 2 ( 3) 17