POULTRY NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22962, 7 August 1936, Page 5

POULTRY NOTES

BY

A. PEAT

Would those readers requiring information note my change of address tc Racecourse Road, Invercargill. The monthly meeting of the Poultry Producers’ Federation will be held in Everybody’s on Monday evening. Mi R. O. King will give a lecture on rearing chickens after the meeting. Mr J. Hutton, who was the original chairman of the New Zealand Poultry Board, has been re-elected to that position for the new registration year. Mr S. F. Marshall has also been reelected as a member of the board. The “slater” or grey wood louse found under old timber or stones is a natural cure for crop—bound hens or chickens. If fowls are at liberty they will search for “slaters” which, once taken into the crop, dissolve the hard undigested matter in a few minutes. Carrots are one of the best root crops that can be fed to poultry. They contain valuable mineral matter and help to enrich the colour of the egg yolk. The accurate culling of chickens cannot be based on one single sign, but collectively on several of importance at a certain age, including the following: (1) Length of tail at 4 weeks; (2) feathering at five weeks; (3) body shape at six weeks; (4) hackle feathers at four months and head gear with light breeds. Breeders’ Notes. The Poultry Department of Massey Agricultural College at Palmerston North was established in 1929 under the capable management of Mr John H. Kissling, who is also president of the North Island Poultry Association, assisted by Mr J. Jamieson, Mr P. de Vantier and Miss G. Norris. Usually there are from three to five students taking the twelve months’ certificate course working on the plant. The college farm is 900 acres, and unlimited free range with plenty of shelter makes ideal conditions for producing good breeding stock as well as layers. The college won 28 prizes with 29 entries, including five championships this season.

In addition to the egg-laying contest conducted there they carry approximately 1000 birds. The breeds specialized in are White Leghorns, Black Orpingtons (Australorps) and Rhode Island Reds. There are also a few Light Sussex and Indian game kept for meat production and approximately 50 Khaki Campbell ducks. Hatching is done with a 3000-egg electric incubator and 200 trap nests are continuously in use.

Mr P. A. Cornish, Ashburton, when visiting England last year purchased a cock and three hens from Sir Duncan Watson, the most successful breeder of Light Sussex in England at the present time. It will be remembered that Sir Duncan purchased the late Lord Dewar’s stock. Although their progeny were late hatched owing to the birds going into a moult after their arrival in June, they have been successful at the six shows exhibited. Thirty-three birds were benched, winning 28 firsts, four- seconds, two championships and several special prizes. The birds seen at the shows were of fairly good type with large bodies, good head pieces and width across the back. They excel in colour with beautiful neck and saddle hackle, especially the male birds. Messrs L. and W. Taylor, have donated a silver cup to the Invercargill Poultry Club to be competed for in the budgerigar section at the annual show. It will no doubt assist in drawing entries in this increasingly popular section.

I have just received an interesting letter from Dr A. L. Hagedoorn, secretary of the Genetic Society, Holland. When so many coloured Australorp chickens were being hatched I wrote to see .’f he could enlighten us on the subject. He had bred some barred ones himself and this is his opinion on how it happens: “When you cross black to buff in Orpington you generally get the colour you described (brown chickens with two dark stripes down the back, like Brown Leghorns). I am inclined to the idea that this variation is due to some very remote outcross to birds of another colour, possibly buff. Such recessive traits may remain hidden for dozens of generations until the moment comes when you happen to mate two animals that both carry the recessive traits. If you trap-nest you will probably find that one or two hens gave all the off-coloured birds and that those hens gave approximately 25 per cent of this colour. The best way to get rid of it, if this is what you want, is by test-mating. If you mate a number of young males related to the off-coloured stock to Brown Leghorns, you will find that some will give nothing but black chicks whereas others will give about half-brown chicks. In this way you can eliminate the impure cockerels, and you can do this test-mating at a time of the year long before you need the males in the breeding pens. You can see enough by taking ten chicks from each male and if you do this in the autumn, it does not cost much, and you can kill those chickens by using only males that give you black chickens exclusively, even if mated to brown hens. Those males will surely give you nothing but black chicks when you use them later on in the breeding pens.” Keeping Eggs Fresh. Many poultrymen beat the heat in summer by dipping eggs in a thin, white mineral oil. This seals the pores of the shell and helps the egg retain its fresh quality. Recent tests by the United States Department of Agriculture show that oiled eggs also stay fresh much better in cold storage than unoiled eggs. In an eight-month storage test the original grade was retained by 65.8 per cent of the eggs oiled at a temperature of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, by 55 per cent oiled at 80 degrees, but by only 32.5 per cent unoiled. Eggs given the oil and vacuum carbon dioxide treatment retained 88 per cent of their original grade at the end of the storage test. This method, developed by T. L. Swenson of the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, was 35 per cent more efficient than plain oiling, and 173 per cent more efficient than storage with no oil treatment. In the vacuum process eggs are dipped in oil in an air-tight chamber. Enough air is pumped out to create a partial vacuum. Some air also escapes from the eggs. When carbon dioxide is turned into the chamber the eggs drew enough oil into the pores of the shell to form a complete seal. Carbon dioxide has a stabilizing effect on the egg white. If air is used eggs do not retain their freshness. General Notes. Constant selection of hens that lay sizeable eggs and males whose mothers did the same, together with breeding form the bodily size normal for the breed, and stamina, coupled with good rearing, is the only reliable means of bringing about an improvement in the size of eggs. The next meeting of the New Zealand Poultry Board, about August 18, is to be held in Christchurch instead of Wellington, the headquarters of the board. As circumstances permit later, meetings will be held at Dunedin and Auckland. The idea is to bring the board into more direct touch with producers in the main centres. Some measure of control over the

