POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 42

POULTRY NOTES.

Br Terbob.

—In continuation of my remarks on the recent show made in Kennel Notes, I may hero say that they apply equally to the. poultry section. One reason alleged by some country exhibitors for non-appearance here is that Dunedin fanciers did not exhibit at their various centres — notably Bruce and Taieri. In the Taieri district 1 am told the fanciers actually resolved to retaliate in this way at one of their meetings. Is it not a great pity that fanciera who are supposed to be specially cultivating instincts of fair play and generous dealing cannot prove themselves above these paltry displays of local jealousy, so common amongst colonials as a whole? Surely all can fully appreciate the fact that the full educational value of the show — viz., the opportunity it gives for friendly comparison of stock, and the bringing 1 together of all interested in the elucidation of the arts and mysteries of breeding, cannot be obtained by comparison only with one's immediate neighbours. What is wanted is an opportunity to compare with the best of the country at large, and it stands to reason that the best will x?ot be sent from far and wide to every little outside show. Those who know how seriously birds loae in appearance and suffer physically by much, travelling and exhibiting should be able to sympathise with fanciers anxious to show their stock, to the best advantage at the principal fixtures. — Next week I intend to report on \isits to Mr J. Jones, jrmr.'s, poultry yardo^ South Dunedin, and Mr J.-F. Boborts's Abbotsford, also on conversations I luid with Mr Hyde, the Government poultvy inspector, and Mr Reilly, of Willow Bank poultry farm, Studholme.. I sha 1 ! also remark on some. of the principal classes afc the show. ■» — 'I have great pleasure in voicing the very general satisfaction expressed by .the great majority of visitors to the show afc the excellent management of the committee, and of Mr Charles Bills, who had charge of the p<ms, etc. I heard many remark that they had never seen more orderly arrangements than those appertaining at Ipsl \.-cek's show. — The remarks made on a- cure for roup in the following letter from Mr Edwin Reilly, Studholme, should be read with interest. I hope Mr Reilly's generous offer will be availed of by fanciers: — Dear Terror, — We are having terrible weather here, and as I do not confine my birds they are having a rough time of it — with 3in of snow and a bleak, cutting wind. However, I hope to get a prize or twe- at Dunedin. Thanks indeed for your kind notice. I have cold my best Langshan and Indian game cockerels, also dark Dorking hen and two Orpington, pullets, which I had entered, so do not expect to get a place in these classes. I liave had a considerable number of letters from customers south complaining about their fowls suffering from roup in all its stages. I have forwarded them a remedy which I have been the last three years experimenting, with, and I find that it is a sure, swift, and certain cure for roup in all its stages, also for diphtheria, etc. Unlike other cures I have tried, it leaves the birds quite chirpy and in good plumage. If any or your readers have the misfortune to have roup in their flock, I will, ff they send me postage, forward' them enough to cure half a dozen birds free of cost, provided they state through the Witness the result of the treatment. — I am, etc.,, EDWIN REILLY. ' July 24. Dear Terror, — " Low-tailed Minorca's " reply is very thin. He says that the winning cockerel's tail at the Mosgiel show was too high, but I myself admitted that. Would he kindly point out any other point in which the bird differed from the Minorca Club's ideal bird? If he is able he might also tell me which was a belter bird in that class. — I am, etc., TOWN MINORCA. LECTURE C>" POULTRY REARING. A lecture on " Poultry -rearing " wa« given in connection with the Poultry and Dog show in the board room of the Agricultural Hall on Friday evening by Mr D. D. Hyde, Government poultry expert, there being a very fair attendance. ! Mr Hyde said he thought that the prospects ! for producers of poultry in this colony were | most satisfactory. The poultry industry was going to be a good thing for the colony. Of that he was perfectly convinced. We had the best climate under the sun for producing poultry • so there was no reason al all why the industry should not grow to something huge. He had made satisfactory arrangements in Wellington to start ah. export trade from there, to be commenced next January, February, and March; and he hoped to make as satisfactory arrangements at Port Chalmers, Lyttelton, and Auckland. He had been able to get the Minister's consent to have the poultry frozen free of charge so long t\s it remained in the- colony. — (Hear, hear.) The prices for export would be 6d per pair for fowls and ducks; and 1» per pair for geese and turkeys. That meant that the birds would be ' received * alive, ga'aded, killed, plucked, dressed, pWked in. cases, and delivered in the freezing works at v the prices he had mentioned. If the poultry buainess was taken up and treated in a proper way it would pay as well as anything else. As an instance of how well it would pay he might mention that a gentleman named Me Adams made a clear nrofit of £150 last vom out of

