POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 40

POULTRY NOTES.

By Tkbhob.

Mr F. C. Brown, the Chief Government Poultry Instructor, does not think it a matter for congratulation when pullets lay at the early age of, say, four and a-half months. He says such birds never grew to a desired size, nor do they produce a decent-sized marketable egg, and, therefore, are useless as breeding stock. In Mr Brown's opinion the fact that a pullet comes .to maturity at a. very young age indicates that its productive organs have developed before it has had time to build up a good frame; and, he says, "to breed from such rapidly-maturing stock must mean ruination of the strain in the near future." Mr Brown points out that this early laying proclivity is to a great extent due to the feeding of too rich a diet, and he advocates giving them less meat, meatmeal, or similar nitrogenous foods, as it is such materials—sometimes including an oversupply of milk —which most favour prematurity. I think most experienced breeders will agree with Mr Brown in this matter —i.e., that too early laying is ' undesirable, and that to breed from such is ruinous; but I would suggest that the arguments he uses hold good, also, in respect to breeding from the best layers. Whilst -1 lino .v that many, where, deep study of the question entitles them to respect, strongly advocate the practice of breeding from the record layers, I am not alone in believing that an unnatural and continuous strain on one organ is at the expense of other organs, and consequently must result in loss of constitution. The individual bird may seemingly; retain its constitution —as evidenced by its continuous laying; but how about its progeny? It may be that Nature may help . the breeder in this respect for, a few generations at any rate, if he invariably takes the precaution of mating his phenomenal layer (in her breeding season, and subsequent to a spell) to a male of thoroughly sound constitution. The- most-favoured practice nowadays, however, is,. I believe, to depend upon a male related to the bes't layer, and not upon herself, for the upholding or improving of a strain. It is said that such a male will improve the kying of 'the progeny of any pen of fowls provided it (the breeding pen) is below the standard of the strain he himself belongs to; and, vice versa, that the introduction of a male of inferior strain to a pen of superior birds will inevitably lower the productive powers of the progeny from the mating. There is apparently no absolute knowledge in regard to this question. It is all a matter of theory; but theories are as good as facts till they are disproved. poultry in restricted areas, Mr Edward Brown, the Etnglish authority on poultry culture, says that whilst six hens may be profitably kept upon a. space of 15ft by 6ft, a dozen "birds kept on the same space would probably fail to produce an equal number of eggs. Birds closely confined must have exercise, and to secure this it is essential that part of the food given be buried in scratching material. Cleanliness in houses and runs is of supreme importance, and the birds should be kept free from parasites. The house should be swept out regularly, the manure removed at stated intervals, the walls should be limewashed, and the food and w,ater vessels cleansed daily. The provision of a dustbath will enable the birds to free themselves from paraeites. Parasites multiply very rapidly where birds are kept in strict con'fir.ement, and can only be kept down by the methods recommended. No soft food should be allowed to remain after the birds are satisfied at each meal. Occasionally—say twice a week —a tableepoonful of powdered vegetable charcoal for every six hens may bo mixed with the soft food. Grit, as sold by corndealers, or fine-broken stones are essential for effective food digestion, and must always be in a box within reach of the fowls. During the moulting period cast feathers should be swept up daily. The two black Orpington hens whose performances in. Australia have been referred to by me from time to time are still doing wonderful work. The one (Mr Pv. Burns's) at the Gattan (Queensland) competition had up to January 31—a period of 306 dayslaid 288 eggs; and the one belonging to Mr O. R. Graham and performing at N Burnley (Victoria)' had at January 31 (292 days) laid 272 eggs. The Gattan competition started on April 1, and Burnley's on April 15. Should either or both these birds keep clear of a moult they will have put up a record for heavy breeds which the best of the light breeds will find it hard to beat. At the Papanui Egg-laying Competition, conducted by the New Zealand Poultry Club, the end of the forty-fourth week (February 12) showed Calder Bros.' No. 1 pen leading with 1242 egg 3 in the Leghorn section, Mr W. H. West's six birds coming next with 1237. Our local breeder, Mrs J. Mills, who did so well and consistently in all previous years, is rather low down this year, her birds having laid only 1008. In the heavy breeds the highest score —viz., , 1148—is by Mr F, Stain's black Orpingtons. In the duok contest the figures aro good, and it is a pleasure to record them as follows:—lndian runners: W. Knight 1291, Heretaunga P.O. 1414. Mrs Geo 1293, W. T. Green 1417, H, W. Bower 1493. In the single bird competition Green Bros.' white Leghorn hen leads with 273 eggs, and Mrs Mills's bird is second with 260. The eighth annual report of the Wairarapa Egg Circle shows decided progress.

