POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 43

POULTRY NOTES.

By Teuhob. A committee fixed up by tho North and South Island Poultry Associations met in Christchurch on Monday morning last ■week in order to decide upon a standard for judging utility classes of poultry. Mr Jetferies (president of the North Island Poultry Association) was appointed -chairman, and Messrs W. A. Moore (New Plymouth), Scott (Palmerston North), A. L Wilson and J. H. Shaw (Christchurch); and Messrs Hall and P. Brown represented Duncdin. Messrs Brown and Oussens represented the Government Agricultural Department. It was decided to take the English standard as a foundation, and tho outcome, after full discussion of all points, was that all alterations made were on tho Government lines. To those who are already familiar with tho utility standards recently published by. the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club I may indicate the kind of alterations which have been made in it by tho committee, eo far as light breeds are concerned by showing what has been done as regards white Leghorns, for all light breeds have been treated on the same principles. The points for skull and beak and neck have been altered from 5 to 4, and neck, which formerly stood alone, with threo points, is deleted. Sizo and density of feather is raised from 10 to 14. All other points are as before. Disqualifications remain as before, except that only crpoked breast and side comb are to be regarded as fatal. Tho Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, Canary, and Cat'Club have selected the following judges:—Messrs H. G. Hunt, whito Leghorns, Minorcas, and black Leghorns; R. Wilson, all other varieties of Leghorns; E. J. Ross, Wyandottcs; f. Dacre, game, gamo bantams, Hamburgs, Plymouth Bocks, Andalusians, waterfowl, turkeys, and selling classes; H. G. Ambler, Orpingtons, Rhode Island reds, Houdans, Sussex, bantams other than game, and a.o.v. classes; utility—T. Kennedy (Rangiora) and C. W. Atkinson, light breeds; C. Cussen, dressed poultry and eggsj pigeons—A. Clark (Wellington), working Homers; J. M. M'Lean, tumblers; W. Fraser, all other varieties; cats —F. Biggs and O. Goodwin. The election of judges for canaries, cookery, toy dogs, and heavy breeds in tho utility classes was left over for a month. The New Zealand Utility Club, the South Island Leghorn and Minorca Club, the Rhode Island Red Club, and the Christchurch Cage Bird Club will hold their club shows in conjunction with that of the parent club. Tho South Island Wyiindotte Club have also given specials, but their annual club show will be held in conjunction with the annual fixture of the Duncdin Fanciers' Club.

The following judges have sd far been selected for the Dunedin Fanciers' Club Show: —Mr P. Sinclair, all breeds fn tho open classes for poultry, except bantams; Mr G. Nicholson and Mr H. L. Sprosen. all bantams; Mr Jones (Christchurch), canaries; Mr A. Cunningham, cats; and Mr G. Nicholson, children's pets. Tho utility olassos will be judged by one of the Government poultry experts. Again A. R. I.ee, of the Bureau of Animal Industry, Washington (poultry division) has sent out the following:—" This poultry section is starting a big campaign to endeavour to .increase poultry-produc-tion as a side issue on general farms, especially in the grain-producing sections. and also to encourage the keeping of small flocks of poultry in back yards of villages and suburbs where a considerable proportion of their feed can bo secured from kitchen tabic and garden wastes. An especial 'drive' is to be made on early hatching, and the production of infertile eggs for tho coming season. A large number of agents are being appointed to devote their entire time to pushing this, campaign in the different sections of the United States."

With regard to the forecroing. would it not be a wiso procedure on the part of the en;g circles in New Zealand to undertake a similar eampaiprn. It is only by increasing the number of producers that an export trade worthy of the name can come into existence, and without an export trade nothing big for the_ individual producer in the shape of financial profit is possible. Poultry should form a large portion of the diet of people in the hot weather: therefore cull vigorously. Culls (inferior specimen?) are of far moro value on th" table than they are in the yards. G'\rid of old hens which are past profitnM" egg-prodnction, and which are not required as breeders. Wage unceasing warfare against parasites of all kinds. T'cks ai" unfortunately, prevalent; kerosene and

