Egg-laying Contest

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 297, 16 December 1939, Page 4

Egg-laying Contest

CONDUCTED AT MASSEY COLLEGE 36TH WEEK’S RESULTS , Single Pens Section A—

Teams’ Results Section C (all W.L.) J. Wilson, — 181 188 189 188 x 194 192 (23) 1132 H. A. Lucas, — 188 189 205 140 160 209 (33) 1100 fcj. D. Morris, — 154 175 x 164 198 126 x 189 x (30) 1004 F. ti. Allen,— 189 161 168 226 x 132 r 118 (27) 994 Cotswold P.F., — 64d 169 183 185 180 74d (23) 861 Sunny River P.F., — 162 163 107 78 150 171 (23) 837 J. T. Hazelwood, — 73d 142 148 124rx 160 x 163 r (20) 810 J. Mold,— 165 138 139 137 112 84 (29) 775 W. F. Stent, — 152 131 lOd 73d 143 101 (19) 670 Section D (all A.O.) — E. W. Stepnenson,— 186x181 166 207 149 176 (32) 1065 W. A. Larsen, — 118 226 69d 109 171 189 (11) 882 J. 1). Wealleans, — 148 162 x 115 r 118 d 115 r 152 (14) 810 “r,” replace bird; “ d,” bird dead; “x, ” disqualified, egg weight clause. THE RHODE ISLAND RED HOW TO IMPROVE COLOUR I have come to iho conclusion that unless one can spare many years in the attempt to improve color in Rhode Island Reds it is essential to start with good color on either male or female side. If new blood is introduced on female side, then a few goodcolored trapnested hens or pullets should be obtained, states A. F. M. Stevenson, in the R.I.R. Club Year Book for 1939. Excessive broodincss and small eggs must bo guarded against, and records should be anything over the 140 mark, which is not beyond the reach of most well-bred Rhodes. To mate these, a male should be selected from one's own best hen, one which is oven-colored if not dark, with sound salmond or red undercolor, and no peppering of black on breast or wing bows. Her egg record should be 200 first-grade eggs or over, preferably not under 21oz. at the end of her pullet year. She should have stamina, i and her pedigree should be consistent, if not sensational. The best all-round cockerel from such a hen will be ideal lor a start. Avoid a brassy hackle or contrasting shades of color. A good orange or red eye (for two or three generations back) will meet the present fashion. The result of such a mating should be quito a large proportion of even if not very dark-colored pullets with a sprinkling of “mealies” and peppered fowls. Cockerels may “throw back’’ more than the pullets, and there may be some better than their sire. Laying qualities, if the choice of the male is lucky, will be improved 10 per cent, to 30 per cent. Next season, the best cockerels from the best all-round hens should be mated to their dams, and all good pullets trapped. Introducing Color on Male Side If color on the male side is used, then the hens should be even-colored, with useful records, and possessing other points mentioned above as applying to the cockerel-breeder. The male to use on these hens will take some finding. It will be worth visiting tho farms of some good breeders, so as to have a large selection to pick from; also one can see the parents. I strongly advise against using a male with more than a trace of purely exhibition blood. • Exhibition fowls are usually kept as a hobby, and it is too much, to expect a breeder of such to sacrifice wins for the sake of egg size or numbers and non-broodiness. There are, of course, exceptions, but these usually style their fowls exhibi-tion-utility. When a dark cock is mated to paler hens, the resulting pullets in some cases turn out excellent, but there are usually more mismarked than in the reverse mating. Cockerels may also vary more. Don’t insist ou a chocolate-colored male. A rich even shade of real red is preferable for outcrossing. If he has a dam’s and sire’s dam’s record of something over 180 large eggs, then the progency should at least equal their . dams in laying powers. AVOID STARTLING PULLETS Developing pullets are very highly stru.ng; this applies particularly to the light breeds. For this reason, tho

owner should pay attention to quiet habits ■when visiting the pens. On no account should strangers be permitted to bring dogs with them when inspecting the farm, nw should visitors be allowed to catch pullets to handle them. Bad habits are quickly created, and a pen of pullets nearing the lay- ) ing period, that have been frightened, will react by commencing a neck moult or continue to show undue excitement for several days. A good plau to follow is to tamo one or two pullets by hand-feeding them; these set a good example to the rest of the flock which is mado to realise that there is no need for wild dashing about. Fowls are very much like sheep; if one starts to show excitement, tho rest follow suit, but if one pullet shows complete confidence at the approach of tho owner tho rest of the flock intuitively know that there is no danger and retain a placid manner. It is only by carefully studying

I ' tho habits of a laying flock that pro- > gross can be achieved. 11 PULLETS FOR TESTS 2 1 If possible, pick your test pulleis from those that aro near laying but [ have not actually started. The best re--1 suits are generally obtained from puli' lets which started about two weeks af.'tor the commencement of tho test. 1 Pullets which are laying if sent to } tests are liable to moult; those which 3 ' are too backward will lose weeks at 3 the start, and a good start is a large t part of success. 5 The guest’s nose was exceptionally ' large, and father had noticed Willie J staring at it. Expecting the boy to make • some frank and outspoken comment, he gave him a disapproving glance. ! “That’s all right, dad,” came the reassuring response. “I’m not going to ' say anything. I’m just looking at itl”

H. S. Saunders, W.L. .. m 198 Huxtable Bros., W.L. .. (6) 197 A. A. Hoare, W.L (5) 191 A. Thomson, W.L. .. .. (5) 191 W. F. Stent, W.L 1 (5) 189 B. E. Wilkinson, W.L. .. 2 (5) 189 A. J. Sliailer, W.L. • • .. (3) 188 W. F. Stent, W.L 3 (1) 187 B. E. Wilkinson, W.L. .. 1 (3) 186 J. A. Annan, W.L .(5) 185 A. G. Mumby, W.L. . .. 1 W 184 Capt. Middleton, W.L. • 2 (5) 182 A. G. Mum by, W.L. ... 4 (6) 181 H. A. Lucas, W.L. •. .. (6) 168 A. G. Mumby, W.L. . .. 3 (5) 165 Capt. Middleton, W.L. . 3 (3) 164 E. 0. Collier, W.L w 163 Capt. Middleton, W.L. . 1 (0) 123 A. G. Mumby, W.L. . .. 2 (0) 95 1\ Mummery, Min (1) 62 W. F. Stent, W.L Section B— 2 (0) 60d Huxtable Bros., A.O. ,.. (6) 183 Sunny Liver P.F., L.I.L. 2 (1) 160 Mrs. L. Willers, A.O. .. 16) 160 A. A. Hoare, L.I.L (3) 156 K. Mullins, L.I.L (4) 151 P. Mummery, L.I.L, . • W. A. Larsen, A.O. .. (6) 151 147d B. Pimm, A.O 1 (5) 144 Sunny Liver P.F., L.I.L. 1 w 140x B. Pimm, A.O 2 (3) 137 S. Wilkinson, L.I.L. •. w 97