POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3755, 2 March 1926, Page 57

POULTRY NOTES.

By Terkob. The white Leghorn was first imported into England from America, the first whiles appearing in England in 1870. They had won prizes in America two years before that. The original home of the Leghorn was the Mediterranean, and it is generally conceded that it is a truly Italian variety The Leghorn was known on the Continent of Europe long before British breeders knew of them, and they were called there Italians. These birds were of the true exhibition type. Since those days a new variety has sprung up in the utility stamp, and it is the latter type which has made so much history in the commercial poultry industry. Die task of turning the white Leghorn into a veritable egg machine was undertaken (says the North __ British Agriculturist) by Australian and New Zealand breeders, and they were successful in their undertaking. The fame of Australian and New Zealand white Leghorns soon reached the uttermost parts of the earth, and British and American breeders made even greater advancement—at least, so they say in England. In the early days of egglaying tests a 200-egg hen was remarkable, but now, to-day, it takes something like a 300-egg hen to arouse the curiosity of the industry. With egg-laying tests the world’s champions have been produced. A hen has been bred (I am still quoting) that laid 343 eggs in 365 days, and a duck in New Zealand put up the remarkable record of 363 eggs in the same time. These are exceptional cases, but it cannot be doubted but that marvellous progress has been made as far as egg production is concerned. The white Leghorn responded nobly to the wiles of the enthusiastic trapnester, with the result that flock averages of long over 200 eggs per bird have been steadily reported. The Americans have been at work as well as the British producers, and there is a distinct difference between the types supported by the two countries. In spite of all differences, however, the white Leghorn claims first place when high egg production is the leading question. The Americans have (says the English writer I am quptiug) followed in the same lines as the Australian breeders, who insist on a good-looking, wellfeatured bird. Mr Padman, the great Australian breeder, admitted that he never trap-nested a pullet in his life. In making his selections he did it all with his OAvn eye, for he did not handle them or measure them in any way. Hie success in this way was porerbia). The mechanical measuring or hand grading of birds is not satisfactory, and British breeders are beginning to realise the fallacy of such methods. No two men handle a bird in the same way. and much depends on the age of the bird when the measurements are taken. The wise breeder will put more reliance on his own eye than on hand grading. The trap nest, of course is the true index of Iho ability of a flock to lay eggs. Actual numbers tell their own tale. Never in the whole course of its up-and-down career has the white Leghorn been so completely at the head of affairs. For a time tho breed suffered badly in reputation owing to some strains laying undersized eggs. This wa3 mainly caused by inbreeding and line-breeding, so that the highly fecund factor would not be lost. It may have been retained, -but owing to the lack of vitality and capacity it could not function to the best advantage. Leghorns to lay a first-grade egg must be of first-grade size. If the -übstance is not there, then the size of the eggs must deteriorate. If tho eggs are not 2oz or over in weight, then there is little use of producing eggs. This point looked like ruining both the white Leghorn and the white Wyandotte at one time. The scientific breeders took the matter in hand and saved the situation. There is no use handling stock that do not kty the standard-sized egg, for the small eggs will not pay for the undertaking. Feeding, however, has a lot to do with second-grade eggs, a nd unless the ration is well balanced and suitable for tho requirements of the then small eggs are bound to appear. Good food and plenty of clean water are essential for the production of first-grade eggs. Mr Hanson and Mr Jowsey have been appointod, and have accepted the position, to judge all utility breeds, with the exception of white Leghorns, at the Dunedin Specialists’ Young Bird Show at the end of next month. Mr Coombes is to judge the white Leghorn classes. Mr .T. Nicholson will judge bantams, Mr A. Currey canaries, Mr S. Hutchinson homer pigeons, Mr R. W. Brown fancy pigeons, Mr Aber* r.elliy cats, and Mr H. Brownlie children’s pets.

