POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2718, 11 April 1906, Page 30

POULTRY NOTES.

By Tebeok."

— The secretary of the Dunedin Fanciers' Club has been informed that the New Zealan-d Orpington Club will offer for competition at the Dnncdin show th-a following trophies (open to members of the Orpington Club only) :— (1) New Zealand Orpington Club's trophy, valued at £5. To be won. twice in succession or three times at intervale. For the best black Orpington in the show. (2) New Zealand Orpington Club's trophy. valued at £5. For the best buff Orpington in the show. Same conditions as for blacks. (3) President Stewart's trophy, valued at £5 ss. For most points in cockerels and pullets, buff Orpingtons. Conditions same as for club's trophies. — Another well-known British poultry fancier, whose name is known far beyond the British Islands, has passed away in the person of Mr Enoch Hutton, who died on January 30 last. "In the poultrj world there was ..10 .variety in which the nann.3 of Hutton has not at some time stood right away at the top" (says ths Stockkeeper) ; "but we pre-ume .Indian game," Old English game. a«<l black rosecomb bantams were left the bettet for the stamp left on them by this genius at the breeding of any kind of live stock."' He was a most popular and painstaking judge. — The judge at the late New SouthWales table poultry competition (Mr A. Hart), who in his remarks upon the -exhibits gave emphasis to the importance of skim milk in fattening; and its effect upon the colour of the flesh, expressed curiosity as to whether the winning crate of black Orpingtons had been given that commodity. This was actually the case, and tha incident is so remarkable that those who desire to put their table birds on the market in the besfe possible condition will no doubt give heed to the lesson so conveyed. Mr Ahern's method of feeding; was to give two meals a day. each consisting of two courses. The first coursa consisted of pollard mixed with skim milk, which was fed in a. trough, and all that was not <at-en up quickiv was cleaned out. at onc3. Then a second course of boileS wheat was given, which tempted many birds which would not take any more of the ma-sh to eat again. Th'a aVo, if not cleared up by the fowl?, was tatken away after a time, so that no stale food was allowed to lie about. The evening meal was given in the came way. Beyond this, only clean, fresh water and plenty of good grit was given. The result was that the birds scored 94- out of a Dos-sib'e 100 points, the deductions being 4 from tize. 1 from evenness in appearance, and 1 from colour of skin. One of the important poinfs wa-3 personal attention and regflar feeding. On 6careely a single occasion did Mr Ahem allow anyone else to feed the birds, and the meal times never varied more than a quarter of an hour. Fh.'s latter is 'Iwelt upon \eiy much by Butish authorities on fattening, and no doubt has a very great deal to ( do with success The Lirds were penned In houses with eavtiu-n floors, but wore not allowed to roost. Some which at the same time were k^pt in coops did not do nearly ?o well. During the greater portion of the day the houses were partia'ly darkened. — A parable of an unwise farmer and ,

I his foolish chickens is told in Motoiing Illustrated. A farmer, finding a motor . horn one day upon the read, took it home, j and taught his poultry to gather for meals at its toot. A'l went merrily enough till ona day a motor car. passins? the poultry yard, blew a loud blasr, whereupon the entire brood ran out and scorched after the moror. till 14 pullets and thrcj roosters dropped dead in the road from exhaustion. — When exhibiting fowls the owner is obliged at most shows to nlace a price in the catalogue, at which he must sell his exhibits if such price is offered, and while in tho bulk of cases the owners place prohibitive figures on them, ai tinws the reverse is the case. At a late Manchester (England) show a gold Wvaudotte cockerel was catalogued at «£5 ss. The bird received to award from the judge, but a Mr Hassel detected merit in the specimen, and purchased in at catalogue price. Mr Hss el resold it for £12 12s. The new owi.er exhibited it at Birmingham. cataloguiDj, tho bird at £25. It again found a buyer as the catalogue figure, and sine.; the show has been sold for £45. — Same fancy prices for table poultry have be?n rsal-ssd at Smithfie'.d show (England). A pair of crossbred fowls, weighing a little ov-er 231b. brought close on 3& od per I Ib. A r&ir of Dorking- cockerels weighing 211b. brought 2s cd per Ib. Lord Rothschild's pair of winning turkejs brought £7, this being 2s 4d per Ib. A Plymouth ! Rock, which was the hsayiest bird in the bhov, weighing, when dressed, 131b 2oz, also leahVd a high figure. I —Messrs A. Tapper and Co. (per Mr E. \ Reilly) report for > week ending Saturday. 7th insfc: — Poultry baa been in excess of requirements during the past w-eek. and values have consequently been hard to maintain. We received and sold — 750 hen>, ac from 2s to 3s ; 230 younjr rocsterG, 2s 6i to 4s; 400 ducklings, frcm 2s io 3s 9d : 47 geese, 4s 6d to 5s per pair ; 20 turkey gobblers, extra good 9d ; 15 hens, at 4£d ro sd. Purebred poultry: At our sale on Wednesday wo sold 100 white and brown Leghorn hens, at 2* to 2s 3d ; pullet 6, 2s 5d to 3s sd; silver Wvandottcs, 2<> id to 4s 9d ; buff and black Orpingtons, 4s to ss; white Wyandottes. 2s 9d to 6^. each : cockerels— Leghorns 2s to 4- 6d. huff and j black Orpingtons ss, silver Wyandottes 2s 6d to 7s, white Wyandottes 2s to 3s 6 I each. Esgs : Guaranteed fresh and stamped Is 6d to 1.3 7d; oa*es, Is 5d to Is, 6d ; market improving, and deraand good. Export poultry: Prices same a« last week; any quantity wanted.