POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3890, 2 October 1928, Page 33

POULTRY NOTES.

By

Terror.

“ Anxious,” Shag Point.—Various methods are advocated as cures for eggeating by fowls. One plan is to fill an egg-shell with mustard, or some other substance impregnated with ammonia Another is to put a lot of dummy eggs in 'the nest and scatter eggshells about the poultry home. The “ disappearing egg nest ” is made by making the nest with a sloping bottom, so that the eggs when laid will roll out of sight. A piece of felt or matting takes the place of straw in such a nest.

Old-time Fowls.—“ Hardshell,” an Adelaide poultry scribe, invites “ old-timers ” to say something about the fowls kept in Australia in the early days, say, 1837 to 1878 —what breeds were they and the districts in which they were kept. “ Hardshell ” says he well remembers the Minorcas, Cochin-Chinas. Brahmapootras, Langshans, black Spanish, and barred Plymouth Rocks that were common in the ’sixties and ’seventies. “ But we ” (he says) “ want to know something about the breeds that were kept before that time, although we believe that the Minorcas, Cochins, Brahmas, and black Spanish were the fowls that were first introduced by the colonies- —say from 1837 to 1860.” The writer of these notes (“Terror”) believes that he has some readers who could supply information respecting the breeds kept by “ oldtimers ” in New Zealand similar to that asked for by “ Hardshell ” for Australia. He has a book entitled “ Our Domestic Birds,” published by one Alfred Saunders in 1883, and described by him as a “ practical poultry book for England and New Zealand,” and he explains that he is an Englishman manj- years resident in New Zealand, and before mentioning the breeds he. speaks of as being “ then acclimatised in New Zealand.” I may say that in his treatment of such subjects as housing, feeding, need of grit and green stuff, incubation and brooding, and the advantage of keeping pure breeds as against mongrels modern writers would find him thoroughly up to date. As I have explained, though his book was published in 1883, he writes as a resident in New Zealand for many years, consequently we may conclude he speaks of breeds of fowls some of which would be known here in the ’seventies and possibly in the ’sixties. He mentions Minorcas, Langshans, Hamburgs, Houdans, white Dorkings, Dominiques. Andalusians, Leghorns, game, Bredas, Scotch Greys. Crevecoeurs, La Brene, Spanish, Dumpies, Brahmas, coloured Dorkings, La Fleche, Cochins, Polish, Malays, and bantams. Mr Saunders has quite a lot to say respecting the spoiling of birds by breeding solely for fancy points instead of for production. Speaking of Langshans, he says that “ most useful breed was sent to New Zealand in 1878 by Miss Box, of Southampton, who had obtained her stock from the company "formed in England to import and protect that breed from being sacrificed for show purposes, and the three birds sent bred chickens exactly - like themselves in every point. In the following year a gentleman who has been a large ,and useful importer of fowls to the colony, but who had at that time a great mania for crossing everything and creating new breeds, got one of these birds for a week or two and crossed it with his black cochins, by which means he produced a cock which took first prize at the next Christchurch Show as the best Langshan cockerel, the judge, who was an excellent judge of Cochins and Brahmas, neither knowing nor professing to know anything about what a Langshan should be. With such a certificate- the cockerel was introduced to, the best yard of Langshans in New Zealand, where he remained for a few weeks, with the most extraordinary results. From 10 purebred Langshan hens he produced not a single chicken that even looked like a Langshan, but he produced a number of very heavily feathered, vulture-hocked black Cochins and one really good-looking dark Brahma. Before the. character of his produce was known i he was returned to his breeder for the purpose of sending him to the North Island as the first prize Langshan cockerel, ; where he no doubt astonished the natives

with the variety of his productions." Mr Saunders explains that he mentions the foregoing facts to illustrate how necessary it is to know how your breeding stock has been produced and how utterly worthless first prize birds may- be for breeding purposes.

