THE FANCIER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1197, 8 February 1895, Page 25

THE FANCIER.

POULTRY.

Edited by Red Cap. FEATHERS. The Alabama Experiment Station has been making some tests of egg producing and general purpose fowls. The result is that Plymouth Rocks have led, followed closely by brown Leghorns, Hamburgs, Houdan-Minorcas, and Langshatis Previous to this year the Leghorns have made the best record for egg-production for three successive years. The Plymouth Rocks, however, have the advantage of the run of the place. It is impossible to maintain pu ity of the breed without close confinement, and yet such confinement is very prejudicial to health and egg-production. The European breeds are all great spring and summer layers and small non sitters. It is pretty well established that the Leghorns are the best egg-producers of all the breeds. The Asiatics are generally good winter and spring layers, and make excellent mothers and good table fowls. The Langshatis arc at the head of the list, and are regarded as one of the best of generalpurposo fowl?. Plymouth Rocks are also good winter and spring layers, and make excellent mothers ; they are hardy, of quick growth, and good for table purposes. Of the b eeds mentioned the Langshaus and Plymouth Rocks are considered the best general-purpose fowls, the Leghorns or Hamburgs the best egg producers. Such are the conclusions arrived at after several years’ experience, the hens being confined during the time in small pens, and fed only on vegetable products taised on the farm. Were a wide range possible to them, the results might be different. The Indian Game, so popular a table fowl, and the White Plymouth Rocks, and Pekin ducks have been added to the yards this year, and the Wyandottrs will be added soon. Houdans have been discarded.

It is generally admitted that abundance of feathering and scarcity of eggs go together. The explanation cf the fact that the more feathers the less eggs is found in the statement that they are identical in composition, and materia which would otherwise have supplied the eggs has been diverted into feathers. Many people imagine that the same holds good of com ha and wattles, bub this is a mistake. While large combs and wattles are apparently undesirable in fowls kept for eggs, in ivulity the possessors of these appendages are among the best layers. Large combs and wattles are, of course, peculiarly liable to be frosted, but the owners of such birds can, by providing proper houses, avoid such a calamity. On the other hand they are valuable as serving for thermometers by which the condition of the birds can be readily ascertained. Breeds with small combs make the best table fowl, and are more readily fattened.

All hens that ar® inclined to sit should be allowed to hatch and bring up one bra. d of chickens a year; for, if altogether restrained from sitting, a hen suffers much in moulting, and is restless and excited for ttie remainder of the season. It is unnatural, and therefore must bo injurious. The period of incubation gives her rest from producing eggs. The hen that is always stimulated to produce eggs, and nob allowed to varj' that process by hatching and bringing up a young brood, must ultimately sutler from this constant drain upon her system, ar.d the eggs are said to be unwholesome. But hens frequently wish to sit when it is not convenient, or in autumn or winter,

when it is not advisable, unless very late or early chickens are desired, and every attention can be given to them. To check this desire, the old-fashioned plan with farmers’ wives, of plunging the broody hen into cold water and keeping her there some minutes, was not only a cruel practice, but often failed to effect its object, and must naturally always have caused ultimate disease in the poor bird. When it is absolutely necessary to check the desire of a hen to sit, the best plan is to let her sit on some nest eggs for a week, then remove and coop her for a few days, away from the place where she made her nest, low diet, as boiled potatoes and boiled rice, and water being placed near ; meanwhile taking away the eggs and destroying the nest, and, nob finding it on her return, she will not generally seek for another, unless she is a Cochin, ortho desire exceedingly strong. Every large poultry establishment should have a separate house for the sitting hens, and the run that should be provided for their relaxation roust be divided from that of the other fowls by wire or lattice-work, to prevent any intrusion. Where there is a large number of sitting hens, each nest should be numbered, and the date of setting, number and description of eggs entered into a diary or memorandum book, opposite to the number ; and the number of chicxens hatched, and any particulars likely to be useful on a future occasion, should afterward be entered. A separate house and run for each sitting hen is a great advantage, as it prevents other hens from going to the nest during her absence, or herself from leturning to the wrong nest, as will often happen in a common house. The run should not be large, or the hen may be inclined to wander and stray away too long from her nett. A separate division for the sitting hen is often otherwise useful for the purpose of keeping a few additional birds for which accommodation had not been prepared, or for the use of a pen of birds about to be sent for exhibitions.' —Piper Ornamental and Profitable Poultry.

THE EXPORT OF EGGS.

Regarding tbo export of eggs to England. Mr Maurice Nathan has collected the following information in London, and sends it, under date sth. December, to Messrs Joseph Nathan and Co. : —Regular shipments are arriving from Australia at present, and the quality has turned out wonderfully fine. There is scarcely a bad egg to be found in. any of the parcels. Packing. —These eggs are packed in cases of 240 each, or two long hundreds. They are packed in pea husks. Wo consider this & bad system of packing, as a considerable amount of breakage took place. We would recommend that the eggs bo packed in cases containing six long hundreds each. The case should have a partition in the centre, so that three hundreds are packed one side and three hundreds the other. We would also recommend that instead of the pea husks packing, cardboard lattice-work should be used, and trays of cardboard should be placed between each layer. When the eggs are placed in theiispaeos between the pieces of cardboard it would bo well to strew pea husks over them. This would lessen tlio chance o£ breakage very considerably. Please warn your friends not to use inferior cardboard that is made with pitch, as this is liable to communicate a nasty flavour to the eggs. White cardboard entirely freo from smell should be employed. Wood —It is important that the wood used for the cases should be quite odourless. A parcel that arrived a few months ago was quite spoiled, the wood being of a resinous nature, which gave tho eggs a very unpleasant flavour. Marking—We would recommend that the tops, bottoms, sides and ends of the cases bo marked “ Eggs, with care.” Temperature—lt is important that the eggs on board ship should not be stored at too low a temperature. In a parcel that arrived a short time ago a great many of tbo eggs wero cracked and broken through being frozen ; 32deg\ to 35deg\ is sufficiently cold for the eggs to be kept at en route. When packing the eggs it is important that they should not be laid on their sides. They should be placed upright in the cases. If eggs are laid on their sides and allowed to remain in this position for a long time, the yolks are apt to fall through the white and touch the shell. Eggs in this position are “called “spots,” and are quite worthless. Tho prim realised for tho last shipment of Australian eggs was 10s to 12s per long hundred. The best season for the salo of the eggs here is during the months of October, November, December and January.

The Nelson Poultry Association lias decided to affiliate with the New Zealand Poultry Association.