We sometimes get very interesting news concerning New Zenlnnd by way of the Australian papers. A Sydney journal records that on a New _ Zealand station the hands went on strike because they wore given too much turkoy to eat. “It appears,” says the Sydney journal, “that numbers of bronze turkeys were bred on the too generous with the succulent meat. Tho ' stop work ’ brigade unanimously passed a motion that they would only eat turkey once a week.” t do not suppose that the owners would be very much unset at the men’s decision, seeing that their surplus turkeys would fqjfcch more on tho market than the food they could substitute for the satisfaction of the strikers. How-

ever, one feels doubtful as to whether the Australian story is a true one. Muscovy Runners.—The crossin ofg Muscovy drakes with Peking, Rouen, or Aylesbury ducks for producing table birds ha 9 been practised ftith success for many years. The question of crossing runner drakes with Muscovy ducks has now been brought before the public in a Sydney journal. Mr U. E. Craft states that this cross is to be recommended. “For early maturity and egg production,” he continues, “the Indian runner is the best of the ducks—it is the white Leghorn of the duck world, so to speak. Its flesh is all right for eating, but the duds is small. It is said that to cross the Muscovy and the runner produces a tabic duck which for quantity and quality of flesh is hard to surpass. The crossnrod birds are mules, and they won’t breed. But for table purposes it is said that the combination produces tine birds, and drakes m particular grow to a very big size. Of itself the Muscovy takes longer to attain a marketable size and weight than the other varieties. On the other hand, the runner is a quick grower, and its union with the Muscovy produces ducklings that come on more quickly than the pure Muscovy t and at the same time is larger and heavier than a pqro runner, besides having a quality of flesh which is equal or superior to either of the purebred birds.” Bumbiefoot: Cause and Cure.—Mr A. Smith, Culverthorpo, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, was awarded a prize by the Sunday News, London, for the following:—“Bumbiefoot is most common in adult fowls of heavy breeds. The symptoms are lameness and a swelling of the foot. It is caused by either accidental injury, a blow or cut, uneven perches, or by the birds having to alight on a hard floor from high perches. Its prevention is therefore obvious. Birds with this complaint should not be allowed to perch, and should bo kept on soft litter. The injured foot may be bathed in hot water into which common washing soda has been dissolved in the proportion of one dessertspoonful to each pint. When it is ripe, larice the swelling with a perfectly clean knife, and remove the corn. Having done this, express the contents of the swelling, wash the foot, fill the cavity with carbolised vaseline, and bandage with clean linen. Tin's latter is best made secure with strips of plaster. Al! that is necessary now is to watch that the swelling does not appear again, and then paint daily with iodino until the bird has thoroughly recovered.” Reilly’s report penning 574 hens, 45 cocks, 67 cockerels, 214 ducklings, 3 pullets, and 18 chickens. The birds met a dragging sale. Poulterers are now carrying fairly heavy supplies, and are not keen to purchase unless they can secure decently plump birds, and most of those coming on to the market at the moment are exhausted with egg production and are not in a fit condition for freezing. Turkeys are very short of requirements, and extreme prices are obtainable. At the moment there is a good demand for well-bred pullets and for stud poultry. The following prices were realised:—Hens—4o at ss, 22 at 4s 4d, 14 at 4s 2d, 19 at 4s, 27 at 3s lOd, 26 at 3s Bd, 28 at 3s 6d, 48 at 3s 4d, 19 at 3s 2d, 65 at 3s, 45 at 2s lOd, 88 at 2s Bd, 121 at 2s 6d, 2at 2s. Cocks—l2 at 4s 6d, 8 at 3s Bd, 2 at 3s 6d, 2 at 3s 2d, 12 at 3s, 7 at 2s Bd, 2 at 2s Gd. Cockerels—--16 at 8s Bd, 17 at 7s 6d, 23 at Gs, 12 at 5s 2d, 15 at 4s, 4 at 3s 2d. Ducklings—l 7 at 9s, 27 at Bs, 19 at 7s, 14 at 6s, 10 at ss, 82 at 4s, 16 at 3s Gd. 7 at 3s, 8 at 2s Bd, 14 at 2s 6d. Pullets—--3 at 11s. Chickens—lß at lOd—all at per pair. Eggs: During the week we have been able to place our consignments on a basis of 2s to 2s 3d per dozen, and "there is every prospect of market prices being well maintained.