POULTRY NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23306, 16 September 1937, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

BY

A. PEAT

The official column of the Invercargill Pigeon, Canary and Pet Club, and the Southland Poultry Producers’ Federation.

Readers will no doubt be pleased to know that arrangements have been made for the weekly records of the Auckland egg-laying competition to be sent direct so that the leaders in each section can be published along with the other New Zealand contests, thus enabling them to compare all the birds competing. Khaki Campbell ducks are still holding their ■ reputation as egg producers. At the Taranaki contest Mrs Kelly s No. 2 duck has a sequence of 158 eggs for the first 158 days. She began laying on the first day, laid two eggs on the third day and missed on the sixth, her lowest weight being 2oz lOdrs. This duck also scored the highest points over all breeds when they were judged by the Government instructors for type, etc. Mr W. T. Gilmour informs me that his Khaki Campbell that laid 350 eggs in 350 days at the Auckland contest last year, continued laying after she went home up to 387 without a miss (the 350 eggs was official). His second best bird continued till she reached All those interested in the forming of a canary and cage bird club, whether they are members of the Poultry Club or not, should attend the meeting on Saturday night and express their views. The’ finals for test A-of the Taranaki contest for 112 days is to hand and out of 83 single tested birds of all breeds 14 have not complied with the weight-of-egg clause. They are three Black Orpingtons, six Australorps, and five White Leghorns. IMPORTANCE OF GRIT One of the things essential to the welfare of poultry is grit, yet even on otherwise well-managed farms it is often the last thing to be considered. What a scramble there is when one puts down a fresh supply of oyster shell. The nervous White Leghorn that would not come near you for wheat scampers round your feet and cannot be pushed away from the trough. This shows how badly the grit is needed and in a few days time the result will be seen in better-shelled and more eggs. Roughly speaking a layer can make use of ljoz of shell grit in a week and 51b in a yean Oyster shell grit is the best. Sun-dried beach shells are of little value. A farmer in British Columbia has a Leghorn and Rhode Island Red cockerel which started to crow when it was 39 days old. A syndicate in the South, of England is considering the possibilities of a plant capable of turning out 10,000,000 eggs a year. . A turkey killed recently in New South Wales was found to contain over 1000 grasshoppers. It is’believed that mosquitoes may spread fowl pox by feeding first pn one bird then on another.

