POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3832, 23 August 1927, Page 33

POULTRY NOTES.

By

Terror

Novice.”—Your informant is correct: ducks are not furnished with crops. The crop is simply an enlargement of one part of the oesophagus, and retains the food till it is passed o<_ t the proventricular. and t.rence to he gizzard. One authority says that, taking all -irds into consideration, it is the exception to possess a crop His idea is that birds feeding on the ground in the midst of enemies have to gather their food too quickly for digestion to keep pace, and consequently only those who could retain their food for a space could survive. Apparently it is a case of the survival of the fitt-‘ How to Make the Shanks of Old Birds Look Young.—Two corresp .dents writin” to the Feathered World explain how this is done. One of them says: “ The shanks of an old bird can be made to look young by standing the bird in warm, soapy water for a . ne, then gently scrubbing the shanks with an old nailbrush, and finally scaling them with an orange stick or the thumb nail. Each scale on the shanks of tn old bird is covered with one similar, but opaque. On this being removed the actual scale is revealed, with its fresh colour and texture, comparing favourably with that of a young bird.” The second correspondent says: “ Take the bird in hand, and put a towel round the wings to stop her struggling; then take a pair of tweezers out of anv manicure set and start to remove the old scales from the 1 >gs Start at the top first a 1 work down. When the old scales are i noved take a little vaseline and rub the new scales, ■ -Inch will shine like a pullet’s.”

Stock ducks should be well fed while young, but should not be specially fattened. When w’dl grown they may have water (running for preference) to swim in. They will greatly improve with the exercise. They should be kept going steadily until full grown. On no account should they be starved, but they should be kept in poor condition until near the breeding time, when they may have more generous diet. For producing the best stock only ducks in their second year should be used. These may be mated with well-grown yearling drakes. During the breeding season the stock ducks should have daily, access to a pond of water. Ducks for Egg Production.—lndian runners, and other breeds from these, may be bred to produce great layers. As a rule the laying strains of Pekings and other of the larger breeds are small compared with standard birds. Like Indian runners and other small breeds, the ducklings of these light laying strains are not desirable as table birds on account of their small size, although the flesh, is good. Poulterers, as a rule. pref. the large breeds, more especially those with white plumage.. As a commercial commodity ducks’ eggs are not so saleable as hens' eggs. They are general Iv ouoted at higher rates, but are used for family purposes. Where, however,

there is a sale for them iu quantity the laying strains of ducks will pay handsomely.

Be sure that chieks are never in a draught, never damp and never chilled, and you need not worry so much about heat. Learn their voices. If they are comfortable they will either twitter happily or be quiet. If they peep, investigate as you would if a human baby cried. They have a distinctive peep for each of their special discomforts—fatigues, illness, chill, or hunger. No one can be a successful foster-mother to the feathered tribe until they can distinguish between these different complaints. Chicks will early learn to seek comfortable quarters if properly cared for. —Poultry World.

To bring overfat hens into laying condition it is necessary to exclude all starchy food from the daily bill of fare and to increase the quantity of bran given, feeding principally on good, plump oats, which, being a balanced food, does not cause any fat to accumulate. Good, flat bran is an economical food, and when mixed with other things helps to keep the digestive organs in good condition, whilst it has considerable nutriment, containing a large quantity of mineral matter, which assists in building up frame, bone, and muscle, in young growing stock. Bran can be liberally used in the soft mnsh with perfect safety, and an immunity from an overfat condition will ensue. The analysis of good samples of bran shows the protein content as high (10 to 15 per cent.), there is about 4.5 per cent, of fats, and the mineral stilts average 6 per cent. In shutting up a fowlhouse to exclude the cold, you imprison the foul air Which is far more harmful to the birds.

Tuberculosis of chickens is caused bv the specific bacillus or germ of bird or avian tuberculosis. The disease is infectious, and spreads in fowls as it does J 1?, affected fowls should be Killed and burned. Then new houses on land not previously used for poultry \ . . have to be built to accommodate chickens bought from a flock guaranteed f «ee from the disease. Old vards should be ploughed and cropped, and in time will become safe.—Hoard’s Dairyman. J

Pea Fowl.—Pea fowl arc at their best yhere they can have full range, but the}- can be kept in confined runs, lhese (wired in) should be as large as possible and if they are well furnished with shrubbery all the better. They will roost in the trees amongst the shrubs. they seldom, however, breed well in confinement. They are not of lull age as regards size, plumage, or fitbreeding till two years old. Adult birds can be fed on mash in th 3 morning and grain at night; just the same as other poultry. The period of incubation varies from 28 to 30 days and a very dry place is necessary for the y oung. chicks. Oatmeal mixed with milk, ants eggs (if obtainable), worms, ot , ll . ei : a,,lmal food is best to start the chicks on, but they will soon come on to grain and other food. Thev need protection all the year, therefore it is + i * lO penbel > t 0 rear them, as she will take care of them till the followin'' nrt-q”' i i 10 x adult birds do n ot need aitificial heat at any time, and a good roomj house will satisfy their requirements though they’ prefer to in trees if such abound. They become very tame if fed regularly, even if thev have complete liberty. Tire hens do not be-in later 35 Th™ Septa niber, and sometimes later. They usually lav ei-ht. to eggs, and sometimes more. °