In the first year (1810-11) the circle had '(0 members, sold 18,512 dozen egs, realisin £958 12s 6d. These figures rose rapidly in every particular till the war started, when the membership dropped. The membership now stands at 89, showing a recovery. The eggs sold last year numbered 32,475, and the amount realised was £2816 18s 4d. The total number of eggs handled to date by the circle is 267,360 dozen, arid the total value £17,872 lis 7d. The report contains the following paragraph, which deserves careful consideration by circle members everywhere, for certainly, if the oirclo movement docs not bring about complete co-operation, it cannot be the great success it is capable of becoming. —; I cull the following par. from an Australian paper in order to illustrate the fact that while experience gained in one locality may bo of value to all, subject to similar conditions, .it may be valueless (even dangerous) as a guide elsewhere. An Adelaide poultry scribe writes: —"Breeding from autumn-hatched pullets is decried by a man who never bred a hundred autumnhatched white Leghorn pullets in ono year of his life, and therefore does not know. The reason why autumn-hatched pullets make such fine breeding stock is that they have a long "period of cool weather in which to grow and devolop. Warm weather always helps early maturity." A writer in a district where the winter conditions are really severe would in all probability write:—"The reason why autumn-hatched pullets make such ' poor' breeding stock is because the long period of severe weather they have to endure stunts their growth and prevents the full development which should come before maturity." As with the season for breeding, so with feeding. In warm weather (any locality), and in countries where the temperature is almost invariably genial, fowls will do well on food which would neither maintain condition nor favour egg-production in a colder climate. Even in Otago province fowls require food richer in carbohydrates in the inland districts at a high altitude than they do on the seaboard.

' The Co-operative Fruit-growers of Otago (Ltd.) report: " A fair yarding of poultry came forward for our sale on Wednesday, and prices were slightly easier than those ruling the previous week. This is duo to the fact that a number of our customers were able to purchase their supplies privately, and at a cheaper rate. In all we received only some 350 birds, which realised the following prices : —Hens —seven at Is 7d, 26 at Is Bd. 45 at Is 9d, 46 at Is lOd, 29 at Is lid, 36 at 2s, 19 at 2s 4d, three at 3s 3d. 10 at 2s 6d; cookerels—five at Is Bd. 27 at Is 9d. six at 2s, 11 at 2s 2d, 36 at 2s 3d. 12 at 2s 7d, 16 at 2s 9d, eigbtf at 3s 2d. Eggs: Quite sufficient are coming forward to meet our customers' requirements, and prices for stamped and guaranteed are Is 9d per dozen. Case eggs realised Is Bd."

Messrs Fraser and Co., 146 Crawford street, agents for the Otago Egcj Criele, report: "Eggs: Market firm. Fresh, Is 7d; stamped. Is 9d. Poultry: At our auction sale on Wednesday at 1.30 the following prices were realised at r>er head :—Hens—--120 at Is 6d, 50 at Is 7d. 100 at Is Bd, 200 at Is 9d, 50 at Is lid. 75 at 2s, 50 at 2s Id, 35 at 2s 3d; cockerels—2s at 2s 6d, 25 at 2s 9d, 15 at 3s; chickens—lo at 9d, 15 at Is 3d, 24 at Is 6d, 15 at Is 9di ducks—2o at 3s, 15 at 3s Id. 24 at 3s 6d, 10 at 3s 7d • geese —five at 3s 6d. 5 at 4s; turkey gobblers, 10£d to ll£d; hens, 9£d to Write for poultry crates." the Wairarapa Egg Circle last year was 32.475. and the amount realised was £2816 18s 4d. Since the circle was formed in 1910-11 no fewer than 367.260 dozen eggs have passed through its hands, realising £17,872 lis 7d. SOUTH ISLAND POULTRY ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the Executive Council of the South Island Poultry Association was held in Christchurch on Saturday. Mr G. E. Jeffreys (president) presided over a full attendance of members. The schedules for young bird shows of the Otago Bantam Club, New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, and Christchurch Canary Club were passed:— Championships for 1918 were balloted as follows : —Gore — Pekin bantams, black Leghorns, Seabright bantams, any other variety fancy pigeon and any other frill pigeon. Mosgiel —Brown Leghorns, utility silver wyandottes, utility white Leghorns, Jvlorwioh buff canary and pouter, cropper, fantail, or Jacobin pigeon. Christchurch—Bantam (other than game), game bantam, minoroa, iumbler pigeon (clean-legged, long-faced), ;>nd any other variety canary than. Norwich (non-colour-fed). Invercargill—Black Orpington, Rhode Island red, utility runner duck, v orking homer, and any other variety canary than Norwich. Ashburton —Golden wyandotte, Andulusian, utility white Wyandotte, nun and dragoon pigeons. North Canterbury —Utility brown Leghorn, duck, utility black Orpington utility Rhode Island red, baldhoad pigeons and any other variety than Norwich or Yorkshire canary. Dunedin —English wli'lte Leghorn, Apcona, utility white Plymouth rock muff tuimbler pigeon and magpie pigeon. Kaitangata— Hamburg,, white _ Wyandotte,_ white Plymouth rock, English and African owl, and any variety of canary Oamaru —Game, Orpington (other than black), utility barred rock, working homer and mule canary. Tapanui—Silver Wyandotte, old English game, barred Plymouth roclc, clean-legged tumbler (other than self), plainhead, clear, ticked, or variegated yellow Norwich canary (non colour-fed). Granity— Wyandotte and utility white Leghorn. Westport—Leghorn and utility black Minorca.