POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 33

POULTRY NOTES.

Br Tiaaoß.

—Mr Shrimpton, of Maori Hill —ono of the oldest and most experienced white Leghorn breeders for utility stock in Dunedin, — reports that he will run three petaluma incubators this season, and intends to arrange for a hatch every other week. Mr Shrimpton enters with zest into the production for sale of day-old chickens, and his preparations for the ensuing season suggest that there is plenty of scope for the business. Providing one has a good brooder, either artificial or the natural mother, the handling of day-old chicks is simple enough, and many favour it, rather than go to the trouble of setting eggs, with all the attendant risks. Mr Shrimpton reports also that pullets of his which were hatched in October started to lay on March 13, and have continued to do so ever since. There is, of course, nothing phenomenal in this, and it is mentioned only to show the novice what he may expect if he does things in season and gives ordinary attention to his stock.

The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club’s report son the tenth egg-laying competition to July 7 (13 weeks) is as follows :

Light Breeds—1. D. Y. Gibson (Herbert), W.L 340 2. R. A. Lazarus (Hutt), W.L 326 3. Heretaunga P.C. (Silverstream), W.L. 319 4. A. W. Adams (Sheffield), W.L. .. .. 31.1 5. J. Wordsworth (Geraldine), W.L. .. 305 6. Reliable Poultry Farm (Sandilands), W.L 300

7. G. Bennett (Spreydon), W.L 299 8. R. W. Hawke (Papanui), W.L 299 Heavy Breeds—1. Miss Rita Nixon, Blk.O 359 2. Mr R. Hunger (Hutt), Blk.O .. .. 274 3. Mr W. E. Green (St. Albans), S.W. 240 Indian Runner Ducks—1. Heretaunga P.S. (Silverstream) ;. 269 2. Glencoe Ranch (Karori) 259 8. Evans and Johnstone 130

— 1 1 ’here is no method of telling your crossbreds from the pure with certainty, except by breeding from them. Some of them may be exactly in outward appearance like either the Wyandotte or Orpington parents. You could get pretty near the truth, however, if you pick the birds with single combs and the “U ” shapes and black legs as Orpingtons. The Winfon Fanciers’ Club hold their third annual show on the 6th of August, and the ecnedule is already in circulation. Dunedin fanciers should to the best of their ability encourage the country shows, remembering that they themselves look for entries from far and wide. All the usual classes are provided for. It is announced that entries close on the 30th of July. Mr J. Brown is secretary and treasurer. Readers will be glad to learn that that famous American production the Rhode Island Red is gradually getting into the hands of good breeders here. Mr Edward Ball, of Caversham, who is thoroughly capable of maintaining high quality in any breed he handles, is the latest to fancy the breed, he having procured a trio from Mr F. Dacre, of Palmerston North. The birds are a fair sample of what the Rhode Island Red should be, and have arrived in good order.

Mr D. F. Laurie, Government Poultry Expert, South America, writing to a Home paper relative to the birds sent to the Parafield egg-laying competition, says: “ Mr Harron sent in 25 birds—l2 whit© Wyandottos and 15 white Leghorns. The 25 pullete arrived in the s.s. Medic on Sunday, March 15, and were ’ fortvarded next day to the Parafield Poultry Station, where they arrived in good condition, and looking quite healthy and fairly clean, despite the fact that they have come such a long way. I am very pleased with the appearance of the birds. The whit© Wyandottes are, like the American type, smart, symmetrical, fine-headed birds, Wyandotte in type, and of reasonable size. I have a strong objection to white Wyandottes, which are only distinguishable from white Orpingtons by .their combs and yellow shanks and beaks. If this is the utility type _pf bird in England, then I offer hearty congatulations, and hope this will be the white Wyandotte of the future. The white Leghorns are very similar in size and type to those bred . at the Poultry Station at Parafield. As a rule they are, from a laying point of view, fine largo pullets, with nice fine combs and wattles and good red eyes. -The leg colour is good, and shows good constitution. I am in great hopes that these two pens will lay well, despite the fact that they will |jrobably moult heavily in June or July. These whites are Leghorns, which is more than can be said of the monstrosities shipped her© a few years ago, and which wore neither useful nor ornamental. I will send monthly reports to show the progress of these pens, and the test.” - • I always understood that it required a microscopical examination to detect fertility in an egg; but I presume a contemporary writer speaks with practical experience when he says: “By breaking fresh unincubated eggs and examining the yolk you can determine whether or not the eggs are fcrt le. As the egg is broken into a saucer the yolk falls with tire side bearing-the ‘germinal disc’ uppermost; or if you remove a portion of one side of the eggshell and examine the yolk as it rests in the egg you will always find the germinal disc in ith© top side of the yolk. The germinal disc is easily recognised as a small, lightcoloured disc, about-one-sixth of an inch in diameter. It is from the cells in this germinal portion of the egg that the chick is formed; the balance of the yolk is food for the embryo. In a fertile egg a typical germinal dise_ will .show an outer white rim of some little breadth, and within this is a circular transparent area; inside of this clear area is an opaque or white spot of variable appearance, which may be the same throughout or may appear dotted. In the germinal disc of an unfertilised egg there is no distinct division into an opaque rim and transparent centre, and the white disc is simply marked into a, number of irregular clear spaces.” The Dunedin Canary Club resolved on Monday night to approach the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club with a view to reconciliation. It is to be hoped that an understanding agreeable to both parties can be -arranged. —-.Messrs Redly, Gill and Co. renort that an exceptionally keen demand has been experienced for all lines of poultry, especially

turkeys, witfi the result that all birds coming forward for the weekly sale met an exceptionally keen demand. Turkey gobblers made 9d, 9£d, and lOd; turkey hens 7d, 7id, and 7£d per lb; ducks realised 2s 6d, 2s 9d, and 3s each, while cockerels being short of requirements realised from Is 9d to 2s 6d each. Some exceptionally good birds fetching as high as 3s. Old cock birds realising Is 6d to Is 9d, and special birds as high as 2s 6d. Hons realised Is 9d, Is 10d 2s, 2s Id, 2s 2d, and a special line of good hens brought 2s 9d each. Pullets realised 3s 6d, 3s 9d, 4s, 4s 3d, and 4s 6d eacL Eggs have been short of requirements, and realised Is 6d per dozen lor stamped and guaranteed in patent crates, and other lines Is 4d and Is sd.