WHITE AND RED AUSTRALORPS A new breed of poultry is always an interesting and important event. For many years it has been urged that some attempt shall be made to introduce a new breed of fowl, for, if something is not done in this direction, the economic position of the poultry industry will, in a few years, be disastrous. A new breed requires making. A new variety is often a sport, or mutation from an established breed. The best example we have of this is the White Wyandotte, which is a sport from the Silver. It is usually agreed that these sports, or mutations, possess greater vitality and greater prolificacy than the breed from which they make such a sudden departure. Too frequently sports are thrown aside, and are looked on with suspicion as denoting impurities in a breed, which, it is unnecessary to say, is not the case. It is a sad mistake to neglect opportunities which come our way, but perhaps this neglect has occurred rather from ignorance than from deliberate intention. Now we have a new variety in the White Australorp. Do not confuse the issue and come to the conclusion that this is simply a White Orpington. The White Orpington was a made breed, but the White Australorp is a sport from the Black. A very interesting history has been told by Mr Addison, of Middelberg, Cape, South Africa. In 1933 he had a white chick that had been hatched from an egg from his pen of pure Black Australorps. He had been breeding Australorps Tor 10 years, and never had anything but pure black chicks, with an occasional white feather, as so often occurs with black breeds. Well, with one chick, what was Mr Addison to do in order to breed White Australorps? The chick turned out to be a cockerel, and about this time two white chicks were bred from a Black Australorp pen at the Grootfontein School of Agriculture. Both were pullets, and they were unrelated to Mr Addison’s white cockerel. Mr Addison, in the meantime, had mated the white cockerel to its black mother, its black mother’s sisters, and its father’s black sisters, and had produced a few white chickens; but the obvious way for a short cut to pure whites, was to mate the white cockerel to the white Grootfontein pullets. In 1934 this was done, but all the progeny of this mating of white cockerel and white pullets were black. That was a setback. BLACK AGAIN In 1935 Mr Addison mated the original white cock to its white daughters, and lent a 1934 hatched white cockerel to the Grootfontein School of Agriculture. From the mating of white father to white daughters a greater portion of white chickens resulted—compared with the mating of the white cock to its black mother and aunts —but from the Grootfontein mating of white to white again, only black appeared. Carrying on the . in-breeding which was giving the best results, Mr Addison, in 1936, mated 1934 hatched white nieces with the gratifying result that all the chickens, except about 3 per cent, of blacks, were white; but in order to establish, if possible, a line of blood not so closely related, he mated the 1933 white cock to a 1935 black Grootfontein pullet, bred from white parents (as noted above), and also to another white pullet bred by another pure black Australorp stud, which he was fortunate to secure from a breeder who had heard of his work. He also put a couple of his own 1934bred white hens in this pen and trapnested all the eggs. The result was that the Grootfontein pullet gave all black chickens, with the exception of one cockerel splashed with white. The outcross white pullet gave nothing but pure white chickens, and his own 1934hatched white pens produced mostly white chickens. Now this stud of White Australorps is, so far as we are aware, the only one in the world, and the question we are going to ask is, has it a future? We believe it has, and it may have a great effect on the future of the poultry industry. EGG SIZE AND WEIGHT Egg size and weight are as important in selecting hens for the breeding pen as is the number of eggs that are laid. It is a temptation to use a hen that has made a big record regardless of the kind of eggs she lays. The size of eggs her daughter will lay can doubt-

less be increased by mating her With a male from a line of birds that lay big eggs, but it is unwise to take this chance. It is far better to select only such birds as lay eggs that weigh at least 240 z to the dozen and mate them to a male that comes from a high producing line of birds that lay goodsized eggs. Duck eggs can be used in any recipe that calls for eggs, according to a recent news bulletin from the University of Illinois. Since duck eggs are about a fourth larger in size, fewer of them are sonfetimes necessary in recipes. _ The yolks of duck eggs are just about as satisfactory in all cases as the yolks of hen eggs. The greatest variation between the two eggs is in the whites. The white of duck eggs beat up slowly and do not give as large a volume or stand up as well as the whites from hen eggs. For that reason duck eggs are usually not as satisfactory for angel food cakes and meringue as hen The stronger flavour and colour of the yolks of the duck eggs prove to be the desirable feature when combined with other foods. Generally speaking, one duck egg has one tablespoonful more white and one fourth tablespoonful more yolk than a hen egg. While incubating is in full swing, it might be as well to remind readers of a few factors which will help in successful hatching, or of a few safeguards to take if the future welfare of the flock is to be looked after. Firstly, care in selection of eggs both in shell quality and in size. The use of small eggs, i.e., those below 2oz, has been proved to be detrimental both to futiye egg size of the flock and to the health of the chickens. Experiments with several thousand eggs showed that there was a progressive decline in hatchabilitv as egg size decreased from 2oz to Isoz. Chicks from this experiment showed a decided difference in weight also, but the most marked discrepancy was in wastage in marketable chickens; with those from eggs weighing l?oz showing 5 per cent, more waste than chicks from 2oz eggs, while birds hatched from ljoz eggs showed nearly 12 per cent, greater loss. The greatest wastage took place in the first four weeks, showing a definite weakness or lack of stamina in chicks from small eggs. Here we have a warning which should not be ignored, and the indiscriminate breeding from immature pullets or small egg birds should be eliminated. Buyers of chicks should make themselves fully aware of the practice in force on the plants from which they purchase chicks,, as in too many cases cheap chicks at ridiculous prices can only mean lack of culling and selection, and the use of every bird on the plant as a breeding bird. An eminent veterinarian in England with wide practical experience of poultry farms, has laid it down that no bird should be used for breeding until at least fifteen months old, and that Cockerels should be of the same age. It is well to remember that resistance to disease will depend upon inherited stamina as well as good rearing, so that selection of eggs should only be from hens which can pass on the desirable factors. Thin shelled eggs are generally pretty numerous at this time of the year. This is generally due to the formation of the yolks as a rapid rate, though frights can cause the same trouble and also an increase in blood spots. The hens should be receiving a ration not too stimulating. CARE OF THE COCKS

