POULTRY NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23378, 9 December 1937, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

BY

A. PEAT

The Poultry World, England, employing the latest scientific principles of colour photography has presented to readers a reproduction of a speckled Sussex in its natural colours. This is the first time that such a task has been successfully accomplished. Colour photography, in so far as poultry is concerned, opens up a road which, had such been possible in the early days of the present century, would have avoided a great deal of confusion about actual colour standards.

While the artist’s brush can convey ideals, it is always open to suspicion that the birds portrayed are impossible of attainment. Furthermore, the artist has to call upon his own knowledge of colours in his interpretation of the written standard. Colour photography, on the other hand, will give faithful reproduction. A Rhode Island red laid 304 eggs at the Northants test. At Olympia’s national show held in England the following new breeds were exhibited: — White Croad Langshan, White Australorp, Khaki Kiwis, Silver Barnevelders, Buff Minorcas. Coronation Sussex, Red Wyandottes, White Surreys, North Holland Blues, Silver Wherwells.

The British Duck Keepers’ Association has presented a cup known as the Lewer Cup to be awarded to the best duck in any recognized laying trials which satisfies the judge for type and lays the greatest number of eggs beyond the N.P.C. copper or brass quota. The winning duck was an Aylesbury belonging to Messrs R. Silcock and Sons and laid 291 eggs. The runner-up was also an Aylesbury with 279 eggs and owned by H. Sutton and Son. Years ago the Aylesbury was one of our favourite breeds of ducks being a great table bird and could be seen on every farm but the great laying qualities of the Indian Runner won from it the popularity it held, now followed by the Khaki Campbell. It has been repeated in these columns time and again that there is no best breed and by careful selection any breed can be made to produce layers. Further proof of this is that these two ducks were owned by different breeders. What can be accomplished in England can also be done by our own breeders and again restore the popularity of the Aylesbury. PULLET INSPECTION

The nightly round norms a very essential part of the poultryman’s routine, as he is able to inspect the flocks of pullets after they go to roost, to see that all the birds are perching properly. At the same time ventilation can be checked and righted. When each lot of pullets is transferred to the permanent laying house some will crowd to one end of the perches, no matter how much roosting space is provided. A few of the birds will sleep on the droppings board, and, given half a chance, some will take to the nests, window-tops and cross supports. From the start it pays to space the birds out and to see that all of them are placed quietly on the perches if they happen to be roosting elsewhere. That is the way to guard against colds which can bring about so serious a loss in laying condition. Wayward pullets should be handled gently and they will consent to settle at that end of the perches least occupied. Each night after dark the same procedure should be followed until all the birds do perch properly. Prevention is the best cure, and the poultryman wishing to avoid colds in his flocks must visit the sheds nightly and transfer some from those which are overcrowded to others not so full. It is useless to argue that this work entails too much trouble; it must be regarded as part of the routine. We have to consider whether or not the majority of poultry keepers adopt methods of housing which assist in keeping the growing and matured stock hard. I think not. It may. be quite essential to protect baby chicks against floor draughts, but when they are strong on their feet there can be no wisdom in having all the windows of the brooder house closed so that all the air gets heated. That means soft young stock. Fresh air must tend to harden them, and the same policy should be followed up to and beyond maturity. CONTROLLED VENTILATION

While it must be admitted that one type of house will not suit all places, the question of proper ventilation remains identical for all parts of the country. I am surprised at the boxed-in houses which one finds on so many establishments; by no stretch of imagination are they suitable for maturing pullets leaving the arks. Their interiors resemble a hothouse, and it is impossible to arrange ventilation to suit weather variations.

