POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2849, 21 October 1908, Page 35

POULTRY NOTES.

Bx Tekeor.

— "Utility Poultry Farming," a 500paged Crown Bvo book, v/itli full cloth binding, published by Messrs Whitoombe and Tombs (Ltd.), compiled by Mr F. E. A. Gordon, and revised and edited by Mr J. B. Merrott, editor of the New Zealand Poultry Journal, is, strictly speaking, more of an, encyclopaedia of information gathered from a variety of sources than, as most book? on poultry are, the detailed opinions and experience of a sing!© authority. Tho editors acknowledge that this is tho case, and in doing sc have act^d wisely in the interest of their publication. The compiler, Mr Gordon, it is unnecessary for rao to again inform Witness readero, has unlimited faith in tho po=»ibilitcs of the poultry industry, and his book reflects his confidence in every page. In the opening chapter will be found the opinions of a •number of American enthusiast 0 , written ia fomplianca with imitations sent out by Mr Gordon come three jears back, and referred to in the Witness soon after their receipt. The qustion asked was: "Can you supply any instance of anyone starting and succeeding in poultry-farming from small beginnings?" The replies will be found to be most interesting reading. The evidence of "Competitions in Australasia ' is also referred to as showing the profits of the industry, judged by the marvellous performance-? of selected pens of six he-ns ; and the author computes therefrom that 450 birds would make a clear profit per annum of £206 ss. He, however, suggests ! that the profits would have been even greater if better houses and methods of feeding had been adopted. Mr Gordon's book is interesting throughout, and leaves few subjects of importance to the utility

poultryniao untouched, but, such is tho variety of the matter, the index will bo found a more than usally valuable adjunct to the took. A point dealt with very fully is the science of feeding, and in dealing with this subject the balanced ration is explained, and a. list of the foo r ls usually fed to poultry is given, showing their relative value s * rc^arc's proton and carbo-hydrate contemn, al-o then* nutritious ratio. With regard to this table 1 would suggest that in a future issue a column showing the "digestive" nutritious valua would nvuch enhance its value. The illustrations, of which thorp are several, eervo , their purposs admirably in assisting tho i descriptive matter. ' — I overheard a shcrfc time back an ex- ( perienced fancier advise a. novice to with- j hold food from his fowls on Sundays ! I asked him subsequently if he adopted that plan with his o>vr birds. He replied : "No. 1 feed every day, but never throw | more than ;hey wiil eat readily ; but there are some people who won't use judgment in regard to feeding. They always overfeed, and no amount of advice will 6top them once they have their hands en the corn, j To such peopl^ T say don't feed at all | on Sundays, and I have olpen been -thanked I for my valuable hint." . I" knew per- ! fectly well what my friend would reply ! to my question, for I had heard' him give | the same advice ye&fls ago, and for a time acted upon it with my own birds with profitable results, and dropped tho practice only .when I had learned proper j methods of feeding;. I now not only re- | commend some people to drop feeding on Sundays, hut also suggest the putting of Epsom sart3 iD the drinking water every week on that day also. Think over this hint ; there -6 a lot in it ! — Mr H. P. Harvey, one of the delegates to represent the Dunedin Club at the South Island Poultry, Pigeon, »nd Canary Association's annual meeting', to be held! in Christchurch next month, now also holds a proxy .o represent the Taieri Club. ' —To get winter eggs the poultry man must begin at once by housing and_ feeding your chickens with that one end^in view. — Feeding requires judgment, A% the individuals of a flock differ* in tfieir preferences and dislikes for foods, while some j will secure more than others. Scattering the food, wherever possible, gives each [ fowl better opportunities for securing its i chare. On tho other hand, it induces waste, a.s if any food is left over the ; birds trample upon it, and