A careful eye should be kept on breeding birds, and any sign of weakness or lack of stamina be the signal for the weeding out of the culprit. Birds showing loss of weight should be discarded, likewise birds whose eggs show bad hatchibility and fertility after a check mating. Cocks sometimes begin to lose condition because of their anxiety to draw the attention of the hen to all the food going. A special hopper, taller than for the hens, is useful in this respect or the practice many breeders follow of taking the cock out each night and giving him a special feed might be adopted where necessity arises. If it is desirable to change a mating, remember that it is advisable to allow a fortnight to elapse before mating progeny as sired by the new male bird.

With so many jobs to attend to now, the poultry man is apt to leave certain routine work to be attended to at a later date. Care must be taken that the jobs left undone will not have serious effects later. Cleanliness in the brooder house, movement of chicks and allowance of greater space as they grow, the daily inspection of all stock, the usual care in collection and handling of eggs for sale, are just a few items that cannot be neglected at any time without serious results.

As with human beings, the sudden change from a close heated atmosphere into a cold and damp one is certain to mean illness in poultry. The hen house should be prepared for the winter to afford as much comfort as possible. Without comfortable quarters the hen cannot lay well and pay a good profit. When fixing the house for winter comfort, keep in mind that production is slowed up when the house is cold, damp, draughty, dark, too crowded, or infested with parasites. Any one of these factors may curtail production. A combination of two or more of them will not only curtail production, but also probably result in a high rate of mortality. Therefore, it is very imperative to check them one by one and attend to each one in detail. EGG LAYING CONTEST MASSEY COLLEGE (24th Week) Single Light Breed A. G. Mumby (W.L.) 5 127 J. Wilson (W.L.) 6 125 W. Scott (W.L.) 6 124 A. A. Hoare (W.L.) 4 122 O. H. Markland (W.L.) 5 112 Single Heavy Breed Miss E. T. Somer (R.1.R.) 6 ' 139 Miss E. T. Somer (R.1.R.) 6 132 Mrs M. L. Douglas (B.O.) 6 131 Mrs R. Willers (B.O.) 5 124 D. E. Hopkins (R.1.R.) 6 122 Light Breeds (Six Birds) H. A. Lucas (W.L.) 27 656 Ancona P.F. (W.L.) 30 566 Mrs G. E. Sewell (W.L.) 28 526 C. L. Urquhart (W.L.) 27 458 S. G. Batten (W.L.) 23 449 Heavy Breeds (Six Birds) L. G. Hooper (B.O.) 33 655 W. A. Larsen (A. 0. 30 623 F. A. Dewhurst (R.1.R.) 29 558 Austral P.F. (A. 0. 29 529

TARANAKI (24th Week) Single Heavy Breed G. A. Edge (R.1.R.) 6 149 Mrs H. Moreland (A. 0. 6 • 143 Mrs D. M. Waddell (B.O.) 5 134 J. H. Hurdle (A. 0. 5 132 G. A. Edge (R.1.R.) 6 128 Light Breed, Single Mrs A. W. Revell (W.L.) 5 138 Sunny River P.F. (W.L.) 5 125 Sunny River P.F. (W.L.) 4 124 J. T. Hazelwood (W.L.) 5 123 Ducks, Single Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 6 167 Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 7 160 Mrs A. W. Revell (F.W.R.) 7 148