’Whilst on this subject, the following, taken from a recent issue of the Irish Farmers’ Gazette, is interesting, showing as it does how recently most of the breeds we now cultivate became known m England. The Gazette says: “The progress of domestic poultry in Great Britain makes a most interesting study. The expert recognises that two generations ago game and Dorkings were almost the only varieties seen in this country. The advent of the feathered giants, Brahmas and Cochins, actually laid the foundation of the poultry fancy, which has flourished for almost a century. All domestic poultry (as a writer in the Daily Telegraph states) trace their descent from the wild jungle fowl of India, known as Gallus Bankiva, a somewhat small, tight-feathered breed, similar to the ordinary black-red game of the present day, the plumage being of many colours—red, black, blue, buff, and white. Eastern history affords evidence of the fact that the massive, heavily-feathered Asiatic breeds descended from the jungle birds, climatic conditions during manycenturies having worked wonderful changes. Domestic poultry flourished in the East in the far-distant ages. The Chinese kept poultry in confinement fullv 4000 years ago, and Egypt, with its earth ovens, has the first records of successful incubation and artificial hatching. Most of the heavy, feather-legged, flesh-produc-ing breeds originated in Asiatic countries, the small-framed egg layers coming from the Mediterranean districts. Succeeding centuries evolved different types, both ornamental and useful. The beautifullycrested fowls, notably the Polish and Houdan. may be traced to the Continent; Italy and Turkey supplied the white-lobed, heavily combed Minorcas, Leghorns, and Anconas. Skilled, poultry fanciers existed before the Christian era, and five-toed breeds, such as the Dorking, flourished in Rome and Greece. It is, however, only since about 1843 that domestic poultryhave shown definite progress. The introduction of the magnificently feathered buff Cochin is considered primarily responsible for founding the ‘ fancy ’ about the ’forties, the Brahma, with a wealth of feather on a massive frame, arrivin'* a few years later. In 1873 the Langshan from Northern China further aided poultry- breeders’ efforts. Full credit must be given to those who year by year, by crossing and recrossing the parent stocks, evolved handsome fowls of all sizes for the show pen and farm. Though preserving the type and symmetry of the original stock, they created new varieties in many colours and with beautiful markings. Thanks to the Poultry Club, the standards and points of excellence of all exhibition poultry are carefully guarded, and the specialist clubs vigorously advance breed interests. Wartime needs compelled fanciers to push forward utilitarian qualities, and dualpurpose breeds and varieties have become increasingly popular in town and country. The old-time breeds are becoming less numerous each year, but it should be remembered that they have been generally used in the production of more useful breeds, such as the Wyandotte, Orpington. Rhode Island Red, Sussex, buff Rock, and many others, which in beautiful colours and markings and graceful shape compare favourably with their ancestors, whilst conforming to utilitarian requirements. It is our boast that British-bred poultry are suited to almost any- condition, surroundings, or climate.” An -English fancier, one John Bailev, wrote so far back as 1852: “The Malay fowl, though formerly much fancied and sought after, has of late years been suffered to decline. However, unpalatable the truth may be to some who recollect the palmy days of competitions, it must be said this bird has fallen before the spirit of utility; it was not useful, and it has lost ground.” Evidently “ utility ” in poultry- culture is not a new thing: but just as evidently neither is “ fancy,” for the Malay still has its fanciers.

Egg and milk production are both female traits, but both can be transmitted through the male side. This fact indicates that the male bird of the. breeding pen is of supreme importance and that one cannot be too careful in selecting the sire of the future stocks.

Value of Milk for Fowls.—A Scottish expert considers that few poultry raisers realise what a valuable food milk is for the rearing of chickens and the feeding of laying stock. In speaking of the food value of milk, he says: “The modern method of evaporating the water from milk is very rapid, and practically all of the food value is retained, including the proteins carbohydrates, food minerals, and all the vitamin content. It is almost a complete food diet. Cows’ milk is rich in calcium, which is especially useful to hens, but it is deficient in iron. It is unequalled for a e Pj9 mo^^on °f growth and nutrition. According to several authorities, drypowdered milk represents about 97 per cent, food available for prompt assimilation, the promotion of growth and preservation of health. Semi-solid buttermilk can now be purchased in barrels, etc., and will keep for quite a long time after being opened. It can be had with or without cod liver oil. Many breeders feed it in the paste form to the fowls, and they claim they get the best results that way. It is good for laying hens and also for fattening purposes. French poultry raisers have for long known of the benefits to be derived from milk feedlng- The Parisian milk chickens were world famed. Milk fed to y-oung chickens helps them to make better use of all their food, promotes rapid growth, and good development of fine-grained, tender, sweet-flavoured flesh. The addition of cod liver oil is undoubtedly of much benefit, as it contains phosphorus and vitamin A. This vitamin is absolutely essential to all body development and for the cure of rickets and many nerve disorders. The composition of skim milk is interesting to note. If the water is removed from 1001 b of skim milk, there would be left about 9.751 b of solid matter, of which 3.51 b would be casein and albumen, 5.251 b milk sugar, and a little over 0.751 b of ash. This solid matter is relatively very rich in muscle-forming material, there being one part of albumen and casein to one and a-half parts of milk sugar and heat-forming material. In

maize the ratio between these two classes of compounds is one to ten. As far as can be ascertained, thick sour skim milk seems to be of a greater value for fowls than sweet milk. This may be probably due to the presence of lactic acid in sour milk, which materially assists a’ssimilstion and therefore aids digestion.”