price of fowl wheat may be exercized by the Government next year. The Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) has asked the Wheat Committee to report fully to him upon the procedure.to be adopted should this course of action be found necessary or advisable.

A common error is tc try to rear two chickens where there should be one. Over-crowding can only lead to serious trouble, and it is better to have 500 well-reared pullets than 1000 undergrown, weedy birds which have not had the opportunity to grow and develop. Provided that there are at least four candidates offering at each centre, the Department of Agriculture is prepared to control chick-sexing examinations at Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch during August. Egg-Binding.

The first symptom of egg-binding is that the hen makes frequent visits to the nest, constantly standing up and making efforts to lay the egg. The hen may be found to remain on the nest all day. If the egg is in the lower part of the abdomen, it may be felt as a hard object. In many cases, however, the egg is far up in the oviduct and cannot be felt, and then the bird may suffer considerably. Any inflammation of the egg canal will cause a stoppage of the egg through it, and such inflammation often results from infection of the digestive tract, i.e., at the lower end of the intestines. Freedom from worms or coccidia would appear to be a necessary condition then, if egg-binding is to be avoided.

Eggs of too large a size, underfeeding causing a thin body condition, or over-feeding causing choking of the egg canal may also cause egg-binding. Before attempting any kind of treatment, make sure that the bird will not lay the egg of her own accord. To this end, allow her to remain quiet and alone for a couple of hours. If, after this time, she should obviously require help, the hands should be carefully washed, the forefinger smeared with two per cent carbolised vaseline and carefully pushed inside the vent to feel and ease the egg. Great care must be taken that the oviduct is not torn because it is very tender. Another scheme which gives good results is to smear the vent inside with olive oil or to pour two teaspoonfuls into the vent. The bird should also be given by way of mouth two teaspoonfuls of castor oil.

If, after two hours, the egg has not been passed, the bird should be held in front of a fire so that the abdomen is heated. An excellent alternative scheme is holding the abdomen in a bowl of warm water for ten minutes. If the egg is broken in the canal, be sure that every scrap of shell is removed by carefully working round with a vaselined finger. EGG-LAYING CONTESTS. MASSEY COLLEGE (18th week). Light Breeds single (33 birds).

