POULTRY NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5731, 28 October 1905, Page 16

POULTRY NOTES.

POULTRY AS A SIDE BINE. I havo travelled about the country a great deal during tlio last few years, and, being a confirmed chicken “crank 55 I rarely miss an opportunity to talk about poultry. It almost invariably happens that when one gets to talking about poultry in any public place, such as an hotel, office, "or a waiting-room, that one or more in tlio crowd will drop into tho conversation and begin to discuss tho poultry business. It is evident that there is an almost universal- desire amongst the people of this country to own poultry. Tho man in a large business, the clerk in his office, or tho operator in his factory, all look forward to the time when they can own a little farm and breed chickens.

No doubt thousands of people are this minute planning for the lime when they can drop their, present work and make a living from chickens. This is a phase of the poultry business that I desire to discuss as briefly as possible. No doubt one can keep enough chickens to receive a comfortable living from their proceeds, but up to the present time but comparatively' few are making th© poultry business their solo work. In all this country outside the Petaluma district, there are hardly as many exclusive poultry farms where poultry is kept for imarkf purposes, as one could count on the fingers of his two hands. Around each, of the larger cities may be found those who make a largo part of their living from keeping chickens, but as a rule those combine poultry-keeping with, some other business. They operate market gardens, private dairies or small fruit farms, and by hard work make comfortable livings without being udder orders from anyone. Even the well-bred egg farms of the east are operated by men who pursue other money-earing occupations. Herein lies one of the peculiar advantages of the poultry business. It “nicks” with almost any other occupation. A man may become a poultry breeder of wide reputation, or lie may be able to furnish a special market with eggs and poultiy at a high price without in any way interfering with his regular work. A carpenter who lives in a suburb of Chicago keeps poultry and sells eggs at a high price the year through, at tho same time working regularly at his trade. He works in the city and brings the eggs in as he comes, and his customers call for them at a stated place. He told me his liens were paying for his homo, and that ho was expecting some # time to give his whole attention to breeding poultry for eggs. The truck farmer (market gardener) can keep a flock of poultry and find a largo part of the food.for it in such vegetables as aro not fit for market. The small fruit grower will find a flock of chickens of much, advantage to him os it can bo allowed to run along the fruit bushes for a large part of the year. Tho fowls will scratch along berry bushes and grape vines, keeping th© surface fine and free froui weeds, and devouring many of tho insects that injure the cron. Tho orchardlst may keep poultry to advantage, for the fruit trees will furnish shade for tho Jowls, while their droppings fertilise the land. No man needs give up his dreams as to keeping chickens when his ship comes home. Ho may look forward to the time when he can own a little chicken farm on which he can regularly count on, two crops—one of chickens and another of fruit or garden stuff —and each will bo. more valuable because of the other. No cloUbt a living can bo made from chickens, but it is not necessary to try it. for the chicks business complements almost any other gainful use to which the land may bo put.•‘Poultry” (H.S.A.). THE WHITE ORPINGTON. These beautiful fowls were introduced in 1890, and although they have been bred for so many years, it has not yet been possible to supply the demand for them. Speaking to several fanciers who are interested in White Orpingtons during the past month, we have been told by each that they have not been able yet to breed sufficient birds to execute their oiders.

It is not possible for those who are not in touch, with the poultry world in general’ to understand the great progress which is being made by certain breeds. It is generally considered that the popularity of a breed can be gauged by the number of birds of that breed or variety which are seen together in each of the shows.

This is one way of judging of the progrees of fowls, but it must also be remembered that there are large numbers of. people who beep a pen or two of fowls, and in which they are deeply interested, and from which quite a number of birds are bred annually, and yet none of these arc ever sent to an exhibition, small or large, and amongst this class of poultry keepers are to be num-

bored many who keep the White Orpingtons. There are many who keep fowls entirely for the pleasure of seeing beautiful birds about, and it is amongst this class that the White Orpingtons have become very popular. These fowls are kept on large estates where they have a free range, and to which they form an ever-pleasing ornament. Combined with their beautiful appearance, which appeals to all who see a really good pen of birds, they possess the finest laying qualities it is possible to get in a brown egg laying breed, while they are also first-class table birds. Wo have many pullets hatched in March and April last which have been laying regularly since September and October, and not once have they been influenced in their production by the many changes we have had 'in the weather in the meantime. THE COCKERELS hatched at the same time have grown into vigorous, handsome birds, of which are now at the head of breeding pens in England and on the Continent, while others have already been mated in the United States for the production of good stock in the variety which is everywhere making remarkable progress. This is not to be wondered at when one studies the points of the birds. Standing Hn a large grass field watching the stately male birds taking their hens and pullets about, one cannot but help expressing their admiration at their SYMMETRY AND BEAUTIFUL OUTLINE. There is a particular charm about a Whit© Orpington pullet when she has come to maturity and before she has been in tho breeding pen for some time; the purity of her plumage and white legs contrasts so well with the red comb and face, and combined with the shapeliness there is a suggestiveness of usefulness and motherhood, which appeals to every one who sees these birds when they have just come to maturity. This can be noticed in the show pens at the earlier shows, when the tirds aro at their best, but it is even more noticeable when they are out on a grass field, and after throwing a little corn to them the pullets are attracted close to one. While there is a particularly contented look about the birds, they convey the impression that they live witli a purpose, as their build suggests usefulness.

