POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 47

POULTRY NOTES.

T3v Teerob. t —Professor Rice says a dirty egg is a disgrace to the one who sells it. Do not blame the hens for dirty eggs; they always lay clean eggs, and they prefer to lay them in a clean place. A Hot Weather Hint.—Clean drafting water is a very important item where poultry are concerned. The supply must be constant.

there is "no best breed" in the general sense of the term. There is, of course, "a beet breed" for "you"—viz., the breed you most fancy. You can cultivate a fancy! If you want to achieve a name as a prizewinner at shows, purchase—if you can afford to do so —stock from the winning ]3ens of the breeders of the most popular variety; but if you have no money to burn, you will get into the winnings earlier and at slight cost by taking up with a breed not yet in high favour, purchasing, of course, the best stock available. Once you win with a breed you will find that you have cultivated a taste for it —a taste or fancy which will last until loss of competitors forces you into new channels.

A genius is born, and not made. The same remark holds *good of a poultryfancier, in that it is next to impossible to make a poultryman out of one who has no natural love for our domestic fowls. And, again, the remark holds good in another way. It is next to impossible to make a successful fancier out of one who is not by nature strenuous to the .last degree in all that he undertakes in connection with his hobby. This utmost strcmiousness enters into the conceptions of only the very few. Then it is that we see such men, though, perhaps, sprung from the humblest "of homes, and commencing with the narrowest of means, yet ultimately taking a place such that, in its particular line, none other can reach —wealth, position, unlimited help, and time all being launched against the citadel to displace it; but in vain. —ln mixing sulphur with lard or oil for use in destroying lico on chickens, care should be taken not to overdo in respect to tho sulphur. A very little sulphur goes a long way; _ and if tho ointment is made -too strong with it the chickens suffer, and may die—practically burnt to death. In a warning which is going the rounds of the American press tho over-effectiveness of sulphur in its action on tho tender skins of young chickens is said to be the cause of death of one-ouarter or one-half the chickens treated with it.

A local fancier who has been experimenting with a new_ make of incubator a record in cheapness—has a bet on with a friend aa to result of the first hatch. The friend offers half a crown for each chicken hatched, and tho fancier proprietor of the new-fangled contraption feels sure ho will secure at least " two and six." Ho (the proprietor) is contending, however, that if tho chick actually breaks tho shell it should count as a hatch 1

The great art in_ showing is to produce something which will please tho judge whether you agree with his reading of the standard or not. Fanciers' club 3 should realiso tho fact, and appoint only men whoso decisions preserve type., and who discourage all that is unprofitable.

Tho New Zealand Utility Poultry schedule for their thirteenth egg-lay-ing competition, to bo held at Papanul, near Chr'stchurch, announces that the competition commences April 8, 1917, and closes March 31, 1918. Entries, close February 10

next. Mr J. H. Shaw, 23 Churchill street, Christchurch, is secretary, and will bo pleased to give information to prospective exhibitors. lb has been decided to hold competitions for both light and heavy breed birds in the single pen section, and arrangements are to bo made for 12 pens in each of these two sections.

—The. New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's twelfth egg-laving competition for lightbreed fowls for the thirty-fourth week ended December 5 shows that the following are the leading pens:— 1. Mrs J. Mills (Woodhaugh), W.L. .. 1043 2. J. Nencarrow (Burwood), W.L 989 8. Master Jack Green (St. Albans), W.L. 987 4. Cakler Bros. (Oamaru), W.L. 977 5. Rangiuru Egg Ranch (Otaki), W.L. ~ 961 6. Calder Bros. No. 2, W.L 956

There arc 49 pens (204- birds) in this competition, and tho total number of eggs laid to date is 42,584-. < In tho third heavy-breed contest the leading pens are:—

1. T. E. Conway (Kirwee), 8.0 941 2. J. Nancarrow (Burwood), 8.0 861 3. C. J. Norton (Asliburton), 8.0 830 3. Mrs J. James (Sockburn), 8.0. .. .. 830 4. T. Dowthwaite (Avondale), S.W. .. 822 5. Miss E. Willis (Shirley), 8.0 818 There are 11 pens (66 birds) in this competition, consisting of two pens of white VVyandottcs, ono pen Plymouth Rocks, one Rhode Island reds, five black Orpingtons, and two silver Wyandottes. To dato the total eggs laid is 8697. First single-pen contest:1. Mrs J. Mills (Dimedin), W.L 187 2. Calder Bros. (Oamaru), W.L 184 3. I?. H. James (Marshlands), W.L. .. IS3 4. W. Davey (Wellington), W.L 175 There are 14 birds entered—viz., two Rhode Island reds and 12 white Leghorns. Iho 14 birds have laid 2067 eggs to date.

1. W. Bower (Levin) 1150 2. Heretaunga Poultry Co. (Silverstream) 1001 3. W. Knight (Lower Hult) 882

Indian runners only arc? competing, and there are only three pens entered. The total laid to date is 3042.

Messrs Reilly, Gill, and Co. report: A heavy yarding of poultry on Wednesday, but owing to most of the orders being filled prices -were much easier. As very heavy consignments are now coming on to the market we anticipate reduced prices for hens. Ducklings are realising good values, and we expect both young goslings and ducklings to realise high prices throughout the season. Eggs, as wc anticipated, are easier in price, stamped and " guaranteed offering freely at Is 3d per dozen, and ordinary case eggs at Is 2d. The following prices were realised at our sale on Wednesday:—Hens—ll4 at 2s 6d, 208 at 2s 9d, 2 at 3s 3d. Cocks—4 at 2s 3d, 8 at 2s 6d, 7 at 2s 9d. Cockerels—4 at lid, 4 at Is 3d, 4at is 6d, sat Is 7d, 8 at 2s. Ducklings—--8 at 4s, 8 at 4s 3d, 8 at 4s 6d. Chickens—--67 at 4d, 47 at 6d.