Heavy Breeds (Three Birds) Mrs H. Moreland (A. 0. 13 354 N. Ross (B.O.) 17 351 G. A. Edge (R.1.R.) 16 343 Mrs F. A. Warren (B.O.) 12 288 T. Dowthwaite (B.O.) 13 276 Light Breeds (Three Birds) Sunny River P.F. (W.L.) 14 346 W. Scott (W.L.) 14 303 Mrs A. W. Revell (W.L.) 13 282 M. Stephenson (W.L.) 9 269 J. T. Hazelwood (W.L.) 14 267 AUCKLAND (22nd week) Heavy Breeds (six birds) Huxtable Bros. (B.O.) 503 H. Harrison (B. Lang.) Jib N. Ross (A. 0. . s 437 W. Worthington (B.O.) 4 ““ Cotswold P.F. (B.O.) 437 Light Breeds (six birds) J. B. Guy (W.L.) 347 W. Spencer (W.L.) 43 Argyle (P.F.) (W.L.) 4 ™ Whenuapai (W.L.) 443 T. Ingham (W.L.) 435 Single Bird (all breeds) N. Ross (A. 0. 6 123 R. Wells (B.O.) 6 jfU Ancona (P.F.) (AO.) 7 W. G. Crabb (B.O.) 7 112 G. W. Hawkins (W.L.) 6 113 Light Breeds (four birds) Mrs L. Stukleman (W.L.) 415 W. Spencer (W.L.) “I H. Turner (W.L.) 3 H. Mumme (W.L.) 373 L. G. Hooper (W.L.) 354 Heavy Breeds (four birds) K. A. Powell (B.O.) 433 Mrs N. Ross (B.O.) C. T. Hardings (B.O.) 432 Mrs D. Edwards (B.O.) 43 P. Douglas ' 4 s Ducks (four birds) W. T. Gilmour (K.C.) 556 Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 544 Mrs D. R. Simson (K.C.) 536 L. Ayling (K.C.) 500 S. Clark (K.C.) 471 PAPANUI (23rd week) TEST No. 1.-J. H. SHAW MEMORIAL CHALLENGE. (For light and heavy breeds, single penned)

TEST No. 2—WHITE LEGHORN SINGLE HEN TEST. (Each competitor to enter three purebred pullets to be single pen-

TEST No. S.—SINGLE HEN TEST, LIGHT AND HEAVY BREEDS (each competitor to enter six pure-bred pullets to be single penned). Total G. Millar i J 22 D. A. McKie (A. 0. 463 S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 1) 542 J. Liggins 482 E. F. Butler 4b3 L. G. Ancall 5 5° G. H. Bradford (No. 1) 473 G. H. Bradford (No. 2) 637 G H. Bradford (No. 3) 469 S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 2) 463 Mrs B. Andrews 480 E. Tilley 48 j> G. H. Mitchell S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 3) 648 T. S. Dove (No. 1) 506 H. Williams 563 D. A. McKie 563 Calder Bros. (No. 1) 458 Calder Bros. (No. 2) 551 T. S. Dove (No. 2) 475 E. P. Anderson 534 A. D. Russell 562 G. D. Hollyman 524

Weekl; Total 3 S C. Miln (A.O.) 4 58 J. R. Griffen (L.S.) 1 104 C. N. Goodman (A.O.) (1) 7 91 C. N. Goodman (A.O.) (2) 1 43 104 D. J. Hawke (B.O.) 4 Miss F. Kerr (A.O.) 5 36 S. F. Marshall (A.O.) 5 113 W. N. Jepson (A.O.) 5 71 J. Gunn (A.O.) 6 G. D. Hollyman (A.O.) 5 101 35 J. Brennan 5 Ted Turner 6 H. Whyte (1) 6 121 104 H. Whyte (2) 6 Mrs C. J. Collings 5 68 G. Wright 4 83 D. J. Hawke 4 36 M. C. Mills 5 111 Miss F. Kerr 6 99 J. Hamilton 6 43 Miss H. Keddell 5 108 J. Ibbotson (No. 1) 3 62 62 103 E. Tilley F. C. Innes 6 5 W. E. Harvey 5 47 A. C. Goodlet 6 67 R. West 5 77 H. Williams (No. 1) 5 96 Mrs J. Still (No. 1) 5 52 A. Lucas (No. 1) o 90 H. Williams (No. 2) 5 95 W. E. Ward 4 83 J. Liggins 5 95 E. P. Anderson (No. 1) 6 60 W. Barrell 6 55 J. Ibbotson (No. 2) 6 84 Mrs J. Still (No. 2) 4 75 A. Lucas (No. 2) T. Calms 5 6 121 111 L. P. Hawke 4 97 J. H. Graham 5 87 T. B. Grant 5 48 T. S. Dove 2 104 Green Bros. 4 66 C. A. B. Williams 5 106 E. P. Anderson (No. 2) 6 85 Mrs B. Andrews 5 53

