POULTRY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22708, 22 October 1935, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES

By Terror

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS “Reader” (Invercargill) writes asking whether there is any foundation for tha theory of the mating of old hens to a young cockerel results in a preponderance of pullet chicks. He says it has been explained to him that Nature takes care to reproduce the sex which is near its end. I do not think any of these ideas in reference to regulating the sex have stood scientific investigation.” With regard to the age theory as determining sex generally known as Hofacker’e or Saddler’s law I have a note by me on the subject written some years ago by J. Sydney Turner, F.L.S. He said: “This law which has been supported by Gohlert, Boulangci, Legoyt, and others, hut directly denied by Stylia of Alsace and Bonier of Scandinavia, is, that when the male parent is older than the female, the result will bo a preponderance of male offspring and vice versa. In the case of Giron’s sheep experiment, this was confirmed, as the two younger rams produced CO per cent., and the two older rams only 40 per cent, of females. Other statistics, however, conflict with this, and very little importance must be ascribed to the rela Live ages of parents.”

Local Market Preferred Referring to the anticipated increase in the number of eggs exported this year, Mr Cnssen says:—“ Though the prospects of building up a large, profitable egg export trade are not very encouraging at the present time, all poultry-keepers realise how essential it is to unload the spring surplus on the overseas markets in order to maintain local values. There are some producers who have not done their share regarding export, and this is a matter that hag caused and _ still is causing a good deal of dissatisfaction among those who have always supported export in a practical way, and have at times received less than those who hav«* sold all their eggs on the local market during the export season.”

Birds Shipped to Australia Regulations under tbe Australian Quarantine Act gazetted by the Commonwealth Government, provide that fowls, ducks, turkeys, and guinea fowls from New Zealand should not be landed unless dedara tion has been produced to the quarantine officer stating that the birds have been in New Zealand during the six months preceding the date of shipment: that they have, during that period, been free from disease, and that they have not been in contact with any birds suffering from disease. The declaration must be endorsed by an approved veterinary surgeon at the port of shipment that he has made due inquiry and has no reason to doubt the truth of the declaration. A certificate of general health must also be given by-an approved veterinary surgeon at tlie port of shipment. Fertile eggs for hatching purposes cmnot be sent to Australia without a declaration to the chief quarantine officer from the owner of the eggs stating that they are from a farm upon which the disease bacillary white diarrhoea does not exist.

Poultry Census, England and Wales The 1935 poultry census for England and Wales shows a decline in numbers of' «>.‘2 per cent. The preliminary returns ol the census, which was taken on June 4, hears out the anticipated setback in regard to the poultry population for England and Wales. . Last year the rapid rate of increase ai tbe number of fowls which had been a feature of post-war years was considerably reduced, and in 1935 the total number of fowls declined by 3,200,000 (0.2 percent.) to 58,130,000, thus bringing the figure below that of 1933. With few exceptions the decline was general througnout England and Wales, and was shared both by fowls over and under six months Unlike other classes of poultry, the number of ducks showed a rise of 29,000 (1,2 per cent.) to 2,481,000. The increase has mainly occurred among ducks under six months old in Norfolk and the West Riding of Yorkshire. A further small decline occurred in the number of gceese of 4000 (0.6 per cent.), bringing the total number down to 646,000. In the case of turkeys the decrease amounted to 101,000 (12.8 per cent.), giving a total of 087,000; _ most counties contributed to this decline.

Work to an Ideal It is the duty of all who take an interest in poultry keeping, whether as a hobby or business undertaking, to improve the breed of their choice each year. The breeder should have an ideal to work to, wliether he devotes attention to utility or prize-bred fowls. Type is o, the greatest importance in both cases, and the greatest enemy will be found in mediocrity. Success ie only attained by the exercise of skill, judgment, and persistence in selection and careful breeding each season. With the immense strides made in poultry culture and numerous breeds to select from, the difficulty is considerably lessened each _ year, especially if the aspirant specialises with one breed or variety, and makes a start with reliable birds purchased at a reasonable price from a known hreder, the pedigree of whose stock will stand the closest scrutiny.

