POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 58

POULTRY NOTES.

Bt Tereob.

— Dear Terror, — I see, according to a report in the Daily Times, that the Bruce Poultry Society attribute the great falling off in entries at their show last week to so many birds being away on exhibition at Timaru. This may account for a few, but only a few. The principal reason is that the Bruce committee sent out a schedule without mentioning the judge's name, nor did they think it worth while to mention that they wore giving four gold medals for competition. Why all this mystery? If it had been known that Mr P. C. Sinclair, one of the best all-round ' amateur judges in New Zealand, was going to officiate, I guarantee *hat instead of the miserable 200 entries in poultry, that number would have been more than doubled.— l am, etc., Taieri.

— There appears to be great difficulty in persuading farmers to part with their old hens for export, and this notwithstanding the fact that higher prices now rule than at any previous period. Every year from about this time exporters receive large orders for shipment to South Africa — such is the case this year, — but they cannot complete tamo; and, right through the season, firms having standing orders for monthly shipments have found it impossible to obtain full supplies. Apparently either farmers have not yet awakened to the fact that there is such a thing as an export trade, or they •will not trouble to cater for it. It cannot be a question of lack of stock) oi of insufficient inducement in the shapft of high prices, for, as a matter of fact, the class of birds chiefly sought — i.e., o'.d hens — are running about by the tens of thousands in the country, and should be parted with at any figure, for they are simply "eating their heads off." — The poultry industry in New Zealand ie assuming larf^p dimensions. During the past financial year 75,000 birds were killed, dre-ssed, and graded at the Government depots, the majority of them for the South African market, as against 38,000 for the year ending March 31, 1902. In addition to the poultry which passed through the depots during the h&t financial year, several thousand birds were exported without being graded by the Government experts. The Agricultural Department intends to seek legislation to prevent the export of any poultry unless it has been graded by a Government official.

— The following is a list of a few of the highest records for the first two months of the second year's egg-laying contest at the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, New South Wales. It will be observed that three of the American "pens are doing extremely well, but Mr G. Howeli's (of Wentworthville, New South Wales) birds top the list as regards value of eggs: —

— Relative to the foregoing, it must be admitted that the position held by the American pens speaks far more eloquently, mid, at the same time, pointedly, as to the efficacy of American methods of breeding and rearing than could years of lecturing or vo'umes of printed advice. To the thinking mind it will matter little what may be the outcome of the completed test — that is to say, whether at the end of the year the foreigners head the list or hold a less honourable position ; the fact that after a long sea voyage and during a dear period they are able to more than hold their own with al' — =avo one — Australian competitors sufficiently stamps them a.s of superior class from the utility standpoint. — Such being the case, it behoves New Zealand poultryn^enr to inquire for the reaBons for the evident superiority of the American birds.

— It cannot be a question of breed, for Americans favour all breeds. With them, •s with us, bretd is a matter of climate, 6oil, space, or rang© and fancy.

— Neither is it altogether a matter of strain, for experience, has shown that birds bred from American importations do no hotter in the hands of colonials than do those bred from English or locally-prcfduced itock, »nd this, notwithstanding that the birds* lm-

ported from the States came from farms where the main boast is egg yield.

— Breed and strain, however, are important factors, and must receive serious consideration even before entering upon such questions as feeding and housing.

— As to breed, so far as I can gather, the Americans do not pretend to guide us. In this matter much appears to depend upon — as I have already inferred — climate, soil, and fancy, and space ; consequently each breeder must decide for himself, being guided, of course-, mainly by the. end he has in view — viz., whether he seeks for eggs, for table birds, or a combination. — Strain is more important than breed, and breeders must do more than realise this f ac t — strains must be established, and this may be done easily enough in the course of time. Every year each breeder may get on better in this respect. All he has to do is to seek out, with the add of the trap nest, the drones on his estate, and having found them, tako care that they form part of the next contingent to South Africa or elsewhere. The best layers as pullets should be marked so that they tnay be bred from as hens — i.e., those of them that have retained enough vitality after their heavy work to come through the moult with health and energy. This, as I understand it, is the American method.