The ideal house is one so designed as to be suitable for the coldest day of the winter and the warmest night of the summer. This is not achieved, by small, fixed glass 1 windows and lights, solid timber, small outlets and insufficient inlets. I doubt if one should try to carry on without a supplementary wire door, seeing that in the year there will be nights when the wooden door ought to be wide open and the netted one in position. If you have been troubled with colds, make up your mind to alter the ventilating arrangements for another year. Do not be nervous of cutting out a large piece of timber high at each end of the house, replacing it in the form of a hinged flap, and covering the aperture with perforated zinc. In cold weather the flaps can be closed, but on warm nights they can be left open, and when the wind blows in one direction the exposed flap is closed while the other remains open. Do not be nervous of back ventilation so long as it can be controlled and the incoming air does not beat down on the birds. Give preference to large inlets under complete control and baffled where necessary. Ventilation is often outside instead of inside the house, and that is where the nightly inspection of the pullets on the perches offers a real advantage. Our only other chance is a check in the morning before the birds are released; we must then judge the inside conditions for ourselves. Inside the house we have to smell the atmosphere and to decide if the interior is too cold or too warm, and to know for certain if the ventilating arrangenments need alteration. We can check any down draught on the perches, and also decide on the spot which windows of flaps to close because of the prevailing wind. After a time we get used to the conditions and ventilating needs. Once growing stock are reared hard the same desirable conditions should be kept up when the laying house is reached. One must not coddle laying pullets in a desire to prevent cold housing. On the other hand, with the changing of the seasons one has to see that the interior is not too chilly. Chilly nights will soon be with us, and the system of ventilating the laying houses must be revised accordingly. That will not prove difficult if the design permits if interchanging control. INTRODUCING PULLETS Where large flocks of laying pullets are concerned it is not easy to get them settled on the perches. The majority of the birds like to crowd into the end compartment. This means

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

that each night one must transfer sufficient from one compartment into the next one where the perches are less crowded. That procedure must be persevered with nightly until the fowls appreciate what is expected of them. Instead of putting a hundred or more maturing pullets into one large house at a time, install a smaller number and get them settled to perching before introducing another batch. It the house is partitioned into several sections sufficient can be placed in the end compartment, and a few days later the second compartment can be occupied by another ■ lot, and so on until the house is filled and all are running together as a flock. - A divided laying house enables the owner to separate a flock into two lots when the time comes, forward birds occupying one compartment, while the more backward pullets remain in the other. The backward ones soon respond to extra care in feeding and benefit through being on their own. ROOSTING IN NESTS

It is not possible to keep a clean bill of health among pullets in the winter if some of them are allowed to roost in the nests each night. Sooner or later they will get colds or lung affections, and there is the risk of such a disorder spreading through the flock. Some pullets—usually nervous or highly strung specimens—have , a habit of slipping into the nest-boxes just before dark because they cannot fight their way to the perches. Therefore, every night after dark the house must be visited and the nests emptied or a pull-up slatted platform fixed over the front of each set of nests as a precaution. Small poultry keepers who light up their houses at night for a last feed must be warned against the common habit of some of the pullets going into the nests to roost after having had their food.

Provide your growing pullets with plenty of shade these hot days. Place the water tins out of the sun and refill twice a day. Give them as large a space to’ roam over as possible; the exercise will help to develop their bodies as they will not be able to once they begin laying. When on free range their time is taken up searching for insects which helps to keep them off laying and gives them a chance to develop. EVILS OF WIRE

Is not wire a principal cause of the weakening of our poultry stocks? Many of the best strains have for generations been kept in permanent pens, on the same ground. The relatively heavy dressing of poultry manure, and the general method of cutting the grass two or three times in the year, results in a very coarse type of herbage. Alternatively, too heavy stocking results in a mud patch in winter and a pen as bare as a desert in summer. Do the scientists know how much the health and stamina of poultry depend upon a generous supply of succulent young herbage and frequent contact with fresh soil?

Vertical wire to form permanent pens which confine poultry to stale and often unsuitable ground is bad enough, but how much worse is horizontal wire on which chicks are placed to keep them from contact with the ground altogether? An increasing number of chickens during the last ten years have been reared for one, two, or even three months on wire.

