POULTRY NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 29

POULTRY NOTES.

By Terror “ Southland ” asks for a whitewash that will hold. There are many methods of making whitewash. Some of them are easy to make and some require a little patience, but as a rule the trouble taken is worth while, because the resultant work is better to look at and more lasting. If “ Southland's ” requirement is a whitewash that will assist in destroying vermin, the following United States Government recipe will answer the purpose better if some Condy’s fluid is added:—Take half a bushel of unslaked lime, slake it in boiling water (cover during process to keep steam in), strain through a fine sieve or strainer, and add to it one peck of salt previously dissolved in warm water, 51b of ground rice boiled to a thin paste, and stir in while hot lib of whiting and 11b of glue (previously softened by soaking in -cold water and then dissolved over a fire in a small pot hung in a larger one filled with water). Add five gallons of hot water to the mixture and stir well, and let it stand a few days, covered from dirt. It should be applied hot, for which purpose it can be kept hot on a portable furnace. Many fanciers throughout the Dominion will have learned with regret of the death

of Mr Fred Rogen in (Melbourne, where he has been prominent in the fancy for some years past. During his sojourn in New Zealand Mr Rogen was regarded as a keen sport, successful breeder, a capable judge, and a great winner at shows with both birds and dogs. Whilst here he gained laurels for the local fancy by extending his triumphs to the Old Country and Australia. In the mating of both birds and dogs Mr Rogen had an almost uncanny instinct in contriving alliances-—sometimes independent of heredity—which would, and did, achieve bis purpose. By generously giving sittings of egge and puppies he secured to the fancy many'valuable recruits. Mr Rogen was a world wide traveller. He visited many parts of the world, always on the lookout for dogs and birds of quality, and the local fancy has benefited considerably by his good judgment. Mixing the Mash.—The mash should not be given to the fowls in a semi-liquid or sloppy condition. A p’opcrly mixed mash should be crumbly and semi-dry, so that a ball of it thrown down will break up and not fall with a “squash.” To obtain this consistency it is necessary to use the hands in mixing the meal. I am referring, of course, to those who keep only a few fowls, and who no doubt form the majority of the readers of these notes, and not those who keep fowls by the hundred, in which case it is a matter of mixing in a trough by means of a spade. Some readers may object to mixing with the hands; but “mark, you ladies,” says a well-known authority, “ you will have beautiful hands as a result ! ” Nothing can be more disgusting to the fowls than to have their breakfast put down in a semi-liquid state. If the meal is too wet it can easily be put right by the addition of a few handfuls of pollard, which meal also tends to take away any stickiness caused by other in- | gredients. Such a “ dry ” meal may be thrown on to a grass plot, a handful at a time, just as the grain feed is thrown, and no more should be given than the fowls eat readily. At the first tendency take things easy the meal should end. Where there is no clean grass plot the food may be thrown on to a clean floor, but in no case should soft food be supplied amidst dust and dirt, for continuance of such a practice is sure to lead to disaster. If there is no suitable place to throw the mash it should be served in a trough or basin, and no more served than is eaten at once. A correspondent who docs not wish his name mentioned complains that some of the chickens he has hatched out of white Leghorn eggs he purchased show black feathers. He appears to be under the impression that such eggs must have come from crossbred fowls. To relieve his mind I may explain that purebred white Leghorns, bred straight for many generations, very often throw chicks bearing a few black feathers. Years ago, when the shows were for fancy breeders only, showmen often scored prizes with exhibits from which, just before benching, quite a number of black feathers had to be extracted. It is a question whether any 1 breed is absolutely pure. Most, if not all. of our present breeds have been created by crossing for desired characteristics. and no one can tell us from what description of barndoor Mediterranean breeds of fowls the white Leghorns were constructed. At the first of our own egglaying competitions it is doubtful whether some of the “ white Leghorns ” entered 1 were not merely white birds—just snorts from common stock. Some of them did well as layers, and have been no doubt bred straight to purebred Leghorns ever since. The longer they are so bred the less danger there is of their throwing back to undesirable characters, such as colour of plumage and shanks, body shape, etc.; but the chance will always remain that they will appear now and again—they are bound to do, as all characters represented in the reproductive cells of the original pair from which all so-called purebreds have eminated are handed on from generation to generation. “ Mason.”—l recommend 3in by 2in hardwood perches. Don't nail them down, but. rest them at the ends in slots, so that they can be easily removed. See that they are far enough away from the wall so that the tails of the birds do not touch it, otherwise they will be disfigured. Epsom salts is good for all poultry, and as a preventive for most illnesses is invaluable. About an ounce to every six or eight birds once a week is the best dose. This should be given - in the morning mash when the crop is empty, ami if there are any suspicions of over-fat or any other trouble it will lie better if the evening food is stopped the night before the salts are given. It gives the medicine a better chance to act and will help clear up the michief. If liver trouble is suspected more frequent doses will be desirable.

Cod Liver Oil for Chickens. —Investigators are in accord that the feeding of cod liver oil produces remarkable results in reducing to a minimum the mortality rate. A high mortality is- one of the greatest handicaps in the profitable raising of chickens. Cod liver oil should be added to the mash at the rate of one pint of oil to 1001 b of mash. When the fowls get plenty of direct sunlight th- 1 oil may be dispensed with, but even then if given it is beneficial. Selling Eggs.—A well-known shipper of eggs from the Commonwealth and New Zealand to England states that Australian eugs have been sacrificed in London through shippers having submitted the same line of eggs to several agents, instead of confining their offer to one firm. By writing different agents, it is pointed out, shippers give the impression that they have a very big consignment, and agents make their offers low on that basis. If shippers placed their shipments of eggs in charge of a representative, it is considered much better results would be assured.