it becomes contaminated by their drippings, and consequently unfit for them to eat, even if they would do so, which is not always the case. The object should be to ehango the food often, as there is more advantage in variety than in quantity. Feed early in the morning and lato at ni.aht. If the fowls be^in to get too fat, it show* that the. food is' too carbonaceous, and tho grain ration, should then* be reduced. -When once the -hens begin to lay, they- will not fatten xov.eb. as the eggs cause a heavy demand for food. During a vesting-epell, however, with "heavy feeding, they sometimes bscome too fat. — Clem Watson, an English authority, gives the- f oUowirur hints : — Watch all birds to see they are in good health. On the least suspicion catch and examine the bird, and if any traos> of dis-nese bo found, isolate an'} treat accordingly. At this time of the year, and during the changeable weather, there is often a slight cold to ibe found amonsr a few birds. If anything 1 be noticed, add a littlo camphor to tho drinking water ; or if one fee suffering more than tho others, catch it, and give it two or throe drops of aconite in a little water. This should put matteia right. After three or four warm dava a. little powdered brimstone can bo added to the soft food. If the morning bo wet and cold do not use it, because the sulphur will open, the poree of the skin and the birrU niav take cold. Some put rock sulphur in, the drinking water, but owinjr to .ha hardness of the substance no good can come from it. Tim powder will do £ood to all the yard, but I especially to the young ones that are just getting their adult feathers. If they are hung anywhere, this will help them to throw off the obstruction, and cause tho feathers to 6hoot out again. It will also aid in keeping the blood cool, which, afc this fason of the year, is fure to get heated. Another thin? tint ear* be dono I with advantage ;'.•? the adding of a- littlo iron to the drinking r-ater. It acts a* a tonic, and keeps the bird in better condition than it otherwise would be. Many of us during the spring want some rejuvenator or somethirvjf to move us from a very lethargic condition, and such as a tonio is often re-sorted to, and in the sam<» manner does it act upon tho birds, and heirs thani alontr in mativ way*. With all ! tho youngsters tlvo one idea should be growing, and anything that can be done in this direction should not be left undone. TKo brimstone, iron, and such like, together with good, wholesome food, is all that we can do, and cax>h of these comes within tho range of th-* veriest novice to provide, or the man wiih a vow limited income. Do not w>& mi' eh maizo or maize meal. Ground oats, whcatmeal. with bran and middlings should form the staple diet. If you want something different there aro plenty of good biscuit meals, which .ire easily r>rPT>ared, and which tlv fowls lik*>. Beyond this the composition is very good, and is a good mixtur? for the birds. — White Ornin^tons were introduced in F.ndan-l in 1896 by ibe late Mr Cook. When fir>t brought out the Ro~pcom.b.s were mo-t popular, but the singles have bcaton them .->inoe. ard the former have almost di^anrxvaroi!. They ai<* r^porfrd table birrls of V»=.t, quality, meaty, with tender j and inicv flr-h. ar>d it is aborted can l>o nicked iin from r lit 1 run without fatten- I injr. A« lavor^ thov art? ooual i<i <mv, I nncl lav brown-shelled eirprs of acod «izo. j They arc- r li*» «ain^ type .is the Bufifc. diflWlmr only in colour, which miif-t be v>uvp white, and M->-»v breed very truf> to colour and tyno. W<» have no actual i rut rations n.s to* their bre^dine. Hut think the breed known a= v.h'-tc Albinr*. \\l>i(h ha<= not v«>( a standard, with 'white Rooks ird a flosh of Buff Orpington and white Wyandotte. would about produ^ it. Thes« origin*?, however, aro seldom published 1 exactly as they happened, and are not always to bo trusted even then. UTILITY SIDE OF LAYING. (By Oliver Wcodward.) We hay.& before us at this day all kinds of suggestions as to the way our prize poultry should be bred to enable us to sacure eucces&ful nrize-takers, some- advocating pure line-breedin.jr on a strictly scientific basis, fomg a modification of the line-breeding^ and some condemning more or less in-breeding in any form. On the principle that like begets like, and that we

