POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 43

POULTRY NOTES.

By

Terror.

-—W. L.—The October-hatched pullet, will do very well if they start laying in March or April. It is better that they should be fully six months old before laying, because they are then fully matured, and have attained full growth. Birds that start at 4i months, as some do, seldom attain full size, and as a rule lay small eggs. —ln the Old Country members of the Royal family and nobility, and many wealthy and well-known members of society are indulging in poultry keeping as a hobby and industry, and it is recognised that in doing so they are engaging in a. venture of economic importance to the country and Empire. In growing the proverbial “blade of grass” they give employment to others, find useful and interesting occupation for themselves, and they increase the spending power of the couniry. The same truths hold good in this Dominion. —lt is pleasing to chronical the fact that ail English lady (Miss Boot), after several years' sojourn in South Africa and elsewhere, has now decided to settle in this Dominion, and that she will interest herself in the rearing of poultry as a fancy and industry, and to devote any profits—if obtained—to charitable purposes. Miss Boot’s address is “Wilford,” Tomahawk road (not far from the Anderson’s Bay tram terminus). “Wilford” is beautifully located, and Miss Boot finds ample scope (some eleven acres) to carry on as a poultry breeder on thoroughly up-to-date lines, and she is doing so; but she is also deeply interested in her garden, orchard, and a couple of purebred cows, and takes particular pleasure in showing a visitor her dairy and byres. The impression I got on visiting Miss Boot was that she intends to have few idle moments for herself, as supervisor, and that those she employs shall not have unnecessary labour; labour-saving methods, combined with utmost regularity, being her aim. The fact that beautiful native bush secludes her home from the public thoroughfare suggests that the soil at “Wilford” is rich in fertility, and explains why the garden when I saw it was luxuriant in growth of grass, shrubs, flowers, fruit, and vegetables. The cattle w’ere up to their girths in grass, and the cans in the dairy heavy with rich cream. The poultry houses are designed to fulfil all the demands of modern experience. They provide ample roosting accommodation on movable perches—over wide dropping boards —and the nests are well raised from the floor, thus securing the whole floor for the fowls when confined to the house. Every house has its grit box, receptacle for green food, running water in galvanised iron trough, dusting convenience, and glazed or wire windows—the whole length of each house on the sunny side —provide light and air. These windows or wire fronts can be open or closed as weather neessitates. There are six of these houses at present, holding 150 birds, and some 50 more birds are to be added shortly. For the purpose of breeding by selection from the best layers of soundest constitution, 20 singlebird pens are also in contemplation. The birds have alternative runs for out door exercise, and all look healthy and contented. At present Miss Boot has only birds of Mrs Mills’ and Mr Percy Shacklock’s strains, and, at the time of my visit, tho oggs in view in almost every nest showed clearly that they were responding freely to the generous treatment they are receiving. On some future visit, which I look forward to making, I expect to find at least double the number of birds on this plant, for there is certainly accommodation for them without overcrowding. Amongst the young stock bred on the premises I saw some very fine cockerels and pullets, and I imagine they will look well in the allow pen where, as I understand, Miss Boot

