POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 43

POULTRY NOTES.

Bv Tics bob

Ono outcome of the desire to increase the national food supply in Britain is that the Board of Agriculture has called a meeting of the representatives of the principal poultry clubs and societies, when a national council composed of representatives of the board and of those engaged in practical production will be formed. The fact that this will result in unity of action representative of all interests must be extremely gratifying to the producers of the Old Country, and it should bo a further encouragement to producers here to strive harder still for their combined interest. Tile necessity tor encouraging local production at, Homo is evidenced by the lact tnat since tlio war Germany is getting double her pre-war supply 01 eggs from Holland and elsewhere, while .England is receiving only one-oighth. Ihis has reference more particularly to Dutch supplies, but no doubt it applies also to other neighbouring countries. Cross-breeding should only be resorted to vviien table birds are required. Jiggproauction cannot be increased by crossing. One 01 tne breeds crossed must be liss productive tiian the otiier —or, at least, say equal, —consequently tUero cannot be improvement. 1l would surprise many poultrybreeders if the records of crossbreds and pui'cui\.Us count be compared —cnat is lo say, purobreds arid crossorous kept under Sjiniiar conditions; ior, oi coins.. l , crossbreds kept on up-to-date principles would do better tnan would purebreds kept " any how." liie general poultry-keeper lias, let it be understood, tverytmng to lose and nothing to ga.n by crossbreeding, unless it be for Size oi bird.

—xt is i;uw said that a spounlul of vinogar given at rngnt to a tabic cmcisen about to be killed will result in a winte and tender flesh. It used to be said that even an Oid hen would ue made Lenaer ii treated in a similar manner. Vinegar, it runbed on tin) head points of exhibition fowls, will brighten tnein up. Aot a low, too, dip a linger in vinegar and pass it round tiie centre ox an egg ju.st beior'e it is due to hatch. This process softens the siiell, and neips the cnicKen out, no it iy alleged; bub inasmuch a.s tne more brittle the shell is at tnat stjge the easier the chick can break it, it doesn't sound right to advocate softening. I think that an early moult means the difference between plenty oi winter eggs and no winter eggs, and that it is tar more profitable to lose a tew eggs in the iafc summer when eggs are cheap than what it is to have to do witnout when they are fetching the best price of the season. We occasionally near of fowls laying all through the moult; but they are lew and very far between (more the pity). It is a wellknown fact that the hen in her natural state lays no eggs in winter; but it's up to all pou'try-keepers to try and defeat Naturo by persuading their hens to moult when the weather is still warm and the eggs cheapest, and bringing them on to lay again when eggs are scarce, thus fetching tae top figure. It means a little extra care and attention for a few weeks, which will be well repaid by having a lull egg basket during the winter months, which we are aii anxious to obtain.

—ln the mating of our breeding stock wo arc frequently compelled to make the best use of tne material at our disposal, and tho results, in which " chance " plays its part, may not infrequently prove valuable signposts on the royal road to success. In this wc have learned to understand the full meaning of the governing law or principle that "like produces like" anil to appreciate the fact that \his law applies equally to defects as to good points, so WO have discovered that pullets' eggs have the defect of immaturity, and it is obvious, that being admitted, such eggs are best not used for reproduction, whether the ideal aimed at is perfection in size, feathering, laying, or table qualities. Granted that the best breeding period is in a hen's second year, and considering the mating to produce most satisfactory results, I suggest, with deference, that by using a two-year-old male bird the resultant progeny would bo stronger, less lialjle to disease, mature earlier, and feather more quickly. It is not, however, always possible to put theory into practice, and in eases where circumstances compel us to mate otherwise. I unhesitatingly say that youth should be on the male side. A yearling male bird in good condition is more vigorous than a second year bird, and very much more so than a third year bird. Very few blank eggs will bo found where a yearling cock is used, and the fact that a young cork mated to a small number of hens is apt to reproduce largely his own sex that, if only from an economic point of view, it pays to use a yearling male. lu-brecd:»».—A writer to the Poultry World, sneaking of the advantages and some of the dangers of in-brooding, says:

" I quite agree that many noteel animals have been brought to their high perfection by judicious in-breeding. Isis suggestion to mate tho pen in the manner referred to is all right if he is satisfied the strain is sufficiently vigorous to stand _ the inbreeding. I have tried mating this season on tho same lines as ho and many others suggest., but as I have had only about 50 per cent, results, many of tho chicks having died at hatching. I have resolved in future to cross my birds with the best unrelated strain that I can procure, and inbreed their progenj" to whichever of tho dam or sire's strain that I consider have the most vigorous constitutions. Benjamin Kidd says: 'Our aristocracy die out at the top, and require to be reinvigorated from below by marrying actresses, etc." So it is with tho bent, of strains, which often run out in tho third generation, and roquiro roinvigora+ion by commoner blood. So to blindly follow the suggestion of always mating back to tho original stock through a branch of tho same strain may end in disaster." Tho New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's twelfth egg-laying competition for lightbreed fowls tor tho thirty-seventh week ended December 26 shows that the following arc the leading pens:—