— Housing is a secondary matter only as regards the order of discussion ; as regards importance, it is primary, for even strain is non-effective unless backed up by suitable accommodation. The roost should be warm, dry, free of draught, and not too large. An open-fronted but roofed scratching shed must be provided adjoining the roost, so that the birds may be penned in shelter in bad weather, and made to scratch in it for at least cine meal all the year round. On the runs shelter should also be provided against strong wind, and to provide shade. The dust bath, too, in a sunny place, is never forgotten by our American cousins. — Feeding, the next question, is, like strain and housing, of primary importance where best results axe looked* for. Those who would emulate the American may as well know that animal meal, dried blood, or green out bone, invariably form part of the mash provided, whether it be in the first meal ot the laet of the day, by all American breeders of any account. When these meat foods are provided, flesh, bone, and eggforming elements bulk, more largely in the mash than when they are omitted. Another precaution taken is to see that the bulky food given for the fati&faotion of the fowl is of itself egg-producing. Clover meal is in high favour in America for making up the mass in the mash, and certainly no better vehicle for conveying into the fowl's system the more highly concentrated food elements can be obtained. Analysis proves this. Under the heading of food comes, of course, the question of regularity, as to the importaaice of which little, however, need be said, for experience soon proves the necessity. Drop one morning's warm feed, and depend upon it a small basket will do in gathering that and the next day's eggs.

— Other questions of equal importance to any of the foregoing are those relating to date of hatching, age of fowls, cleanliness, and amount of food supplied. Late-hatched chicks will not -lay till spring, old hens lay few eggs, vermin and dirt produce disease, and' over or umder-feeding- is in neither case profitable. — All this many of my readers can truthfully say they knew before — it would scarcely be creditable to the Witness poultry scribe if they did not — but the question is, have they followed up their knowledge with practice?

— The Timaru Championship show appears to have been "a great draw" in every sense of the term. The number of entris was phnomenal for that district, being 858 all told; the quality of the birds waa very high, and the attendance on the part of prominent fanciers, particularly East Coasters, was most encouraging. All things considered, the gathering was one whioh will be remembered as a red-letter event for years to come.

— Dunedin fanciers present included Messrs R. Crawshaw, P. Omand, D. Dempster, and P. Carolin, and Messrs C. Grant (Mosgiel), Roberts (Abbotsford), and Wilde (Waitahuna), may be included in the same category. Messrs A. Walker, Earnshaw, A. Clark?on, Gapes, C. Lucas, W. H. Townsend, and F. C. Hack represented Christchurch, and Meters E. Reilly (Studholme), H. G. Hunt (Clinton), Hendry (Ashburton), and Tweedie (Riverton) were also present.

— Others of equal celebrity amongst the feathers would no doubt be included in the above list of honoured visitors could I but get in touch with one who did more than trust to memory.

—As far as I can gather, Timaru made every effort to maintain its reputation for hospitality, and returned Duuedinites are overflowing with expressions of satisfaction at the manner of their reception and entertainment. The banquet, programmed as a nice cold co'lation, is pronounced to have been one of the finest spreads ever placed before South Island fanciers. At that happy moment when the innor man had been expanded just that trifle beyond the normal to demand the soothing influence of ciajar and tobacco smoke to produce the requisite pitch conducive to free and unrestrained cogitation, speech if ying. of course, became the order of the day, and I am informed that in the propounding of the usual loyal and fancy toasts some very evocllent discour,-o c were delivered. Amongst the speakers were the Mayor of Timaru, Mr D. D. Hyde (the Government poultry expert), Mr F. C. Watson (secretary of show), and Messrs Condon. S. R. Burns, fiapps, Trigg. E. Rpillv. J. Lilhco, Palmer, Grant (Mosgiel), and Hunt. The following is the h~t of championship;: —

Championships (£5 each, to be won twice) were awarded to' Lang=han", Mr W. Henderson, of Dunedin, for cockerel ; Orpingtons, Mr R M. Dick Eon, Henley, for hen ; Wyandottes, Mr E. T. Bateman, now o-f Wellington, for cock (white) , game, Mr A. Walker, of Woolston, for hen; Minorca", Mr D. Hampton, Chnstohurch, foi hen ; ducks, Mr L. Irvine, Dunedin, for Pekin drake, Hamburg, Mr S. M'lntyre, Spnngburn, for hen , Leghorns (brown), Mr J. Lilhco, Timaru, for cockerel.

The catalogued prize list, as regards classes, where there was interesting competition, shows wins to have been as follows —

Pigeons. — Mr J. Hay, of Invercargill, for fantails; Mr G. H. Bradford, of Christchurch, for tumblers ; Mr Conrad Ziesler, of Timaru, for owls.

Canaries.— Mr W. H. Townend, of Christchurch, for Norwich clear yellow cayenne fed ; Mr J. Dow, of Timaru, for Norwich clear yellow non-cavonne fed.