intends to place a few specimens at the Young Bird Show in March. She will show not so much with the idea of prizewinning as for the purpose of comparison. The incubator and brooder houses, both built in, rough-cost concrete, are most suitable for their respective purposes, and for the purpose of hardening off, an out-of-door run is, by means of a raised porch, made an adjunct to the brooding house, made an adjunct to the brooding house. Any profits from the poultry venture Miss Boot intends to devote to local charities. The leading pens at the Southland egglaying competition to January 11 (39 weeks) are: Tracey King, W.L.. 237; And iew Love, W.L., 255; Mrs M'Quilan, W.L., 234. In the duck test one of Alexander Peat’s Indian runners leads with 221, Mr J. C. Wilson’s bird being second with 198 eggs Mr R„ W. Hawke’s No. 1 Indian runner duck is the leading layer at the Papanui competition this year so far. It has laid 264 eggs in 273 days. Mr J. P. Drewett’s Black Orpington hen is second with 260 eggs for the same period. A Black Orpington is also doing extremely well at the Auckland competition; and, considering that in Australia black Orpingtons have put up records of 339, 335, and that a buff produced 542 in 365 days, breeders generally should recognise that the white Leghorn is not the only variety of fowl capable of filling the basket. It is a good thing that one breed should not have it all its own way, for interest is enhanced by variety. At this month’s meeting of the Dunedin Utility Poultry Club Air 11. L. Sprosen gave an address on the Minorca. He said that the first Minoreas were brought to England nearly 600 years ago from the Island cf Alincrca. He thought it would not interest tho meeting to give the names of the importers, but all were keen pcultrybreedeis. The meeting would see by the pictures he showed that even then the birds showed the long back of our present-day Minorca, though the combs were different; the lobes were small, the tails were carried higher, and the birds were duller in colour. Most of the old type birds were 4£lb to sjlb in weight. Minoreas at first were chiefly bred in the West of England, but gradually spread all over England and Scotland. Owing to the colder climate in the north the birds did not mature so quickly there, but they did well in t'he south, and increased in size till in some cases the hens went, up to 81b in weight. No doubt crosses were used. The increased length cf leg was secured, no doubt, by crossing with the Lanshan, and also with the black game. The La Fleche was also tried, but proved a failure. The early birds had dark toenails, but now black legs and white toenails were preferred. As egg producers Minoreas were considered marvellous, breeders securing over 200 eggs per annum, which at that time was considered marvellous. The Minoreas and the Spanish lav the finest eggs known. He had often seen a dozen eggs weigh 30oz to 360 z, laid by Minoreas in Dunedin. The birds being black were well suited to small yards, as they did not show the dirt like a white fowl did. Minoreas do not cluck, and when killed are a far better table bird than the Leghorn. The Minoreas were first of all taken up by expert breeders, who neglected the utility points of the birds and went for beauty only. The comb was improved, the serrations being made wider and the comb better balanced and free from wrinkles. The face was freed from hairs and from being dark it was bred to a beautiful red colour and free from white. The eyes, at one time light in colour, were made darker. The lobes w T ere increased in size, made to a lovely almond shape and as white as snow and free from wrinkles. The plumage from a dull black was improved to a lovely shade of greenish colour. The tail has been made more abundant and very much lower. While improving these points, the breeders, in some cases, went too far, increasing the head points till the birds were spoilt; but it should be noted that breeders, by selection, were able to do this, and that consequently they have now only to turn their attention to egg production to soon find that these birds will lay as well as any other breed. “The Minorca here 25 years ago wa3 the greatest favourite,” said Air Sprosen, “and when I last showed in the open class there were 35 pullets benched. Mr Maud was the judge, and he threw out every bird having a light eye, as he considered it showed signs of Leghorn cross.” Air Sprosen here produced two Minoreas to illustrate the various faults likely to occur. The greatest fault, he considered, was broken face; the next grey or white, m flight. Side sprigs were often met witn, and the best thing in a case ofuhat sort was the axe. Light eyes were still seen in some birds, and the birds should be cut for it, but in utility classes it should not throw a bird out, as the standard stated distinctly that the bird should be taken all round. Mr Sprosen did of preparing birds for show, as Mr Cossens w ould do that at next meeting. The lecturer said he had always advocated utility classes, and from the start had shown Minorca®, and he claimed that his own birds or buds bred from them, had won every time. In most cases his Minoreas had secured the coveted prize for best bird in the light breeds. A hen he showed won the -oath Island championship in Dunedin in 1921 and was also “best bird” in show A near relative the year before won the South Island championship ot (New Zealand in Ashburton. and the winning Minorca pudet at last year’s Dunedin Show, runner-up for test bird in the light breeds was a daugW The Minorca which won thv. South l« la ' championship at. Gore was also closely related P to her. The cock shown was also a fine show bird—fine head and type, and close in feather, and also a winner in Christchurch. After answering questions Mr Sprosen was awarded a hearty vote of thanks for his address. I have often heard expressions ot doubt, regarding the fairness of egg-laying contests As an American writer puts it. -The attendant is expected to get eggs and the birds under his management are expected to make records, and here it is Lit a moral hazard enters into the work This human element, which has been called hazardous, may he summed up by saying rrVio rptaker works foi a ’ 11 ne SiT get ‘ records ’ somebody will be put on the job who can.” Every breeder knows

the stimulating effect of kindly treatment over a long period, and that treatment may be not merely in respect to feeding a little more carefully to one pen than another; but, more important still, it mav he in respect to location of the pen. if all the birds were in one pen and fed all alike there could be no favouritism; but there would be the difficulty of identifying the layers of the eggs unless all were trapnested, and that, would entail a lot of work in a big competition. However, from the fact that the same breeder seldom, if ever, wins two years running, I think we may conclude that honesty is ihe rule in egglaying competitions. To my mind a caretaker deserves more credit for getting a high average from the whole of the birds under his charge than by producing a solitary record-breaker. —Relay’s Central Produce Mart (Ltd.) reports: Readers will note from the supply of poultry forward the number yarded. There was a fairly keen demand, and though prices were low we were pleased we were able to clear our supplies at auction. We received 676 hens, which realised 3s 2d, 3s 4d, 3s 6d, 4s 2d, 5s 2d; 54 pullels realised 9s, 10s, 12s, 14s; 352 cockerels realised 6s 4d, fs, 3s 2d, 8s 6d, 8s lOd, 9s 2d, 9s 6d; 60 ehjekens realised Bd, Is; 164 ducks realised 3s, 3s 6d, 3s lOd. ss, 5s Bd. 6s. 9s. 10s 6d, 11s; 15 geese realised 8s 2d- all at per pair. Eggs are in excess of requirements, and are slow of stile at Is and Is Id for stamped and guaranteed and lid to Is for cased.