POULTRY NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23922, 14 September 1939, Page 13

POULTRY NOTES

BY

A. PEAT

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

Mr Michael S. Pease of Cambridge, England, is sending six Cambars and three Legbar cockerels to New Zealand. Legbar females are not to be included as these can be produced readily by mating cockerels to New Zealand Brown Leghorn hens. Should you notice a young pullet wriggle its crop, you may be fairly certain that it has an impacted crop, and unless something is done quickly death may occur. Feeling the crop, one can often discover what is causing the blockage, it may be pieces of chaff, straw, feathers, grass ,etc. By kneading the mass one is able to break it up. At the same time the bird should be given only milk to drink. It is surprising how milk effects a cure. It is unwise to delay in treatment, for the muscles will become affected and with fermentation the contents of the crop/ deteriorate and digestion is impaired. Attention at once means taking the bird in hand while the organ is strong. One can cleanse out the crop by giving the bird water in which a little disinfect-

ant has been put, then emptying the organ by gentle pressure while the head is held downwards. Granulated charcoal mixed with the grit is a corrective of digestive disorders, and might be more freely provided. At this time of the year many cases occur of chicken rings not being changed to the larger size as the chickens grow. The result is that the ring bites into the growing leg. causing lameness and unnecessary suffering. Apart from the question of cruelty, such oversights cost money for the chickens will not thrive. More money is lost at this time of the year by lack of observation than most poultry keepers realize, whether their chickens are

lamed by rings or from other causes. Rigorous culling is absolutely necessary and any chicks that start to get behind the others in growth, or look at all dejected should be killed before they eat any more feed. Never dose a healthy bird but if you must give it medicine hold it in the following manner while doing so: Place the palm of your hand at the back of the bird’s head to prevent it drawing back; thumb and forefinger at the cprners of the mouth on each side and force the beak open. The other fingers are held clear, so that the bird’s throat is not restricted in swallowing.

DAYOLD CHICKS The restocking of the poultry section of the farm is commonly carried out through the medium of the dayold chicks. This practice obviates the need for home breeding and incubating. However the profit from these chickens when mature depends upon the care with which they are bought and reared. Inferior and unsuitable chicks will result in a heavy loss from weakness and mortality up to and during the first laying season. First crosses for the general farm are hardier and more vigorous, whether for laying or table purposes, but it must be remembered they are useless to breed from at any rate for laying purposes. If rearing space is limited chicks sexed by hand or sex-linked should be bought: that is sexed day-old pullets for laying or sexed cockerels for table, thus obviating the need for rearing unwanted cockerels in the former and small rapidly maturing cullets in the latter. In selecting first crosses it is safer to use'the tried crosses than experiment. Choose Rhode Island RedWhite Wyandotte (these are sex linked); White Leghorn—Rhode Island; Red; Black Leghorn—Rhode Island Red; or White Leghorn—White Wyandotte. In these crosses the male is given first. Always order chicks early and the number ordered should be properly apportioned to the number of adults required. For every 100 pullets required at maturity 250 mixed sexes or 125 pullet chicks should be purchased. Of course, this does not allow for heavy culling if the birds have not been bred of the best; for every 100 able chicks at 16 weeks 120 chicks would be sufficient. An immediate inspection on arrival of the chickens is necessary not only to discover deaths, but so that the chickens can be warmed if they appear to be chilled. Every chick should be examined individually so that, if there are any which are weakly, diseased, badly hatched or dead they can be removed or returned immediately. It is unfair to make a claim several days after the chicks have arrived.