>n A tL IT ! FV "’ b ,- cb - ,S rapidly increasing of th nn„ I ll a t ! ngS - d,str, o t at present, is that of poultry-keeping (states the Napiei •telegraph, and there is no doubt that it hdder CS a profitable sideline for the small

When, nearly a month ago, the egg of a parrot belonging to a resident of Christchurch, was broken, the bird’s owner placed a small bantam’s egg in its ca-e and the parrot began to sit (says the Lyttelton limes) On Saturday a bantam chick was hatched out. The parrot has taken a kindly interest in the newcomer and feeds it from its beak. The two promise to be great friends.

The wholesale price of eggs in Timaru at present is Is 6d per dozen. A merchant who is closely connected with the trade, informed a .reporter recently that he did not expect that eggs would become any cheaper 'his season, and that the prices now ruling were down to the ‘‘flush’’ season level (says the Herald'. Already, he said, several contracts ot this price had been entered into with bakers and others to supply eggs for preserving for use during the period of shortage. The Peking duck is (according to an authority. R. E. Davis) a breed of American origin, and was first introduced into Great Britain in the year 1874, when it was prophesied by many that it would veiw soon become the most popular variety of domestic waterfowl and outrival the Avlesburv. But the prophecy has not been fulfilled, though the Peking possesses many excellent features and a host of admirers One reason for the great popularity of the Pekings at first was that thev have the appearance of being immense’ birds, but they look much larger than they really are, and are very deceptive in this respect. The feathers are exceedingly fluffy, and often Pekings that appear enormous birds will not weigh any’ more than Aylesburys or Rouens that do not look more than two-thirds the size. A point which has always told against them, too, is -the colour -of the flesh. A strong prejudice exists in British countries against yellow flesh, whereas in the United States it is exactly the opposite. The flesh of Pekings is yellow, and this fact has lessened the popularity of the breed in England. The Peking is a fairly rapid grower, and can be got into good marketable condition two or three weeks earlier than the Rouen duck. It is a more prolific layer than the Aylesbury, besides which the ducklings are hardier and better able to stand unfavourable surroundings. It is valuable also for crossing purposes, a very fine one being between the Peking and the Aylesbury. The large size of the former is retained, together with the fine quality’ of the flesh of the latter. The cbbmr of the Peking is almost white, and very’ often it is mistaken for the Aylesbury. At first sight there is

a similarity of appearance, but there are many points of difference. Although a i'y blt ,?, bml, the Peking is not real white like the Aylesbury; it has a distinct canary’ tinge in its plumage. The. 1 / el fi n g is a bright yellow;: that of the Aylesbury is flesh-coloured., greatest difference is in the shape lire Aylesbury is boat-shaped, while the 1 eking is very' upright, the legs being placed far back in the body. A wellon 0 " 11 dra ke should weigh about 81b or 91b, and a duck will average about 11b less.

