ADDRESS ON POULTRY BREEDING

Southland Times, Issue 24758, 1 June 1942, Page 3

ADDRESS ON POULTRY BREEDING

An address on poultry husbandry was given to members of the Invercargill Poultry Club by Mr S. C. Bobby, a poultry expert from England. Mr R. C. Wilson presided. Mr Bobby spoke on breeding for eggs. Breeders must not forget the size, type and constitution of the eggs, he said. He advised using mature birds for breeding purposes—birds that laid eggs at least 2ioz in weight. He maintained that one-year-old hens were the best for breeding from, and said that the greatest care should be taken in the selection of the male bird. When choosing birds for breeding birds of one standard should be selected. The head of a bird was of the utmost importance because the eye expressed vigour and constitution. A fine bold eye, a good comb and a head not too long were the characteristics of a good bird. A bird with a poor eye should not be bred from. Mr Bobby mentioned fowl paralysis, and said that this disease began in America and spread to England and New Zealand, where it was gaining ground. Lameness or blindness were sure signs of this disease. Fresh blood should be introduced into hens with caution. When doing this breeders should take careful notice of the first progeny produced from the mating. Breeding hens should not be overfat as this was one of the greatest causes of infertile eggs.