POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3829, 2 August 1927, Page 33

POULTRY NOTES.

By

Terror.

“ Orpington.”—You should keep the eggs intended for hatching at as near as you can to 50deg Fahr. The idea is to prevent chilling the fertilised germ on the one hand and on the other hand preventing the “ starting ” of the germ by too high a temperature. An uneven temperature, i.e.. too cold one day and too warm another, is certain to weaken the fertilised germs, and make a satisfactory hatch impossible. A Judge’s Comments. —Mr W. W. Scott, one of the most experienced breeders in Victoria, judged at the Dandenong Club’s Show, held recently, and in his remarks on the silver Wyandottes said one or two things which fanciers and judges of the breed everywhere will do well to note and ponder over. He said: “The birds on view were an example of what can be got by line breeding and keeping the blood lines close together, thus avoiding reversions and producing" larger and better laced specimens. The female in this pen was a study in black and white lacing, pure in the white and sound in the embossed green-black, that is so much admired. Iler type was better than is usually seen in laced Wyandottes. Her fault was a dark hackle. Some judges appear to think that for this fault alone tip-top specimens should go under to inferior birds for type. Such is the fallacy of the faddist judge, who is inclined to misinterpret the standard, and not only penalise, but disqualify, for one fault. It was possibly this, and the fact that this bird had an injured eye, that kept the trophy for best female in the show from coming her way.” The foregoing sounds like good judgment, with the exception of the inference, as I take it, that an injured eye should not be detrimental to success. A show bird is entered, as it were, into a beauty competition, and I fancy that in any such contest no person or thing should be entered minus a seeing eye. Immediately a hen becomes broody it should be (if not required to hatch out chickens) placed in a suitably-constructed coop -with a slatted bottom. A mild dosi of Epsom salts is often beneficial, as it

cools the blood somewhat. In three or loni’ days the bird may be returned to the Hock, and should begin laying in eight to ten days.

A record of attendances at the Nelson Poultry Association’s show which no other business members can beat, or perhaps equal is possessed by Mr E. B. Martin, of Nelson (says an exchange). He has attended every snow in Nelson during the existence of the Association in the past 40 years, and has also been a consistent exhibitor. Air n . A. Sowman, a well-known Blenheim fancier, has also been exhibiting at the same show for some 30 years. Incubating Duck Eggs.—The main requisite is moisture during the last fewdays of incubation, coupled with a.steady and not too high temperature. In addition to the usual quantity of moisture supplied, one expert says he makes it a point of syringing the interior of the machine and eggs with hot water during , c r , ~' eek - This, he says, has a wonderful effect on the membrane, and in many cases prevents the duckling from dying in the shell. Excessively high temperatures should be avoided, these being more harmful than low ones, and the eggs must not be cooled during the whole period of hatching. This does not mean that the drawer must not be opened for turning the eggs, but merely that the drawer should then be closed and not left open for the purpose of actually cooling the eggs. Reverting to the question of moisture, the attendant should realise that in very wet seasons the air is heavily charged with moisture, and consequently less attention in that respect is necessary.

The Campin.? has many and varied qualifications, and if they were better known and their qualities more fully realised we could almost look for a boom in the breed. From the shell they are wonderful creatures, and mature at a late ahead (so those who favour them say) oi all our non-sitting breeds, some ot the pullets, it is claimed, starting to produce eggs at 16 or 17 weeks. As a matter of fact, precocious pullets of any of the light breeds are apt to do this; but it is not a desirable characteristic. However, one has only to look at a well-: bred Campine to see that her construction and build are adapted for prolific egg production. By “ well bred ” is meant, of course, of a strain bred to lay. The eggs of the Campine are of a beautiful clear whiteness, and their size after the birds have passed the pullet stage is worthy of note. In their' second year it has been found that half a dozen of their eggs will turn the scale at 16oz. This is worth remembering, and when we also know that breeders claim the laying life of a Campine to be much longer than that of an average hen thejbecome still more valuable. In writing about this breed—a breed I have never kept—l feel dubious respecting some of the claims put forward for it. For instance, it is said that they lay for quite double the period of the two years’ limit. If this is true, then the Campine is a great breed and should be more in favour than it is. They are said to be not only great egg producers, but good table birds also, for at a few months the meaty breast gets well filled out, and the rapid production of flesh quite a valuable asset. There are two varieties of the breed—the silver and the gold. . There is little difference between them in their good qualities, the only real difference being in the colour of the plumage. The Campine originated in Belgium, and since their introduction to Britain the improvement in the breed has been considerable, more especially in the plumage. The saddle in the original was silvery, like the hackle: it is now barred. It is decidedly a bird well adapted for free range, for with its active, foraging habits and its capacity for collecting so much of its own food it puts but small demands on its owner’s purse. At the same time, however, it is quite content to be kept in the run, and thrives there quite well when provided with its necessities. We find among the birds both the rose comb and the single comb. It is said that the rose comb birds are not so easily affected by the frost, and that they keep in a productive state when the single-combed birds would fail. In the Campine the rose comb is neat and close fitting. The eyes of the bird are dark brown, the face is red, and the earlobes white. The body is long and broad, with a full-rounded breast. The tail is carried gracefully, and is fairly long and flowing. Feathering on the legs is a disqualification, and the feet should be of a leaden blue tint.