R. M. Smith (W.L.) 5 94 A. G. Mumby (W.L.) 5 92 G. E. Moody (W.L.) 4 89 Ranguiru P.F. (W.L.) 5 87 Miss H. Keddell (W.L.) 4 85 Heavy Breed single (17 birds). A. E. Salisbury (A. 0. 6 104 T. Dowthwaite (B.O.) 6 103 T. Dowthwaite (B.O.) 5 100 J. H. Sutton (A. 0. 6 99 R. Feist (R.1.R.) 6 96 Light Breeds 6 birds (23 teams). F. Ecob (W.L.) 28 363 F. Ecob (W.L.) 22 353 Argyle P.F. (W.L.) 16 330 C. L. Urquhart (W.L.) 14 326 E. B. Wainscott (W.L.) 13 326 Heavy Breeds (6 birds, 15 teams). Mrs D. M. Waddell (B.O.) 24 400 Cotswold P.F. (A. 0. 13 361 J. B. Duthie (R.1.R.) 24 338 J. B. Duthie (B.O.) 5 310 F. A. Dewhurst (R.1.R.) 12 279 AUCKLAND (16th week). This marks the completion of the winter test. To qualify for the official winter test recognition, three of the four birds in teams must gain the 2oz standard egg weight. In the single bird section seven are under weight. Heavy breed teams, 77 birds; light breed teams, 38 birds. All underweight hens are marked * Single Bird, All Breeds (40 birds). N. Ross (B.O.) 6 92 Whenuapai P.F. (B.O.) 5 85 N. Ross (B.O.) * 83 Argyle P.F. (W.L.) 5 83 H. C. Hansen (B.O.) 6 82 Heavy Breeds (4 birds, 45 teams). K. A. Powell (B.O.)-23 (3*) 357 N. Ross (B.O.) 23 (4‘) 352 J. Nixon (B.O.) 17 344 R. A. Mclntyre (B.O.) 23 (2*) 341 W. Wordworth (B.O.) 21 (2*) 329 Light Breeds (4 birds, 53 teams). H. S. Saunders (W.L.) 20 (1*) 303 Mrs L. T. Lett (W.L.) 19 (2*) 283 Mrs M. L. Douglas (W.L.) 20 (1*) 279 J. Nixon (W.L.) 19 278 W. Spencer (W.L.) 13 268 Ducks (4 birds, 12 teams). W. T. Gilmour (K.C.) 28 437 W. T. Gilmour (K.C.) 28 431 C. Cousens (K.C.) 26 412 R. Goodsell (W.C.) 27 419 Mrs Leo Ayling (K.C.) 21 403 PAPANUI 17th WEEK. Light or Heavy Single (61 birds.) W. A. Coombes (A.O) 5 94 J. Campbell (A. 0. 5 93 T. R. Robertson (W.L.) 6 93 F. A. Hall (W.L.) 6 93 C. Bartley (W.L.) 5 90 Miss M. Brumby (W.L.) 6 89 W. E Ward (W.L.) 6 88 A. C. Goodlet (W.L.) 6 86 C. Thorburn (W.L.) 5 85 J. R. Griffen (Barn) 4 81 M. Mills (W.L.) 4 81 A. S. Cormack (W.L.) 5 81 Old People’s Home (W.L.) 4 81 R. West (W.L.) 5 81 F. C. Innes (W.L.) 4 80 Miss F. Kerr (W.L.) 5 80 W. L. Anderson (W.L.) 5 79 J. Ibbotson (W.L.) 4 78 J. Gunn (A. 0. 6 78 T. S. Dove (W.L.) 4 76 L. P. Hawke (B.O.) 4 76 L. Patton (A. 0. 4 75 W. Turner (W.L.) 4 75 G. W. Hawkins (W.L.) 5 74 C. C. Smith (W.L.) 5 74 A. S. Schulz (A. 0. 3 73 Green Bros (W.L.) 4 72 T. Robertson (W.L.) 4 72 L. P. Hawke (W.L.) 4 71 E. P. Anderson (W.L.) 5 71 T. B. Grant (W.L.) 0 69 J. Stell (W.L.) 0 68 A. Young (A. 0. 5 66 A. D. L. McClintock (W.L.) 4 66 T. Smith (W.L.) 4 65 G. N. Good (W.L.) 2 65 R. Leggins (W.L.) 1 61 S. Brumby (A. 0. 4 60 C. Miln (A. 0. 0 57 J. Hughes (W.L.) 5 55 P. Knight (W.L.) 6 54 Emery Bros (W.L.) 0 54 T. Smith (W.L.) 0 52 Miss M. Coombes (W.L.) 2 51 Mrs J. Stell (W.L.) 6 50 C. N. Goodman (W.L.) 0 48 White Leghorns (3 birds, 37 teams.)

Black Orpington or Australorp (3 birds, 21 teams).

