FANCIERS’ COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3523, 20 September 1921, Page 20

FANCIERS’ COLUMN.

The Otago Witness has been appointed the official organ for the publication oi announcements of the Dunedin Fanciers’ Club. ■ THE KENNEL. By Terror. Fanciers and breeders of dog? are cordially invited to contribute to this column. “Terror”' will endeavour to make this department as interesting and up-to-date as possible, but iu order to do this he must have the co-operation of his readers, % hence he trusts this invitation will be cheerfully 9 responded to. * —Mr Thomas, Stuart street, Dunedin, has purchased from Messrs James and ■Sedan a fine young fox terrier dog by champion Southboro Symbol (imp.) —Mr James lias received from Air Scolan a fox terrier bitch bred, from the Australian importation, which promises to turn S out well. e | —Alt' Sedan, of Balclutha, has retained , j two dog pups by Ch. Southboro Symbol for 4 | himself. lie is getting them ready for 8 ! the Christchurch Show in November. e j —Mr 1.. S. Gibson has a very line young j black cocker dog that is looking particui laiiy well. It is this fancier's intention I to show him at Christchurch. J —Mr C. Barlow, late of Allanton, but ) I now residing at Clinton, who did so well I at the Dunedin Club's Show with his | coloured cockers bv Mr S. Crisp's Vogel j Gunner, is again sending Miss Trixey up | to Vogel Gunner in the hope of breeding 9 ! several more winners. “■ | —Mr J. Doe, of Invercargill, has sent j Kabvmere Kitty O’Shea on a stud visit ! to le v. Father Graham’s Australian-bred ! dog, Roscrea Rebel. - ; —Air R. Vv . Brown has sold Ileatherlea I Talisman to Mr Malcolm MTCay, of Ashley I - Clinton, Haw lie’s Bay; Ileatherlea Berene | cia to Mr Al'Laughlin, dentist George | street, Dunedin : Ileatherlea. Morna to Dr I R. M. Crooks!on. Camden, New South ; Wales; Ch. Whareroa Maxim to Mr R. | Inglis, Glenfalloch, Macandrew's Buy. f ; --Mr Brown’s Ch. Clourlea Koval is in I I wheljj to the well-known dog Ileatherlea I i Strath royal, and something good is ex!j petted from the mating. Mr Brown also 1 intends mating Heatherlea Laverna (imp.) i and I leads i lea Brenda to idealhe! lea Mr Run Crabtree’s report upon his world judging tour is iilreiid.v appearing- in | ; Canada, but he winds up with the remark: I i “To-morrow morning (June 4) 1 set sail bv | the s.-. Makurn for (Jonol.uu and the Fiji I ; Isianris, rn roti'e for New Zealand, so preV ■ sumably his next report will he in reference In my not"- of August 30 T made tint Mi Cimiiinghani's birch Raliywin- at the hue Dtm.'din dhow. Mr Cunningham v :i e.- to explain that the said j win vim. 3 firsts, 6 seconds, and 11 t lord: v er- mane at various tunes, and non ail at Dunedin ■■■ last show. ’the point d about la-t Duiwn'.n Show was that it gave ample proof of I'll’.! by I’re.-idenl's (the y i (log to which si::' iias been mite,]) ((Utility, is : a soil and a da tig liter getting < ha: ipion.-hip id | awards in their respective section.--. Speaking of terriers, a lle-oie authority n 1 - i- • “It is n.\ opinion d:al owuci s of oil o breeds of teiTmrs situuld go “ail fait” for •r -ound lee - and feet. ii is a falal mid ike it | to bro"d this evil out.” lie (Air Roger .0 : feel; it trims at least throe, l onera t ions If 1 to breed this evi lout." He (Air Roger I I'hihips. an Irish lerric: bry.'d(’") .-e! L that | he s.-nww unrh island any leirier man

I once having good legs and feet in liis | kennel ever tolerating indifferent ones in this respect.” —A wave of wild dogs (says the Sydney Sun) fed constantly from the great dingo “reservoir,” which lies in the centre of Australia, is creeping -steadily over the I north-west of New South Wales. The sheep larrocrs are slowly retiring before tile menace. 