It is not possible to fully appreciate the table qualities of the White Orpingtons until there has been a practical demonstration of them. The flesh of the birds is so white and of such a delicate flavour that we have frequently heard those who have partaken of a portion of a roasted White Orpington chicken express the opinion that they are an ideal table fowl. They fleshen fvell without being fattened, but when specially fattened they make exceptionally fae birds. We do not know of any white-feather-ed variety to come up to the White Orpingtons for egg production, and theneggs are well coloured. This variety of fowl possesses all the qualities requir<ed to made a thoroughly profitable utilitarian fowl, combined with a beautiful appearance, so that it is not to be wondered at that they are each year making more progress. Those who have grass or wood land, and who li/ke really handsome fowls which are all-round good layers, table birds, good sitters and mothers, cannot do better than go in for some White Orpingtons, as they will not only have useful fowls from the utilitarian point of view, but will be able to sell all their surplus birds at most profitable prices, as the demand is so large for them. THE WHITE ORPINGTONS are of exactly the came type as the Buffs, differing only in colour of plumage, which is of pure white colour. They breed very true to colour, a mis-marked bird is a rarity, and we have every confidence in saying that they will give every purchaser much pleasure, and will put money in their pockets also. White Orpingtons are kept and bred in towns, and in several instances we have known winners to be bred in close confinement, their surroundings necessitating a very thorough wash before being staged alongside of their more fortunate companions, which had been reared amongst the pleasant cleanliness of the country.

It is a great advantage to amateurs that this variety breed so true to colour. as, provided that the birds are really well bred and well treated when chickens, there is not any (difficulty experienced in rearing birdsjof the highest standard by those who have not had much experience in raising high-class chickens. When fully feathered they are not as disappointing as the birds of several breeds, as they are uniform in appearance and colour. There are a good many poultry keepers whose aim is to rear birds which are good enough to successfully compete against others, and in taking up one of the varieties in which there is not as much competition as in others, and vet for which good classification is provided, they are able to accomplish their ohiect.

The Variety Orpingtons (viz., Vi'idtc Jubilee, and Spangled) offer an excellent opportunity to iho<e who wish to combine good useful qualities with the possibility of successful exhibition of their best birds, as the competition is not so keen in these varieties of the ever popular Orpingtons, and the opportunities of winning aro very good.— “Farm, Field, and Fireside.'"’

SILVER WYANDOTTES. The "Wyandotte varieties of fowls are among the most popular, and they deserve it, for they are good layers and table birds. The Silvers were the first of the variety introduced into Britain from America, and they quickly sprang into favour, chiefly owing -to their pretty_ plumage, but since being taken in hand by British breeders their laying qualities have been greatly improved. Fanciers saw in them an opportunity of exercising their skill in mating, for, as most breeders well know, it is more difficult to breed fowls of two distinct colours than those of one colour. To be at their best the Silver Wyandottes'require a grass run, and with favourable surroundings they arc most picturesque. The colours in their plumage are black and white, the feathers being white edged with black—quite different to the markings of the Houdan and Ancona—viz., black edged with white. The Silver Wyandotte hen should be marked all over, as nearly as possible, from head to tail, and from head to breast should be a clear white. It is, however, seldom the hens moult out so good a colour as when they are pullets, as they have a tendency to got “mossy,” as fanciers call it —that is, the black and white round the tail and saddle get mixed up, so that the markings are indistinct. The nock hackles of the hen are more finely marked and distinct than those of the cockerels. Both cock and hen should have nice, neat rose-combs, set close to the head, and the comb of the cock, particularly, should follow' down the line of the head qiute closely, and not stand up at the back as it does in the Hamburg. Tho face should be rod, with rather short wattles; the eyes a pale brown; beak yellow, streaked with stripes of black horn; legs and feet yellow, with four toes on each foot. The neck hackles of the cock bird are of a clear black and white, and the saddle feathers should be the same colour, but the top of tho back should be much lighter. The wing-bare ■in wellbred birds are very distinct; the tail should be black, and the breast clearly laced like the hen’s body. The white up the centre of tho feathers should not be too broad, but where the streaks of w'hite right up the centre are well marked the birds will bo found to breed the best pullets. The Silver Wyandotte chickens are fairly hardy, tho pullets feathering more quickly than the cockerels. When they are first hatched they look almost a slate colour, of a pale grey, dark down the back, and very light underneath. Silver Wyandottcs throw sports occasionally which are quite black, and very frequently they will produce pure white birds. It is from these latter that White Wyandottes have been produced, and these lay a larger egg than the Silver variety. Wyandottes are extremely hardy, and wall do well on cold, exposed runs, where large-combed breeds will suffer from frost-bitten combs. OVERSIZED FOWLS.

Tho question as to tho size of bird to keep is a more important one than most poultry breeders realise, and mistakes in this direction aro only too frequent, one of the most common being tl\st of breeding from oversized birds. Of all the tiresome inmates of the poultry yard, a big, clumsy male bird is the worst, and he is sure to be a great disappointment, because a large number of the eggs from his pen will be found unfertile.. It is the sprightly, active, normal-sized bird that is the good breeder, the sure getter of fertile eggs, and, more than that, tho begetter of the right kind of stock—chicks that thrive and grow well. There is another point: the big-framed birds_ carry an undue amount of which is waste, and such aro less desirable in the market. Being coarse-looking and “rangy,” they are passed by for the more compact birds which show a proper proportion of meat and bone. Then, again, these big-boned and coarse birds eat more and lay less thau the naturalsized ones; therefore, never try to breed oversized fowls —neither hens nor cocks.