Mrs G. D. Hollyman. (A. 0. 62-92-96 250 J. Campbell (A. 0. 99-65-71 235 J. N. Davidson (A. 0. 89-78-59 222 G. D. Hollyman (A. 0. 67-92-62 221 Mrs W. A. Coombes (A. 0. 84-50-73 207 D. Hughes (A. 0. 67-76-62 205 Miss F. Kerr (B.O.), 78-67-58 203 W. Megget (A. 0. 89-43-67 199 A. W. Pritchard (A. 0. 70-56-69 195 C. O. King (A. 0. 40-85-67 192 L. Brumby (A. 0. 69-62-54 185 S. J. R. Dick (A. 0. 39-77-64 180 J. Gunn (A. 0. 69-42-65 176 S. Brumby (A. 0. 63-59-42 164 Mrs M. Hunt (A. 0. 85-76 161 A. S. McCormack (A. 0. 89-29-61 159 W. A. Coombes (A. 0. 43-67-41 151 R. Watkins (A. 0. 65-28-56 149 B. Cotterel (A. 0. 77-54 131 F. A. Lutton (B.O.), 11-63-14 88 W. Jepson (A. 0. 6-34-36 76 Any Other Variety (3 birds, 6 teams). A. D. Fabian (L.S.), 75-82 157 T. B. Grant (R.1.R.), 68-26-44 138 E. R. Buckley (R.1.R.), 66-28-41 135 A. S. Cooper (L.C.), 57-31-30 118 A. W. Adams (S.W.), 30-29-30 89 P. Goding (R.1.R.), 62-0-3 65 Single Test (6 birds, 17 teams). L. G. Ancall (W.L.), 23 428 G. D. Hollyman (W.L.), 18 422 A. D. Rusell (W.L.), 20 419 H. Williams (W.L.), 17 (IM) 418 Green Bros. (W.L.), 21 (IM) 403 J. H. Jones (W.L.), 32 399 T. S. Dove (W.L.), 24 398 G. Millar (W.L.), 16 387 Miss H. Keddell (W.L.), 28 368 T. S. Dove (W.L.), 24 339 D. A. McKie (A. 0. 17 330 J. Liggins (W.L.), 15 303 Calder Bros. (W.L.), 24 293 G. H. Mitchell (W.L.), 13 290 Calder Bros. (W.L.), 28 271 E. F. Butler (W.L.), 10 264 Flock Teams (6 birds, 7 teams). G. H. Bradford (W.L.), 21 439 W. Turner (W.L.), 17 438 W. Turner (W.L.), 19 423 G. H. Bradford (W.L.), 20 362 W. E. Ward (W.L.), 19 (2D) 355 J. Liggins (W.L.), 20 301 J. Brennan (W.L.), 17 262 Ducks (3 birds, 13 teams). J. W. Thomson (K.C.), 111-107-118 336 G. Wright (K.C.), 109-101-101 331 Miss N. Dale (F.W.R.), 99-89-90 276 J. W. Cottier (P.), 112-47-95 254 A. Cousens (K.C.), 69-101-80 250 F. Ashworth (K.C.), 66-109-80 255 Mrs C. J. Collings (K.C.), 89-90-65 244 J. W. Thomson (F.W.R.), 116-108-15 239 H. A. Lucas (P.), 74-70-79 223 H. Hunt (K.C.), 47-71-105 223 W. A. Toon (K. 8. 80-24-88 192 A. G. Ross (F.W.R.), 53-1-92 146 L. P. Hawke (F.W.R.), 73-24-30 127

S. F. Marshall 99—83—88 270 A. C. Goodlet 83—88—91 260 L. Brumby 83—88—88 259 F. C. Innes 75—92—82 249 G. Millar 86—81—78 245

R. H. Taylor 63-80—77 245 W. M. Evans 83—82—77 242 C. Bartley 92—64—84 240 R. Allison 83—59—73 235 A. D. L. McClintock 94—80—57 231 A. Patterson 61—85—77 222 H. Williams 87—56—77 220 T. S. Dove 50—87—68 205 E. Dalziel 49—75—81 205 T. R. Robertson 77—65—62 204 Miss F. Kerr 49—61—91 201 F. A. Hall 31—86—85 202 A. Edwards 51—79—69 199 A. W. Pritchard 64—56—76 196 T. Beaven 84—60—48 192 E. W. Johnson 59—35—97 191 H. Williams 83—33—74 190 Green Bros. 73—49—63 185 F. Hughes 46—78—58 182 S. Atkinson 81—76—24 181 E. P. Anderson 59—39—82 180 Argyle P.F. 81—78—21 180 R. C. Yeates 99—39—36 174 J. Campbell 60—75—31 166 Miss H. Keddell 34—67—62 163 T. Robertson 66—55—37 158 H. Whyte 52—41—62 155 I. Hull 61—58—29 148 G. Millar 79—20—48 147