POULTRY NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23406, 13 January 1938, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES

BY

A. PEAT

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

It is evident from the report of the San Joaquin show, United States, that the exhibition poultry have not died out there as they have in New Zealand. A total of 130 exhibitors had on display approximately 2500 specimens in the following colours and breeds: —Dark, light, buff, partridge and Columbian Rocks; silver, white, buff, partridge, Columbian and silver-pencilled Wyandottes; black, mottled and rosecombed Javas; Jersey Black Giants; s. and s.c. white and red Rhode Islands; Buckeyes; light, dark and buff Brahmas; buff, black, white, and partridge Cochins; blue Langshans, single and rosecombed red, silver, black, buff, exchequer, buff, white, light and dark brown. Leghorns; white, buff and black Minorcas; Black Spanish; blue Andulusian; Anconas, Sicilian Buttercups; Silver Grey Dorkings; Red Caps; buff Orpingtons; white laced red, white and dark Cornish; speckled Sussex; Australorps, white, black, silver and golden spangled Hamburgs; plain and bearded silver and buff laced Polish; La Fleche; Houdans; Aseel; Malays; black Sumatras; red pyle, pit and Japanese Shamo game; Yokohama; White Guineas; a total of 73 colours and varieties of poultry. The 37 varieties of bantams include black Rosecombs; golden and silver Sebrights, light Brahmas; buff partridge, white and black Cochin; Mille Fleurs; black tailed white, grey, black, white Japanese: silver spangled Hamburgs; white and white crested black Polish; plain and bearded Silkies; dark Cornish; Rhode Island Reds; silver pencilled, Columbian, white and black Wyandottes; cuckoo, black, blue and quail Belgians; Tailless; Frizzles; black red and spangled Old English game; black breasted red, white and silver duckwing game. In the 16 varieties of ducks there were white, fawn and white, and pencilled Runners; Buffs; Aylesbury; white and blue Muscovy; Rouens; Pekins; black Cayugas; White Crested; blue Swedish; grey and white Calls; Mallards; Canadian Mallards; Geese Toulouse; Embden; Buffs; brown, and white Chinese; Egyptian; Turkeys: Bronze, white Holland, Naragansetts. A display such as this with its great variety of colours and styles would be the envy of any fanciers, Ten barred Plymouth Rock pullets bred by the Dryden Poultry Breeding Farm of Modesto, and competing at the Central New York Egg-Layinß Contest, laid the great total of 2886 eggs—an average of over 288 eggs a bird. Six of the ten hens produced more than 300 eggs and one individual was the highest for the breed in any United States contest this year with 314 eggs. This pen outlaid approximately 2000 pens of Barred Rocks. Their eggs were large as indicated by the number of points they gained, 2929; and the average body size was six and a half pounds. When surplus milk is plentiful and cheap it can be fed to poultry with profit. Growing chickens thrive on it, and can be expected to do really well if given it to drink instead of water. I am assuming, of course, that the cream has been removed and used for another and more valuable purpose. Liquid separated milk may also be mixed with mash and fed to all forms of poultry stocks. Table poultry respond well to such feeding, while their flesh, when milk fed, should command highest prices. Layers also improve production on liberal supplies of milk, but will also slow down in production after milk is withheld, so spasmodic feeding milk to layers is not desirable. One of the lost arts is perching by young growing chickens. More people than ever ask; “How do you make them perch, and why?” A bropdy hen usually teaches this necessary safeguard to health and life. Apart from the act of perching being, the birds’ method of spending the night out of reach of enemies, it is definitely the most satisfactory way of preventing crowding or huddling together, which spells disaster. Young chickens two to three months of age will take to perches with little or no help if they are placed within sight and reach. At this period a perch 3in. wide and not more than 6in. high will suffice. After the youngsters are used to perching, they can be raised another 6in. until the desired height has been attained. I consider perching to be better than all the specifies that man, so far, has been able to devise. GIVE MORE BRAN In summer it is easy for intensively kept birds to get l overfat- Yet many small poultry-keepers do not allow for the change in season, continuing with much the same feeding as they used in the winter. The extra food called for by cold weather is not utilized in thp warmer days, with the result that internal fat is caused by overfeeding. When this occurs it is quite a good plan to increase the bran content of the mash in the summer for this aids condition. At first a little broad bran can be placed before the birds in a trough, and when they are eating it eagerly more can be given in the mash. You will find that the eggs will become improved in size and texture, while the birds themselves will lose a lot of the unnecessary internal fat. The profit from poultry on 26 Yorkshire farms investigated ranged from 6/4 a bird down to a loss of 11/8 a bird for the year ended September 30, 1936, according to a report of the Economics Section of the Department of Agriculture of Leeds University. Dispose of all chickens after the occurrence of heavy losses of pullet layers from fowl or range paralysis, leukemia or leucosis (big liver disease), fowl typhoid, cholera-like diseases, infectious colds or infectious bronchitis (laryngotracheitis). After thoroughly cleaning houses and equipment and removing outside rubbish, allow the farm to be absolutely free of chickens for two to four weeks before securing day-old chicks; or brood and raise chicks and growing pullets where they can be absolutely protected against exposure to disease and internal parasites until about ready to lay. From time to time we have urged the necessity for care in all breeding operations and even now, when the season is over, vigilance. must not be released. In the case of birds that were mated last spring, most breeders will have already set aside, under special management, those birds to be used next year. The task that is too often postponed, however, is the preliminary selection from the pullet flocks of those birds that are to enter the breeding pen during the coming winter. Experienced poultrymen tell us that the best stock is produced by birds that have had a period of rest between cycles of production, yet on many occasions it is common to find those who encourage heavy laying by potential breeders, largely because spectacular records close their eyes to other failings. Such blindness is manifest in two ways: high annual production can be achieved by prolonging laying far into the autumn, or it can be partly achieved by elimin-

