UTILITY POULTRY CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24950, 24 June 1942, Page 2

UTILITY POULTRY CLUB

SELECTION FOR BREEDING

The Dunedin Utility Poultry Club held its June meeting in the Y.M.C.A. rooms. The attendance was good, and the subject for discussion was the selection of the breeding pen. Mr C. Bartley, the speaker for the evening brought a number of fowls to the meeting to demonstrate. Some, he said, were suited for laying only, and it did not follow that a good layer was the best breeder. The hen must have a good cop capacity, good facial texture, breadth of body, as well as depth, and the legs also came into the picture. These must not be too short or too long; there was a happy medium. Side sprigs were condemned because no matter what the other qualifications were, side sprigs came from rose combs, and if a bird with this fault was used in the breeding pens the fault would get worse each year, till the comb was neither rose nor single. The breastbone caused no worry, unless it was definitely deformed. Perches were important, and if the correct width were used this breastbone trouble would be eliminated. Mr Bartley also spoke on breeding from pullets. Pie said he had often bred from pullets, but would not make it a general rule. In breeding from these, either a cock or cockerel could be used, but this should not, be repeated in the second year. The first thing of importance in starting to breed poultry was strain, and through ignorance a good strain was often ruined by out-crossing. There were very few pure strains in the district now, the speaker added. Mr E. P. Anderson thanked Mr Bartley for his interesting lecture. At the July meeting, Mr W. L. Jourdain, Government instructor, will talk on " Incubation."