POULTRY NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23732, 2 February 1939, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

BY.

A. PEAT

The official column of the Invercargill Poultry, Pigeon, Canary and Pet Club, and the Invercargill Canary and Cage Bird Specialists Club.

If a grey Chinese goose is mated with a Brecon Buff gander, resulting in 100 per cent, sex linkage, the ganders are dark and the geese light buff. When fully grown the ganders are just like grey Chinese and the geese are a deep shade of buff with no trace of Chinese.

PRESERVING EGGS FOR WINTER It is economical to preserve eggs for the winter. If this is your first venture into this realm it is wise to preserve only sufficient for your own needs unless you can make certain that you have a ready sale for preserved eggs. Then, provided reasonable care is taken and proper equipment used, it is worth considering preserving larger quantities. Eggs may be dear in autumn and early winter. What eggs there are may be small coming from young pullets and so the full-size preserved eggs may command quite a good price. It is certainly worth while making enquiries as to . markets, otherwise it is definitely a gamble to preserve many eggs. Success in preserving depends largely upon the quality of the eggs before preserving; as an egg properly preserved remains in the condition m which it is preserved tending if anything to lose a little in quality and flavour. The eggs must, therefore, be first quality to remain good. The eggs should be from unmated hens as fertile eggs do not keep so well. The fertilized germ dies and tends to decompose and taint the rest of the eggs especially as it may have commenced to develop somewhat @f laid on a warm day. Another important point is to select eggs with sound shells. Thin shells are too porous and allow the preservative to enter and flavour the egg. Thin shells crack easily often after they have been preserved from the weight of the eggs and liquid above them when the vessel is moved or jarred. It is advisable to candle all eggs before preserving. This will show up slight cracks and faults in the shell, blood or meat spots in the egg and other faults. Candle the eggs in as dark a room as posible to show up the faults clearly and quickly.. The eggs must be as fresh as possible, and must be cooled after laying and not preserved while still warm from the nest. Eggs under 24 hours old are the most satisfactoryEggs for preserving must.be naturally clean. Do not'preserve dirty eggs or eggs which have been washed. The eggs should be graded and only standard sized eggs preserved, so that they can be sold as such and will not require further handling. Eggs may be preserved either in liquid or in a dry state using a liquid wax preparation, although the _ most common and cheapest preservative is waterglass. The wax method of preserving, however, does not necessitate special containers or tanks, as the eggs once dry can be stored on shelves in boxes or any other convenient receptacle. A FOWL’S PARADISE A poultry farm 50 feet above a busy American city street is the result of a farmer’s idea that, if consistent ’ ideal weather conditions could be provided for humans, they could be adapted to the needs of poultry. The whole top floor of a six-storey building has been lightly insulated with cork on the walls, faced with cement and painted white enamel, while the floor is finished with asphalt covered with peat moss for bedding. This forms a space easily kept clean, disinfected and hygienic, and portable wire fences divide the whole of the insulated portion into pens of different sizes. An air-conditioning plant is installed inside the false roof which was formed when the insulated ceiling was erected. This controls the temperature and humidity of the air admitted to the insulated space. Windows and other openings to the outside are closed with the cork lining, and entrance to the “farm” is through insulated doors forming an air lock or lobby. All air entering, except a minute ingression through the insulation, passes first through a filter where all dust is extracted. Then the air is washed, and finally cooled or heated according to the season of the year. The purified and conditioned air is distributed through a series of galvanized metal ducts by electric fans, and the system of ventilation is so perfect that although the air is continuously in motion there are no draughts. The air-conditioning machinery, is entirely automatic, and the temperature of the air in circulation is maintained within two to three degrees of 65 Fahrenheit the year round. Even outside extremes of zero to 90 in the shade do not affect the 10,000 residents of this luxurious home.

Light is provided by special “daylight” electric lamps. The amount is automatically controlled to produce sunrise and twilight effects, as well as full daylight and darkness, by mechanism embodying an electric clock and time switch.

