POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3525, 4 October 1921, Page 24

POULTRY NOTES.

By

TERROR.

A little later on we shall be hearing of pullets laying at four or four and a-half months, and the fact will be recorded bv the owner with pride, thinking either that he has a wonderful pullet or that his own good management, has'achieved something desirable. Precocious laying is, however, anything rather than desirable. It is not an indication of productivity, but. cf bad management More often than not the precocious pullet has a short and inglorious career as a layer, for her weakness, cause:! bv a forcing diet, is revealed throughout her life in the form of small eggs, and on the whole it will be found that such birds are unprofitable, and that the trait of laying too soon, before the bird has developed a good frame and is properly matured, must not be encouraged. Fine and warm weather is directly conducive to activity of the egg organs, and if the birds are given food of a stimulating nature, such as meat, or even rich hotisosraps,,it is probable that the pullets of naturally good laying character, having been hatched early in the season will conic on to lay at a tender age. They will show indications of early laying by developmentof comb, and as further evidence it will he found that the fpa-c between the pelvic bones and the end of the breastbone becomes wider when birds are con line on to lay. This precocious laying is obrtainlv evidence of productive character; but it. is not, desirable, because it most assuredly leads to small eggs, and it would be extremely risky to breed from these early layers Thejr growth is stunted, so that they never attain normal size, and though their eggs may improve with maturity they never reach the. size of those laid by pullets which take six or seven months to grow and mature. The proper thing to do is to cheek precocious laying by changing the food, and if possible by ehanginrr them from one pen to another. As J have said they are of laying character, they are valuable birds, but they want holding back till felly developed. Even a change from wheat to oats or maize for a few days is sometimes sufficient to put such birds off the lay for a t imo —Papanui egg-laying competition, twentythird week, ended September 1-7. Leading pens:— Single birds (heavies) —J. P. Drewett 8.0.. 143: R. R. D'anVo. R n ., 99. J i„fit .. W. E. Ward. W.T,.. 116: E. J. Menfman W.L.. 116: G. IT. Bradford. W.T... 113. Three birds, same owner (heavies) —Tracer' King. S.W.. 115—120—120. total 345: J. B. Merrett, B 0.. 122 —121 —85, total 328. Ktilii v (light)—Oreen 8r05... W.L.. 119 — 119—113. total 351: R. IV. roomi es. AY L . 12.1—113—112. total 346: J. 11. Penrose. W.L.. 117 fid —133, total 34". Ducks- W T. Green. T.TL. 116-117—310. total 343. Teams. «?x birds (light!- Green Bros., W.T,.. 604: Verr.all Bios.. WL, 574. Returned soldiers, teams six birds -,T. C. Vlnsgrove. W T... 667: E. 1,. Rica. W.T... 651. Some of the birds during the week did some wonderful Inyanr. Tn the light breed flock teams six egg? a day was almost the rule. Tn the thr-c bird test YV. T. Green's three docks ch.li laid seven eggs in the week, and so did C. V. Fill’s. Air? Gorinski's Xo 2 team has been homdn bv AT> J. X Af’Lean, of Rotorua, •md Air W H. Wests’ three IP docks b.ve lon 1 1 dired bv Air G. H. Thud ford. of ri-ivAiobiirclb at £l9. 'l’he fb ?i orisc in the South Island P mitre Assovia'i ui"? art union goes to the 'Priori (liol r 20314’. and the second mi z .. Picket 18744) io Mr W. Barrel!, of Ghristchuroh. —-Suo.tbl.au'! egg laving competition, i wentv second week, ended 15th September. Sim 1 1 birds rha-r "Unmison. 'V 7 , 128Ti a rev King. S.W.. 123: I). F. Af’Fonga!!, W.T/.. 121. Teams —Tracey King. W.T... 669: A. E Morris. W.T,.. 650; J. E. Anderson. W.T... 579: Ducks (six birds) — Mox Beat. T.TL. 587; Alex. Peat. 1.R.. 504; Alex. Peat (one dead). T.TL. 504. Air Alex. Font’s no. 1 team of six ducks laid six eggs per day throughout the wpok