Not only do these birds lose whatever advantages may coriie from contact with clean soil and further advantages f-om almost daily small feeds of succulent young grass, but, what may be more serious to their natural development, they cannot use their legs to scratch; in fact, even walking is very restricted. For a chick to develop under these paralysing conditions may well be a predisposing cause of what is spoken of as “true paralysis.” Have you tried a coat of varnish as a means of keeping fluff off the vails and roofs of your battery room? In 1723 Professor Bradley gave some very sound advice on the right method for commercial farming. As a warning he quotes the case of “some gentlemen in partnership who provided a large piece of ground at Hoxton, enclosed with a wall, for the entertaining of about 800 fowls besides ducks, turkeys, and pheasants. “There was a considerable sum of money laid out in building houses for their shelter, and for fattening them; and for the hens laying and setting; and though there was great skill used in the contriving of those necessaries for the education, preserving, and increasing of the poultry yet it seems that for want only of due regard to the natural constitution of these fowls, they were attacked by a violent distemper, which carried off the greatest part of them.” He puts his finger on the cause of the outbreak (undoubtedly roup in its worst form) when he comments on the closeness of the houses. “For though there were windows in the front of lattice work, yet they were so small that they could not admit of air sufficient to keep the house sweet, nor sustain the life of so many creatures together, which are naturally disposed to breathe in a free air.”

He goes on to recommend the construction of open fronted houses and the frequent cleansing away of droppings, giving it as his opinion that this should maintain fowls in full health. How many times in the two succeeding centuries has this advice been repeated—and ignored, with the same sad results. ZEBRA FINCHES

This sprightly little finch—so ideal for the novice—bears the most exemplary avian character, and is an excellent “mixer” in the community aviary; cheerfulness and adaptability being the keynotes of its whole character.

It is one of the easiest of all foreign birds to breed, and it is amazing the variety of curious places it will attempt to build its nest in, if a suitable box (such as a wooden one with a hole cut in the upper half) has not been provided for -it. And here is a useful tip. If your pair are tremendous nest builders and eye-layers, but never get further than this, try them with a smaller nest-box and only just enough nesting material to half fill it. Zebra finches are found in large numbers in their native Australia. The cock is a very smart little grey, black, white and chestnut bird, set off by bright-red legs and beak, while his wife’s plumage is an almost unrelieved grey, and nestlings resemble their mother except that they have lead-coloured beaks and feet. It is, however, very soon possible to sex the youngsters. Zebra finches are extremely easy to cater for, requiring nothing but a mixture of white and brown (Indian) millet and canary seed, with, of course, a regular supply of cuttlefish and an occasional millet spray as a tit-bit. They should be given green food, such as spinach beet, groundsel, etc. They need no extras of any Kind while rearing their young, and, being perfectly hardy, will live and breed under reasonable conditions. FGG-LAYING CONTESTS AUCKLAND (33rd week) Heavy Breeds (Six Birds) Huxtable Bros. (B.O.) 33 , 949 H. Harrison (8.L.) 23 1 860

Norman N. Ross (A. 0. 31 817 ♦Mrs N. Howarth (B.O.) 30 778 ♦W. Worthington (B.O.) 32 774 Light Breeds (Six Birds) *J. ,B. Guy (W.L.) 32 875 W. Spencer (W.L.) 35 862 Argyle P.F. (W.L.) 34 853 Whenuapai P.F. (W.L.) 34 817 ♦J. W. Manifold (W.L.) 33 753 Single Breeds (All Birds) * Ancona Stud P.F. (A.) 7 191 *E. Wells (B.O.) 1 185 ♦G. W. Hawkins (W.L.) 7 ' 181 Norman N. Ross (A.) 3 181 *H. S. Saunders (W.L.) 5 174 Light Breeds (Four Birds) Mrs L. Stuhleman 22 676 H. Turner 18 632 W. Spencer 21 625 *H. Mumme 21 615 L. G. Hooper 25 606 Heavy Breeds (Four Birds) *H. A. Powell 27 763 ♦Mrs D. Edwards 15 680 ♦P. Douglas 18 677 ♦Mrs Norman Ross 18 671 I. J. Grose 23 663 Ducks (Four Birds) Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 28 841 W. T. Gilmour 27 829 Lee Ayling 24 756 Mrs D. R. Simson 14 747 S. Clark 24 741 MASSEY COLLEGE (36th week) Single (Light Breeds) J. Wilson (W.L.) 3 187 A. G. Mumby (W.L.) 4 186 W. Scott (W.L.) 4 185 O. H. Markland (W.L.) 5 179 Miss H. Keddell (W.L.) 5 176 Single (Heavy Breeds) Miss E. T. Somer (R.1.R.) 0 198 Miss E. T. Somer (R.1.R.) 0 193 Mrs M. L. Douglas (B.O.) 5 187 Mrs R. Willers (B.O.) 6 181 T. Dowthwaite (B.O.) 5 168 Light Breeds (Six Birds) H. A. Lucas (W.L.) 22 925 Ancona Stud P.F. (W.L.) 28 914 Mrs G. E. Sewell (W.L.) 19 825 C. L. W. Urquhart (W.L.) 23 756 S. G. Batten’ (W.L.) 25 749 Heavy Breeds (Six Birds) L. G. Hooper (B.O.) 29 992 W. A. Larsen (A. 0. 19 896 F. A. Dewhurst (RJ.R.) 28 872 Austral P.F. (B.O.) V 27 853 G. A. Edge (R.1.R.) 17 668 TARANAKI (36th week) Mrs Moreland (A.) 7 218 G. A. Edge (R.1.R.) 6 209 Norman Ross (B.O.) 7 207 J. H. Hurdle (A.) 5 200 Mrs D. Waddell (B.O.) 6 195 Light Breeds (Single) Mrs A. W. Revell (W.L.) 6 206 J. T. Hazlewood (W.L.) 7 199 Sunny River P.F. (W.L.) 7 195 W. Scott (W.L.) 7 184 Ancona Stud (W.L.) 7 177 Ducks (Single) Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 7 250 Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 6 241 Mrs A. W. Revell (F.W.1.R.) 7 231 H. H. Melville (F.W.1.R.) 6 192 Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 4 187