Violet-ray lamps provide “sunshine” rays in daily doses in amounts prescribed by one of the scientific research stations. These days are also automatically switched on and off by a time-controlled mechanism, but reports do not say whether the birds wear goggles! MOULTING AND LAYING Hens, more than a year old, that had now started to moult and to stop laying, could be regarded as being at the end of their profitable laying life, said an overseas expert in a recent address. It was undesirable that hens should begin to lose their old plumage for another month or six weeks. It was a fallacy to say that hens which moulted early would come on to lay early. Management of layers should be designed to prevent, as far as practicable, abnormally early moulting. During the current season, changes in rations, environment, and housing should be avoided.

If hens were subjected to changes to make room for growing stock, egg pro-

duction would be checked, and some of the hens would begin the moult, he said. Rations were changed to keep production at the flush season rate, but there was nothing that would be a greater cause of putting the birds off laying. 1 Care of young birds should not cause neglect of layers, which were particularly susceptible to changes during late summer and autumn. Late moulters were the best hens, because they had a longer period in which to lay eggs. . , , r , Other factors being right, best hens to be used in the breeding pens are those that cease to lay during March or very early in April, throw off their old plumage expeditiously, and get a new coat within six to eight weeks, take a short spell for recuperation, and begin to lay in June or early July. If earlier chickens are required, pullets must be relied upon for eggs. There is no royal road to a forced moult. Nevertheless, the pre-requisite is to put the birds off laying and treat them indifferently, both in feeding and attention, until they begin to lose their feathers, then feed them well. Just a little flowers of sulphur in the mash or given otherwise will assist both ways. POULTRY MISCELLANY

A poultry man recommends a paste made of soot and lard. He says he has found this mixture most valuable for cropbinding and sour crop if the birds are caught in time. A breeder in Rhodesia, South Africa, has been successful in getting a peacock to mate with a turkey hen but unfortunately the young did not live When you put nest boxes into the houses for the pullets watch carefully to see that they do not begin to use these boxes as their sleeping quarters. It is just as well also to put a few china eggs about the house as inquisitive pecks from pullets viewing the first egg will often start egg eating. The china eggs will also help in attracting the birds to lay in the nests. Boxes placed in position which will give the darkest aspect for laying will be an advantage and. a step towards preventing cannibalism. . No matter where you have obtained a new bird, it is advisable to quarantine it for at least a week before, running it with your own birds.