ating from the breeding pens all birds which have had periods of broodiness. Commercially, both these characteristics may be desirable, but in breeding stock their achievement does away with the possibility of allowing periods of rest during which lost vitality can be restored. It is not an easy matter to avoid late production. But no part of the management of breeding stock is plain sailing. Far too many of those new to the industry have made the fatal mistake of assuming that the necessary skill can be’ acquired in a comparatively short time. The most generally satisfactory procedure is to restrict the amount of food available and to use only grain or mash mixtures limited to cereal meals. The skill comes in so rationing the food that production is curtailed while body condition does not suffer. In this way it is possible to delay the onset of laying until the breeding season is at hand. During this time the reserves wasted during the pullet year of laying can be repaired and the new season started with full vigour. First, the careful poultry farmer will see that his incubators, have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected so that his work will be minimised when the time comes for him to get ready for next season’s hatching. Only the lazy and inefficient man leaves things to the last minute. A second point in the care of growing birds is, do not mix birds of different ages. If you do this the younger birds will not have a chance to do their best. There are some poultry farmers who think, after they have had a most successful hatching season and have got the chickens past their first stages, that they can rest on their oars and take things easy. This is a mistake. Not to give the same care and attention to the growing birds may result in many backward pullets, which have been bullied, or the whole lot may be late in maturing.The poultry farmer, if he is wise, will also keep by him a notebook into which he can enter the results of his observations and his practical experience, as a guide to the future. It is no use thinking you will be able to remember all the things you have seen and done. Put them down in black and white and then they will be there when you want them. A good poultry farmer never forgets that fowls require plenty of fresh water, and where there is no running water it is essential to see that all the vessels that contain water are kept clean. If left for days they are apt to get slimy. Care must be taken to see that the places where the birds are housed are weather-proof and vermin-proof.

GROWING TURKEYS Where intensive rearing is practised, the young poults will be ready to leave battery brooders at four weeks of age. They can then be installed in an intensive house, and if a sun porch is used so much the better. After four weeks, rearing can be carried on for a time in fattening cages. I refer here to the type used out in the open. These have a floor space of approximately 40 sq. ft. and carry about 14 turkeys each.

After 14 days a small 2in. wide perch can be fixed Ift. high in the broodei house. The poults will then get used to jumping up and down and after a time a few will go up to perch at night without encouragement.

Headroom under the hover may get inadequate at this stage. To overcome this, stand the hover and lamp on bricks. This will give warmth with the all-important factor—ample ventilation.