Heavy Breeds (Three Birds) N. Ross (B.O.) 13 523 Mrs H. Moreland (Aus.) 10 522

G. A. Edge (R.1.R.) 15 497 S. T. Bason (Lang) 17 459 Mrs F. A. Warren (B.O.) 14 458 Light Breeds (Three Birds) W. Scott (W.L.) 15 494 Sunny River P.F. (W.L.) 13 491 Mrs A. W. Revell (W.L.) 16 470 C. L. W. Urquhart (W.L.) 17 435 M. Stephenson (W.L.) 10 406 ♦Denotes under-weight eggs. PAPANUI (35th week) TEST No. I.—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

TEST No. 3.—BLACK ORPINGTONS AND AUSTRAL ORPS (competitors to en-

TEST No. 4.—ANY VARIETY LIGHT OR HEAVY BREEDS, OTHER THAN WHITE LEGHORNS OR BLACK ORPINGTONS.

TEST No. S.—SINGLE HEN TEST, LIGHT AND HEAVY BREEDS (each com-

petitor to enter six pure-bred pullets to be single penned).

About 1,500,000 tons of paper and 50,000 tons of scrap iron and steel are recovered annually from the 11,000,000 tons of house refuse dumped in English and Welsh dustbins. '

Weekly Total total, to date. C. Miln (A.O.) 1 104 J. R. Griffen (L.S.) 5 158 C. N. Goodman (A.O.) (1) 3 147 C. N. Goodman (A.O.) (2) 1 68 D. J. Hawke (B.O.) 4 154 Miss F. Kerr (A.O.) 3 91 S. F. Marshall (A.O.) 4 175 W. N. Jepson (A.O.) 4 128 J. Gunn (A.O.) 5 142 G. D. Hollyman (A.O.) 6 171 J. Brennan 6 104 Ted Turner 2 150 H. Whyte (1) 3 169 H. Whyte (2) 5 167 Mrs C. J. CoUIngs 5 125 G. Wright 5 144 D. J. Hawke 0 87 M. C. Mills 6 170 Miss F. Kerr 6 161 J. Hamilton 6 108 Miss H. Keddell 5 175 J. Ibbotson (No. 1) 6 119 E. Tilley 6 133 F. C. Innes 5 169 A. C. Goodlet 5 133 R. West 6 147 H. Williams (No. 1) 5 162 Mrs J. Still (No. 1) 7 126 A. Lucas (No. 1) 6 153 H. Williams (No. 2) 6 173 W. E. Ward 5 149 J. Liggins 3 160 E. P. Anderson (No. 1) B 109 W. Barrell 5 119 J. Ibbotson (No. 2) 5 152 Mrs J. Still (No. 2) 5 139 A. Lucas (No. 2) 1 167 T. Cairns 4 178 L. P. Hawke 5 163 J. H. Grahafh 5 153 T. B. Grant 5 117 T. S. Dove 5 158 Green Bros. 5 131 C. A. B. Williams 3 153 E. P. Anderson (No. 2) 6 148 Mrs B. Andrews 4 119