ned) Grand total. G. Miller (No. 1) 118 87 103 Mrs F. D. Dillon . 98 51 65 Mrs B. Snelling 64 75 111 A. W. Pritchard 69 101 102 F. Ashworth 91 98 78 D. J. Hawke 52 117 113 Miss F. Kerr 55 107 36 S. F. Marshall 79 90 73 G. H. Bradford (No. 1) 60 105 111 W. M. Evans 121 119 59 Miss H. Keddell 86 76 78 J. Brennan 11 55 67 G. H. Bradford (No. 2) 86 106 65 L. Brumby 103 125 83 Mrs J. A. Ritchie 105 97 86 E. Tilley 113 95 69 P. Knight 85 113 118 F. C. Innes 55 69 89 Green Bros. 84 113 110 A. C. Goodlet 128 105 118 A. D. Whyte 53 38 77 J. H. Jones 81 108 75 H. Williams (No. 1) 75 51 98 H. Williams (No. 2) 80 126 82 J. Liggins (No. 1) 95 33 101 J. Liggins (No. 2) 79 95 98 A. Edwards 98 88 71 J. B. Lees 57 91 115 A. S. Cormack 65 62 118 T. S. Dove 111 85 85 A. 0. Oakley 123 132 80 W. Turner 65 111 90 E. Fuchs 106 99 90 Argyle Poultry Farm 105 66 90 Mrs B. Andrews 84 111 74 TEST No. 3.—BLACK ORPINGTONS AND AUSTRALORPS (competitor to enter three birds). Grand Total A. S. Cormack (A.O.) 126 53 113 Miss F. Kerr (A.O.) 23 53 52 S. Brumby (A.O.), (No. 1) 67 41 44 S. Brumby (A.O.), (No. 2) 93 109 115 D. J. Hawke (B.O.) 92 115 90 L. Brumby (A.O.) 45 67 48 C. O. King (A.O.) 126 118 124 B. Cotterell (A.O.) 80 106 22 K. D. Martin (A.O.) 83 124 98 W. N. Jepson (A.O.) 79 112 64 G. D. Hollyman (A.O.). (No. 1 73 120 97 G. D. Hollyman (A.O.), (No. 2 99 96 118 D. A. Tutton 31 45 27 TEST No. 4.—ANY VARIETY LIGHT OR HEAVY BREEDS, OTHER THAN WHITE LEGHORNS OR BLACK ORPINGTONS. R. Pearce (A.) 59 40 73 A. W. Pritchard (B.L.) 13 97 92 E. R. Buckley (R.I.R.) 97 114 109 W. J. Scott (R.LR.) 80 106 130 T. B. Grant (R.I.R.) 78 59 57 C. Stone (R.I.R.) 113 84 87 P. A. Cornish (L.S.) 73 78 39 TEST No. 6—SINGLE DUCK TEST. F. Ashworth (K.C.) 97 136 130 G. Wright (K.C.) 85 95 153 Mrs C. J. Collings (K.C.) 142 111 86 J. W. Thomson (K.C.) 14 94 142 R. J. Vallance (K C.) 97 36 80 A. G. F. Ross (l.R.) 146 97 153 L. Williams (l.R.) 105 120 121 W. A. Toon (K.C.) 92 101 135