With intensive rearing there is for the first six weeks always a danger of rickets or leg weakness or slipped tendons. An ample supply of direct sunshine or cod-liver oil wUI not always prevent this trouble. Growth is often unavoidably rapid, and this may cause swollen hock. A small percentage may get this trouble; if this happens it is nothing to worry about, it is probably just individual weakness. If, however, say, 20 per cent, develop the trouble, look to your mash formula. If swollen hocks or slipped tendons appear in more than 10 per cent, of the batch of poults, cut out any added minerals that may be in the mash, including bone meal. Increase the wheatmeal content to at least 20 per cent, of the ration. EGG-LAYING CONTESTS TARANAKI (41st week) Single Heavy Breed

Mrs H. Moreland (A.O.) 5 247 G. Edge (R.I.R.) 1 238 J. Hurdle (A.O.) 4 227 N. Rosa (B.O.) 2 226 Mrs D. M. Waddell (B.O.) 5 221 Single Light Breed J. Hazelwood (W.L.) 7 232 Mrs A. Revell (W.L.) 4 230 Sunny River P.F. (W.L.) 7 227 W. Scott (W.L.) 7 219 Ancona P.F. (W.L.) 6 207 Single Ducks Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 7 285 Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 7 274 Mrs A. Revell (F.W.R.) 7 266 Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 7 221 Ancona P.F. (K.C.) 7 201 Heavy Breeds (3 birds) Mrs H. Moreland (A.O.) 6 585 N. Ross (B.O.) 10 585 G. Edge (R.I.R.) 10 566 S. Bason (Lang.) 17 561 Mrs F. Warren (B.O.) 15 529 Light Breeds (3 birds) W. Scott (W.L.) 12 567 Sunny River P.F. (W.L.) 12 550 Mrs A. Revell (W.L.) 13 544 C. Urquhart (W.L.) 15 511 AUCKLAND (38th week) Heavy Breeds (6 birds) Huxtable Bros. (B.O.) 21 1067 H. Harrison (Lang.) 24 978 N. Ross (A.O.) 29 949 ♦Mrs M. Howorth (B.O.) 26 913 *W. Worthington (B.O.) 26 897 Light Breeds (6 birds) W. Spencer (W.L.) 34 1022 ♦J. Guy (W.L.) 29 1015 Argyle P.F. (W.L.) 27 987 Whenuapai P.F. (W.L.) 35 968 Single All Breeds ♦Ancona P.F. (A.O.) 7 213 *G. Hawkins (W.L.) 213 *E. Wells (B.O.) 2 211 *H. Saunders (W.L.) 6 205 N. Ross (A.O.) 2 200 Light Breed (4 birds) Mrs N. Stuhleman (W.L.) 16 763 H. Turner (W.L.) 21 736 W. Spencer (W.L.) 22 730 -'H. Mumme (W.L.) 19 716 L. Hooper (W.L.) 21 » 706 Heavy Breeds (4 birds) *K. Powell (B.O.) 27 860 *P. Douglas (B O.) 22 778 ♦Mrs D. Edwards (B.O.) 16 766 ♦Mrs N. Ross (B.O.) 14 760 *1. Grose (B.O.) 17 748 Ducks (4 birds) Mrs E. Kelly (K.C.) 26 966 W. T. Gilmour (K.C.) 23 953 L. Aylirig (K.C.) 24 863 S. Clark (K.C.) 23 845