Mineral Salts.—lf the composition tables of various foods bo examined, a certain proportion will ho found to consist of various mineral salts. One of the greatest living authorities—Mann—states that many proteins, in the absence of mineral salts, aro in reality dead substances. The average man pays attention only to the protein contents. Some authorities give heed to the starch content or equivalent. The true scientist, however, looks closely after the mineral contend, as he knows its value in metabolisms. Some of the leading American breeders recommend the endive as superior to other green foods on account of the high mineral salts content. There is no doubt that our average poultry foods aro deficient, and that in the long run a serious effect is produced on the stock. A little common salt mixed with the mash is useful, but the limo salts are even more essential. Iron salts, such as copperas (sulphate of iron) are good, and are generally given as Douglas mixture. The following powder may be added to the food in the proportion of ono heaped teaspoonful to each 61b of dry bran and pollard, and used twice a week: 30 parts common salt, 9 parts phosphate of soda, 1 part calcium fluoride, 1 part sulphate of iron, 30 parts bone ash, 14 parts chalk, 10 parts Epsom salts 2 parts wood charcoal, 3 parts sulphur. All should be well powdered and mixed, and kept dry. This is not a tonic, but is designed to make good a general mineral' deficiency in ordinary poultry foods. In using Douglas mixture it is bettor to use the proportions given upon the bottle, added to the water used in mixing the mash—give twice a week, instead of adding to "the drinking water. SOUTHLAND EGO-LAYING COMPETITION. The secretary of the Southland Belaying Competition reports the result for the thirty-fifth week ending December 5 as follows:

HOW TO TELL THE AGE OF FOWLS. A pullet will show rose-coloured veins on tho surfaco of the skin under tho wings. There will also be silky hairs growing there. After a year old these hairs will disappear, as do tho veins, and tho skin grows white and veinless. Tho difference can be seen at a glance. A pullet that has laid will have tho pelvic almost touching. The bones gradually widen as tho fowl continues laying, and at two years old aro much farther apart than at one year old.

Tho third point of difference lies in the claws and shanks. In a young bird the skin of tho claw is supple, the scales thin and brilliant. Tho skin gets coarser and stronger and the scales harder as the bird grows, and the nail of tho last toe, which does most of the work when the bird scratches, gets worn. There is also a difference in the eyelids. These acquire wrinkles as the bird gets older, and there is also a slightly shrivelled look on tho face. This with ago becomes more and more pronounced, as does also tho harness of the bono. In young birds tho bones are comparatively soft, but by tho second year they are hard and the end of the keel cannot be bent. In tho case of cocks, above and beyond these points of difference, there are tho spurs to judge by. Every poultry-keeper should pay close attention to the ago of his fowls, "it is only a waste of money to keep drones, particularly under present conditions, when prices of feeds are so high. Mark your birds according to age. and then select them very carefully. _ Be very sure not to keep any weak or diseased stock on the place, as it is only a source of trouble and loss.

Pullets aro the most profitable layers, but a few yearlings should be kept over for breeding purposes next spring.

— White Led: lorns.—. Pen c No. Daily lavln<r. Total 2 J. Stevens .. 3556485--81 1059 31 John Dowckill 3554343--27 1045 5 C. Crichton 4544564--32 1021 22 Miss Sutherland 4332312--18 972 23 *J. J. Schultz 3334152--24 969 85 *Enterprise P. Farm 4143422--20 938 0 Mrs Oorinski 3443343--24 950 88 0. Warbnrton .. 5155446--33 912 13 J. B. Merrett •. 5333142--24 938 6 S. L. Beer .. 3542)43--25 936 83 J. Stevens .. 2343334--22 929 25 H. Woodnorth 3443455--28 926 2-1 Ranciuru ~Egg Ranch. 5234242--22 93 6 7 J. Thomson 2421525--24 903 28 K. Finlayson 8635353--28 901 34 *J. Hislop .. .. 4445433--27 900 16 J. Strang .. .. 2435633--26 900 20 Green Bros. 4333344--21 892 32 James Strang 4454345--29 891 12 W. Hamilton 5553333--27 81)0 11 Jas. Ireland 5346(55--32 837 30 Rillstone and Davies 6516546--83 816 8 C. Clayton .. 8543652--28 839 10 Enterprise P. Farm 2636325--27 829 15 C. Mn the son 2665252--28 823 8 Mrs Ca-rr .. 1645535--29 822 86 Tracy Kin ft ,. 4132131--24 808 21 T. E. Davis .. .. 45625 11--30 800 1 R. Ross • •'■ t • 4614100--28 799 26 P. Ormo .. •• 4356316--31 792 27 H. Fortune • • .. 8424835--24 733 19 R. W. Hawko 4323442--22 692 18 C. Raines 8421515--24 675 — Black Orpin gtons.— 37 *R. Formison 1223133--15 791 29 *J. 11. Ilurrell .. .. 1343112—15 686 —White I 'lymouth Rocks. — 1.1 T. E. Davis 4352111- - 26 761 — Campinc !S. 17 R. Dunlop .. 4440354--30 710 — Columbian Wyandottes. ,— 4 Mrs J. Milla 6434131--24 985 6.10 82,625 * One bird dead: flve in pen.