Special prizes. — Trophies for most points in different varieties were awarded as follows — £3 cash, most points brown Leghorns — J. Lillico, Timaru, £3 cash, most r°mte white Leghorns — C. Lucas, Christchurch; £3-eash,' silver ■\Vvan6Vtes — F. C W^ick Rircartcn (won outripht),£"? cash, Gcldon Wyandottes— Whittaker Bros., i? cash, white Wvandottc =— E T. Batenun; £3, black Langshans -E. Reilly, Stud-

holme; £i, Minorcas — S. R. Burns, Timaru (won outright) ; £3, Norwich canary — W. H. Tcwnend, Chnstchurch , £5, for most points in cocks and cockerels— S. R. Burns (won outright) ; president's trophy — C. Lucas, Christchurch ; Mr J. Lillieo, £2, for best bird in show — W. Henderson, Dunedin, Langshan cockerel; South Canterbury Woollen Mills, for most points in, the largest class in the show — S. R. Burns.

Langshans. — Cock — R. T. Clark 1 and special, A S. Palmer 2, L. Tracey 3. Hen— R T. Clark 1, G. M. Gardner 2, A. S. Palmer 3. Cockerel — W. Henderson 1 and champion, E. Reilly 2, J. Keene 3. (Double Bros, absent.) Pullet— E. Reilly 1, special, and 2, G. Thomson 3.

Plymouth Rocks — Cock or cockerel — R. T. Clark 1 and special, H. Day 2, W. Taylor 3. Hen or pullef— H. Day 1 and special, W. Taylor 2 and 3.

Orpingtons. — Black cock — De Beer Bros. 1 and special, C. Peterson 2, R. Brown 3. Black hen — R. M. Dickson 1 and special, Bisham Poultry Farm 2, E. Reilly 3. Black cockerel— R. M. Dickson. 1, special, and 2, E. R«illy 3. Black pullet — E. Reilly 1, special, and 2, T. Bishop 3.

Orpingtons.— Buff cock— A. Tyrie 1, H. Pannell 2, R. T. Clark 3. Hen— H. Pannell 1 and_specia,l, A.. Tyrie 2 and 3. Cockerel — A. Tyrie 1 and special, H. Pannell 2, R. T. Clark 3. Pullet— A. Tyrie 1, special, and 2, A, and C. Grant 3.

Wyandottes.— Golden • Cock— A. and -H. Clarkson 1 and speoial, E. J. Ross 2, Whittaker Bros. 3. Cockerel — A. and H. Clarkson 1 and special, E. J. Ross 2, Whit+aker Bros 3. Pullet—Whittaker Bros. 2 and 3.

Wyandottes.— Silver: Cock— Alf. Walker 1 and special, F. C. Hack 2, E. J. Ross 3. Hen — A. end H. Clarkson 1 and special, J. Tindall 2, F. C. Hack 3. Cockerel- A. and H. Clarkson 1 and special, Alf. Walker 2, J. Tindall 3. Pullet— A. Walker 1 and special, F. C. Hack 2 and 3.

Minorcas.— Cock— S. R Bums 1, D. M. Tweedie 2, D Hampton 3. Hen— D. Hampton 1 (champion), Alex. Hendry 2, L. Westland 3. Cockerel — W. J. Bnerly 1, S. R. Burns 2 and 3. Pullet — Mrs C. Symons 1. D. Hampton 2, J. Tindall 3.

■Leghorns. — White: Cook— !D. Dempster 1, W. Bennett 2, P. S. Omand 3. Hen— W. H. Robinson 1, H. Hearfield 2, C. Lucas 3. Cockerel—C. Imcas 1, H. Hearfield 2, "W. J. Davison 3. Pullet— H. Hearfield 1, C. Lucaa 2, H.

G. Hunt 3.

Leghorns. — Brown : Cock — J. Lillieo 1 an 3 2, L. E Morris 3. Hen— A. Tyrie 1, Mrs C. Symons 2, J. F. Roberts 3. Cockerel— J. Lilhco 1 and special, A. G. Ennis 2, R. Wilson 3. Pullet— R. Wilson 1, W. W. Robertson 2 and 3.

Leghorns. — Any other variety : Cockerels and pullets— Mr J. F. Roberts 1 and 2.

1 Mrs Hamel (U.S.A.) Brown Lejchoms G. Howell (N.SW.), W. WyandoUes W. K. Hayes (U S A.), W Wyandottes W. B. CarcUe (U.S A.), W. Wyan-i dottrs A. Munro, Buff I eehorni R. E. Wwrreii, S. Wyandottes A. X Henry, * Wyandottes J. Vailc, Buff Orpingtons . J. J. R che. White l^Rhorns W. Wjl-I. Bhck Orpinfitons W. H. Pfintor, Lsucfhan Mrs Bastin, Black Orpingtons .. 96 103 Bti 103 61 72 75 37 37 33 15 37 137 130 116 94 97 81 ' 75 !102 84 80 91 I Bl 233 233 202 197 158 152 150 139 121 113 l(i(i 98