Reilly’s report.—There is a keen deM a hL f i° r <- pOultry ’ , small supplies coining to hand for our sale on Wednesday, and bringing good values. Hens: 4 at Us 5 6* at' 7 10 i a ni 8S 9 8d ;\ at 8s 2d ’ 13 at Ss * 2 nt 7 L 10 0 d l 2 n ii 7s 8d ’ 2 at 7s Cd--2 at 5s 2d. Pullets: 2 at 12« 7 fi S d 2 d' . ocke . rels: 2 at 13s, 3’ at 2at Pl S A d -’i 2 at 7s 6d ’ 2at 7s, 1 6s „ 6d - Chickens: 33 at Is -2d Ducks: 2at 10s—all at “ per pair” Eggs: The market has dropped to Is 4d for cased, and Is 5d for stamped For guaranteed we secured Is 5d \o 1 3 6d tor our consignors. 24th PAPANUI EGG-LAYING COMPETITION. Leading Pens 24th Week ended September 15 (.100 days). TEST memorial -—Light and Heavy Breeds.

J. W. Thomson, No. 2 . . G 150 A birthday commemoration poignantly reflecting the Italia disaster at the North Pole was faithfully carried out as the result of a promise made to Captain Amundsen when the "lost explorer last visited Los Angeles. A table was set for three, at which sat a lawyer named John Murphy and the explorer, Haakon Hammer. Thg latter was formerly the companion of Captain Amundsen on his Arctic journeys. The third chair, which had the place of honour, was vacant, and was draped with the Norwegian flag. Captain Amundsen, who was born in Norway on July 16, 1872, had asked his two Los Angeles frends to celebrate his fiftysixth birthday at a dinner, “ regardless of where I am.”

Week’ s Weight is Black Orpingtons—883 • oz.drs. Total. T. D. Dalziel . . Miss Meyrick .. 5 2 11.14 3.10 114 • 72 White Leghorns— Green Bros, No. 1 6 12.15 144 L. J. Knowles . , 6 12. 0 143 T. W. Betteridge . . 6 12. 1 139 Master Liggins .. E. J. Ross .. W. E. Ward 6 5 5 12.12 10. 8 10.15 133 130 129 TEST 2. WHITE LEGHORN SINGLE HEN (Owner Enters Three Birds.) Week’s eggs. Total* T. Bond. No. 1 ,. 6 139 S. E. Davey, No. 3 6 137 H. Williams, No. 1 5 137 J. W. Thomson, No. 2 5 136 W. H. West, No. 3 7 135 M. C. Craig, No. 1 6 135 T. W. Betteridge, No. i 7 135 H. Williams, No. 2 7 135 TEST 3.—ANY OTHER VARIETY LIGHT BREEDS EXCEPT WHITE LEGHORNS. - —Single Hen Test.— (Owner enters Three Birds.) Week's Anconas— eggs. Total. R. Pearce, No. 3 . . 6 104 S. H. Mitchell, No. 2 6 100 TEST 4.—BLACK ORPINGTONS.. Week’s eggs. Total. J. M. Campbell, No. 2 7 154 J. M. Campbell, No. 3 5 145 A. M. Espie, No. 2 5 133 A. M. Espie, No. 3 6 122 A. R. Leckie, No. 1 5 122 TEST 5.—ANY OTHER VARIETY HEAVY BREEDS. —Other than Black Orpingtons. Week’s eggs. Total. J. R. Griffen (L.S.), No. 1 7 138 B. G. Corlett (W.R.), No. 2 5 122 J. C. Wilson (L.S.), No. 1 6 121 J. R. Griffen (L.S.), No. 3 5 115 J. Kingsland (R.I.R.), No. 1 6 110 TEST 6.—FLOCK TEAMS, SIX BIRDS. —Light and Heavy Breeds.— White Leghorns— Week’s Weight Eggs. oz.drs. Total. H. Harrison ,. 35 73. 0 720 H. W. Beck, No. 1 32 66.11 718 H. W. Beck, No. 2 30 64. 6 690 F. Hawes . . 36 73. 1 652 W. E. Ward . . 28 58.14 651 (One dead.) G. J. Verrall .. 35 74. 1 611 TEST 7. —SINGLE DUCKS. Week’s Pekins— eggs. Total. J. W. Thomson, No. 3 7 j - J. W. Thomson, No. 2 7 133 Mrs Little, No. 3 . . 6 133 H. A. Dawber, No. 2 Indian Runners — • ■ 2 127 C. E. Bennett, No. 1 7 157 J. W. Thomson, No. 1 7 155 H. A. Dawber, No. 2 7 154 F. R. Cotton, No. 2 154 J. W. Thomson, No. 3 5 152