POULTRY ROTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3398, 30 April 1919, Page 39

POULTRY ROTES.

By Tekboh.

At the Hawkesbury Laying Competition, recently completed, a black Orpington laid 533 eggs in a two years' test; making a world's record. A pen of six black Orpingtons (including the champion) laid 2789 eggs in the two years, * 1613 being laid in the first year and 1176 in the second, thus beating all previous Hawkesbury records fox* a two years' contest. The leading white Leghorn pen in the competition laid 2567 eggs in two years—l 463 in the first and 1104 in the second. The black Orpington eggs were worth £ls 8s 2d, beating the white Leghorn both in value and number of eggs. Tho foregoing particulars are not the only evidence we have had from competitions that other breeds, when specialy bred for the purpose, can hold, and sometimes more than hold, their own with the best strains of white Leghorns. I have frequently pointed out that although the pens of white Leghorns predominate at competitions, others breeds represented by very few pens, and thus heavily handicapped, have sometimes produced the -winners. Langshans, as well as _ Orpingtons and Minorcas, have scored in the past, and there is not the slightest reason to doubt that other breeds, particularly amongst the light breeds, could do so if less regard were paid in the breeding to purely fancy requirements and a little more to egg production. And tho point I wish to stress is that thero would bo more interest in tho fancy both in breeding for show and for egg-laying competition if the contests were between different breeds rather than between different strains of one breed. People soon get tired of looking at pen after pen or yard after yard of white Leghorns; it soon becomes a matter of looking at merely white birds: a touch of variety is needed to maintain interest, and this is _ evidenced by the enhanced interest taken in the reeult of the Hawkesbury Competition, when black Orpingtons not only won' tho test, but won it against the much-vaunted white Leghorn. Mr Moses, who_has arrived from England to take charge of Mr Lilico's dogs, has brought out ■with him a trio of Old English

game. These are reported to be very fine birds of a strain which has been in Mr Moses' family for over half a century, his father and grandfather both having bred birds for the cockpit. The cock bird, I am informed, "looks as though he could smash things, and is evidently as bold as a lion." Mr Moses came out through Canada, and was 16 weeks on the journey, as he just struck Vancouver at the time of the strike in Sydney on account of the epidemic. He had the birds under his personal care all the time, and landed them in splendid condition. Mr Moses will have every facility, at Mr Lilico's 600-acre farm at Drummond to make the best of his Jive stock, and it is to be hoped that, as a result of his arrival, there will soon bo a renewed interest in Old English game. —Xo Best Breed. —As an Australian poultry expert points out in a recent exchange: "There is no best breed, because, whether a breed will give good or bad results depends on the ability and perseverance of the man behind it." This is quite right; but I think the kind of "ability" chiefly required is the ability to persevere. I know several breeders who know all that is necessary, and who are quite able to do all that is necessary to get good, if net best, results from their fowls; but despite their knowledge and ability they fail to get good results; and they fail for' the reason that they do not persevere. They apply their knowledge and ability only by fits and starts —for instance, on expectation of a_ visitor everything is in apple-pie order and a treat to look at, but, taken by surprise, nothing but excuses are forthcoming. The reason why water tins are empty, and why the birds were not fed that particular morning is probably the same reason that the visitor obtained on a previous surprise visit. It is such "knowing" and "able" financiers as these who- rapidly change from one breed to another, and are always lauding the breed they possess—when they first possess it, that is to say —as the best. After a while, owing to neglect,. any breed loses favour with such people. —ln a report on the Hawkesbury competition some time ago the Poultry Expert said: —"Cut-up liver U6ed to be fed at a different time of the day, and by itself in the earlier competitions, but it has been found that by mincing the liver into, a fine meal it can easily be mixed with the morning mash, and it adds a zest which the hens are not slow to appreciate." The third annual laying Competition of the Wangaratta Utility Poultry Club was ended on March 31. There were 355 competing birds. The eggs were sold at an average of Is a dozen. The cost of feeding was 8s 4d a bird for the 12 months, and the winning white Leghorn hen returned a profit over food of 25s 6d. Following were the results:—White Leghorns: Singles —Chazel Stud pens. 301; C. Ridley, 277; Chazel Stud pens, 277. Blade Orpingtons: W. A Shevill, 295; W. A. Shevill, 250. Six birds—White "Leghorns: H. W. Bond, 1408; C. Ridley, 1385. Silver Wyandottes, 1302. The winner of the light breedssingle test at the recent laying competition in Bendigo was Mr H. B. James's white Leghorn hen, Lady Bendigo. Her total egg production for the 12 months was 330. She was a very consistent layer. Her figures for the ycfer were as follow: Four in first four days, then weekly—7, 6, 7,6, 7,6, 7,6, 7,7, 6,7, 7,6, 7,6, 7, 7,7, 7,6, 6,6, 6,6, 6,7, 6,7, 6,7, 7, 7, 7, 6,6, 6,6, 7,6, 7,6, 6,6, 6,6, 5, 7,6, 5,5, and one in last four days;— total, 330.

—ln feeding grains to the birds, don't forget that those that have a lot oi husk are apt to causo internal irritation and inflammation if fed too continuously and in a raw state. ' If these grains are fed the fibre of the husk may be broken down to a largo extent by cooking. Taken all round, good, clean wheat is probably the best grain food for fowls. It does not contain much egg-forming' material, but it maintains 'the flesh and blood in good order and condition, although its over-use will cause the formation of internal fat. —At this time of the year, when the birds are becoming slack, and therefore more liable to contract any ailment that may be about, it is a. good preventive to add a few Condy's crystals (permanganate of potash) to the drinking water—just sufficient to colour the water a light pink. —ln the handling of the heavy birds, don't forget the point that they should have more green food than the light, skinny layers. The heavy breeds are not so active, and consequently are more prone to lay on internal fat. The green stuff acts as a preventive in this direction, inasmuch as it is a laxatiye or scouring agent. Reilly's Central Produce Mart (Ltd.) reports: As usual after holidays, a very small yarding of poultry came forward.Eggs are still in keen demand —stamped and guaranteed at 2s 6d and preserved at Is lOd per dozen. Poultry realised: Hens from Is 7d to 2s 3d. cockerels from Is 9d to 3s 6d, ducks from 2s 5d to 3s 6d, and geese from 3s 9d to 5s each. Turkey gobblers made lid per lb and turkey hens B£d to lOd per lb. Messrs Fraser and Co., produce merchants, auctioneers, and commission agents, 416 Crawford street. Dunedin, report: Eggs: Market firm: fresh 2s 4d to 2s sd, stamped 2s 6d. Poultry: We held our usual sale on Wednesday at 1.30. We offered a line of 50 pullets from four to six months old. which realised very high prices. The following are the prices at per head: Pullet«—s at 8s 3d, 8 at 9s, 5 at 9s 3d, 13 at 9s 6d. 4 at 10s, 5 at 10s at 10s 6rl. Hens—loo at Is 7d, Bat Is Bd. 35 at Is 9d. 12 at 2s. Cockerels—l 7at 2s 6d. Bat 2s 9d. 70 at 3s, 4at 3s 9d. Bucks—3o at 2s, 18 at 3s. Geese, 5s per head. _ TurkeysGobblers lid, hens lOd per lb live weight. There is a strong demand for good pullets up to six months old. We advise consignments of all classes.