penned) Grand total. G. Millar (No. 1) 185 142 169 Mrs F. D. Dillon 161 122 123 Mrs B. Snelling 127 139 183 A. W. Pritchard 135 152 163 F. Ashworth 154 165 147 D. J. Hawke 116 175 178 Miss F. Kerr 117 170 106 S. F. Marshall 142 128 140 G. H. Bradford (No. 1) 125 175 171 W. M. Evans 186 188 128 Miss H. Keddell 151 81 145 J. Brennan 30 123 135 G. H. Bradford (No. 2) 142 164 120 L. Brumby 174 191 153 Mrs J. A. Ritchie 180 163 146 E. Tilley 189 154 138 P. Knight 146 186 184 F. C. Innes 77 107 99 Green Bros. 84 145 178 A. C. Goodlet 156 159 190 A. D. Whyte 120 114 152 J. H. Jones 143 113 143 H. Williams (No. 1) 140 52 165 H. WiUlams (No. 2) 143 184 147 J. Liggins (No. 1) 145 84 166 J. Liggins (No. 2) 128 155 162 A. Edwards 172 156 136 J. B. Lees 107 160 186 A. S. Cormack 138 118 195 T. S. Dove 176 143 132 A. O. Oakley 190 205 153 W. Turner 105 187 150 E. Fuchs 171 168 160 Argyle Poultry Farm 164 141 130 Mrs B. Andrews 145 159 146

ter three birds). A. S. Cormack (A.O.) 188 119 182 Miss F. Kerr (A.O.) 78 108 114 S. Brumby (A.O.), (No. 1) 73 93 44 s. Brumby (A.O.), (No. 2) 136 175 182 D. J. Hawke (B.O.) 98 170 139 L. Brumby (A.O.) 67 118 83 C. O. King (A.O.) 191 181 184 B. Cotterell (A.O.) 107 170 22 K. D. Martin (A.O.) 141 174 158 W. N. Jepson (A.O.) 142 181 121 G. D. Holiyman (A.O.). (No. 1) 117 150 161 G. D. Hollyman (A.O.), (No. 2) 144 155 189 D. A. Tutton 64 104 62

R. Pearce (A.) 108 91 127 A. W. Pritchard (B.L.) 71 170 148 E. R. Buckley (R.I.R.) 143 170 156 W. J. Scott (R.I.R.) 140 166 189 T. B. Grant (R.I.R.) 136 112 91 C. Stone (R.I.R.) 167 143 164 P. A. Cornish (L.S.) 139 117 39

Weekly total Total G. Millar 20 539 D. A. McKie (A.O.) 23 820 S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 1) 29 936 J. Liggins 22 771 E. F. Butler 22 790 L. G. Ancall 30 906 G. H. Bradford (No. 1) 16 708 G. H. Bradford (No. 2) 30 1015 G. H. Bradford (No. 3) 33 884 S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 2) 29 845 Mrs B. Andrews 28 857 E. Tilley 33 867 G. H. Mitchell 24 864 S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 3) 30 1028 T. S. Dove (No. 1) 31 884 H. Williams 31 965 D. A. McKie 22 912 Calder Bros. (No. 1) 21 805 Calder Bros. (No. 2) 29 902 T. S. Dove (No. 2) 16 744 E. P. Anderson 33 940 A. D. Russell 27 939 G. D. Hollyman 22 837

TEST No. 6.—SINGLE DUCK TEST. F. Ashworth (K.C.) . 179 209 195 G. Wright (K.C.) 162 179 222 Mrs C. J. Collings (K.C.) 224 188 127 J. W. Thomson (K.C.) 14 161 225 R. J. Vallance (K.C.) 181 85 136 A G. F. Ross (I.R.) 190 180 233 L. Williams (I.R.) 184 202 156 W. A. Toon (K.C.) 171 172 213