do not get grapes off thorns, ny more in the material than in the spiritual wor!d, it i 3i 3 manifest that the ncoi-pedigree advocate is wholly tiiid entirely m th& wrong, ■that at the best any results he may get; will be occasional in the matter of superfine quality, and that no such dspendencs cxn be placed on the results as will infallibly soeure success as a commercial undertaking. We art, hcrefore. driven back upon pedigree-breeding, more or less strictly carried out, and our suoccjs will undoubtedly lie on the more rather than oa rh\» less side, so long as that more is carried out,- in a sensible, prudont. thoughtful way. 1 so as to kcop up stamina in the progenj . It is not my intention here lo erner into : such matings as will soon ruin tho cor.- ! stitution of a flock. There are such mati ings, as for instance that of persistently, [ mating brother amd sister. There are, however, others. And these others' rigidly pursued will secure for the breeder higbeso SUCCESS. And what is true as relates o the outward and visible points of a bird, as, for lnslanosj comb, colour of eyes, legs, feather, shape, size, style, must also bo 1 true ot the productive powers of a breed. I This fact has be?n long recognised' in the I cattle and cheep workf. Beet ■•■was required with tho animal carrying as light; bone and offal as is compatible with, exisience- in a normal condition, and at once tho shorthorn .was, evolved, carrying witn ■ it at the same time a fair milk and butter - I producing capacity. Anyone who has been in contact witb the breeding of highes.. pedigree shorthorns must ho aware thac by judicious ©election to the~ above enc3 j shorthorns are now produced such weightcarriers that more or le^s artificial means have had to be resorted to owing to this* enormous weight to assist them to .bro<xr at all. Here, then, wo have a striking instance of how a breed can be developed ! for fche production of meat. And our contention is that the same methods could Guceesslully be with fowls. i But oius- seldom or never hears cf any. Ceally persistent efforts in this direction. What one does hear of i« the attempt to 1 ©lake a table-breed hy crossing the other j pure breeds, but I have nevea: yet heard of anyone taking a breed in hand for the table, as men took the shorthorn, and perfecting that breed in meat-producing properties till it far and away excelled any- : -thing that could bo -gol in other breeds, ia crosses of pure breeds, or from mongrels.. Is such an idea an impossible one when it jnas been carried to euch perfection. ii» 'arm stock? The Clydesdale nas been de- . •velopnl into- a powerful, muscuhy.% noble •beast of burden, as also the grand shires:; jfleebness has been secured in racers, wool' in th-? Weneleydale sheep, milk ia the Jersey and Guernsey cattle. I maintain that it ia no- absurd idea to ■insist that the beat of our table breeds «t the present day could be improved into iomethiing «n tho way of table fowl whicmj should far surpass anything we have yeJ £een. Crossing breedd won't do it. Cross--, ing will lay the foundation, as in the case 1 of the shorthorn, cattle, and then by selec- , tion for quality and quantity of meat' •only, irrespective of any other points, except tho=-3 indicative of the riddance o5 offal a*id useless parts, a grander breed) than has yet been see-n could in the courso of a few years be on the market, bringing; in better returns, ajwl at less expense o£ j rearing than that of present-day table fowls. . ' Of course tk? «.ooye remarks apptyy equally to egg production. It is a fallacy•to suppose the pedigree-layer spoken oi | to-day is altogether a discovery of v£ster•day. Nothing of the kind. If there bo j any truth it? the statement 'that our domestic fowl is a. " direct descendant of the Gallus Bankiva we have only t<j compare, the produce of tho commonest mongx«l of to-day with the produce of the Gallus Bankiva to see what a wonderful differenca there is in the laying powers of the domes-* j ticated as against those of tho wild bird 4 And this has not come about merely by better fcod and better housing; it is tha ■.growth of hundreds, if not thousands, or years, by selections of sort. Has no one ever heard the old housewife say — the woman who would not recognise* ! an\ pure breed living by sight, nor ba I able to give it a name — well, have we not; all heard such say: "Ah, I always se.. ! the eggs from Polly or Joan" (or come such named best layerl ; " she is the been layer I ever heard tell on"? And thi~ irregu'.ar, but sensible- attempt at pedigreebreedmj for laying has doubtless gene on for age?, beyond human ken, in like mantier. Wherever th-are" has been a little original thinking' power 'on the part of a> breeder for eggs "there Jitw beeu rearing; fcbm.