poultry off half an acre of land. Mr Adams only bred layers ; but he (Mr Hyde) thought that a combination of layers and table birds was the best thing to go in for. One of the most necessary things for profitable poultrybreeding was to make a proper seleotion of stock. The most profitable breeds of fowls to keep were Dorkings, Houdans, Langshans, Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, Minorcas, Leghorns, and Andalusians. By giving such breeds as these proper attention they were bound to come out right. In keeping poultry it was important to -have proper fowl-houses. They need not be elaborately constructed, but the fowls must be comfortably housed if breeders wanted to get the best results. 'There should be sufficient room and plenty of ventilation, but no draughts. The perches should not be higher than 18in from the ground, and made of 3in x 2in limber, so that the birds' breast ~ bones had plenty of support. Nothing caused crooked breasts so readily as a small perch. A dirt bath was also very essential for fowls. The birds must first of all be sprinkled well with carbolic powder, and the powder rubbed in so that it would reach the flesh. After the fowls have been sprinkled with the carbolic powder they should have a dust bath, which should consist of ashes and sand, and a sprinkling of carbolic powder. The bath should be placed so that the sun could get at it, and yet be protected from the rain. If they were provided with a dust bath the fowls would keep themselves decently clean f but if they were neglected they 'would soon become afflicted with insect" pests. In the summer months it was absolutely necessary that the water which the fowls were allowed to- drink should be kept out of the sun; because there was nothing that so readily caused chicken cholera as compelling them to drink water that had been exposed to the sun. Another way to get rid of insect peats was to lime and whitewash the fowl-houses. The mixture could be made as follows: — 1 bushel of lime, lib of salt, a pailful of butter-milk, and as much water as was necessary. The nest boxes should be treated in the wm« manner as the fowl-hous>es, and they should be cleaned out regularly. Another tiling absolutely necessary for "fowls was grit. If they were not provided with that, they would not be healthy and do well. Everyone should know how to test eggs, and after a while anyone might learn how to do it. If an egg, which had been eat upon for five or six days, be held up to a light it could be easily seen if it were fertile or not. If it were fertile a red spot would be discerned in the centre, with arms extending ovitwards towards the shell. _ If these indications were not seen the egg might be boiled hard and used for food for the chickens, mixing it with breadcrumbs or calmeal. The chickens did not rpqivire any food till 24 hours after they were Katetad. After eing fed for a week on the foo<l mentioned they might be given a little crushed y,fces,t in thaii food. The periods during which they weie fed should also be gradually extended from two hours in. tho lirst week, three hours in the second, and so on, till they could be fed a.t the regular periods. After giving soroe particulars of the experimental poultry fartao in the North Istend the speaker went on to »ay that the Government had started an experimental place in connection with' the Burn; ham Industrial School, where it was intendeu to confine- tho breeds- to -.14, which was quite sufficient to embrace all the breeds worth keeping. It •» as the intention after this place was thoroughly established to recommend the department to' establish a poultry breeding establishment farther south. — (Applause.). There was a splendid establishment at Seacliff. and a visit to it, by anyone interested would certainly prove an object lesson in poultry raising. To make poultry a success it was necessary to- breed only from the best laying stock. Tho best laying hens were those with the smallest heads, thinest necks, and' which were active. Hens with thick necks and slow movements would not pay for their food. Ifc was fllso necessary to dispose of old stock. It was a great mistake to keep -birds simply because they had a particular coloured feather in their wing, which probably should not be there, or had some physical deformity. As conveying an idea of the prices obtained in England for poultry, the speaker then quoted the following figures by Messrs Brooke Bros., Leadenhall Market. London: — For prime chickens — January, 3s to 4s each ; February, 3s to 4a ; March, 3s 6d to 4s 6d ; April, 4s 3d to 5s 6d ; May, 4s to ss; June, 3s 6d to 4s 3d. The same firm quote* as follows for well grown .Aylesbury ducklings: — January, 33 to 5s each; February, 3s 6d to 6s; March. 4s 6d to 8s ; April, 6s 6d to 10s ; May, 63 to 8s ; June, 5s to 7c With regard to sending epjgs Home, a shipment sent from Wellington netted 9d per dozen, and at the same time eggs were being sold here at from 4d to 5d per dozen. Packing boxes were being provided now by the- department at 3a Bd, or 2s 6d if a number were taken, which would hold 20 dozen. As an instance; of the extent of the markets at' Home he stated that the number of eggs imported ,- to England in 1686 was 1,589,387,000, representing in money over £4,500,000. Last year over £5,000,000 was paid; and the market was increasing every year. Some idea of how the Americans retarded thp poultry industry could be gathered from the following figures, which gave the estimated value of the different agricultural products in America. The value of Uie poultry products was set down aa 290,000,000dol ; cotton, 259,094,6t0d01; wheat, 237,938,998d01 : bwine. 186.529.945d01 ; oats, ]63,655.068d01 ; potatoes, 78,934.901d01 ; sheep, 65,167,725d01 : wool. 38,146,459d01 ; so that poultry headed the list. Five farms, the speaker added, sent away from America 75,000 ducks, while he knew of a man in Sydney who made, the 3 r ear before last, from a duck farm £500 profit out of ducks. Last year he made over £800 out of poultry raised on 5 aores of land. Mr Hyde mentioned, in coiichision, that special arrangements were being made with the Postal department for the conveyance of sittings. Over 481 sittings were sent last year, and in the majority of cases satisfaction was given. At the termination of his remarks, Mr Hyde answered a few questions and a vote of thanks was then conveyed to him by acclamation.