-I-he I igment Test. —The vellow pigment found in the skin, shanks, and beaks of pullets is the same as that tound in the yolk of the egg. When a hen is not laying this yellow colour is stored up in the body, but when laving begins all the pigment of the feed is required for the eggs, and consequently nfci ye i°' V ! pi S m . ent in tbe various parts ot the body fades out because it is not replaced by pigment from the feed. W hen the hen starts laying the yellow colour fades m a certain definite order disappearing in a few days from around 1 -^r'i en ij J , he eye . rin " or C(l;r e of the eyelids bleaches a little slower, and the EU Obes c of c n he "’hite-lobed varieties bleach next, followed by the beak, ihe colour leaves the base of the beak first and gradually’ fades towards the tip. It usually requires four to six weeks of from U H. lan | t °i eI ™ 1 1 - l l,ate l the - vell °"’ colour • bea i k ’ I J e K,lan, i 5 are last to Ind f Colour ; I fadin ff «rst in front, and last from the back part of the o 1 r C five° intS \l P ll f ually rcQ’flres four oi hit months of laying to bleach the llviire the mplG n ly ' hen a hen stops each Je i colour reappears in U , abo ' c part « of th e bodv in that Sipnc fi order ™ which it disappeared, that is, first m the vent, then the eye thanks 631 Tt lObe c beak ' *T ld last in tbc k i returns much taster than it camw P t ea he d " lbe . fac 'tor of pigmentation cannot be used in judging the whiteColou°r d ch° r hiack-shanked varieties, by tire nSeS are - some what affected bird- fl • *?’ ran S e-. Slze - and age -of the Tl « . tbleknes 6 of skin, and vitality lhese things should be given consideration in handling the flock. COnsidera Iteillys report: A moderate yardiire of poultry- all OI which sold remarkably well. During the week we filled some very lar-’e orders, selling some very fine breeding Pens ot Minorcas, brown Leghorns, Old English game, Sussex, white Leghorns, and bantams, ranging in price from £4 4s to £8 8s per breeding pen. We had tire pleasure of serving Mr Roberston. of \\ aikaka. with no less than six -reeding pens, and also supplied a number of tur’ keys ranging in price from 30s to 45s each. At our sale on Wednesday’ we sold:—Hens: 13 at Us 4d, 24 at 9s lOd 12 at 9s 6d, 9 at 9s 4d. 12 at 9s 2d “7 e ‘ c 9 f' on at Ss 10d ‘ 12 at 8s sd ' 15 at 8s 6d. 32 at 8s 4d. 10 at 8s 2d. 4 at Bs. Bullets: 6 at 255, 12 at 18s, 26 at 16s. 4 at 9s Bd. 2 at 8s Gd. Cockerels; 1- at 10s lOd, 9 at 10s, 12 at 9s lOd B’ at 9s Gd. 9 at Bs. 12 at 8s 6d. 6' at 8s 4d. 2 at Bs. 2 at 7s 6d. 4 at 7s 6d, 2 at 6s Bd. Ducks: 2 at 30s. 2 at 25s 8 ct 16s. 14 at 10s, 12. at 9s' lOd, 3 at 9s Bd. 4 at 7s lOd. (All at per pair.) Turkeys: 9 gobblers at Is 41d per lb, 1 at Is 4d. 3 at Is 31<1, 1 hen at Is 21d, 1 at Is 2d. Eggs: A plentiful supply of eggs is available at Is 6d per dozen.'

23rd PAPANUI ECC-LAYINC COMPETITION.

Leading Bens 18th Week ended August 6 (126 days). FLOCK TEAMS CONTEST. (Six birds.)

Week's ’ Weight White Leghorns- eSg3 ’ ° 2 ’ d,S - Total. J. G. Venail .. .. 33 G5. 9 540 J. Liggins .. .. 29 G2.10 H. C. West ... .. 32 72. <j A. Woolley .. .. 31 67. 5 520 517 T. C. Wilee 27 61. 2 •199 F. Hawes .. ..28 GO. 1 492 SINGLE HEN OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP. —Light and Heavy Breeds.— Week’s ' Weight r>i , , e 3g s - OZ.dl'S. Black Orpingtons— Total. II. W. Beck .. .. 7 15. 1 104 Mre Hellaby .. .. G 12. 5 Espie .. .. 5 10’9 102 90 II. J. Ballin .... 3 G. 4 A Hite Leghorns— 89 F. Hawes .. .. G 12.12 101 V . E. Ward .. .. G 13. 8 95 H. C. West 6 14. 1 93 A. C. Goodlet 5 10.13 92 S. E. Davey .... 5 11. 8 92 • SINGLE DUCK CONTEST. (Owner enters Three Birds.) Week's Indian Bunners— Total. F. R. Cotton, No. 1 .. .. 7 125 A. G. F. Hoss, No. 2 .. .. 7 G. Voice, No. 3 .... 7 1’23 119 Mrs Gee, No. 1 .. .. .’ 5 119 J. W. Thomson, No. 2 G 117 Mrs Gee, 2nd team, No. 1 7 111 SINGLE HEN CONTEST. (Owner enters Three Birds.) Week’s eggs. A.O.V. Heavy Breeds— Total. P. Bailey, R.I.R., No, 1 .. G P. A. Cornish, L.S., No. 1 4 110 as P. Bailey, R.I.R., No. 2 .. 0 Black Orpingtons— 97 G. A. Grainger, No. 1 .. 7 109 T. D. Dalziel, No. 2 5 105 K. M. Cookson, No. 3 .. 5 102 J. Kingsland, No. 1 .. .. 4 98 J. Kingsland, No. 2 .. .. 4 98 T. D. Dalziel, No. 1 .. .. 4 96 WHITE LEGHORN SINGLE HEN CONTEST. (Owner enters Three Birds.) Week’s eggs. Total. A. It. Browne, No. 1 ... 5 110 H. Williams, No. 1 .. .. 5 110 W. H. West, No. 1 .. .. G 106 W. H. West, No. 2 .. .. 5 106 II. Williams, No. 3 .. .. 4 103 II. C. West. No. 2 .. .. 5 102 A. R. Browne, No. 2 .. .. G 101 H. Williams, No. 2 .. .. G 101 G. H. Mitchell, No. 1 G 101