Pintsch gas residuo are unrivalled as exterminators. Worms are also causing inucJf loss. Adopt routine treatment three or four times a year. Do not wait until the birdl are sick beyond recovery. Uso turpentina or gasoline, half a teaspoon ful on a, dessert spoonful of salad oil, per bird. Bickiord'c worm pasto is also excellent. one ground areca nut of big weight i( s most reliable, but exceedingly dear nowV Seven grains is the doso for a fowl. Moa| Leghorn and Minorca breeders dub theft cockerels -when about 16 wcck-3 old. Th« early spring-hatched youngsters should now be about ready. —Do not overlook the importanco of drinking water. The weather is hot now. About this time many hens may be eoo pected to go-off laying, and others onlj to lay in an erratic manner, and very booj« to fall into moult (says the Weekly Notes, published by the New (South Wales Agri« oultural Department). The close attention of poultry farmers with a view to disposing of unprofitable hens, and of all thosa. that are not to bq carried through th< moult into next spring is necessary herGL The ,birds should be carefully scrutinisea and marketed as thev go off laying. If should not bo a difficult matter to picl« out the hens that have stopped laying J but the poultry expert finds that there is «. disposition among beginners—and also amono- those whoso experience should have taught them differently— to expect those hens to come on to lay again at an earlier period than they are likely to do. Eaoa year this idea is responsible for a great deal of loss, old hens being beyond their, profitable age. The fact of feed being somewhat dear, course, accentuates tha trouble, but it is an experience occurring every year, and often it is not realised until a good deal of loss has been sustained. These old hens are kept on month after month, with the hope that they will coma oh again soon. Some, of course, do so • but the greater part of those that stopi laying after the end of December will probably bo found to lay very few eggs until after the moult, and to remain unprofitable until the end of June, or even later. Good second-year hens should, o.f course, becomo profitable from that time on to the following January or February, when consistent cult ing of the non-layers should be practised. To define what Is understood ■by first, second, and third year hen?, let it be said that a pullet is considered a pullet until ehs i* 12 months old, but she may be considered in her first year of laying until after her first moult, say, to tho end of March. This, of course, refers to seasonably hatched stock. She may then be considered to start on her second-year laying, and should be classed as such until, Bay, tho end of March again. But should sha cease to lay after tho end of December, ti is advisable (unless other reasons Warrant her retention) to dispose of her at an early date. For all practical purposes the pro* fitable lifo of a hen that was hatched during tho spring is from 27 to 30 monthsi; a small percentage remain profitable a couple of months longer, but the majority should be disposed of as soon as the second year's laying is over. Several references were made at m gathering of the New Zealand Utility Poui« try Club to the high price of food for poultry (states tho Christchurch Press). Mr A. T.'Moore (New Plymouth) stated that in his district as much as 17s a sack had been given for bran, and wheat had been bought at a price representing 9s 6d per bushel. Messrs Fraser and Go., 146 Crawford street, agents for the Otago Egg Circle and Southern Cross meatmeai. report:—"Egss: : Market firm. Fresh, ls\sd; Will rise. Poultry: At our auction feaieoii Wednesday at 1.30 the following price* were realised: —Hens at per head—lso a{ Is 9d, 10 at Is lid, 50 at 2s, 50 at 2a 2d, 50 at 2s 3d, 50 at 2s 6d, 25 at 2s 9d. ond at 5s fjd; cockerels, 2s 6d to 3s 3d; ducks-, 3s 4d to 4s Id each; geese, 3s 4d to 4s;| turkeys—cobblers 10£d. hens 9Jid per lb livf* weight. Write for poultry crates. ' Tho Co-operative Fruit-growers of Otago (Ltd.) report: "During the week wa have had some very nice consignments of poultry forward, and, having been entrusted with orders for 500 white Leghorn pullets-, 200 silver Wyndottes, 300 black Orpingtons, 200 Rhode Island reds. 1000 prime ducklings-. 5000 prime cockerels, 5000 boiling hens, and 100 turkeys, we are in a position to guarantee consignors a speedy sale and high price* At our sale hens realised Is 9d, Is lid, 2s, 2s 2d. 2s 3d, 2s 5d each. Chicken* made 3d, sd. 9d, lid; Is Id for small cockerel' chickens. Small pullets made 3« 6d, 3s 9d. 4s 3d. Young cockerels for killing purposes realised Is 9d, 2s 3d ; 2s sd, 2s 7d. Nice consignments of ducklings forward realised 3s, 3s Id, 3s 2d, 3s 7d, 3s 9d each. Eggs have'' been rather short of requirements. Fortunately, wo were able to secure for our consignors Is 6d, Is 7d, ana Is 8d per dozen, and invito oorrespon* dence and consignments."