J 00-p eking is one of the most troublesome happenings’ in rearing chickens. This trouble can be avoided, says Mr J. Haddington, iiie N.S. W‘. poultry expert, by a moderate use of common salt in the wet mash with which the chickens are feci for the greater part c.*f the day. The right quantity to use is loz to each 51b of mash. The salt must be thoroughly dissolved in the* liquid with which the mash is mixed, and there is no danger of self-poisoning if this is done. If milk can bo used for mixing the mash it will be so much more effective. —Don’t let your admiration for the phenominal layer cloud your judgment for , sound breeding. 1 he value of a hen for breeding purposes lies not. so much in the actual number of eggs she lays in her pullet year as in her ability to transmit her superlative quality to her offspring. Every year' the winner at the egg-laving competitions, with very few, if any, exceptions, i 9 a new name. Why? Apparently, because the high-laying strati at last attained cannot produce stock an good as itself. The importance of pedigree.—ln the course of an article the subject, of pedigree, “Hardshell,” the well-known Australian poultry scribe, after showing the advantages derived by breeders of large stock, such as horses, cows, etc., owing to their carefully-kept breeding records extending over Jong periods, says:—“So far as the breeding of fowls is concerned it is easier to reproduce the bad traits than it is to reproduce the good ones. Why? Because the skilled, selective breeding is of comparativlv recent date. Which means that the pull back to the original, natural birds is stronger than the influence exerted by the modern, selected specimens. Therefore it is tnat to g t the be-t slock it. is necessary that the parent, stock shall bo related. \ he breeding of chickens is, to a great extent, different from the breeding of horses, cotvs, or pigs, and to mate a breeding pen that will produce numerous great chicks is more difficult than to breed a groat racehorse or a cow that has a great milk test. M his statement may surprise a great, many beginners, as they ’will consider the breeding of chickens not a very difficult. subject to master. However, it is true on account of the great factor of atavism, which plays such an important part in the of any ft rm of amnia 1 . Atavism is the throw-back to some ancestor, and when one takes into consideration how few pedigrees there are at the present time in poultry, one must realise that a bird must throw back to a large per cent, of forefathers that trv* breeder knows nothing of. Unfortunately, there are very few pedigrees that will show any bird for four generations, while a horse or a cow can he traced for many times this number. This is a great aid to the breeder of the larger animals, for. by referring to his studbook and studying the pedigrees, making notes of the forefathers, and breeding for points tint ho wishes, he can expect a fairly good individual showing of the points that bo is looking for. But the breeder of fowls is handicapped at the start in not being able to refer to a stud book, and cannot tell what to expect or what to guard against in the weaker points of the forefatheis.” A man who had secured very poor results from a certain make of incubator was surprised when be was told that he .should have supplied moisture, saying: "Why. the makers of the machine, in their instructions, sty. ‘Xo added moisture.’ ” He was still more surprised when it was explained to him that the average incu-bator-maker knows very little about incubation, and has most probably copied the combined instructions of older makers, all of whom lacked experience. - A good pr vent ion of gapes is to keep a sma’l piece 01 gum camphor or assafoetida in the drinking water. If you d > not keev the (hoping boards e’ean you had better nod have any. and go back to the earthen floor, i he dropping hoards are a danger if left to accumulate filth too close iin to the fowls. The male chicken that grows his comb and starts to croV’ early generally makes the t ost sto-k Idl’d. What WiP I fooley Thinks.—Tie describes the eirtv mo’Per as a "onitte»\” and expains that a quitter is one who gets tired quickly and leaves his job! He says the early mbu’tcr emits laying early, whilst the late monitor keeps plodding on till they have been laying for nearly 12 months. "Whilst admit t-rg that most people agree that the pod»oree trap-nested strain <f purebred poultrv constitute the best layers, the Notts Poultiy Club (England) are about- to admit entries of crossbreds and even mongrels at their egg-laying competition. The id-a i*- to test, ihe allegation that crossbred.* are ibo 1 t winter layers, owing io their greater stamina. ~ Turkeys.—On b.vms where “blackhead is troublesome Cu-ys a writrr in the English Farmers’ Gazette) too much care cannot be exercised to keep the poults out- of long wet grass. Keep them near tlio bouse on wet days, letting the r J have full liberty on fine days once the dew is off the gIMS'S. Whiting m a recent issue of the Farmer and FtoH*.breeder. Mr G. A. Palmer recommends one teaspoonful of 5 per cent. B. P. carb die acid to be given to every 10 t.urkev eVoks of a fortnight old on the first sign of black-head. It may be given to the whole florid. A writer in Egg.< some time ago it ported having successfully treated the disease bv giving small doses of paraffin oil. 'the great Dung, however, is prevention, and dryness is one of the great safeguards. A spell of wet weather is always disa irons on farms whore tin’s, terrible dv a-e has made its appearance. Egg food for the turkeys may now bo discontinued. li D a gi* at mistake to give too much of this. Thiddings made of cereals, such as a mixture of rice, oatmeal, and wheat, cooked vi milk, may he substituted for the egg. If >ena rated milk is used a pinch of flaxseed may be added. To cook one of t.a.sv puddings, place the mixture of cereals and milk (lib toquart of milk) ii: a. little ii:u can with a lid, and stand tins in a pot of potatoes or anything ebe that is cooking on the fire. I( will steam to perfection, and can be dried off with any fir e meal available. The mixture could, of course, be equally well cooked in the oven, but this may not be available, while the little tin can can bo had everywhere. Young turkeys are very liable t.) insect vermin. The little quill feathers of the wing* should be carefully examined, and if p< -is are found, as they are almost certain to he, they should bo dusted with pyre; drum powder (or Keatings), and then the heads should be examined for ticks. If found, a little pure lard just slightly mixed with paraffin \v u do as xvoil as anything. l>ui a second drees* ing should be given in a week t,o kill any that hatch out meanwhile. Tlu?e preenntions will save many a valuable turkey, as it is neglect of such simple precautions

during the l early weeks that causes such high mortality. This, of course, does not apply to black-head, which will carry off the best-cared turkeys, and which in too many cases can neither be prevented, nor cured. Reilly’s Central Produce Mart (L-td.) reports: Very light yarding forward—not nearly equal to the demand. We recommend consignments of choice table poultry of all classes; high prices assured. We are now booking orders for day-old chickens, and those -requiring birds would be well advised to communicate with us without delay. On Wednesday hens realised 10s 6d, Bs, 7s 6d, 7s, 6s 6d, 6s, 4s 4d. Pullets, Bs. Cockerels 11s 6d, 11s, 10s, Bs, 6s, 5s 6d. Chickens, la Bd. Ducks, 12s. All at per pair. Messrs Fraser and Co., auctioneers, produce merchants, commission agents, and agents for the Otago Egg Circle, 146 Crawford street, Dunedin, report: The egg market is steady. We quote Egg Circle eggs Is 6d, plain Is sd. The quantity of poultry coming forward has eased off very considerably, and prices are nominal—hens to 11s, cockerels to 7s 6d, and ducks to 9s 6d — all at per pair. Turkeys, Is Id per lb live weight.