-best-la.yin.jr fowls... But such has no« been, systematically carried on, axul va con- . sequsnce.has not as -yet attained to per* fection. ia results. ! :Ans so it remains to-day to advance ih« I matter. Breed "persistently for one point, | *nd that point- will undoubtedly come. Breed persistently to the exclusion of al poin 1 ., aad that point will soon vanish. Tho law hers laid down, is true, not only o£ points desirable or undesirable from" a show point of view, but from a utility point of view. Vrizca for dead poultry do 3omething towards h^lpinT on a better cla-3 ' of tab'o fowl. Prizes for layers are, as a rule, a farce. Breeder* of pedigrca layers mu-'t look to prize? other than those, distributed at show*— namdy, to the bettorfiJlrrl pur-y, by reason of the fact than each bird in the laying flock is capable of producing os;gs double in number, and therefore in \alue, to the produce of birds bred in no> manner of way to qualify then* to compete with pedigree layers. With I that- Ul3 b.--cclci- mast rc->t content. I Perhaps the biggest blot on poultry 'how-* ' of late year-s ha 3 been the absurdity of ! prizes for layißg hens, which' said prizes .have gone to rose-combed bluca, which' blues in some noted cases, owing to age, could not total 100 eggs per anmurp. That; ,1s no way to try to stimulate bettor eggproduction. I will be frank and say that

it was ne-ver intended to. Only th. .Tery unsophisticated ever once let themselves think so. No; the explanation of &he laying^classes lies in the British character, "which dearly loves a little flutter. <And secretaries and committees of shows iwerenot slow to see that where the distributioi of the prizes was altogether of the nature of a raffle poultry fanciers arusbxd in just as pigeon fanciers do into the flying classes, or both sorts into the /selling classes. Each judge shuffles 'the pack to his own liking, and each one .may bring up a quite, different suit to Vf'm; hence, as at present carried en, laying classes are a farce. EGGS AND HOW TO COOK THEM. In a hen's eg_g only one-fifth of the substance is nutritious. One-ninth part is a-efuse, and the greater portion, about twothirds, is water. White-shelled eggs are «ot quite as. gocd as yellow ones, for they contain a trifle more water a-nd a little i>rt less fat. Judged by the amount of mutriment, a. goose's egg is the most valuable; next in order are ducks', guinea fowls', hems', turkeys', and plovers' eggs. Eggs contain a large- quantity of sule <>hur, which is purifying to the blood and <good for the complexion. To cook an egg pi the most digestible way you must not $mil the water. Heat the latter to 180deg, &nd leave the egg in it for 10 minutes. (You will then digest every morsel. But ;f you boil the egg for three minutes no leas than one-twelfth, of it will fail to be Thus, if you est two eggs 'boiled *t 212deg every day you waste five dozen fin a year. CENTRAL PRODUCE MART (LTD.). Messrs Reilly; Scott, and Gill, proprietors, report for the week ending Saturday, Sthe 17th inst. : — Poultry are exceedingly Fcaroe, and buyers cannot get sufficient to meet their requirements. Eggs are coming to hand in fair numbers, and prices are ~we]l maintained. At our sale we. sold :hens at 5a to 6s. cockerels 63 to 6s 4d, •duoks 63 to 7s per pair. Turkey gobblers <made 8d to 9d per lb, and hens 6d. Egg«, stamped, in patent crates, made Is, sw others lid to Hid per dozen. Pigs axe coming to hand more freely. Prime ibaooners made 5Jd to 6d, and heavy .weights *£d to s£d. Butter came forward in large quantities, and sales were bard to effect, farmers' pats making 8d to 9d §rar lb and eeparator 9d to Is.