POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 35

POULTRY NOTES.

Bt Terror. ' —lt will not be out of place just prior to the making of entries for the ensuingshows to remark that if there is anything I that does more harm to the fancy and 1 to shows than the deceptive practices ot unscrupulous showmen or the appointment i by committees of incompetent or '-overclever" judges, it is the too great readiness ■ on the part of some zealous (or jealous) exhibitors to enter protests and make appeals. The rules of all clubs make provision for protests against wrongful awards by judges or malpractices by showmen, and it is of course proper and legitimate to take advantage of the law and to seek redress or to enforce penalties; but : for the sake of the fancy and for the main- . tenan.ee of the show fanciers should think seriously before taking action. If fanciers would carefully the ' motives actuating them before entering a { protest they would sometimes discover ! that disappointment or envy was the chief j incentive to their action; or possibly they j would find that though apparently disinterested themselves, they were being ' swayed by hearsay : rumour spread by ' maliciously disposed, persons. Before a showman enters a protest in a. matter of j "faking" he should carefully' investigate , the matter for himself, and be satisfied in his own mind beyond a shadow of a doubt j that he is justified in his action. The : foregoing is not written with the intention : of discouraging the exposure of fraud on ! the part of fanciers or of incompetence oh : the part of judges, but to discourage the too great readiness which has been shown j *or some years back to fly to the Appeal Court. Clubs as a rule, I think, settle numbers of protests as quickly as possible, j and with the greatest consideration for the reputation of the parties concerned; but where cases are reported to the South [ Island Association it is, of course, impos-

sible to avoid wide publicity, and what this means to innocent people I leave my readers to imagine. I consider that every protest tends to discourage, a number of people from showing out of fear of incurring risks of exposure through mere ignorance of what is or is not legitimate practice in preparing an exhibit for show. The following on " Reputations" is apropos, though written for the now defunct Stoekkeeper: — Throughout the whole of the fancy, in whatever branch 01 section we may be found, what an important factor is " reputation." We speak of a judge being held in high repute; of an exhibitor whose reputation is unsullied; of a seller whose personal honour is at stake, and a fear of losing a good reputation, and last, but not least, the reputation that certain birds have, and which in many cases carries them a long way on the road to success. Most of us can look back on reputations won and lost. There has been a speedy rise to the front, fates have been kind, and a name has come before us that at once commands a certain amount of respect. In this case it comes hurriedly, and the quick ascendancy to fame has been the very means of the downfall. The sudden thrust into public favour has caused the loss of balance, with the result that the reputation is gone as quickly' as It was made. It shows, then, liow essential it is that when once a position is made, it should act as an incentive ". to still do that which is right and just, and', to leave undone anything that may mar the reputation already attained. On the other _ hand, we can find men, who by years of " careful plodding, with a firm desire to do that which is above suspicion and act up to it, meet with apparent failure at the first, yet they are* faying the foundation which will be lasting and live long in the minds of the younger generation of fanciers. With the former it is a "case of mushroom growth, while the latter is more like the oak—the longer the time the stronger tneir position. Without any personal reference, we can all look round and pick out judges who have a reputation which nothing can shape, and who, as the years go by, are making their position more secure. The struggle had been hard at first, but there was honesty of purpose, and the intent -to remain as they were rather than fall victims to the wiles and snares of the unrighteous. Gradually, as from a cloud, they emerge into the light of day, and the stronger the searchlight the purer the revelation. Without appearing to be uncharitable, we might use practical illustrations, but refrain from so doing, because all arc human, and when we think we are safe, then there is the greatest danger -of falling. Though with some outside the pale of the fancy all exhibitors are put down as rogues, and in j direct collusion with .£he judges, yet there are hundreds of exhibitors to-day who would i consider it far beneath them to ever take' a prize that they did not by honour win. and, if needed, illustrations of this could, be given which have happened in recent times, and which reflect the greatest credit upon the participants. It is pleasing to record that there are men, exhibitors, who send their specimens out entirely on tneir merits, and are willing to stand or fall • according to the decision of the judge. ■ These are not isolated instances, but can be found in all parts of the country and among all sections of the community. The wins of a big teamster is often misunderstood. They have a reputation to keep up, and it appears to them in a different form. Their object is to keep on winning, and when once they get to a small show and few in the running, then they can dear all before them. The prizes wen like this are generally very dearly bought, because at the outset, the" team may have cost £2OO to get together, so that the amount won in prizes will take a long time to reach this, when all otEer costs are taken into account. These " good buying" fanciers we cannot, do without, for they generally pay well when a good specimen can be bought, and this is a great encouragement to the seller. ( This leads us up to the position of the • seller and his reputation, seen through, other glasses. When once a breeder has made a reputation as the producer of certain,high class stock, he can always find a; ready purchaser in the moneyed class just referred to. The judge has a reputation 1 to keep up as an honest and trustworthy, adjudicator, the exhibitor as a great winner in the show pen, but the breeder and seller a name to keep up as the one who can* supply the exhibitor with all he wants that, can do the winning on the bench. In all' these instances, from their different positions, each has a reputation to make and keep, and it should be an honest endeavour, on the part of everyone to maintain that, and in all dealings to be perfectly Upright,; and leave no cause for suspicion; and we would advise our young friends, in whatever line their fancy may run, .that their action may be pure, their treatment to others based on the principle of " do unto others that you wish they would do to you," then the fancy will be full of interest, and you will be enchanted with its associations. There is another kind of reputation that we ought to touch on before closing—viz., birds winning on j-eputation. We all know that this is done in many instances, because the judge can shield himself, and the exhibitor has a clear case to put before any opposition. As in the other instances mentioned ibove, it does not always happen, tor on many occasions big winners have had to fall back tor fresh faces to take their place. In the three former instances it is for the good of the fancy that reputations shall be made which can stand the glare of the noonday sun, but in the latter it hardly applies the same way for fear of keeping out other ■ competitors. Wc mean that the best birds should always win, whatever their reputation or previous records may have been.. I have to direct attention to a state* ment respecting broken and rotten egga contained in the market report which closes my notes this week. To send eggs to town in such a condition is suicidal, to say the least about it. once noticed the following remark in reference to ptomaine poisoning:—"The best cure consists in its prevention, and the following prescription is an absolutely certain one: —Cleanliness 4 parts, pure food 1 part, uneontaminated water 1 part, common sense 2 parts." Cleanliness in che fowlhousc. pure fcod and water tor .he fowls, and common sense on the part of the fancier will certainly prevent mam/ of the poultry man's troubles, but I would impress the point that an equal part of each is absolutely essential to success, pr pure food and water arc just as important as cleanliness—i.e., it : s common sense to consider all essentials —each and every one —as of first importance. The following is the scale of .oinis submitted at the request of the New Zea-

