The Poultry Yard

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 986, 31 May 1930, Page 32

The Poultry Yard

(By 080 a AMBLER.) SMALL AND LARGE EGGS

WE hear many complaints about small eggs at this time of the year, but it must be remembered that pullets, as a general rule, produce eggs of less than 2oz for the first three or four weeks of their laying time. There are, however, some strains in which small eggs are a notable defect, and every effort should be made in breeding to combat this tendency.

Some breeders are now v>aying more attention to the size of the eggs, and already they are getting good results by selecting birds for breeding which have distinguished themselves by producing good-sized eggs and plenty of them. They may at the outset sacrifice a few eggs per annum by giving attention to size rather than to mere numbers, but they are working to maintain and increase the output at the same time as they keep up the size. It is possible for any amateur to improve the size of the eggs if-he breeds on the same principles rejecting all birds which fail in this respect, however prolific they may be. Pie can commence to build up a large egg strain with one hen that excels in that respect, mating her with a cockerel from a large-egg strain. WHY FOWLS SHOULD EXERCISE Exercise is of vital importance to the health of the fowl and to the proper assimilation of its food. Breeding, laying and growing flocks must have plenty of exercise to do well, and to assist them in using their food to the best advantage through the proper channels. Without exercise, food which under normal conditions should be used as fuel and in the repair of tissue or in making eggs, will be diverted into forming additional flesh or fat. Keep the fowls busy by putting a portion of their hard grain where they will have to scratch for it. The busy active hen that scratches for a living is usually the hen that produces fertile eggs. With healthy hens it is seldom necessary to force exercise. Given the place and opportunity they will generally take sufficient without much urging Exercise is a good thing. It is necesasry, but it is possible to have too much even of a good thing. Let fowls scratch for a part of their grain, but do not make them work for all their food. You do not want to use up a considerable part of their food in unnecessary, excessive exercise; that is not economy in feeding. Xeither should you get your fowls out of condition by failing to give them the opportunity to scratch and run about sufficiently to keep their digestion in good order. THE SHOW SEASON The show is an educational factor, and we are now in the midst of the show season. Every poultry-keeper, whether an exhibitor or not, should visit one or more of the shows. A good show is a benefit in manv ways —it gives the breeder an opportunity to show his stock in competition with the best, and the winner is always pleased. It also gives an opening for the beginner to look round to see what his variety is like, so that he may gauge the quality of his own stock. Some people cannot understand how a bird can be good enough and not win; but when you remember that out of a class of 30 only half a dozen are really good, and

these very much alike all round, there must be a deciding point, and someone must be in the sixth place when he could easily have been first. I admit that sometimes birds win which ought never to have done so—at least in the opinion of many breeders—and yet the judge must have a good reason for putting the one on top. If you are an exhibitor be a little more generous to the judge, unless you find that he has failed to find the right ones, and try to see the class as he has seen it. You know it is much easier to judge a class or even pass an opinion upon it when the cards are up than it is before, for with the awards made so many start off to see what fault they can find with the winners, and never look for the good points. The judge, on the other hand, sets off with a class, say, of 20. He picks out the best seven, and then proceeds to sort these out in order of merit. He works down to three, and has found many evidences of quality, size, and shape, constitution, colour, condition, and correct train i:.g; but now he must hunt out their faults, and be able to correctly place them. It is quite possible for the third to be as good as the winner, and yet the judge has found some minor fault, for which the bird was dropped. Yet the owner might never have noticed it, but m the other good qualities have passed over this fault. When you are always with a fowl, and one which you prize highly, you can become blind to all its failings; so that when it is put in the show pen you are disappointed and inclined to blame the judge, yet the fault was there all the time. This you yourself should have discovered. LOOK FOR FAULTS It is always a good plan to look for the faults in exhibition birds. 1 have never yet seen the perfect bird. It is only by finding the faults and " bad points that you will be able to eradicate them. When at the show look through the classes to find some good points in the winners, no matter whether own breed or not. You will soon find that the show has a new meaning. Some men who attend a show, it they do not win, are positively miserable. and they try to make others unhappy, too. They abuse the judge, thinking this will help matters, but if so often ends in two men losing their tempers instead of only one. Remember, you enter under a man because you think him good enough to adjudi cate fairly and capable of dealing with the breed, or you might just enter the bird to get the judge’s opinion; but. whatever it is, you should accept the result as being honest. For the future, the matter is in your own hands. When you enter your birds the judge is announced. and if you do not like a man do not show under him. Every exhibitor who can should attend one or more of our big shows. The beginner should carefully study his own breed. If possible, see the ex-

hibits by daylight, and look for all the good points in those which are left out. Such an event is an excellent school ground, where the birds are the subject and the observer the pupil; and. although not at once apparent, there is much that can be learned. Ask some men what they think of a certain winner, a breed they are interested in They will tell you it is no good, and at once proceed to pick it to bits. When they have finished, you wonder how the owner ever dared show such a poor specimen, and yet it has won Such a method, however, will not help a novice, for it confuses ideas. It is no help at all to hear such a rating of the winner, no matter what its faults.