Reilly’s report: There was a very small yarding of poultry forward for our sale on Wednesday. We had some very special Minorcas on account of Mr Brady, of Milton. These birds did not, in our opinion, realise their value, good hens being sold from 17s to 21s per pair. Some special Minorca pullets realised 42s per pair, special white Leghorns 42s per pair, and black Orpingtons 42s 3d per pair Crossbred pullets realised up to 19s per pair, and some white Leghorns were sold very cheaply, only realising 10s per pair, while decent birds brought 20s to 23s We sold: Hens—6 at 21s. IS at 18s 8 at 17s 6d. 3 at 17s, 3 at 9s Gd. 12 at Bspullets—s at 14s, 6 at 13s. 12 at 12s 6d 5 at 12s. 6 at Us 6d. 6 at 10s 4d, 5 at 10s 6 at 9s 6d, 9 at 425. 6 at 21s 6d, 12 at 19s; cockerels—2 at 425, 6 at 30s at 2os. 6 at 245, 2 at 225. 2 at 21s. 2 at 19s, 2 at 13s 2d ’ 4 at 13s - 3 at 12s 8d 2 at l_2s, 2 at Ils 2d. 2 at 10s lOd, 3 at 10s 6d. o at 10s 4d. 2 at 9s, 2 at Bsducks—6 at 9s 2d;—all at per pair. During the week we were able to clear our consignments of eggs at 2s 3d to 2s 5d per dozen, and on Monday had booked quite a number at this price. During the week we sold quite a number of stud birds, selling to Mr Robertson, of Waisome special breeding pens of Andalusians, brown Leghorns, light Sussex, and special pullets in white Leghorns. Minorcas, and Orpingtons at prices ranging from 30s to 50s per pair. VVv also sold a number of breedin" there‘'is CkS ' > the m °ment tnere is a keen demand for table poultry, and those havnigyconsigmnents can forward with confidence. THE THREE D’S. Darkness, Damp, and Dirt, the Chief Evils on Some Poultry Farms. “ Darkness, damp, and dirt are the three greatest evils in the poultry industry,” declared Mr Alfred Skinner, in an address to the Notts branch of the National

Utility Poultry Society at the University College, Nottingham. Mr Skinner asked, ‘‘Are you getting winter eggs, and, if not, why not? ” He urged the importance of keeping birds indoors and under comfortable conditions in bad weather. “ You must have roomy fowlhouses, plenty of ventilation, no coddling, no artificial light, nothing against Nature whatsoever,” he said. “ You must have sound, healthy stock from the beginning, obtained at decent prices from reliable sources. “ The obtaining of stock birds is often a weak point. Shelter is essential for the bad weather, and you must feed the birds suitably and well on good-quality food. — Keeping Out the Wet.— “To the suburban poultry keeper with a good-sized run I say cover it in, and don’t let the birds be in stuffy quarters at night. Don’t' overcrowd, and board your run up to 18in from the ground to keep the wet out. Poultry keepers must breed right and buy right, and not expect to get good pullets at 3s 9d each. Ten shillings is more like the price of a good bird. "In my view, British breeders are breeding wrongly, and they are going backward instead of forward. The Act passed is going to be a twoedged sword unless English producers do away with the small egg. They cannot compete now because of their laziness and indifference. The Act will be the English poultry keepers’ hangman unless< they wake up and alter things. The hen that lays 280 eggs a year is unable to produce stock of the same vigour, vitality, and stamina as the hen that lays 180 eggs every 12 months,” he added.

Mr R. F. Hearnshaw, who presided, said he was glad experts did not favour the 300-egg bird.

23rd PAPANUI EGC-LAYINC COMPETITION.

Leading Pens 15th Week ended July 10 (105 days). FLOCK TEAMS CONTEST. (Six birds.) Week's W eight

White Leghorns— eg oz.drs. Total. J. Liggins 25 53.11 •116 J. G. Verrail o2 66. 3 442 II. C. West ” .. .. 25 56. 0 429 A. Woolley 28 59.11 427 T. C. Wilee 23 64.10 413 F. Hawes 28 59.11 •107 Green Bros 31 71. 0 402 SINGLE HEN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. —Light and H eavy Breeds.— Week's Weight eggs. oz.drs. Total. Black Orpingtons— H. W. Beck .. .. 6 13. 2 85 Mrs Hellaby 5 10. 7 81 H. J. Ballin 5 10. 3 78 A. M. Espie 3 G. 8 J. Kingsland White Leghorns— a 8.15 74 F. Hawes G 12.11 86 A. C. Goodlet 6 12. 9 79 W. E. Ward .. .. G 13.10 78 S. E. Davey 6 13.15 76 H. C. West .. .. •1 9.10 76 SINGLE DUCK CONTEST. (Owner enters Three Birds.) Indian Runners— Week's eggs. Total. F. R. Cotton. No. 1 7 101 A. G. F. Ross No. 2 .. <?• 102 Mrs Gee, No. 1 n 101 A. G. F. Boss, No. 99 •I. W. Thomson, No. 2 .. 99 G. Voice, No. 3 98 SINGLE HEN CONTEST. (Owner enters Three Birds.) Week’s eggs. Total. A.O.V. Heavy' Breeds— P. Bailer, R.I.R., N o. 1 G 91 P. Bailey, R.I.R.. N o. 2 6 91 P. A. Cornish, L.S. Black Orpingtons— \’o. 1 5 82 G. A. Grainger, No. 1 G 92 T. D. Dalziel, No. o 6 89 R. M. Cookhant, Nc 3 5 8G J. Kingsland, No. 2 5 J. Kingsland No. 1 .. 5 83 T. D. Dalziel, No. 1 or WHITE LEGHORN SINGLE HEN CONTEST (Owner enters Th re •s Birds.) Week's eggs. Total. H. Williams, No. 1 6 92 A. R. Browne, No. 1 . • 5 92 W. H. West, No. 1 >7 90 W. H. West, No. 2 5 89 H. Williams, No. 3 6 86 H. C. West, No. 2 .. G 86