POULTRY

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4740, 23 August 1902, Page 8 (Supplement)

POULTRY

NOTES AND NOTIONS (By “Cackler.”) Orpingtons are far and away the most popular fowls in New South Wales. At the late Sydney show there were no less than 239 entries in the Orpington classes. That well-known Leghorn breeder. Mr Cunningham, ofoPalmerston, has introduced yet another champion strain to his already famous flocks. This is represented by two Brown Leghorns. One bird, from Christchurch, was first at Dunedin anil Christchurch last year. The other, a hen from Nelson, was first and special at Nelson. Mr Young. M.R.C.V.S., who recently returned from South Africa, and a gen-

tieman who lias an intimate (knowledge of poultry diseases, declares that the disease which has been causing so much trouble among file poultry flocks of South Africa is nothing more than ordinax-y roup! Tile effect of food on eggs is at times remarkable. A stinking instance is that of tlie experience of poulti'ymen in the Sixellaiid Islands, where during the fishing season the fowls arc fed principally on the heads and entrails of fish. The result is that no one can cat the strongiyffavoured eggs, but the islanders, who have become educated to enjoying tbeir remarkably ‘‘fishy” flavour.

The poultry industiy in the ilauawalu district is px-actically in its infancy, and the present is therefore an opportune time to remind breeders of a practice which has ruined the chances of many a promising fancier in other parts of the world. This is failing to supply birds and eggs up to the standard advertised. It is poor policy at the best of times to send out xmytbing but that bargained fox - . If birds of a winning strain are advertised, supply those birds, and if eggs from the px-ize-takers of the flock are offcx'ed, don’t supply them fi'om a secondgrade pen. Fortunately, and I write it with a feeling of satisfaction, no case has yet come under my notice of a Jlanp.watxx breeder so degrading the business. Unfortunately, such is not the case of some outside breeders. Birds have been bmxght by local poultrymen as from prize stock which would hardly bo recognised as being of the breed designated. And the occurrence is not uncommon.

A matter for regret is that Birds are now and again awarded prizes at even leading shows, oxving to poor couxpetitioxx, which slxoxxld have been at once passed over by the judge, birds with palpable disqualifying defects being decorated witix first-prize cards. Certain judges have the backbone to refrain from awarding prizes where the birds arc not of sufficient merit, but unfortunately they are in’the minority. It would be well if all societies promoting poultry exhibitions stipulated in their instructons to judges that tickets shoxxld not bo awarded where the xuex-it of the bird did not warrant it. This would give judges no excuse to commit these grievous blunders, which are detrimental to the best interests of poultry raising. Especially is it harmful in a distinct, such as the ManawStu, where large numbers are entering the business with no experience of breeds, and who depend, entirely on the judge’s verdict as to the birds being up to standard form. An interesting question was recently raised in Palmerston. It was the cost, of feeding birds for table purposes. Mr Morris, of the U.F.C.A., contended that it only cost him at the rate of Id per week to feed the magnificent LangshanTlymouth Koek crosses with which he swept the board in the export classes at Palmerston and Feilding. This was laughed at by a number of sceptics, who declared ’t to he absolutely impossible. Those who knew something of the business and of Mr Morris, however, never doubted the statement. I have recently had an opportunity of obtaining an absolutely reliable verification of Mr Morris’s figures. It was contained in a report of an experimental station of the Canadian Government, and was .printed as the result of an interesting experiment to discover the cost of egg production. Two .pens of thirteen fowls and one rooster, one pen being Plymouth Hocks and the other Andalusians, were experimented with. The Plymouth Rocks laid sixteen dozen eggs, which cost 6.2 S cents (about 3id) a dozen to produce, and the Andalusians laid 291 dozen, which cost 4.9 cents (about 2Jd) a dozen to produce. The total cost of feeding the fourteen Rocks was 100.52 cents, or 50jd, which comas to about 3Jd per bird per mouth, or under a_ penny a bird a week. The cost of feeding the Andalusians was practically the same. Perhaps this will satisfy Air Morris’s captious critics. A prominent Wanganui breeder, who has many orders to till for table birds, recently advertised for five hundred birds up to 3J-lb, but could not get a single reply.

The enormous demand for poultry which must take place this year is hardly likely to be met by the suppij-. Notwitbstaucling that there will be an enormous increase this year. Indications point to the fact that the supply will be short of the demand for many years to come. During the past week I had an opportunity of witnessing the commencement of an extensive egg-preserving operation. The operator was about to repeat a very profitable experience of last yar. Then he stored iii a mysterious liquid, contained in barrels, 1400 dozen eggs with unique success. This year he expects to preserve four times that 'amount. It is pleasing to know that the proprietor of the preservative which has proved such a commercial success has agreed to place it on the market. The U.F.C.A., of Palmerston, has been appointed agents for its sale.