GENERAL NOTES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 750, 24 August 1929, Page 32

GENERAL NOTES

The following are the results of the Taranaki egg-laying competition to and including the 19th week: In the White Leghorn section M. Scanlon’s hen laid the possible, bringing her total to 120 eggs, followed by J. A. Mackay’s hen with 10S eggs and C. W. Taplin’s with 105 eggs. In the Rhode Island Red section A. J. Lacey’s hen occupies first place. Messrs. Gibbons Bros.’ hens are leading in the Golden Wyandotte and White Wyandotte and Langshan sections. In the Black Orpington section D. M. Waddell’s hen has again laid the possible, bringing her score to 134. H. Kirkwood’s hen is leading in Light Sussex, F. W. Walker’s No. 2 hen being well ahead in the Black Leghorn section. In the three-bird team test (light breeds), R. Cannon’s team of White Leghorns laid 21 eggs for the week, bringing their total to 298. Gibbons Bros.’ Golden Wyandottes have laid 272 eggs in the heavy breeds’ team test. In the runner duck section D. Riley’s duck laid 5 eggs for the week, as did V. L. Gane’s, the positions thus being unchanged. All the ducks in the white runner section laid the possible for the week. In tlie any other variety duck section, J. W. Garrick’s Khaki Campbell laid 7, thus maintaining her position at the head of the duck sections. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, which will shortly celebrate the silver jubilee of its existence, is arranging a dinner and social evening to celebrate the event. Mr. Arthur Smith, Mr. R. W. Hawke, M.P., and a few others who worked in conjunction wiLh the late Mr. J. H. Shaw, who was a prime mover in the formation of the club, are still active members or keenly interested in the doings of the Utility Club. During the past few months several new breeds have been admitted to the standards of the English Poultry Club, the most notable being the Australorp, the Baldwin Duck and the Black Butter Cup. It is expected that the following breeds will shortly be recognised, viz.: Ki-wi, Welsummer, Cuckoo Sussex. Silver Grey Leghorn and the Partridge and Columbian Plymouth Rock. PERSONAL NOTE Mr. J. Cummings, who has imported more valuable birds than any other breeder in the Dominion, has just

received a trio of Brown Leghorns from Lord Dewar (England). The male was a winner in England before being shipped by Lord Dewar, having been awarded premier honours at one of the leading shows. The trio imported by Mr. Cummings are mated for cockerel breeding. I hear the cock is a grand coloured bird, with a perfectly striped hackle and beautiful headpiece, lobes aud comb being exceptionally good. The hens, being cock bred, are, of course, not show birds. One can, however, rest assured that Mr. Bradley (Lord Dewar’s manager) will have mated the birds to breed something good. New blood in Brown Leghorns is badly needed in New Zealand and no doubt faucierg will avail themselves of the opportunity of introducing new blood into their strains. Mr. Cummings is contemplating the importation of a trio of pullet breeding Brown Leghorns. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS B.M.K.—The amount of green food given should always be as much as the birds like to take. Fresh water should always be available The tinted eggs are just a matter of strain and are not unusual even with Leghorns. Chicks, Te Aroha.—l see your trouble, but although it may seem cruel to keep the hen cooped and allow the chickens to run in and out, it is not reallv so, and against this it is just as cruel to the chicks to allow her to trail them about. Tf you give them 1 to li hours’ liberty it will be better for them, otherwise the chicks cannot be fed properly. M.S.B. —From the details supplied the birds have been fed on an unbalanced diet, that is poor, and totally devoid of animal matter, and they have no chance of getting any themselves. I should say that any others now alive have sustained too much internal damage to ever make profitable stock.