POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3487, 11 January 1921, Page 19

POULTRY NOTES.

By

Terror.

—“Troubled,” Kaitangata.—lf it is canker, the yellow deposit should be removed every day with a bit of wood (which should be burned after use), and a small amount of iodoform applied to the small spot. A pinch of Epsom salts every morning is a good thing to give, because of its cleansing and cooling effect. The salts may be given dry in the bird's mouth, or placed in the drinking- water. It is also said that common writing ink applied to the spot after the removal of the canker will effect a cure, and a mixture of glycerine and carbolic acid is well spoken of as a curative agent. The report of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club (to December 12) on the egglaying competition at Papanui says, inter alia: —In the light, breed single bird test, S. L. Beer’s white Leghorn (197) and W. K. Ward’s, Mrs Chambers’, G. Gee’s, H. Williams’, W. J. Middletons’s, FI. L. Downey's. 11. W. Beck’s, IT. Hunter’s, and A. C. Goodlet’s have totals of over 160; but the first five named will have to improve in weight of eggs during the next three months. Goodlet’s should comply with the conditions, and looks fit to reach 260 eggs for the eleven months. The Utility Poultry Club has decided to raise its members’ subscriptions to £1 but members competing in The egg-laying competition will not be affected. Messrs R. W. Hawke, W. T. Green, 11. Beck, G. Bonnett, Willoughby Knight, and Alf Mumby are contributing to the cost of a shield, to be competed for in the duck section next year at Papanui. Mr Willoughby Knight, who is one of New Zealand’s most noted poultrymen, lias | hatched over eight thousand chickens this season. from time to time different remedies are suggested for the same diseases, and it may be well to explain that it is in one respect a case of “doctors differing,” and in another of “patients differing”—i.e., what will cure one may not cure another. Various remedies have been given for colds, in tl-.e poultry yard, and one which has just attracted my attention I reproduce—l think, however, I have given it before- because it is so simple. If’a fowl has caught a cold, and its eyes are inflamed, keep the bird in a warm place and bathe the eyes with warm water to which permanganate of potash or* Condy’s fluid has been added —just sufficient to colour the water. The advantages of export to the producer have not only been in the fact that it has raised values all through (ho flush season in Sydney (says the Daily Telegraph) from 4d to 6d per dozen over rates that would else have obtained, but it has taken many thousands of eases off the market that would otherwise have gone into cold store, to be brought out to compete with the autumn production. As it is, the quantity in stove is light compared with last year, and this should be reflected in a stronger