Overcrowding Brooders.—Many losses occur every brooding season owing to the chickens at the early stages being overcrowded in the brooder. When chickens are first placed in brooders they do not require nearly as much room as when they grow and develop. This fact is frequently overlooked by beginners. As a result overcrowding occurs, the chickens become heated and sweat, and sickness ensues. An average brooder having 3Gin by 24in floor space will bold 70 to SO chickens lor four to five days. After that the number should be reduced to 50 or 60, and in

a fortnight from 30 to 40 are sufficient. Hatching is comparatively easy, but tha rearing of the chickens presents manj difficulties to the amateur. There is every reason to believe that tlie treatment, during the chicken stage has a great dev to do with the ultimate health and of the adult stock. Fresh air is essential to growing chickens, whether they are reared in cold or warm brooders. There should lie adequate warmth, but ventilation without draught is just as necessary.

Progress.—The following is culled from the current issue of the World of Today:—“Some day the setting hen will be extinct as the dodo; she is rapidly losing her place in the scheme of things. Chicks are now born in great sanitary electric factories where they never see daylight or scratch dirt. ‘ From one country alone 10,000.000 of these baby chickens are being sent out into the great world this year, and not one of them ever knew a mother’s fostering cluck.”

Water-fed Table Poultry.-—One or two prominent firms in Smithfield have just solved a mystery. The firms buy poultry by weight from Continental shippers, and between the placing of large consignments into cold store and selling them in the market considerable “ shrinkage ” has occurred. Cases of ducks and chickens when placed on the “stands” at Smithfield Market may have weighed 1121 b, but when sold to the retailers they weighed only 1001 b. This was happening so regularly that experts were called upon to settle the mystery. They discovered that before reaching England water apparently had been injected into the veins of ducks and pullets, so increasing their weight. Reilly’s Report:—The poultry market is barely supplied, and really good cockerels and hens are realising fair values. We sold: —Hens —2 at 9s Bd. 13 7s Bd. 10 7s 6d. 12 7s. 8 Gs lOd. 2 6s 4d. 6 Gs 2d, 5 Gs. 8 5s lOd. 5 ss. 4 4s Bd, 2 4s 6d. 25 3s: pullets—lB 10s. 12 8s 6d, 10 8s 2d. 7 Gs 6d; cockerels—2 Bs. 2 6s Gd. 2 4s 6d. 10 3s, 75 2s 6d. 12 2s; chickens—l2 6d. 100 4d: all at per pair. Turkeys—l turkey gobbler at 9d per lb. Eggs: Eggs have again eased in price, quite a lot of eggs being sold on the market from lid to Is per dozen.

TWENTY-SEVENTH PAPANUI EGGLAYING COMPETITION. Leading Pens 26th Week, ended October 2 (181 days). TEST I—J. H SHAW MEMORIAL CHALLENGE. (Light and Heavy Breeds.) Week’s Weight eggs oz dr Total.

Black Orpingtons— J. Campbell . . . . G 13.0 165 H. Cotton 13.11 147 White Leghorns— II. Williams .. 7 1 3.3 ICO L. Roache 7 15.2 151 !•’. G. S. Chapman . . . . 0 12.6 133 TEST 2—WHITE LEGHORN. S NGLE HI :ns (Owner Enters Three Birds.) Weeks eggs Totals W. L. Donald -> r-r r. 135 14G 139 A. J. Maclaine . . 5 6 5 155 125 137 D. Christie . . 6 6 G 106 145 154 W. M'lntvre 7 7 G 151 112 136 H. Williams 7 6 5 122 15S 121 J. Ibbotson . . 7 6 5 139 146 112 TEST 3—BLACK ORPINGTONS ONL Y. (Single Hen. Owner Enters Three Birds.) Week’s eggs Totals. R. M. Cookson 5 5 4 125 120 115 B. Cotterill . . 2 7 G 85 146 112 .1. Campbell . . 6 7 5 157 88 72 D. A. M’Kee . . 4 6 0 56 130 9 < TEST 4 —ANY VARIETY LIGHT OR HEAVY BREEDS OTHER THAN WHITE LEGHORNS OR BLACK ORPINGTONS Week’s eggs. Totals. Mrs Williams (L.S.) 5 4 5 1.72 159 148 A. W. Pritchard (Buff 0.) 6 7 5 125 137 139 S. H. Mitchell (A.) 3 2 4 115 116 121 B. C. Wilson (B.L.) 5 3 G 110 91 140 L S. stands for Light Sussex. B 0. stands for Buff Orpington A. stands for Ancona. B.L. stands for Brown Leghorn. TEST 5—FLOCK TEAMS. (Six Birds.) Week’s Weight eggs. oz. dr. Total. White Leghorns— W. Knight . . IS 3S.11 I 1 o M. C. Craig, No. 2 . . 33 GS.10 715 H. Williams 36 76.S 683 M. C. Craig, No. 1 . . oo 70.8 666 L. V. Couch . . .. 2S 61.0 659 Verrail Bros. .. 31 64.2 651 L. Roache . . • . uO 68.9 650 TEST 6—INDIAN RUNNER. (Owner Enters Three Birds.) Week’s 1 eggs. Totals. J. W. Thomson . . 7 6 7 141 164 175 II. A. Dawber . . 6 7 7 104 178 152 G. A. Heath 7 7 6 125 174 S3 TE ST 7—OTHER THAN INDIAN RUNNER. Week’s eggs. Totals. H. A. Dawber (P.) 3 5 5 146 116 152 F. Ashworth (K.C.) 7 7 0 113 12S C P. signifies Pekin. K.C. stands for Khaki Campbell.