Sex-linked Crosses A good many people talk about sexlinked crosses, but many of them have only a vague idea of what the term moans, or the breeds which may be employed. For anyone who has a limited amount ot room or equipment for rearing purposes this type of cross is highly desirable, as pullets only need be raised, and the room normally given to, cockerel raising used for producing future layers. It has been found that certain breeds possess fagtors which show up certain external differences in the sexes of the chicks at a day old, and that by this means —without employing a sex detector —you can tell which is a pullet chick and which ie a cockerel chick. The mating together of two such breeds does not mean that all pullets or all cockerels will result, as some people seem to think, but simply that you can tell one from the other. Certain breeds are known to carry a factor termed “gold,” such a Brown Leghorns, Buff Leghorns, Buff Rocks, Buff Orpingtons, and Rhode Island Reds. Others carry “ silver,” such as the Light Sussex and Columbian Wyandottes. There are ; alternative characters, and if a “ gold ” male (Brown Leghorn) is mated to a “silver female (Light Sussex) the pullet chicks will have a brown (gold) down and the cockerels a white (silver) down—that is, the pullets follow in father s footsteps, or rather in his_ feathering. There are several other pairs of alternative characters, but the examples given above are sufficient to illustrate the point. What I wish to impress is this; The egg-producing capacity of the sire and the dam is every bit as important in making a sex-linked cross as in breeding pure stock. Don’t be misled by the idea that there is any wonderful eggproducing capacity given to the resulting pullet just because she happens to be a sex-linked pullet. If you buy sex-linked chicks make certain that their dams made good performances and that the sire had a good record dam. If you are mating up a pen of your own get a good “ gold ” cock with eggs behind him, and don’t be satisfied with a bird whose only useful function will be to pass on his plumage colour to his daughters.

Chicken-pox Chicken-pox is a disease caused by a microscopic fungus. It is rarely found at this time of the year, but is prevalent ■in the autumn. Anything that causes an abrasion on a bird’s comb or wattles will often cud in chicken-pox. Chicken-pox generally starts with a yel-low-headed pimple. The disease attacks the cells immediately under the surface of the outer skin, and spreads over the head, forming scabs. ft also causes blindness by spreading over the eyelids. It is very easy lo get rid of this diseaseIn most cases it is usual to administer Epsom salt, but I think there is nothing better than an external application of carboliscd glycerine (5 per cent.). A couple of applications with a feather or sponge over the head and wattles generally effects a cure.

Six Months the Age to Start Laying All the big producers and experienced breeders will toll you that they don’t want eggs from pullets, much, if anything, before said pullets are six months old.

Pullet Mortality It is as well for us in New Zealand to know the causes of mortality elsewhere, for whatever they may be it is our business to guard against them. Dr Sir Ed-

ward Brown, speaking of a bulletin published recently by the Ohio Agricultural College experimental station, which records a 12 years’ survey with an average number of COO birds each year, says.— “The mortality figures are suggestive. It is stated that the average yearly Joss of pullet layers in 1921-1924 was 10.2 per cent.; in 1925-1928, 38.4 per cent.; and in 1929-1932, 55.5 per cent. incidentally, it should be mentioned that during the first four years hens were mostly used for breeders, whereas pullets were bred from during the last eight years included in the survpy.’ It is further slated that the ‘poultry farm records of many States show that 40 to 60 per cent, ot the pullet layers fail to complete their first laying year because of mortality and culls/ If that is correct the position is very serious. A further alarming record is made that the principal causes of mortality on the Ohio station in 1931 to 1-9-/ were colds, roup, and bronchitis; whereas the primary causes from 1928 and 193.were paralysis, leucosis, fowl typhoid, and cholera-like diseases. That the latter are more dangerous is evident. “My hope is that the conditions in Ohio and the United .States generally are not present in Britain to the same degree. Yet judging from private reports as' well as the published records of laying trials the time is ripe for an exhaustive inquiry, first, to learn the extent of loss by disease; second, the reasons for variation in this respect; third, whether environment and methods conduce to increase; fourth, if the responsibility rests upon the breeders. For such an inquiry both skilled practicians and scientists would be essential, each approaching the question with open and unbiased minds.”

Reilly’s report: A fair yarding of birds was received, values showing an advance. Hens—3 at Bs, 4 7s 6d, 3 7s 2d, 4 6s 2d, 6 5s lOd, 6 5s Bd, 1 os 4d, 6 4s lOd. 2 4s Bd, 1 4s; cockerels —3 at 8s Bd, 1 7s (id. 2 5s 4d, 1 4.s (id, 7 4s, 5 3s Sd, 3 3« 6d. 4 3s 4d, 2 2s, 2 Is Od, 6 Is, 24 Sd, 75 6d. 58 4.1, 46 2d: pullets—7 at Ss 2d, 9 6s (id, 8 6s, 7 5s lOd, 17 5s Sd. 2 5s 6d. 7 5s 4d, 7 5s 2d, I 3s Sd: all at per pair; 1 hen and 13 chicks, 1 :>s; I hen and 10 chicks, 9s 3d.