'The wild dogs, or ding-os, which j breed in great numbers in the unmapped I centre of the Australian continent, have ! for the past 20 years been filtering through | all wire and other barriers raised against | them, and have killed thousands of sheep. —The anti-viviseclionists, so far as the | dog is concerned, are continuously before | the House (in England), and Our Dogs rej ports that- the Dogs’ Protection Bill will I have no chance of going through this j session. This will cause a keen sense of j disappointment- among its supporters. The opposition comes mainly from the small group, of medical M.P.’s and their friends. They oppose the Bill on the grounds that the vivisection of dogs is indispensable to the progress of the healing art, and that the welfare of human beings must be given first consideration. Their point is that in experiments upon living tissues the dog is the nearest approach to the human subject, and they claim that the existing safeguards against cruelty are -sufficient. The supporters of the Bill claim to be the friends of the “friend of man,” and maintain that this kind of experimenting is, and must of necessity, be cruel. The difference is largely the difference between reason and sentiment, though it is true to say that the medical party are far from heartless, and that the other party are by no means opposed to the advance of science. Behind all is the healthy British feeling of fairplay and kindness to animals. —The Warwickshire Hunt Club, England. are—so it is reported—using broody hens as foster-mothers for foxhound pups, nourishment being provided by a timely bottle. —Ala j or IR. D. Bagnall, wilting to Our Dogs, says: “The last- cure for mange and fleas is to place the dog in an air-tight box with his head out, and turn in strong fumes of carbonic acid gas. This will kill off all the insects and will cure mange. POULTRY NOTES. By Tkeiior. —lt is explained by the manufacturers of the Kur-swood Complete Poultry Food, now so widely advertised, that analysis shows it to contain —Oil 8.26 per cent., Albuminoids 21.44 per cent., Carbohydrates 47.88 per cent., Albuminoid ratio one to three, food units 122, percentage of digestibility of the food units 22 per cent. —The executive of the South Island Poultry Association lias decided to hold the annual meeting in Dunedin during Show Week. - At the Christchurch Utility Poultry Club’s meeting on Tuesday (last week) ifc was resolved —“That the club's next egglaying competition commence on Sunday, April 9, 1922. —I learn that G. W. Coombe’s three white Leghorns, at present being singlepen tested at the Papanui egg-laying competition, are still doing good work, each bird laying over standard weight eggs. They will be hard to beat for the valuable silver trophy—teapot, sugar bowl, and cream jug. —Southland egg-laying competition to end of twentieth week, Ist September. Single birds —Ctha-s. Thomson, W.K., 115; Tracey King, S.W.. 110; D. F. M'Dougall, W.L., ITS; P. Nelson, W.L., 103; J. White, W.L., 106. learns—Tracey King, W.L., 597; A. E. Morris, W.L., 580; J. E. Anderson, W.L., 522. Ducks—Alex. Peat, 1.R., 513; Alex Peat (one dead), I.R 452. Papanui egg-laying competition to September 3rd, end ot twenty-first -week. Heavy breed (single lieu contest)—J. p. t j Drewett, 8.0., 13i ; R. R. Christie, 8.0., - 87. Light breeds—W. K. Ward, W.L., | 107; F. J. Aierriman, W.L., 104. Three i ; bird test (heavy breeds) —Tracev King . I S.w.. 104—108—109, total 321; jTb. Mar. i j ret! 13.0.. 11l —HI—73 total 300. Three j bird test (light breeds)--It. W. Coo tubes, 1 i W.L., 108—101—100, total 310; P. R. Whiti- ] ford, M.L., 107—107 —93, total 307. Three ■ j bird test (Ltilitv Breeders’ Association) — i Green Bros., W.L., 103—108 -101, total >■ j 517. Ducks —W. T. Green, 1.R., 102 —104 - I —96, total 302. Returned soldiers 1 comi | petition (teams; —J. 0. Musgrave, W i 587; A. H. Adams, W.L., 584. Light -, j breeds (teams) Green Bros.. W.L., 539; i | Verrall Bros., W.K., 512, i I —A .Home authority- says: “No amount 1 of handling and r.o perfection of shape can > tell the judge if the bird has energy, r vitality, and good parentage, without w! ion no bird can lay well. For example, a : bird to the judge’s eye and hand may be an easy winner, and yet be a bird with at weak heart, rotten liver, or some other