The novice with a few birds of any breed which he fancies, and hence has some notion of what they are like, should set forth on his own end, and while carrying in his mind the points of his stock. go carefully over the winners to see where his own birds fail. He should then try to see what different mating is necessary to reach the standard of the winner. To the old hand the shows are the means of exhibiting his wares with samples of the best, but for the great majority they are just a training ground, where much can be picked up which will benefit every poultry man in future years. GENERAL NOTES The Taranaki egg-laying competition has now completed its seventh week, and the results are as follow: Gibbons Bros.’s White Leghorn, No. 1, is leading her section with 46 eggs to her credit, followed by G. L. Gaylard’s and A. Millar’s birds, each with 40 eggs. W. R. Lee’s Ancona laid six eggs for tlie week, and has now a total of 33. A. J. Lacey’s Rhode Island Red has

laid 34 eggs, followed by the same breeder’s No. 1 bird with 32 eggs. White Wyandottes find Gibbons Bros’s bird leading with 39 eggs. In the Black Orpington section, V. 1.. Gaue’s bird is leading with 43 eggs, followed by S. Paterson’s No. 1 bird with 38 eggs. A. J. Davey’s Light Sussex has now laid 36 eggs. In the fawn-ana-whlte Runner ducks, F. A. Warren’s duck is leading with 23 eggs, followed by Thos. Dowthwaite’s duck with 20 eggs. J. W. Carrick’s Khaki Campbell has now 32 eggs to her credit. In the three-bird team test (light breeds), Gibbons Bros.’ White Leghorns are leading with 115 eggs, followed by G. L. Gaylard’s White Leghorns with 105. In the three-bird teams (heavy breeds), S. Paterson’s Black Orpingtons are leading with 94 eggs to their credit. The schedule of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, Canary, and Cat Club’s sixty-third annual fixture is now to hand. As in previous years, a large number of cups, trophies, and special prizes are being offered for competition. Several specialist clubs are holding their shows in conjunction with the Christchurch event. The following South island Poultry Association’s championships will also be competed for: Old English Game (female), Light Sussex (open classes). White Plymouth Rock (utility classes) Black Rosecomb Bantam, Dragoon or Show Homer pigeon, Yorkshire canary (self or foul greeu), and Persian male, blue, black, or smoke, over six months. The judges are as follow;—Poultry (open): Old English Game and game bantams, Mr. E. D. Barry, Nelson; Modern and Indian Game, Mr. T. Kennedy, Rangiora; Leghorns and Anconas, Mr. R. Wilson; Minorcas, Mr A. B. Thompson; all other varieties open poultry, Mr. Joe Sykes. Utility classes: White Leghorns, Mr. J. Liggins, liurwood; all other Reds and Anconas, Mr. R. Wilson; Minorcas, Mr. A. R. Thompson; Rhode Island Reds and Orpingtons, Mr. T. Kennedy: all other varieties utility poultry, Mr. J. D. Gobbe; bantams other than game, Mr. T. Doig, Wellington; ducks, Mr. R. W. Hawke, M.P.; eggs and table poultry, Mr. C. P. Bradford. Fancy pigeons; Tumblers, Mr. W. Mabley: magpies, Mr. G. Hales: all other varieties. Mr. W. Fraser; junior and utility classes. Mr. .1. M. McLean: flying homers, old birds, Mr. F. D. Wilson; young birds, Dr. A. C. MoKillop: junior and coloured classes, Mr. L Wilshire. Canaries: Norwich, Mr. R. W. Thompson; Yorkshire and all other varieties, and cats, Mr. T. Wilkinson. Mr. Patterson, publicity official for the Taumarunui Poultry Society, informs me that entries for their annual show have come in remarkably well, and the executive is looking forward to a most successful show. Mr. Tom Doig, Wellington, will make the awards. The following judges have been appointed for the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Club’s annual show, to be held in July: Poulti’y. Messrs. W. A. Hanson, J. Nixon; fancy pigeons, Mr. N. Hanson; flying homers. Mr. V. A. Ryder: canaries. Mr. Stan. Wood. The recent controversy between the North and South Island Associations

on “white in face” in Minorcas is evidently being freely discussed by most of the affiliated clubs. I’he Dunedin Club, at Its last meeting, decided to support the South Island Association in its adoption of the utility standard, with the exception of “white in face.” At Rotorua Show, held last. Friday and Saturday, two of the most successful exhibitors were W. Bish (Henderson) and Miss Ambler (Glen Eden). The former, with IS exhibits, won 12 first and three second prizes; Miss Ambler, with seven birds, won seven firsts and two specials, viz., special best cock or cockerel, light breeds, other than Game (fancy section), special best hen or pullet, light breeds other than Game (fancy section). TO CORRESPONDENTS Owing - to the illness of our contributor, Mr. G. W. Ambler, replies to many correspondents have been unavoidably delayed.