land Utility Club by the officials of the Department of Agriculture for the judging of utility classes —all breeds: Scale of Points. Deduct up to Eye.—Large, prominent, and bright .. 8 Pace. —Fine, clean, free from wrinkles and feathers • • 5 Comb.—Single comb breeds, thin; texture fine. Rose comb breeds neatly set;, texture fine 5 Keck.—Rather long, chin at head .. 5 Legs and Shanks.—Medium to short, with fine bone inclined to be flat .. 6 Keel.—Short : 5 Abdomen. —Deep, broad, full and soft; texture fine 10 Feather. —Tight and dense, showing ample fluff 6 Colour. —English Poultry Club's standard, including beak, eye, face, legs, and plumage .. 15 Carriage and Shape.—Alert, body inclined oblong, full at crop, tapering from head to thighs, forming wedge-like appearance 15 Size.—Medium, or lib less than English Poultry Club's standard weight clauses. In the case of Leghorns, pullets 41b, nens slb, cockerels slb, cock 61b , .. . • .. .. 10 Condition 10 A perfect bird to count .. .. 100 Defects.—Same as English Poultry Club's standard. Faking disqualification. Table Poultry Standard. Points. I.—Size and quality .... 25 2.—Youth, quantity and quality of breast meat 30 3.—Straightness of keel, fineness of bone, absence of offal and surface fat 25 4. —General marketable appearance, colour of skin, etc. .. ... .. 20 ■"00 EGG RECORDS. The great variation in the laying powers of hens is well known, though the importance to a poultry-keeper of breeding from birds which have been proved to be good layers is probably only beginning to be recognised. The great difference existing, even in the case of selected birds, was shown in a recent eggrlaying competition, where one wihite Leghorn' laid 158 eggs and ahothei only 36 in the course Df a year. The only way in which these differences tin be observed is by the use of trap-nests, and for th~ purpose of establishing a good laying strain the trap-nest is invaluable. This, however, involves great care and attention, and, except as regards' a small number of fowls specially kept for breeding purposes, it may perhaps be regarded as inapplicable to the conditions of poultrykeeping on ordinary farms. A good deal of useful information can, however, be obtained by keeping simple records of the eggs produced, and these will be more valuable if the fowls are kept in small flocks. They will serve to direct attention to exceptionally poor results, and may thus enable unsatisfactory hens to be weeded out. In the same way, where several breeds are kept, ' the difference in egg-laying capacity can be observed. If a sufficient numbei of such records over a considerable period could be obtained, they would afford a reliable guide to the average laying powere of the different breeds.,'An attempt in this direction has recently been made by the Irish Department of Agriculture, who have obtained -ecords for the year 1908 from 125 flocks, representing ovei 5000 hens. The' general average of all these flocks was 120 eggs per hen per annum. One lot of barred Plymouth Rooks (varying in number in the course of the year from 20 to 35) gave an average of 201, and there were six lots of different breeds that averaged over 180. On the other hand, there were 10. flocks that gave under 80 eggs per hen. The number of hens belonging to the different breeds wa6 small, about 60 per cent, of the total number of hens being of mixed breeds. The difference, however, .between the best and worst flocks of the same breed suggests that the breed is not of such importance as the strain or the individuality of the birds, though allowance must be made for other factors, such as differences in the age of bird 6, methods of housing and feeding, etc. Whatever may be the cause in individual cases, it is certainly a very striking fact that such great variations should occur, and when the "existence of such low yields is i'nown. it should not be difficult to raise rhf >'.-n->"''. to something nearer the aver- .' vILTHY house roofs. !Da>hp is much more injurious to fowls in -winter" than low temperatures. All are sprightly and industrious in bracing weather.- no matter how cold fit -is.ybut when humid they mope and sicken, give up laying,; and acquire diseases, yhieh upset- them for a long time. It is', ■-therefore, most desirable that means be. taken to avert sufferings from damp throughout the winter, and amongst" important-, items in this respect is to be "certain/the houses are absolutely rainproof. -The fowls must meet with wet coats and,-,foptings when out in the open in- the day time, but it is during the night and when roosting that a dry atmosphere counteracts opposing outside conditions and averts the .many ailments associated with such. The fowls enjoy dryness in the house "in all ways. It brightens them up and- assures robustness and laying, as well. as assisting in their development towards perfection on the table. But no mattei how. well they are fed and cared for in every other respect, if kept in damp houses they will afford no pleasure and no profit. Make good the i-oofs at once with boards, zinc sheets., felt, and tar. Put all the sides in order, and keep an open drain round the outside foundation that the water may run. off and never lodge. Convey, the roof water right away, and do not let it penetrate in the runs. INBREEDING. 'lr breeding purebred poultry it often happens that a "sport" is„:'£ound, especially when black-plumaged breeds have been used in the original manufacture. In the barred Plymouth Rock—which reflects so favourably on American breeders' energies —the blood of the black Java fowl was admittedly used, with the result that white sports, or albino fowls, were bred, which, by'careful-cultivation, were used to make a" new variety, known as the white Plymouth Rock, which bid fair to become strong competitors with other white Breeds, suoh as the white Orpington and white Wyandotte. Like all albino breeds, they were found tc be splendid utility fowls, jnassive in size, hardy, and decidedly hand-