EGG-LAYING CONTESTS

MASSEY COLLEGE (43rd week) Singld Heavy Breed ‘Mrs R. Willers (B.O.) 5 260 W. Larsen (A.O.) 5 249 L. Mason (R.I.R.) 6 247 K. Mullins (R.I.R.) 0 212 Single Light Breed *F. Allen (W.L.) 3 259 F. Allen (W.L.) 6 256 J. Annan (W.L.) 5 253 Ancona P.F. (W.L.) 6 244 Heavy Breeds (6 birds) W. Larsen (A.O.) 32 1456 E. Stephenson (A.O.) 25 1204 L. Hooper (B.O.) 23 1156 T. Edge (R.LR.) 11 1146 Light Breeds (6 birds) J. Wilson (W.L.) 25 1401 F. Allen (W.L.) 30 1364 J. Mould (W.L.) 27 1337 F, Ecob (W.L.) 25 1290 TARANAKI (44th week) Single Light Breed J. Hazelwood (W.L.) 6 284 F. Allen (W.L.) 2 240 Mrs Revell (W.LJ 6 230 A. Hoare (W.L.) 4 223 Single Heavy Breeds S. Bason (Lang.) 6 271 J. Hurdle (A.O.) 5 257 Mrs Hickman (R.I.R.) 5 255 S. Bason (Lang.) 2 229 DUCKS (single) Mrs Revell (F.W.R.) 7 288 Mrs Kelly (W.C.) 7 271 C. Cousens (K.C.) 7 234 Mrs Revell (F.W.R.) 4 228 Light Breeds (3 birds) Mrs Tippett (W.L.) 9 635 F. Allen (W.L.) 10 610 C. Hansen (W.L.) 9 570 Mrs Revell (W.L.) 15 565 AUCKLAND (41st week) Heavy Breeds (6 birds) *J. Anderson (B.O.) 37 1222 •S. Vaile (B.O.) 30 1146 •N. McNair (B.O.) 22 1075 J. Nixon (B.O.) 18 1017 Light Breed (singles) Mrs Chitty (W.L.) 24 1074 ‘Mrs Lett (W.L.) 31 1074 E. Vernall (W.L.) 23 916 *C. Elley (W.L.) 31 904 Single Bird All Breeds •K. Powell (B.O.) 6 237 *Sunny River P.F. (W.L.) 4 217 ‘Mrs Philson (B.O.) 7 215 •E. Wells (B.O.) 7 211 Light Breeds (4 birds) Mrs Turner (W.L.) 24 835 H. Mumme (W.L.) 18 750 A. Wilson (W.L.) 23 743 G. Douglas (W.L.) 23 742 Heavy Breeds (4 birds) *A. Connell (B.O.) 25 921 N. McNair (B.O.) 20 827 ‘Austral P.F. (B.O.) 26 786 »N. McNair (B.O.) 20 783 DUCKS (4 birds) Mrs Finn (K.C.) 24 961 C. Cousens (K.C.) 25 952 Mrs Somerville (KC.) 27 947 S. Clark (K.C.) 26 924 PAPANUI (44th week) TEST NO. 1.—J. H. SHAW MEMORIAL CHALLENGE (for light and heavy breeds, single penned). Weekly Total Total C. M. Goodman (A.O.) (No. 1) 5 211 C. McKenzie (A.O.) 3 200 C. M. Goodman (A.O.) (No. 2) 6 184 C. Miln (A.O.) 4 169 J. Gunn (A.O.) (No. 1) 0 35 Ted Turner (A.O.) 0 172 Mrs M. Knight • 6 235 J. B. Lees i > 162 H. Whyte (No. 2) 6 191 . J. Gunn 6 171