internal defect:, or be so closely in-bred as t to be lisle.,? as a layer. Some breeders can take up a breed a-nd in a few years' time give you any shape you like.” The foroi going sounds very clever, but as a matter of fact the utility judge does not: rely solely on shape. He looks for other points, such as prominent eye, development and texture of comb and wattles, texture of : skin, fineness of bone, pigmentation and i capacity where it should be, al! aids to the . | discovery of constitutional conditions. , | Though he cannot see the heart he can >eo j j whether their is. chest development sufficient i j to allow for its free action; arid although he I cannot see the liver the comb is a pretty i j fair index as to its condition. The judge may j j often be deceived, but the chances are that , ; as a rule iie will be right. ■ J -—Lost the habit 1 Oornntereiai egg I::..- o- " Legiand are lamenting tinu ■ r. . j j -rod in- ! : r. - -: of late been so ; ; ■'■ able ; -o ■ .i with lose' y- urs. Hi e r ■ imp : ■ dim mi the ue hand and ii nius 11 in! : go sue - e. 1 1.0 mini ~ iv 1 iciiet e J |,» no tlu* cliu f f in • ■ - f- n tln' low prices now oblainal !■ I • j! '■ '• • e g.-. Hut a! m,e and bov- , 1 1. - - ■ .-a - ■ ■ i, bi'lie\ i ! that the high pi ; ■■■■) whir l : bnvc pi -l ani-e .-ince : tie ('let a,- he w - at. a le- en.ni j. j demand for, it is .alleged: “Many who r j us'd to ].’■ I a consumers of eggs have i : n !i-n mislio ( the habit because they could : iei( ;• Ir (1 e • to istuvlisi I'lvidenvly ;t , ; I-■ I-, tie* intere-.i of producers' -poultry proI queers amongst rhe rest—to recognise that | there is a limit to •'prices” just a-~ there is t to ''in rluciion.” ’I !u> imblic want a fair - i deal, and if iliey cannot- get it at the I j grin !■- i r ■■■ naturally enough turn to tile i- ; b.it ,i i s ’I he (It ago Mgg Circle is evi- , j (lenilv vim iu its generation when it- lan's r ! In* In s o of or e, iu the dear seasons, in - : England prices went- up to 4s 6d to 5s i- - she do/.on, ate! iincigh poultry fed was l ! dra; at the t i in- i be fact that tile pro , I dei- - laim now looking bark to tile “gOmt

old times” tells us that they took the fullest advantage of them. Is it any wonder that they are now lamenting because many people have lost the ha-bit- of eating eve's. to cure an ailing fowl than the fowl will over be worth even if cured. All the same prompt attention may often stave off a dangerous disease, but ibis can only be rendered by the attendant who is a w es watching for first symptoms. Often all that is necessary is change of quarters or of diet. One day’s sickness, indicated perhaps by indifference to food, will not set a bird back seriously, but if left- another d?.Y. or so, though medicine may cure, the bird is unlikely to ever be of value for breeding, or even to lay profitably. Watch for darkening of combs, for birds limping, for birds that -s-ii down to eat, for birds everlastingly drinking, for birds reluctant to leave the perch, for birds continuously | visiting the nest and not laying. Attend to such directly you notice- the symptoms, and, as a rule, it will be found that a couple of days in a coop with nothing but green stuff to eat and water to drink, will cure. Hunger is a cure for many poultry maladies. It is a good plan, too, , to examine every ailing bird for vermin. If you do this you may some day be disagreeably surprised. Don’t be afraid to mix plenty of dry earth—garden soil —with the litter on the floor cl the brooder. It answers the pnrP'm‘4 of deodorising the droppings, it serves to hide and discolour the toes of the chicks, and prevents toe-pecking, and when removed with the rest of the litter it is grand stuff to put back into the garden. Keep an eye_ on the chickens at the feeding time, as if anything is wrong then is the time to detect it. If seen to droop, catch and examine at once. The cause may be vermin. A little precipitat ointment applied to the head and a good (lusting with insect powder will put this right. Don’t- run your chickens on bare boards. This may* give rise to cramp, iu which case the toes will become contracted, and the chicks will be unable to scratch. To treat cramp, rub the feet and legs with embrocation and bind round with narrow strips of flannel. Recovery will generally* 1 result in a few hours. Watch for Ailments.