some in appearance. The general shape and carriage is upright and imposing, taller than the Orpington, with iess fluff, and breeders testify to more' activity (always a desirable feature where egg-production is concerned). In the States the Whits Rock to-day is the leading fowl, being more appreciated than the original barred variety, even as a general utility fowl, and it is undeniable that Yankee poultrybreeders seldom admire a breed or variety without the best of reasons. For fully a quarter of a century they have given white a fair trial, and it is confidently anticipated that when English poultry-keepers are alive to its advantages they will pay more attention to it as an egg-producer, a quick-growing table fowl, or beautiful addition to the show pens. If bred in Ferruary and March strong, hardy chickens will be hatched, and pullets will make good winter layers, whilst it may be added the white Rock now breeds wonderfully true, although an occasional barred feather proves its origin. EGG-LAYING. Dear Terror. —As I know that you are interested in poultry matters, I send you herewith a detailed account of the laving of three Padman's white Leghorn pullets. I penned them up on the 24th of July, and from the 25th July to 24-th January they laid 455 eggs, or an average of 152 ner bird for six months. I would like to know if you consider that good, or would you consider it a record. I then broke up the pen, and turned the pullets into the run with the other fowls, and they went off for a week or two, but are now going as strong as ever.—l am, etc., Leghorn. [I don't think an average of 152 eggs per bird for the best six months in the year can be called a record, particularly when, .not carried out under competition conditions. It is, however, undeniably a good performance.—Terror.] CENTRAL PRODUCE MART (LTD.). Messrs Reilly, Scott, and Gill report for the week ending "Saturday, 19th: During the past week, fair supplies of poultry have been coming to hand, and for all birds well grown and in fair condition good values are being obtained. For prices, etc., see our full .Market report in this issue. The best demand at present is for good table ducks, prime cockerels, and hens. There is also a good demand for pullets, silver Wyandotte pullets realising 3s 6d to Is 3d each, and white Leghorn pullets at 5s to 5s 6d for an extra choice line. We are receiving some 50 purebred barred Plymouth Rocks—pullets, nens, and cockerels —from Mr Jaeka, Nelson, all of which are from his recently-imported stock, and for these we expect good values will be obtained. They will come to hand about April 5. Eggs are in good demand, especially stamped and guaranteed, and for these we can secure really good prices. Unfortunately, quite a number of the eggs coming forward are arriving in a broken condition, and some, we regret to say, are rotten. This is really bad business for all concerned, and consignors will do A-ell to note that the local Storekeepers' Association has decided to, complain to the health authorities and prosecute anyone found consigning this class of nroduce, and "rightly so. We have had to repack no less than 30 cases during the past week. To avoid this in future we are not going to shield, consignors if ihey persist In consigning this class of goods. Fancy eight dozen rotten eggs in a case of 25 dozen. Evidently the incubator had gone wrong. We want to protect the honest consignor; the other we have no time for.