QUALITY BIRDS The first quality chick will have a plump appearance, stand well up on its legs, possess dry, long, clean fluff and carry a fully round, bold, bright, dark eye. Size over the whole batch should be good, although it is well to remember that cockerel chicks are larger than pullets and that light breeders are not necessarily smaller than heavy breeds.’ Now for the chicks which are not likely to be worth retaining. In such birds the abdomen will be unfinished, showing a long, dry yolk cord and an abnormally large scab upon the abdomen. Abdominal fluff will be divided or there may be an area of bare skin. A short, small, cut away abdomen- indicates incomplete absorption of yolk. Weak and shrunken legs point to inherited weakness and probability of low resistance to disease during the growing stage. Chicks which have hatched badly will possess flat, soiled fluff and pieces of egg shell may be found upon the back. A long skull carrying a long, curved beak and full oval eyes are other indications of lack of stamina. No deformity should be tolerated and chicks should be examined for crooked hocks, deformed backs, crossed beaks, slipped wing, twisted head and blindness. Sometimes buyers are inclined to think sufficient care has not been taken in selecting the breeding pens when mismarked chicks make their appearance. It is well to remember, however, that fluff colour in chicks is not always the same as the adult bird’s colour. Rhode Island Reds vary from dark chocolate to pale red with cream patches; White Leghorns and White Wyandottes may be cream, yellow or white, the latter breed sometimes showing a few faint black spots. Black Minorcas, Black Leghorns, Black Australorps and Orpingtons show white spots or patches and in odd cases may even show more white than black.

EGG-LAYING CONTESTS

MASSEY COLLEGE (21st week) Single Light Breed A. Shailer (W.L.) 6 116 B. Wilkinson (W.L.) 6 116 A. Hoare (W.L.) 6 114 W. Stent (W.L.) 5 110 Single Heavy Breeds Huxtable Bros. (A. 0. 5 118 W. Larsen (A. 0. 4 108 Mrs Willers (A. 0. 5 ‘ 103 Sunny River P.F. (R.1.R.) 6 100 Light Breeds (6 birds) J. Wilson (W.L.) 31 657 H. Lucas (W.L.) 32 580 S. Morris (W.L.) 30 524 F. Allen (W.L.) 31 519 AUCKLAND (21st week) Heavy Breeds (6 birds) S. Huxtable (B.O.) 31 567 W. Worthington (B.O.) 29 555 Huxtable Bros. (B.O.) 33 542 F. Bluck (B.O.) 31 514 Light Breeds (6 birds) G. Douglas (W.L.) 24 583 S. Moore (W.L.) 28 524 W. Spencer (W.L.) 22 520 Single All Breeds Seddon College (B:O.) 7 122 Seddon College (B.O.) 5 122 Mrs James (B.O.) 6 121 T. Douglas (B.O.) 6 115 Light Breeds (4 birds) J. Nixori (W.L.) 23 442 Mrs Rope (W.L.) 21 417 L. Stuklman (W.L.) 26 401 A. Wood (W.L.) 19 393 Heavy Breeds (4 birds) F. Lusby (B.O.) 20 471 Royton P.F. (B.O.) 24 454 F. Lusby (B.O.) 22 438 Huxtable Bros. (B.O.) 17 427 Ducks (4 birds) E. Walker (K.C.) 21 492 S. Vaile (K.C.) 28 485 S. Vaile (K.C.) 25 485 S. Clark (K.C.) 22 464 PAPANUI (24th week) TEST No. I.—J. H. SHAW MEMORIAL CHALLENGE. For light and heavy breeds, single penned. Weekly

TEST No. 3—BLACK ORPINGTONS AND AUSTRAL ORPS.

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

Total Total C. M. Goodman (A.O.) No. 1 6 129 C. M. Goodman (A.O.) No. 2 6 101 W. Turner (A.O.) — 52 A. S. Barrett (A.O.) 5 122 V. Mabey (A.O.) 4 Gfi W. Baxter (R.I.R.) 5 99 J. R. Griffen (Barn.) 6 64 Ted Turner 1 102 V. Mabey 5 35 E. P. Anderson (No. 1) 6 79 G. H. Mitchell 5 45 T. S. Dove 4 ■ 95 R. Liggins 6 123 A. D. L. McClintock (No. 1) 6 89 A. D. L. McClintock (No. 2) 6 109 E. Tilley 5 77 T. Barr - 29 F. A. Atkinson 7 25 J. Still 6 73 W. Skelton 4 89 Green Bros. 4 52 J. Turner (No. 1) 5 142 Mrs J. A. Ritchie 5 58 J. Cunningham 5 112 E. P. Anderson (No. 2) 5 62 J. Turner (No. 2) 6 94 W. Barrell 5 71 T. Cairns 3 124 E. T. Stewardson 5 83 A. C. Goodlet 5 47 A. D. L. McClintock (No. 3) 5 112 R. Liggins (No. 2) 6 131 H. S. Sanders 1 36 J. Hislop 3 79 A. O. Oakley 5 120 TEST No. 2.—WHITE LEGHORN SINGLE HEN TEST. Three pure-bred pullets to be single penned. Total A. W. Pritchard 53 104 78 V. Mabey 113 74 82 Green. Bros. 115 90 100 T. S. Dove 103 103 106