market in the autumn and early winter, even if there should not be any material advance on last year’s record rates. -—Mr S. Ellis (Botany, Australia), considers that the prospects of the industry are so good that he is arranging to add yarding and housing for another 2000 layers. At present he has accommodation for 7000 hens. He favours large, semi-intensive houses, the value of which is demonstrated in bad weather. "You have to house for bad weather,” is the way he puts it. Keep the hens well protected and comfortable, then the eggs do not drop off with every adverse change in the weather. It pays. Feeding for Colour. —There are those who argue that colour feeding is faking, and yet, -- so says that veteran English fancier Mr O. A. House, those very people would not hesitate to improve the colour of their birds by giving iron in some shape or form. In reply to the argument that pepper injures the health of the birds, Mr House says:—"The best article in use in all canary studs is a vegetable production, which is quite harmless to the birds fed on it.” After stating that when on the staff of the old Fanciers’ Gazette, he and the editor, the late Mr L. O. Verrev, proved that buff Leghorns were colour-fed, Mr House pro-* ceecls to tell how it is done. He concludes his article on the point by saying: "Rhode Island Reds have been fed for colour, and to colour-feeding is due the wonderful depth and evenness of under colour possessed by some exihbits. Knowing, as I "do, that Rhode Island Reds are colour-fed, and that the feeding does improve the colour, I go farther, and say that the effect on the fancy, if generally followed, will not make for advancement. Fanciers, thoughtless ones, who are ninny in number, will colourfeed instead of colour-breed, wiil then neglect the natural colouring powers of the studs. I am not among those who regard colour-feeding as faking, but I do say that those who desire the permanent advance of the Rhode Island Reds should leave colourfeeding severely alone. To the multitude it will prove; but a snare and a delusion, notwithstanding the fact that some successful exhibitors are colour-feeders.” To my mind there is nothing wrong with colour-feeding if the purchasers of eggs from colour-fed stock and (or) the purchasers of colour-fed birds are informed of the fact that the colour of the producer’s stock is due to colour-feeding. If the purchase is allowed to be made under the impression that the colour has been “bred” for and not “fed” for, he is being imposed upon, and, certainly, that is not legitimate business. At the show, also there should be classes for colour-fed birds, and in the case of colourrod buds being. entered as colour-bred birds, and the fact discovered, the breeder should be disqualified from ever showing again. It may be asked, “How is it to be discovered at show time that a bird faked bv colourfeeding has been wrengly classed?” This question I, for one, cannot answer, but I fancy the purchaser of such a bird or birds would soon find out by his purchase losing colour, that he had been defrauded, and it would be his duty to expose the fraud. Don t mix strains. Don’t g'o to one man for pullets -and to another iov a cockerel. Get both from the same source. No doubt you think you will cross the strains and get the best out of each; but it is here you wiH go off the track. The unexpected sometimes happens in poultry-breeding, and Nature most likely will go hack on you and tie your scheme in a. knot, by causing the crossed strains to revert and give you the worst from each instead of the best. Think of it this way : One man has been breeding for pullets tor many years, and has sue ceeded in turning- out consistently good specimens. The other breeder might be noted for his excellent cockerels. You cross the strains and get—what? No man can say. You may get, anything or everything, according to which of the two strains is the stronger. Or you might fluke somethjng exceptionally good, and, if you do, you will be let in for trouble later on, for you can’t hold a ‘come-by-chance’ strain of birds.” —7 Every poultry-keeper who knows his business tells his readers to give plenty of green food to their fowls. There is but little actual feeding value in any kind of green stuff; but, even so, it is one of the most important aids to the successful keeping of poultry. Following are the reasons why the statement is made: 1. The saline and mineral properties have a marked effect in the matter of improving the egg-production, because the fowls are kept in strong health thereby. 2. Those same properties exercise an important influence in the matter of increasing the fertility of the eggs, a nit causing the hatching of stronger and healthier chickens. 3. The elements in the green stuff act as blocd-coolers and bowel-correctives, and the general effect of feeding them is noted in the strong, healthy condition exhibited by the fowls. 4. For the’ foregoing reasons the percentage of dead-in-shell chicks is much smaller where green stuff is continuously and liberally supplied. Note.—The best results are secured by chaffing up the green foods, whatever they may be. The eager, active, hungry hen is the profit-maker. An overfat hen is stupid, lazy, and unprofitable. ■ — Hens are very useful in the garden when there is nothing there for them to destroy. They rid the ground of many pests and benefit tliemselvesrat the same time. Papanui Egg-laying Competition.— Thirty-fourth week ended December 25: Single bird test. Heavy breeds —R. R. Christie (B.O.) 175. E. AC Arthur (1i.0.j 140; light breeds—S. L. Beer (W.L.) 206 A. C. Goodlet (W.L.) 196, W. E. Ward (W.L.) 193. Single bird test. Three birds, sameowner. Heavy breeds—T. E. Conway (B.O.) 192, 162, 162, total 516: J. B. Merritt (B.O.) 151, 141, 161 —453; R. R, Christie (B.O.) 118. 132, 153 —403. Light breeds—J. Webb (W.L.) 176, 175. 162-513; G. 11. Bradford (W.L.) 191, 191, 181—513; Smart Bros. (W.L.) 175, 175, 174—512. Team test. Six birds to pen. Heavy breeds—J. Grain (B.O.) 743, T. Dowthwaite (SAY) 7^7; light breeds—E. E. Marsden (W.L.) 1092, H. Williams, five birds (W.L.) 886, G. Bonnett (W.L.) 885, A. C. Goodlet (W.L.) 880. Indian Runner Ducks. Three birds, same owner. Single bird test—R. W. Hawker (1.R.) 220, 182, 221, total 623; W. Knight (UR.) 188. 238, 187—613. _ Southland Egg-laying Competition.— Thirty-seventh week ended 31st December: Single bird test—D- F. M'Dougall (W.L.) 230 A. Troyan (W.L.) 227, Mrs Gorniski (W.L.) 226. Team Test. Six bards to pen. Heavy breeds —Stevens and Hunted (SAT.) 860, Enterprise IFF. • (F.R.) 760; light breeds—A.

Love (W.L.) 1126, E. Williamson (W.L.) .1108, J. E. Anderson (W.L.) 1C46. Ducks—J. C. Wilson (W.1.R.) 1029, R. J. Clarke (1.R.) 901. Reilly’s Central Produce Mart report:— We held our weekly sale of poultry on Wednesday, sth. A fair, hut improved, yarding was experienced. The following prices were realised: —Hens, from bs to 6s 2d; cockerels, from 3s 4d to 8s 6d; ducks, from 7s to 10s 6d —all at per pair; one hen and chickens, from 17s 6d to 225. Eggs: j For stamped and guaranteed we are obtain- i ing Is lid, case is 9d, Is lOd.