—Given, say, two dozen chickens, that number will soon .dwindle down to half a dozen or less it they do not receive proper care and attention. The owner should watch his chickens day after day, and at the least sign of. ailment, whether it be chill, diarrhoea, insects, gapes, etc., the ailing bird should be treated. The profitable- fowls are those that have always been looked after —even from birth. —“A hen will perform only a certain amount of work in the production of eggs in a year, and if she is forced at some seasons she will take her resting spell later.” So says Poultry, but whilst if is true—nothing can be more obvious—that a hen will perform only a certain amount of work in the production of eggs in a year, it is equally true that the number of eggs she will lav depends upon her ability to respond, not to forcing, but to good management. Pedigree birds of equal quality* will lay differently under one ownership to what they would under another. I know breeders who can always get good results, ami others who never can, and simply because in the one case the best of attention is given, and in the other circumstances render equally good attention impossible. Forcing merely hurries the production of eggs already in course of formation, it does not cause their formation. —lf a hen lays abnormally* large eggs, soft-shelled egg?, or double-yolked eggs it indicates that she ip. too fat. In such eases the sooner the food is reduced the better. Dead in Shell. —There are several cases of dead chicks in shell: —Stale revs: If these are set the membrane lining the shell becomes very dry, and is too tough for the chicken to break when the time comes for it to try* and get out. Many chickens are suffocated in consequence. Dirty eggs: if dirty eggs are put into an incubator or under a hen (or if eggs are allowed to be- , come soiled under the latter) the oxygen cannot enter through the pores of the shell. : and the embryo dies for want of it. Faulty ventilation and moisture in incubator: Chickens may die in shell through want of : or too much air and moisture. There is enough moisture in the shell to supply the I chicken with all it needs, but added inoisi ture is required to prevent, undue evaporation. When this is too great the chicken , cannot grow, and is often found glued by the membrane to the shell. On the other hand, when there is too much moisture, the egg does not. become empty enough to enable the chicken to turn round before 1 endeavouring to get out. Chilled eag-s: If the eggs get perfectly cold during the first i 10 days the embryos frequently die. To- : wards the end of the time a weeks ■ can stand extremes much belter. "Vv eak cerms: Eggs often do not hatch owing to the germ dying from want of vitality. * This is caused bv faults in the_ breeding ) pen. the parents being unfit physically, too i much in-breeding’, want of proper mating, etc. Reilly's Central Produce Alart (Ltd.) reports: A nice yarding of purebred white Leghorn hens and pullets attracted p full I attendance of interested buyers. Bidding I for nice, good, showy-looking birds was l spirited, and really good prices were ■ secured throughout. We have a keen demand for bens of heavy breed for duckets. . Ducks and table cockerels realis'd good i prices. Eggs; The market has a better (one, and we quote stamped and gnai ante d Is 5d to Is 6d: cased. Is 4d per dozen On Wednesday we received and f sold- TTons 26 at 12s.' 6 at 11s 6(1. 23 at Us. 11 at. 10s 6d, 37 at 10s. 9 at 9s 6d. * 9 at 8s 7 at 7-. 2 at ss. Pullets —5 at 14s. * 14 at 13s 6d. 5 at 11s. Co -kerels—3 of -13 s. 4 at 12s. 3 at 11s 6d. 10 at 10s. 10 * at 9s, 3 at. Bs, 2 at 6s 6d 2at 6s. Ducks - 1 3 at 12s. 2 at. 11s 6d. 2at 2s. All at per > pair. Bantams realised 2s each.