1. Mrs J. Mills (Woodhangh), W.L. .. 1189 2. J. Nancarrow (Bnnroad), W.L 1070 3. Master Jack Green (St. Albans), AY.L. 1075 i. Calder Bros. No. 2, WJL 106 C 6. Oalder Bros. (Oamaru), W.L 1050 C. Rangiuiu Egg Ranch (Otaki), W.L. .. HH3 Thero axa 49 pens (204 birds) in this com-

petition, and the total number of eggs laid j to date is 46,728 In the third heavy-breed contest the leading pons arc: 1. T. E. Conway (Kirwce), 8.0 1006 2. J. Nancarrow (Burwood), 8.0 025 3. C. J. Norton (Asliburton), 8.0 922 4. Miss E. Willis (Shirley), 8.0 BSS 5. Mrs J. James (Sockburn), 8.0 883 6. T. Dowthwaite (Avondale), S.W. .. 880 There, arc* 11 pens (66 birds) in this com petition, consisting of two pens of white Wyandottes, ono pen Plymouth Rocks, one Rhode Island reds, five black Orpingtons, and two silver Wyandottes. To date the total eggs laid is §423. First single-pen contest: 1. Mrs J. Mills (Punedin), W.L 205 2. R. H. James (Marshlands). W.L. .. 202 3. Colder Bros. (Oamaru), W.L 199 4. W. Davey (Wellington), W.L 193 There are 14 birda entered—viz., two Rhode Island reds and 12 white Leghorns. The 14 birds have kid 2260 eggs to date. 1. W. Bower (Levin) 1212 2. Hcrolaunga Poultry Co. (Silverstraam) 10S3 3. W. Knight (Lower Ilutt) 954 Indian runners only are competing, and there are only three pens entered. The total laid to date is 3249. Messrs Rcilly, Gill, and Co. report: " Wo have nothing to report of special interest. As usual during the holidays, there Was practically no poultry forward. Eggs have been in keen demand, and wo have been able to secure Is 3d to Is 4d for stamped and guaranteed eggs, and Is 2d for ordinary case eggs. With best wishes to all Witness readers for a happy and prosperous New Year." ROUTINE WORK. Arrange the year's duties so that the work is as evenly distributed as possible. Spring will bo almost entirely devoted to the rearing of stock. Summer to the care of the growing stock, and such matters as limewashmg, creusoting, etc. Autumn to repairs of all description. Winter to the making of new houses anil building extensions. Each month should be arranged for some particular duty. And each week should be divided for different work. * Regularity means that the farm will run smoothly and profitably. SOUTHLAND EGO-LAYING COMPETITION. The secretary_ of the Southland Egglaying Competition reports the result for the thirty-seventh week ending December 19 as follows : White Leghorns.—

Pen Grand No Daily laving. Total. 2 J. Steven? .. ... .. 4445366—32 1120 31 John Dowdall 5463446—34 1113 5 C. Crichfon 8646364—32 1039 22 Miss Sutherland 6536133—27 1023 23 *J. J. Sennits .. .. 4324324—22 1017 35 *Entc-rprise P. Farm 4335458—27 1011 9 Mrs Gorinski 8452634—27 1101 38 C. Warburton .. 5855444—81 1007 13 J. B. Merrett .. 5443546—81 1001 6 S. L. Beer 6355525—80 S92 S3' J. Stevens 4834355—27 087 25 H. Woodnorth, .. 4626433—28 985 16 J. Strang 6545456—34 967 28 K. Finlayeon 5644243—28 963 7 J. Thomson 4464524—29 960 24 Rangiuru Egg Ranch 4213321—19 900 32 Jamas Strang 55563 15—33 951 3! tJ. Hislon 6424543—27 953 12 W. Hamilton .. .. 415135.5—30 949 20 Green Bros. 3323535—24 913 11 Jas: Ireland .. .. 6515255—32 922 30 Bills'one and Daviea 4624555—31 907 10 Enterprise P. Farm 6562615—34 893 8 8453254—26 88:1 3 Mrs Can 2565524—29 883 15 C. Matlicson .. .. 2335124—25 87S 30 Tracy King .. .. 8544242—24 85G 1 3353331 —24 853 26 F. Orme 5254454—30 847 11 T. E. Davis .. .. 5532253—25 815 27 H. Fortune 5516264—82 796 19 R. W. Hawke .. .. 3434443—25 745 IS 731 — Black Orpin; gtons.— 37 *E. Ferguson 2331211—13 822 29 *J. 11. Hurrell .. .. 1231433—20 023 —White Plymout] i Bocks.— 21 T. E. Davis .. .. 4343434—25 860 — Camp in e s.— 17 It. Dunlop 6333153—29 77!) — Columbian Wy andottea.— 4 Mrs J. Mills .. .. 4342423—22 058 s 1015 34.753 ♦One bird dead. +Ti vo birds dea d.'