Mrs J. A. Ritchie 5 249 216 221 72' A. D. L. McClintock b J. E. Rainey 4 J. Brennan 0 188 145 231 216 193 175 Ji Ibbotson (No. 1) 3 J. Ibbotson (No. 2) 6 W. Skelton 6 E. Tilley (No. 1) 0 E. Tilley (No. 2) 4 T. S. Dove 182 169 H. Williams (No. 1) 5 E. P, Anderson (No 1.) 6 Mrs J. SU11 5 172 169 128 A. 0. Oakley (No. 1) 5 Mrs C. Cook (No. 1) 5 Mrs B. Andrews 0 G. H. Woods 5 111 H. Williams (No. 2) 5 207 208 F. A. Atkinson 5 A. O. Oakley (No. 2) 3 234 202 E. P. Anderson (No. 2) 4 A. C. Goodlet 4 189 123 222 Mrs C. Cook (No. 2) J. Still 4 6 J. Ibbotson (No. 3) Miss A. Chapman 5 5 0 152 149 174 211 Wallace Chapman 5 W. E. Ward 0 T. B. Grant 3 139 J. Cunningham 5 230 223 J. W. Green, sen. 5 F. Ashworth A. Lucas 1 6 154 189 Russell Liggins 0 15 T. Robinson 4 183 Bernard McIntosh 0 92 Miss T. McIntosh 6 182 TEST NO. 2.—WHITE LEGHORN SINGLE HEN TEST (three pure -bred pullets to be single permed) Total T. Barr 168 222 212 A. S. Cormack 194 168 183 Mrs M. Knight 228 228 222 J. B. Lees 188 211 —— W. Turner 181 208 214 E. F. Butler 211 141 196 Mrs J. A. Ritchie 174 230 210 Mrs B. Snelling 154 200 207 J. Liggins (No. 1) 208 173 164 J. Liggins (No. 2) 136 199 192 A. D. L. McClintock 172 263 235 A. Edwards 176 126 —- A. J. Severn 187 214 180 J. Wilde 213 238 225 A. Patterson 204 185 107 F. Ashworth 248 218 210 Cotswold P.F. 190 239 172 W. M. Evans 142 207 168 H. Williams 141 173 A. W. Pritchard 191 171 227 W. Barrell 215 243 178 J. Cunningham 179 182 217 Green Bros. 193 ——- 240 J. W. Green 190 155 238 T. S. Dove 239 213 218 E. Tilley 174 221 150 C. O. King 153 175 166 J. Green, jun. 226 257 204 A. O. Oakley 169 174 — C. Bartley 160 164 176 Mrs B. Andrews 183 —— 243 G. H. Bradford 203 22 218 F. A. Atkinson 232 188 216 A. C. Goodlet 209 154 169 J. A. Luke 213 152 181 F. Hughes — 191 107 C. Davenport 146 217 195 G. Millar (No. 1) — 210 176 G. Millar (No. 2) 126 172 219 TEST NO. 3.—BLACK ORPINGTONS AND AUSTRAL ORPS. ■■ ■ Total S. Brumby (No. 1) 222 182 216 J. Gunn 19 239 198 A. D. L. McClintock — 169 77 D. A. McKie 210 84 157 T. Kennard 111 176 203 Mrs H. Williams 231 170 137 S. Brumby (No. 2) 259 175 107 TEST NO. 4.—ANY VARIETY LIGHT OR HEAVY BREEDS, OTHER THAN WHITE LEGHORNS OR BLACK ORPINGTONS. Total S. T. Bason (Lan.) 159 189 169 J. D. Gobbe (B.L.) 93 115 129 A. W. Pritchard (L.S.) 66 158 181 R. Bruce (Buff. O.) 116 124 78 W. J. Scott (R.I.R.) 207 159 40 R. Pearce (An.) 162 84 152 C. Sanderson (An.) 169 133 155 TEST No. 5.—SINGLE HEN TEST LIGHT AND HEAVY BREEDS six mrebred pullets to be single penned). Weekly Total Total A. D. Russell 19 1018 T. S. Dove (No. 1) 26 1123 T. S. Dove (No. 2) 27 1101 J. Cunningham 11 1055 F. A. Hall 29 1107 J. W. McGlinchy 30 1240 S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 1) 17 929 S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 2) 28 1143 S. E. Davey and Sons (No. 3) 27 1160 T. B. Grant 13 978 G. H. Bradford 23 1117 D. A. McKie 20 1231 Mrs B. Andrews 23 1041 E. P. Anderson 22 844 G. 0. Rutherford 30 1252 H. Williams 18 999 A. Woolley (No. 1) 23 1182 A. Woolley (No. 2) 20 1044 A. Woolley (No. 3) 32 1202 J. Liggins 21 1113 E. Nottingham 26 1187 A. O. Oakley 17 868 TEST NO. 6.—SINGLE DUCK TEST. Total W. R. Wooding (K.C.) 286 230 181 A. G. F. Ross (I.R.) 108 269 267 J. W. Cottier (P.) 194 174 173 G. Wright (K.C.) (I.) 236 248 201 L Williams (I.R.) 188 217 260 H. E. Anderson (K.C.) 274 218 255 H. J. Anderson (I.R.) 246 — 241 G. Wright (K.C.) (2) 205 192 —- J. W. Thomson (I.R.) — 285 226 I. A. Horsley (K.C.) 273 259 F. Ashworth (K.C.) 183 286 257 W. A. Toon (K.C.) 278 231 177