POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3313, 12 September 1917, Page 45

POULTRY NOTES.

By Teeeok

Six white Leghorns—winning birds at the last Burnley egg-laying competition (Victoria) —were sold to a breeder for £7O, and two birds of the same variety which scored in single tests were purchased for £25 each. The full value of these birds without the competition wins to their credit would not exceed £3 3s each. I fancy that one great reason why experienced breeders Eaid such handsome prices for strictly utility reeds was because the competition under which they won was run subject to Government supervision, and it is a misfortune to breeders in. New Zealand that at least one pf the competitions here is not similarly supervised. This is not to say that our competitions are not run in strict fairness, but is simply due to the fact that Government supervision, like a Government stamp on a coin, constitutes legality, and, consequently, facilitates currency. used to take great interest in watching the ups and downs of the competing pens at the two South Island egg-laying competitions as announced each week in the Otago Witness, and he thinks it a great pity that the competition should be stopped. I fancy he is in error in thinking that the competitions in question are not now running. It is true that the records are not being published as of yore; but that may De because the controllers do not desire publicity ! I have not heard from Papanui or Southland for a long time ; but I still have an idea that, although the respective secretaries are not posting me their records as usual, there are still at both places competing birds cackling their utmost to advertise their doings. —By invitation I have had the pleasure of inspecting a new poultry-house built for Mr H. L. Sprosen, of Clyde street, Dunedin, and must admit that I was much struck with the admirable manner in which it has been designed, and also with the arrangements for roosting and nesting, and for the provision of water, grit, etc. The prominent idea has evidently been to provide a commodious scratching shed, so that the birds may, when absolutely confined, have all necessary conveniences and' utensils well off the ground floor. Whilst having the maximum space for litter work, the water, etc., is quite beyond the reach of contamination. The following particulars supplied by the carpenter will probably explain the design of the building in terms which will be better understood by those who would like to erect something similar better than I could describe it myself: " This house is oblong, and fills in the rear end of section. It gets the maximum sun. The dimensions are 44ft by 9ft wide. It is 6ft 6in high at back and 7ft Bin in front. It is divided into four pens by partitions of wood and wire. Each partition contains a door, and provision is made to prevent the occupants of one pen pecking their neighbours. The floor is in asphalt, with a coating of tarira dressing to harden it, and cannot be disintegrated by the scratching of the fowls. The whole of the floor space is available for the birds. A drop-ping-board is of lin dressed flooring laid in hot tar, and is 44ft long and 2ft 6in wide, and raised 2ft 6in from the floor. Above this in each pen are movable roosts, two nest-boxes, and latticed compartments for grit and water. The coiling and walls are covered in dressed Bin panels, with narrow battens, with two coats of white kaleomine. Provision_ is made at each end for light and ventilation. The roof is leanto. falling to back, and covered with galvanised iron. Ends and back walls are in rough weather boards covered in hot tar. The front is in dressed upright lin tongue and groved and "v " jointed, with neat barges and covers and diminished facings. It contains a belt of fin netting, glass panels in doors, and glass fanlights. 'Hinged, adjustable shutters of Baltic timber, adjusted by weighty and cords, are hung over the wire belt (windows), and act as ramguards or sun-blinds. These shutters are balanced by weights, and remain at any angle desired. The whole building is neatly painted. Sets on iron base below doors, and windows are so constructed that green litter cannot bo blown out or surface water drain in. An asphalt path from end to end gives clean walking outside the house. Each pen opens into netted yards." To this report I may add that the building, without being unduly expensive, seems to fill all requirements asked by poultry-keepers, and the workmanship reflects great credit on the carpenter, Mr O. W. George, of St. Andrew street.

Dwarf Eggs.— carried out in the biological laboratory of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station, __ U.S.A., show that the production of a dwarf egg is usually an isolated phenomenon occurring only once or twice during the life of a bird. Only 3.5 per cent, of the fowls which produced ono or more dwarf eggs produced more than two. A study of all the egg records and the available autopsy records for fowls which produced one or more dwarf eggs shows that in most cases the disturbance which caused the production of tli3 dwarf egg was of a temporary character, and was not correlated with a morphological disturbance of the 6ex organs. Of 200 dwarf egg-producers 11, however, showed evidence that a permanent disturbance had occurred.

In these cases few or no normal eggs were produced after the dwarf egg, or eggs, although nesting records indicate that the ovary passed through normal reproductive oycles. Autopsies were made on five of these cases, and all of them showed some pathological condition of the oviduct which interfered with the passage of the egg, but did not entirely close the duct. In normal birds dwarf egg-production is most likely to occur during the height of the breeding season. It is not associated with immaturity of the sex organs. The popular notion that the production of a dwarf egg _ marks tho end of a period of pro duction is without foundation. A dwarf egg is equally likely to occur at any time during a clutch or litter. A dwarf egg may be overtaken bj' a normal egg, and form one of the component parts of a compound egg similar to a double yolk egg, except that one part is a dwarf" egg. Chicks when hatched weigh about each, and they can be made to weigh 2£lb, or 40oz apiece, when 12 weeks old. This is an increase of slightly more than 26 times tho original weight in 12 weeks. In other words, during the first 12 weeks of a chicken's life it averages to increase in weight each week more than double, its original weight. Those who intend brooding artificially will do well to ponder over the significance of this rapid growth of tho chickens. With weight comes size, and increased size demands increased space. Failing to provide for rapid growth bi-eeders —there need be no hesitation in saying—loose thousands of chickens yearly. A brooder which is of ample dimensions for the first two weeks is a death-trap during the next fornight unless half the birds are removed elsewhere, and if the breeder has not the foresight to provide extra accommodation, losses by overcrowding are inevitable. The slightest indication of sweating shows that immediate attention is required. If there is sweating, notwithstanding that there is ample room, then the ventilation should be improved or the supplied heat reduced.

Tho Otago Egg Circle reports: "With the possibility of Asiatic eggs being prohibited in this country, bakers are keen buyers. Our committee, after careful consideration, decided that it was in tho interest of producers to give tho bakers their supplies at Is 2d per dozen. Our membership is increasing every week. We have now branch circles at Milton, Lawrence, Waitahuna. Beaumont, and Herbert. The food question is a very difficult proposition at present, and poultry-farmers would be wise in buying their present requirements up till next harvest." —Fraser and Co. Messrs Reilly, Gill, and Co. report: " Supplies of poultry were short of requirements for our sale on Wednesday, all table poultry being in keen demand. Hens realised from Is 3d to 3s each; cockerels from. 2s Id to 4s each; cock birds to 2s 8d ; and turkey gobblers, 10id and hens 9jd per lb. Ducks are urgently wanted. Good pullets are in demand, realising from 4s to 7s 6d each. Eggs, stamped and guaranteed, have been realising Is 2J,d to Is 3d ; case eggs in good demand at Is 2d."