E. P. Anderson 33 107 126 R. T. Thomson 129 137 122 J. Liggins 104 49 128 T, Barr 124 108 137 C. Bartley 120 62 105 R. J. Bate 70 109 121 W. M. Evans 98 89 124 Cotswold Poultry Farm 64 118 78 W. Turner 129 121 68 W. A. Coombes 95 110 66 L. J. McNeill 116 101 117 S. B. Roberts 108 68 49 L. Brumby 101 102 90 C. O. King 52 60 107 J. Turner 2 118 100 Mrs J. A. Ritchie 106 108 121 Mrs L. Loydd 80 104 57 J. E. Rainey 122 123 87 G. H. Dahlenburg (No. 1) 57 33 42 G. H. Dahlenburg (No. 2) 127 65 128 Mrs M. Garrett 126 74 99 A. C. Goodlet 48 89 132 Calder Bros (No. 1) 117 120 78 Calder Bros (No. 2) 79 68 102 Mrs A. W. Pritchard 56 94 128 J. Cunningham 77 99 107 A. 0. Oakley 72 137 124 C. J. Murray 72 86 68 E. R. Buckley 58 89 74

Total W. A. Coombes 56 119 95 W. M. Evans 94 59 V. Mabey 80 50 61 E. P. Anderson 99 79 115 S. Brumby (No. 1) 98 «. 105 S. Brumby (No. 2) 103 132 87 J. M. Davidson 91 99 60 L. Brumby 108 124 115 C. 0. King 75 130 131 T. Kennard 106 119 101 C. J. Murray 108 41 88 L. Williams 57 135 72 J. Still 121 99 110 Mrs E. Lees 102 70 104

Total A. E. Williams (L.S.) No. 1 129 44 96 A. W. Pritchard (Blk.L.) 67 65 68 S. T. Bason (Lan.) 32 31 43 H. J. Anderson (Lan.) 83 92 46 D. A. McKie (R.I.R.) 12 22 69 Mrs J. A. Ritchie (R.I.R.) 82 115 67 A. E. Williams (L.S.) No. 2 45 119 29 R. Pearce (An,) 53 49 106 TEST No. 5.—SINGLE HEN TEST, LIGHT AND HEAVY BREEDS. Six pure-bred pullets to be single penned. WeeklyTotal Total E. P. Anderson 31 486 T. S. Dove (No. 1) 26 453 T. S. Dove (No. 2) 33 586 J. Liggins 27 478 G. H. Lintott 23 508 E. Tilley 30 592 F. A. Atkinson 35 580 F. Ashworth 28 558 Miss H. Keddell 20 448 J. W. McGlinchy 25 549 A. J. White 29 625 J. B. Lees 28 565 E. T. Stewardson 29 599 E. Nottingham i : - 32 610 F. C. Oetgen 30 247 TEST 'No. 6.—SINGLE DUCK TEST W. J. Scott (K.C.) 103 120 126 H. J. Anderson (K.C.) 129 157 136 G. H. Bradford- (I.R.) 90 6 137 G. H. Bradford (K.C.) 125 122 119 G. Wright (W.C.) 135 74 99 G. Wright (K.C.) 156 155 156 L. Williams (I.R.) (No. 1) 69 139 71 L. Williams (I.R.) (No. 2) 152 131 63 H. Ware (I.R.) 67 90 70 J. W. Thomson (K.C.) 132 95 73 Mrs F. G. Herridge (P.) 60 21 97