PAPANUI (40th week) TEST No. 1. —J. H. SHAW MEMORIAL CHALLENGE. (For light and heavy breeds, single penned). Weekly Total C. Miln (A.O.) total. 1 119 .1. R. Griffen (L.S.) 4 177 C. N. Goodman (A.O.) (1) 1 164 C. N. Goodman (A.O.) (2) 0 68 D. J. Hawke (B.O.) 4 174 Miss F. Kerr (A.O.) 3 106 S. F. Marshall (A.O.) 1 190 W. N. Jepson (A.O.) 4 142 J. Gunn (A.O.) 0 165 G. D. Hollyman (A.O.) 5 198 7 132 6 169 J. Brennan Ted Turner H. Whyte (1) 3 185 3 189 H. Whyte (2) Mrs C. J. Collings 5 150 G. Wright 5 169 D. J. Hawke 0 87 M. C. Mills 4 191 6 189 Miss F. Kerr J. Hamilton 6 137 Miss H. Keddell 5 200 J. Ibbotson (No. 1) 5 144 E. Tilley 7 164 F. C. Innes 5 195 A. C. Goodlet 6 160 R. West 6 176 H. Williams (No. 1) 5 186 Mrs J. Still (No. 1) 7 160 A. Lucas (No. 1) 6 181 H. Williams (No. 2) 7 207 W. E. Ward 4 175 J, Liggins 6 188 E. P. Anderson (No. 1) 6 136 W. Barrell 3 144 J. Ibbotson (No. 2) 6 181 Mrs J. Still (No. 2) 4 162 A. Lucas (No 2) 2 179 T. Cairns 5 205 L. P. Hawke 6 191 J. H. Graham 5 177 T. B. Grant 4 140 T. S. Dove 5 181 Green Bros. 4 154 C. A. B. Williams 4 170 E. P. Anderson (No. 2) 3 173 Mrs B. Andrews 5 140 TEST No. 2.—WHITE LEGHORN SINGLE HEN TEST. (Three pure-bred pallets to be single penned). Grand total G. Millar (No. 1) 214 152 189 Mrs F. D. Dillon 184 153 148 Mrs B. Snelling 146 161 213 A. W. Pritchard 163 173 190 F. Ashworth 1 178 193 176 D. J. Hawke 120 175 204 Miss F. Kerr 132 196 126 S. F. Marshall 167 141 167 G. H. Bradford (No 1) 153 205 190 W. M. Evans 210 216 158 Miss H. Keddell 175 81 170 J. Brennan 37 143 154 G. H. Bradford (No. 2) 166 176 120 L. Brumby 203 216 173 Mrs J. A. Ritchie 207 189 168 E. Tilley 220 176 167 P. Knight 173 213 211 F. C. Innes 77 112 117 Green Bros. 84 147 206 A. C. Goodlet 156 182 206 A. D. Whyte 147 147 177 J. H. Jones 171 117 167 H. Williams (No. 1) 167 52 187 H. Williams (No. 2) 175 187 163 J. Liggins (No. 1) 157 89 192 J. Liggins (No. 2) 141 182 189 A. Edwards 198 183 163 J. B. Lees 126 186 219 A. S. Cormack 168 136 227 T. S. Dove 204 163 153 A. O. Oakley 216 235 175 W. Turner 110 217 177 E. Fuchs 194 190 189 Argyle P.F. ( 188 170 142 Mrs B. Andrews 120 164 173 TEST No. 3.—BLACK ORPINGTONS AND AUSTRAL ORPS. A. S. Cormack (A.O.) Grand total 213 142 205 Miss F. Kerr (A.O.) 100 126 136 S. Brumby (A.O.), (No. 1) 70 114 44 S. Brumby (A.O.), (No. 2) D. J. Hawke (B.O.) 150 201 207 98 192 157 L. Brumby (A.O.) 75 140 94 C. O. King (A.O.) 218 198 207 B. Cotterell (A.O.) 114 192 22 K. D. Martin (A.O.) 162 197 178 W N. Jepson (A.O.) 170 196 138 G. D. Hollyman (A.O.), (No. 1) G. D. Hollyman (A.O.), (No. 2) 136 152 191 161 173 213 D. A. Tutton 88 129 79 TEST No 4.—ANY VARIETY LIGHT OR HEAVY BREEDS, OTHER THAN WHITE LEGHORNS OR BLACK ORPINGTONS. R. Pearce (A.) 127 113 142 A. W. Pritchard (B.L.) 89 193 163 E. R. Buckley (R.I.R.), 162 186 170 W J. Scott (R.I.R.) 160 193 209 T. B. Grant (R.I.R.) 162 134 105 C. Stone (R.I.R.) 185 167 195 P. A. Cornish (L.S.) 168 128 39 TEST No. 5.—SINGLE HEN TEST, LIGHT AND HEAVY BREEDS, (six purebred pullets to be single penned). Weekly Total G. Millar total 12 607 D. A. McKie (A.O.) 22 954 S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 1) 31 1097 J. Liggins 17 860 E- F. Butler 16 873 L. G. Ancall 27 1043 G. H. Bradford (No. 1) 15 794 G. H. Bradford (No. 2) 34 1179 G. H. Bradford (No 3) 32 1042 S. E. Davey and Sons (No 2) 29 974 Mrs B. Andrews 33 1000 E. Tilley 23 1007 G. H. Mitchell 23 974 S. E. Davey and Sons (No 3) 28 1175 T. S. Dove (No. 1) 25 1010 H. Williams 33 1126 D. A. McKie 17 1016 Calder Bros. (No. 1) 22 904 Calder Bros. (No. 2) 29 1038 T. S. Dove (No. 2) 17 835 E. P. Anderson 30 1090 A. D. Russell 26 1077 G. D. Hollyman 21 956 TEST No. 6.—SINGLE DUCK TEST F. Ashworth (K.C.) 206 237 221 G. Wright (K.C.) 196 210 256 Mrs C. J. Collings (K.C.) 252 216 128 J. W. Thomson (K.C.) 14 193 258 R. J. Vallance (K.C.) 213 107 163 A. G. F. Ross (I.R.) 205 212 267 L. Williams (I.R.) 218 230 165 W- A. Toon (K.C.) 196 199 237