POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3348, 15 May 1918, Page 40

POULTRY NOTES.

By Tebrob. —E. P., Kaikoura.—You need havo no fear that the pullets will bo contaminated by the presence of birds of inferior type in the pen. If the pullets are pure their progeny will be pure providing the rooster is also pure. It does not matter what other birds he mates with, it will not effect the pullets or their progeny. I learn that Mr Peter Sinclair, the veteran iioultry export, of Mosgiel, has been appointed to judge the fancy sections at'the next Taieri Show, and that Mr H. L. Sprosen is to judge the utility clashes. The Taieri Club must be complimented on their selection of judges, for their can be no question as to the qualifications of tho gentlemen selected. Whilst judging the fancy show birds Mr Sinclair is keenly alive to what constitutes laying points and abnormalities likely to militate against utility will find no favour with him, and vice versa, Mr Sprosen, although well versed in all that appertains to egg-laying type, is a fancier through and through. Given two such judges for three or four consecutive years, it would be hard to find any difference between fancy and utility. Some weeks back I made reference to tho fact that some of the leading wdiite Leghorns at the Papanui Egg-laying Competition were, in the estimate of a -Dunedin visitor, nothing more as regards type than just white birds. My remarks in respect to this matter havo been going the rounds of the Australian press, and one scribe remarks that "it is not so in Australia"! Apparently, however, there are differences of opinion, for "Utility," of the Melbourne Weekly Times, says: —On visiting Burnley last week I had a look through tho teajiis of birds and the singles competing in the tests which were begun on April 1. In the black Orpington teams I was agreeably surprised to find that the type and general conformation of the majority of the competing birds had improved to a great extent, as compared with any previous tests. Colour in plumage, in several cases, was net up to exhibition requirements, but in other points there was a decided advance. The enforcement of the 51b weight limit for pullets may have had considerable influence. I am pleased to find that breeders of laying strains of this variety are taking a keen interest in bringing their birds so much nearer to what a black Orpington should be, and it is to be hoped that the birds will give a good account of themselves in ogg production. In white Leghorns there are also numbers that show nice typfr and Leghorn character; but there are numbers not nearly up to standard, as far as Leghorn conformation is concerned, and this lack of uniformity is regrettable. Some very good. Rhode Island reds are in the test, and if they lay as well as they look they should help to retain the popularity of the breed. Some buff Rooks do not strike one. as being highgrade birds. A couple of good Ancona pullets should be good egg producers. Some birds have been evidently selected too young, and are likely to lose time in starting egg production. Among them are Minorca pullets that are very backward. Prices for poujlry in England are at present very high. The Mark Lane Express (London) gives the following quotations:— First grade iSurrey fowls: Bristol 14s each, London lis each. Second grade: Bristol Bs, London 7s. Ducks: First grade—Bristol 8s each. London 12s each; second grade—Bristol 5s each, London 8s each. Geese: First grade. Bristol Is 6d a pound; second grade, Is 4d a pound. Turkeys: First grade— Bristol 3s 6d a pound, London 2s lOd a pound; second grade—Bristol 2s 3d a pound, London 2s 6d a pound. A test for broodiness was recently made at tho Missouri Station (America). In tho test wore two pens of six black Leghorn pullets. They were of the same blood, and all conditions were precisely alike, except that one pen had a nest full of china eggs to sit on each time they went to lay. The result was surprising. In the pen where there were no nest eggs not. one of tho six went broody in 60 days, while in the pen with a nest full of china, eggs there were 12 spells of broodiness, three of the pullets going broody three times in the 60 days. This bears out the -opinion that broodiness is a mental state, and is not wholly influenced by a hen having laid her full complement of eggs. Another strong point in favour of removing the eggs regularly from the nest is provided by the fact that the six pullets without nest eggs produced 275 eergs in the 60 days, while those with the china eggs only laid 145. the time lost in broodiness being responsible for portion of the shortage. This also indicates that broodiness may be discpuraged _by removing tho hen to different surroundings so as to get her mind away from the subject of hatching. —lt is claimed that one bushel of oats sorouted will make two bushels of feed. Tho oats should be spread out in trays about lin in depth, after being soaked for 24 hours. (Sprinkle thorn each day with water, and when they are a week old feed to tho birds. Do not use artificial heat to force- the sprouting or tho oats will develop mould.' The birds like this feed, .and will produce eggs satisfactory to the most sanguine poultryman. Economic feeding is the only safeguard against loss, unless we o-*rraniso more fully and raise the price of eggs. Green rait bone is a very stimulntinrr feed, and should bo used with care. It is not safe to feed unless it is fresh. If fed in amounts of about Aoz per hen nor <]n.y it may bo used to replace half of the moat scrap.

Clover chaff, either dry .or steamed, is relished by the hens, and may bo advantageously used to add variety to tho ration.

Buttermilk or skimmed milk may be used in place of meat scrap, allowing about 12 to 14 quarts per 100 hehs per day. Tho Co-operative Fruitgrowers of Otago (Ltd.) report—A very lino yarding of poultry came forward for our sale on Wednesday, and all birds realised really good values, the feature of our sale being the large number of cockerels and ducklings forward, and these excited keen competition. Stamped and guaranteed eggs have been equal to the demand. Preserved eggs are in excess of requirements. We are experiencing a keen demand for meat meal. The following prices were secured for cur consignments:—Eggs: Stamped and guaranteed 2s 6d dozen, preserved Is 8d dozen. Hens: 8 at Is 4d, 5 at Is sd, 37 at Is 6d, 33 at Is 7d, 62 at Is Bd, 32 at Is 9d, 73 at Is lOd, 5 at Is lid, 38 at 2s. 37 at 2s 2d, 11 at 2s 7d. Cockerels: 2 at Is lOd, 33 at 2s, 29 at 2s 3d, 17 at 2s 4d, 6 at 2s sd, 25 at 2s 6d, 27 at 2s 7d, 12 at 2s 9d. 12 at 2s lOd, 17 at 3s 2d, 4 at 3s sd. Ducks: 6at 2s 6d, 18 at 2s 9d, 17 at 2s lOd, 19 at 3s, 11 at 3s 3d. Pullets: 4 at 4s 3d, 2 at 4s 6d, 6 at 6s 6d. Messrs Eraser and Co.. 146 Crawford street, Dunedin, agent for the Otago E,gg Circle, report: —Eggs: Market firm ; fresh, 2e 5d to 2s_6d; stamped.. 2s Bd, Poultry: At our auction sale on Wednesday, at 1.30, tho following prices w-ere realised :—Hens — 25 at Is. 84 at Is 3d. 25 at Is 4d, 50 at Is 6d, 18 at 2s, 30 at 2s 6d. Pullets—4 at 3s. 6 at 4s 9d. 7 at ss, 7 at 5.? Bd, and 4 at 6s. Cockerels—loo at 2s, 30 at 2s 6d. Ducks—6 at 2s ScT, 7 at 3s, 21 at 3s Id. Goose —6 at 4s ;—all at per head. Turkeys gobblers at lid, 12 hens at lOd per lb live weight