POULTRY NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 24109, 24 April 1940, Page 16

POULTRY NOTES

By A. PEAT The following competitors were successful in gaining standard certificates at the recent Papanui egg-laying trials. White Leghorns: J. Turner 288 eggs; A. O. Oakley 289, 266; T. Cairns 268; W. M. Evans 277; T. Barr 275, 271; J. Liggins 273; Mrs M. Garrett 271; G. H. Dahlenburg 270, 265; L. J. McNeil 268; Cotswold poultry farm 266; Mrs A. W. Pritchard 265; F. A. Atkinson 285; T. S. Dove 275, 271; A. J. White 273; E. Tilley 268. Australorps: L. Brumby 269; L. Williams 260; W. A. Coombes 255. Rhode Island Reds: Mrs J. A. Ritchie 263.

Certificates of merit were awarded to White Leghorns: A. O. Oakley 254, T. Turner 250; R. Liggins 247; A. D. McClintock 246, 236; J. Turner 232, 241; J. Still 227; E. P. Anderson 225, 248, 237; R. Thomson 259, 257; T. Barr 257; L. Brumby 255, 240; J. Cunningham 255; S. B. Roberts 254; Calder ' Brothers 253; C. Bartley 253, 239; W. Evans 251, 239; W. Turner 250; Mrs M. Garrett 248; Mrs J. Ritchie 248, 243; R. Bate 245; A. Pritchard 245; T. Dove 243, 241, 248; V. Mahey 240; Green Bros. 239; J. Rainey 239; C. Murray 235; J. McGlinchy 264, 253, 248; F. Ashworth 263; E. Nottingham 263, 261, 249; E. Tilley 254, 241, 239; J. Lees 253; Miss H. Keddell 249; A. White 248; E. Stewardson 243, 241. Rhode Island Reds: W. Baxter 224. Anconas: R. Pearce 236. Light Sussex: A. Williams 222. Langshans: H. J. Anderson 215. Australorps: S. Brumby 252, 247, C. O. King 241; W. Coombes 236; Mrs Lees 230; L. Brumby 227; Mrs Still 227; T. Kennard 224; C. Murray 220. The following birds failed to qualify for the 2oz average for weight: White Leghorns: J. Cunningham 261, 229; A. D. McClintock 231; W. Skelton 228; W. Turner 279, 218; E. P. Anderson 277, 222; W. Coombes 246; G. H. Dahlenburg 222; L. J. McNeil 219- T. Dove 274, 241, 219, 202, 171, 165; G. Lintott 260; F. A. Atkinson 243, 213; F. Oetgen 199; E. Nottingham 127. Australorps: G. Goodman 239; Mrs Still 259, 215; C. O. King 249; T. Kennard 236; E. P. Anderson 217, 174; W. Evans 180; V. Mahey 172; L. Williams 160. Rhode Island Reds: D. McKie 156. Langshans: D. McKie 156. Langshan: S. Bason, 151. Ancona: R. Pearce 139.

At the Burnley egg-laying competition, Australia, last year Mr Herbert’s six Australorps put up a record of 1734 eggs. The same breeder’s six birds at the same test just concluded this year laid 1788, an average of 298 eggs a bird. TRAINING BUDGERIGARS Mr G. Winter, who was a successful exhibitor at the recent Invercargill Canary and Cage Bird Specialists Club show, and upon whose birds the judge commented on being so well trained, a point that gives a bird a great advantage, has given his method of training so that novices may be assisted for the big winter shows. “The training of Budgerigars for the show bench is not as easy as one would think it is, as it requires a lot of time, patience and perseverence if one wishes to be successful and bench his birds in the best condition. Cleanliness plays a great part in the life of an exhibition bird. If you do not keep your cages clean you cannot expect to have clean birds or have them in the best feather condition. If a bird is dirty it will always be clawing and scratching itself to clean its feathers with the result that feathers are pulled out and spots dropped which means the bird has to be left at home no matter how good he may be. Spraying is very important as birds should be sprayed twice weekly as lest. Spraying brings a sheen on the feathers but too much spraying will drain the oil from the quills and give the bird a dull appearance. “While training budgies the diet should be carefully watched. Besides the millet and canary seed mixture (two of the former and one of the latter) a little whole oats should be given twice a week, but not too many at a time for they are fattening. It. is advisable to sprinkle the seed over with lodine tonic which will assist to keep the birds in good condition. Give them plenty of green food until a week before the show but cease then as chickweed and silver beet make the birds’ faces dirty. “When you have selected the birds you intend to show, put them in their training cages and leave them for a week. Then hang a show cage at the door and let the birds go from one to the other as they please as this teaches them to enter when you hold the cage up which saves handling the birds and getting their feathers ruffled. The birds should be given a run in the show cage for a couple of hours a day after being in training 10 days and then increase until they can stay in a whole day. After a run or two in the show cage birds should be run from one cage to another by placing two cages together with the doors open. This teaches the bird to turn on its perches and will do so when asked by the judge as he likes to see both sides of the bird. “Teaching the bird to turn is quite an easy matter. Hold your judge’s stick in one hand and place it under the bird’s tail and he will hop to the other perch, then place the other hand in an upright position (palm to the bird) and the bird will turn and hop back to the other perch. At the same time follow the bird with your hand, then reverse your hands still in an upright position and the bird will turn and go to the other perch. After a few times you will probably find that the bird will go from perch to perch without the aid of the judge’s stick. All young birds whenever they leave the nest should undergo a course of training which they will never forget. “Budgies will try your patience to the utmost, especially first-year hens, some of which will walk the fronts and do all kinds of stunts and then finish up with walking about the floor of the cage and rub its head in the corner and get all dirty and ruffled. A bird of this type should be taken inside where it can see people and be spoken to at every opportunity. If this has no effect put an old hen in the cage with it which will usually have the desired effect.”

EGGLAYINGCONTESTS MASSEY COLLEGE (Ist week) Light Breed Singles S. Morriss (W.L.) 6 V. Billington (W.L.) 5 G. Clark (W.L.) 5 F. Longbottom (W.L.) 5 Heavy Breed Singles E. Collier (Lang.) 6 F. Moughan (A. 0. 6 Mrs Willers (A. 0. 6 Light Breed (six birds) J. Wilson (W.L.) 38 B. Wilkinson (W.L.) 30 W. Stent (W.L.) 16 Heavy Breeds (six birds) J. Wealleans (A. 0. 26 E. Stephenson (A. 0. 10 W. Larsen (A. 0. 9 AUCKLAND (3rd week) Light Breeds (three birds) Mrs Munday (W.L.) 16 49 L. Stuhman (W.L.) 14 42 A. Wilson (W.L.) 13 40 Heavy Breeds (three birds) E. Crofts (B.O.) 16 48 F. Bluck (B.O.) 15 47 R. P. Pheasant (A. 0. 14 45