POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2728, 27 June 1906, Page 30

POULTRY NOTES.

By TBKnoR.

— Dunedin fanciers visiting Balclutha show availed themselves of the opportunity of inspecting the 150-acre poultry farm, run by Mr Guest, about two miles out of the town, and report that they were well pleased with what they saw. The accommodation provided for the stock they found to be upon a gigantic scale, and the •nclhods gocd and thoroughly up-to-date. There are now 47 houses for poultry, each being 10ft x 10ft, with runs 50ft by 100 ft. The incubator house contains 11 incubators, v. ith a total capacity of 2000 eggs, and, aa I reported some two years back, it is so constructed — practically a dug-out, and the roof and walls well lined with sawdust — as to be easily kept at a uniform temperature. The broodei house is 150 ft in length, and divided into 24 brooders with inner Tuns 6ft x 4ft, the outer runs being fan-shaped and extending about 30ft from the house. The breeds kept are chiefly white Leghorns, white and silver Wyandottes, and a cross between white Leghorns and buff Orpingtons. The four duck pens are of great size — some 600 ft or more square — and a creek Erovides ample water accommodation. The irds kept are Pekin and Runners. It is Mr Grant's intention to run Rouens, in addition, upon about 10 acres ot ground in swampy land, to run practically wild. Every fowlhouse ha 3an open front, and all that is wanted to make the runs thoroughly comfortable is, as I suggested in my last report, covered-in scratching sheds. In tKis way winter eggs would be insured. The intention- is to build 20 more houses immediately, and tlie timber for the job is now on the ground ; also a house for a married man, and to keen 10 cows on the premises in order to provide milk for the stock. A* the shop in Balclutha"- Mr Grant lias -a' 14 horse-power gas engine with which he grinds his corn, grit, and shell, all the dry stuff to be reduced with- one of the larajest Mann bone-cutters in existence.. The shells come from Durredm atf the rate of 60 bags a month durincr tho s«*aeon, and a couple of local butchers contract to suppljr all ,the hones, bullocks' - beads, etc.'. "at 56 ''-per «wt". Mr Guest finds his system profitable From what I could gather the visitors were greatly impressed with the energetic manner in which Mr Guest is conducting the farm — Entries for next month's show have already been effected to the tune of £160. Last year the total was £161. but seeing that entries outside Dunedin have vet to he accounted for, it is pvident that the club is to have a bumper show. — Tho half-yearly meeting: of the South Island Poultry. Pisjeon, and Canary Asso. ciation was held last week, when Mr A. L. Mver.«, presid-ent. was in thp chair. The secretary reported a credit balanc-a of £125. A sub-committee was set up to revise the iulcf. It was resolved that in the opinion of the Association the action of the Dun<»din society in issuing special championship show certificates was to be commended, and it was decided to recommend other clubs to adopt the ?imo course at future ( hampion-.hi-< slio\v3. — Tmqjyinative work 5-> all \<M-y well in its olaoe but oven Mark Twain found out that h<» was no hand at pditing an agricultural Journal. During his brief employ. nvnt in that capacifv ho made two contributions to noultrv lifpraturp to tho effect that "the ifuano is a fine bird, but srroat care is necessary in roarin? it" ; and "as -the warm weather approaches, and the Srandors bcj?in to Brawn " only excuse was that circumstances made the salary an obi>ct. — ¥or warding off canker in the mouths of fowls, an En^H^h authority says:-- -"I find nothing surpassps sulnhate of conner dissolved in acetic acid, and then diluted to nbout th« strength of viuoear. The acid won't dissolve more than it requires from th»» cobppr (bluestone). About an estgoup full of acid to a piece of sulphate tho size of a erpen garden marrow ppa. But dry warmth i*> a great thine. A room with a fire in. That curor? mine wh^n outhoiifog wppp no good. Keep strength of birds up." — The ppr?on who ?s ■safkfiocl with what he has produced, and i« willing to accept it a* good enough for him. is not a true f» ncie»\ .A trtio fan^ior is one that is always striving to produce better nirds. It mako<; no cliflWonce how good the parpnt s.loek is. he in always lookinc for something bettor. aius wh«>n matins: has this object in view — to produce bolter birdi. LEGHORNS: THE POULTRY CLT'B'S STANDARD. In compliance with the reaupst of a subscriber, I Dublish the followine particulars of tho whit* (or othor -x>lourodl Leghorns, al.^o the Poultry Club'? standard:-— Head and Neck.— Broad, and large enough to be in keeping with the comb. Beak — Long and stout. Comb — Fine in texture ; large; single; perfectly straight and erect; deeply serrated; extending well over the back of the head, and free from excrescences. Wattle? —Long, thin and fine in texture. Face. — Fine in texture, and free from wrinkles and folds. Ear Lobes.— Well developed and rather pendant; thin, fitting close to the head; smooth, and free from wrinkles. Neck. — Long, well furnished with hackles, and carried upright. Body. — General aDpearanoe light and active ; large at the shoulders, and tapering towards the tail. Wings. — Laree, hut tightly carried. Breast. — Full, round, and carried well forward.

Legs and Feet. — Legs and thighs rather lonp; shanks slender, perfectly free from feathers. Hocks.— Clear ; toes thin and well spread.

: Tail.—Large, with full and sweeping sickles , carried high. Size.—Medium, averaging rrooi Gib to 81b in , cocks, 41b to 6H) in hens; the larger the better. ; (Note '" the larger the better.") ( General Shape.—Light and slender; carriage very alert and sprightly. - Value of Defects *in Judging Leghorns. ! A bird perfect in shape, style, colour, etc., to • count in" points 100/",.. _, " .. Defects to be deducted. > 1 i , ; ■

\ i , ... . Disqualifications. Comb falling over in cocks or upright in hens; ear lobes entirely red; legs other than yellow (except in blacks); wry or squirrel tail, or any deformity; coloured feathers in whites, and white feathers in browns; any dyeing or trimming. Of course, there are not only the brown and the white Leghorn, but the buff, pile and duckwing Leghorn is to be found. Then comes, the rose-comb, to be found in the various colours. In the Commonwealth the I-ieghorn is very useful in the hot areas, and it seems to thrive and prosper even .under -the most droughty weather conditions. Its active foraging disposition is all 'in its favour t in Australia.

" - Points. Comb too large or too small, badly shaped, or imperfect . C. .4 ... 10 Ear lobe stained with red .. . . .-« 10 Ear lobe folded "or wrinkled ...... 5 Want of hackle I . ': .. .! 10 Faults in colour .. .. .. .. „ " 20 Want of size .. .. ..• 15 Wtcnt of symmetry .. .. .. .. .»■ 15 Want of condition .. ■ .., .„ .. „ -15 100