EGG-LAYING COMPETITION

Southland Times, Issue 17756, 6 September 1917, Page 2

EGG-LAYING COMPETITION

The following are the results of the Southland Egg-laying Competitions, held at Kew for the twenty-first week, ending September 4. 1917:

POULTRY NOTES. (By “Rock.”) On a medium-sized or large poultry plant the incubator is an indispensable appliance. There are many really good makes of machines on the market and others which are totally unreliable. If commonsense methods and attention are given to the reliable machine, no difficulty, even to the beginner, should be experienced. Directions for working are usually sent out with each machine, which the operator should endeavour to follow as closely as possible. Still there are certain rules common to all types of machines. In working an incubator it is essential that it be placed in a room or cellar where no vibrations or concussions are likely to occur. Even loud banging of doors should be avoided, as any such disturbance may cause the chicks to be deformed. With the modern, well-packed machine it is not absolutely necessary that the room should be of an equable temperature, although extreme variations should be avoided. Fresh air is a very important factor in artificial incubation, and care should be taken that it is admitted freely into the room. The incubator should be in such a position that draughts and the sun's rays cannot reach it. The usual temperature for either hen or ducic eggs is 103 and 104 to 105 when hatching, but allowances must be made for the type of machine used and the heat of the room. Care must be taken that the connecting rod is perfectly straight, for an even temperature is impossible if there is the slightest Rend or twist. Another cause of irregular temperature may arise from the wick being too small for the burner. An examination of the egg chamber should be made to see if it heats up, evenly throughout. This can be done by using two or more thermometers known to register the same and placing them in different positions but on the same level. Should the temperature be low at one end, raise the machine at that end until a uniform heat is attained. Test your thermometer before starting the machine, for in spite of all precautions on the maker’s part they sometimes vary. Many a failure with incubators can be traced to a faulty thermometer. During the first week or ten days of incubation any slight variation of temperature can be corrected by simply lowering or raising the flame. As the embryo in the egg develops, a considerable amount of animal heat is given .off which is registered by the thermometer. The greater the fertility and the stronger the germs, the more will this heat be generated and the greater will be the tendency of the temperature to rise. This rise in temperature usually commences about the twelfth day and as a rule points to a good hatch. This should be corrected by adjusting the damper. The amount of cooling required must to a large extent be governed by the class of eggs used and climatic conditions. As a pule 5 minutes, increasing to 10 the first week, 20 minutes the second week, and up to 30 or 40 the third weeek. As with the application of moisture so must the cooling be regulated by the size of the air cell. The longer the cooling the larger the air cell becomes, which should be almost one-fourth the size of the egg at pipping time. Frequent tests should be made with a few eggs for the purpose. The beginner must recognise the difference between cooling and chilling or a poor hatch may be the result. In testing the eggs and turning them the first few days care must be taken not to handle them roughly or the delicate embryo may be injured. The eggs should have the same coloured shells, as white shells are thinner and more porous than brown shells, and dry quicker, consequently when the former have been brought to a proper condition the latter will have an excess of moisture, and the chicks will be apt to get drowned in the shells.

If the chicks come out on the 20th and the beginning of the 21st day, it is almost certain the heat has been correct. If they hatch before this time the heat has been too great. If the hatch drags past the 21st day the heat has either been too low or too much cooling has been given. Have some patience with the late hatching eggs if there are any, giving a little assistance to the chicles is absolutely necessary, but not otherwise, for strong healthy chicks will not require it, and these are the ones best worth looking after.

Pen Daily Grand No Laving. Total. 15 J. J. Schultz . . 4244454—27 503 26 Mrs Gorinski . 6254446—31 496 2 (Jalder Bros. . 5355446—32 494 32 Jno. Stevens 5535465 —33 483 18 Mrs Anderson . 5445445—31 480 17 (J. Crichton .. . . 3644456—32 472 1 C. Raines .. . 2466265—31 462 9 JGough and Proctor .. . . 6625455—33 459 14 Jno. Thomson . . 4345266—30 455 23 C. Thomson . 4543645—31 455 4 Enterprise Poultry Farm 4444554—30 451 38 S. L. Beer .. . . 4464446—32 451 16 JR. Ferguson . . 4665636—36 448 34 JW. Hamilton . . 3533454—27 448 7 Mrs J. Pauli . 5535555—33 432 20 H. Woodnorth . . 6336534—30 431 24 Mrs Procter . 4343345—26 424 30 C. Rillstone . 3253434—24 408 10 Jno. Dowdall . 4235565—30 406 21 F. Hall 3324424—22 405 37 Mrs Carr .. . . 3303532—19 384 35 Ian Strang .. . 2324355—24 377 5 McDougall Bros. 4436545—31 376 28 A. Provan .. . . 3143443—22 365 33 Mrs J. Mills 3123322—16 363 39 J. Stevens, jun. 4413424—22 359 40 J. Hislop .. . • 6536530’—33 354 36 J. B. Merrett . 4453654—31 349 22 K. Finlayson 1132444—19 340 27 H. Stratton . 4535345—29 332 3 tJ. Anderson . 4334443—25 310 13 Enterprise Poultry Farm 4333235—23 306 6 Mrs Modatt . 3323434—22 299 11 C. Matheson . 3343143—21 298 25 (J. Warburtoh . 1533354—24 292 12 Mrs Morris .. . 2441345—23 282 29 James Strang . 4242344—23 275 19 W. Buddie .. . 0222123—12 273 8 T. E. Davis 5344452—27 245 31 tMrs O’Byrne . 0312131—11 205 1058 15,447 38 pens last year 16,658 37 spare birds .. . 159 1,778 tMinorcas JOrpingtons.