POULTRY NOTES

Otago Witness, Volume 26, Issue 2419, 26 July 1900, Page 42

POULTRY NOTES

By Teerob.

— There appears to be a considerable amount of feeling over one of the rules of the South Island Poultry Association (with which the Dunedin Fanciers' Club is affiliated) — the one prohibiting members of non-affilia-ted shows exhibiting at affiliated shows subsequently to showing at their own or other non-affiliated show. As I understand it, the rule applies only to members, non-members (casual exhibitors) . being still free to show where they like. My own idea is that, feeling or no feeling, the very existence of the association depends upon its retaining the rule — making it more inclusive, indeed ; it must insist upon fullest jurisdiction in its own territory. — A report of the Bruce Poultry, Pigeoa, ' Canary, etc., Association's show last week was [' published in another part of the Witness in- ' stead of in this column. i ' — I would explain that advertisements intended to attract the attention of readers of this column are accepted at the cash rate of Is" for 16 words per insertion. 1 make this announcement foi uhe information particularly of persons who are continually inquiring [ where they can purchase a' bird or birds (of j par ticulai -breeds), sittings of eggs, etc ;—; — Messrs A. and H. Glarkson, of Linwqod, , Christohureh, received another Minorca cock | from the yards of Mr Pitts. The bird is now ' two years; old, and, it is "reported, holds an | unbeaten record at the leading shows in Eng- ■ land. -It is said that he has a splendid face and lobes, and good comb, and that wheu finished moulting he promises to be not only a great addition " to the already high-class • strains of the Messrs Clarkson, but also to th"c colony generally. — In a circular published' by' the Victorian Poultry and Kenne] Club for the purpose of impressing fanciers and the public generally as to the usefulness of the club, appears, inter alia, the following : — f. With the view of impressing upon fanoiers

and others who have facilities for breeding and rearing poultry the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club have issued a circular. An excerpt from it is a3 f ollows : — The .club has for its object the improvement in the various breeds of dogs and poultry. That a great deal in this respect is being accomplished is evidenced by the superior class of dogs to be seen daily; the improved class of poultry kept by farmers and others. These improvements are moie conspicuously noticeable at the club's grand annual show, which is acknowledged to be the leading show of its kind in Australia, and 'further evidence is plainly visible in the increasing number of poultry -and eggs which are exported annually, and the Victorian Poultry and Kennel Club can justly claim the credit for the development of this highly . important and profitable industry. - ' The following figures will show the growing importance of this industry, and at the same time bring prominently before you tho valuable aid rendered by this club, whose members, by importing the best strains of table and egg-producing varieties of poultry, ducks, geese, and turkeys, have convinced our farmers that it is more profitable to breed with such_ birds and to discard poultry of no particular quality : — . .", ' - - Value. In 1890, poultry exported, 2812 .. '. . £269 Since that date, poultry .exported — 41,000 live poultry, 6380 cases dead „ . . £22,880 In 1890,- eggs exported/ €l2 gross .. .. .£231 Since "that "date, eggs -exported, 31;122 , gross „ .. * . .. i . £14,983 — A skilled eye' can tell unfertile eggs in three or four days, but it Avill be better for you to- wait .until the eighth night. Go to the sitting-house when it is quite dark, and take with you a candle or lantern, preferably of tho bull's-eye type, and a fresh-laid egg. Take the latter between the forefinger and thumb, &o that it is surrounded by a dark frame, and hold it up to the light. It will be clear and transparent, nothing dark showing behind the shell. Now take the eggs, whether fowl' a oi duck's, one by one from "under the hen, and examine them in a similar way ; the unfertile will look like the fresh egg, the fertile will show dark patches behind the shell. The difference should be at once apparent ; but if you are doubtful about any, it is safer to mark them and replace, and test again a day or two later. The unfertile should be removed and hard boiled for the future chicks-. — Farmer and Stockbreeder. — A goose market, says Science Sif tings, is held regularly in October at Warsaw, Poland, to which abemt three million geese are brought, most of them to be exported to Germany. Often coming from remote provinces, many of these geese have to travel over long distances upon roads which would wear out their feet if they were not "shod." For this purpose they ar« driven first through tar poured upon fclie ground, and then through sand. " After the operation has b?en repeated several' times, the feet of the geece hprome covered with a hard crust, which effectively protects them. ; — Indigestion is often a source of trouble to poultry," and is 1 always more prevalent amongst, purebred stock which are kept up for 1 exhibition purposes, and have ' not sufficient exercise to enable them to digest their food properly. If not checked, it is also liable 'to bring on liver disease, and the bird loses its appetite and becomes dull and listless. The c iace ancTcomb also lose the bright Ted colour, and become pale and apparently bloodless. The breath is also affected, and the plumage loses' its ' brilliancy. The ftr?t step in treating -indigestion is to give a dose of medicine to remove any obstruction thai.may be in the intestines. Rhubarb pills maj* be given, an ordinary-sized one being* a stifficient dose for an adult fowl, and it can be given every second day for a week. The food should be soft, and spices or hoating food must not ( be used. THE ~;QI7EEN IN THE POULTRY YARD. Few people can realise in how many ways the domestic life of the Queen touches that of her humblest subjects, even to tho hobby of fowl-keeping. Down in Windsor Great Park - there are pens of fowls in^- which her Majesty takes the liveliest interest. When she drives out in the park in her donkeycarriage she makes frequent visits t othe fowlruns, and never fails to ask after the welfare of her feathered subjects. The fate of a sick hen and the prospects of the latest brood of chicks are matters of moment to her, for she loves to see her stock increase and multiply. "Toby." the- white Bantam, is a sper cial pet, a perkyMlfle fellow, who Sice on the keeper's shoulder' and eats out of his hand. He has been known to hop on the step of the Q'oeen's carriage and delight his mistress with his quaint brusqueness and eccentricity. ! Fifty years ago the Queen was one of the first breeders of Cochin and Brahma fowls in the country, and her Majesty still fancies ' these breeds. But the pens now hold many varioties— Langshans, P-lvmoutli Rocks, Hamburgs, and Bantams. There are also Diamond Jubilee 'Orpingtons, presented by the origirtator ' of the species, and white Wyandottes from the Salvation Army farm at Hadleigh, purchased by her Majesty when she heard that "Mr Cecil "Rhodes had ordered a large number from the same source for South Africa.

Pretty ring-doves are in Ahe aviaries, and birds of a stranger sort. Two of the finest Australian emus live in this quarter of the park, near the late Prince Consort's show farm. They were presented to the Queen by the New South Wales troopers who were in England for the Diamond Jubilee. With them were sent also two kangaroos and four wallabys, but, in spite of great care, only one kangnroo and one wallaby now live. In the centre of the fowl-pene and aviaries stands a little hoiise, where the Queen often takes tea. Here is her comfortable armchair and the homely china cupboard for the tea things. On the walls are cases of stuffed birds. It is a room that would please even euch "a royal bird fancier as her Majesty. — Daily Express.