FEATHERED FANCY

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 61, 18 April 1914, Page 5

FEATHERED FANCY

(By "GRIT.")

In a recent issue, Mr Thomas.' Kennedy, of Rangiora v , made reference to my article on the advantage of light "breeds over heavy in the last egg-lay-ing competitions. He questions my position to criticise. Well, as I have been connected with the club since its inception, I think I am just as capable as my questioner in discussing the competitions of the Utility Poultry Club. In drawing my comparison, he states, I must have been biassed. What object could I have in being so? It was necessary to place the leading teams of light and heavy breeds together to form the comparison, and, as the writer has long had a favourable regard for the Wyandotte, no one would have been better pleased to have recorded a win for the heavy breeds than myself. I have long recognised the fact that the Leghorn was in a similar position to the Jersey cow —when her milk supply was exhausted she was very little use to the butcher. He asks why make the comparison in the competition just finished? I always considered that these tests were conducted for partly educating the public as to the merits of the various breeds of fowls. Are we not supposed to be improving the laying abilities of our poultry? If the present-day competitors «annot stand comparison on their present merits I fail to see the educational value of competitions. And where is the sense of referring to the last seven years' results? Our correspondent refers me to the scores of Mrs Mills's and E. W. Hawkes's birds in the seven years' aggregate against his own birds, and that his birds are only some 16 eggs behind the White Leghorns. I fail to see the reason of his argument. Mrs Mills won the fifth competition and E. W. Hawkes was third in the fourth. Their positions in the test just ended are 17th with 1291 eggs and 41st with 1080 eggs respectively, and cannot be considered first-class representatives of light breeds against a eeorc of 1481. When making the comparison I was considerate enough to take the. leading pen of heavy breeds — namely, Mr Adams's Silver Wyandottes, that finished up with a score of 264 more eggs than Mr Kennedy's. Surely I should receive the same consideration from Mr Kennedy in placing the performances of his Wyandottes against the leading teams of light breeds. The following table will explain itself: — Light Breeds. Mr Kennedy's. 1907-8 —A. Pelriu . . 1220 1072 190H-9 —A. H. Pacinian 1386 1397 1900-10—Jlrs J'. Mill* 1371 1102 1910-11 —Itaiipfiuru . . 1404 1342 1?)11-12 —HerPHunga . . 1404 1411 IJU2-J3 —\V. A. Nixon 1(314 1259 191.3-14 —V\'. Me re or . . 1481 H 92 9950 H.->35

This shows a total of 1445 eggs, or 120 5-12 dozen in favour of the light breeds, and note the consistency of the laying of the Leghorns as against the Wyandottes. Mr Kennedy states that his birds have an average of 203 eggs; his last average, on a 12 months' basis, is only 151. Evidently he considered it necessary to refer to the previous six tests to help this average on. I am advised that his birds" hold the four winter months' test of 531 eggs, but his last performance is only about half this. He recently sold cockerels in the market for 4/5 each. I am pleased to hear this, but remember, these birds were sold as "Kennedys," a totally different position to the ordinary breeder, and the fact of the price he realised does not, to my mind, alter my argument. I stated in the article that I questioned whether it paid to breed poultry for the table, and gave the difference of the breeds laying, and reckoning at the low figure of lOd per dozen, showed* an amount of £1 1/6 in favour of the light breeds.

Mr Kennedy has in the past been considered the leading breeder of utility Wyandottes. I am extremely pleased that he should have taken the matter up. The article, with all notes, in this column, are open for discussion. Still, I am afraid that our correspondent has produced nothing to alter my views on the matter raised.. With the exception of W. A. Nixon's fine team, that put up the world's record for a 12 months' test, the Leghorns have fairly well maintained their position, but what is the position of Mr Kennedy's Wyandottes?

Now, according to his own figures, remember, not mine, he proves that his birds have lost 39 per cent, of their laying abilities in the last four tests. Basing the tests on a 12 months' competition, thev are as follow: —1910-11, 1464 eggs; 1911-12, 1411; 1912-13, 1284; and 1913-14, 907 eggs. This cannot be considered a very creditable performance, and for any breeder to openly state that his birds have deteriorated to the extent of 557 eggs in the short space of four years, I am afraid that the low total of 295 eggs held by the Leghorns is well within the reach of the Silver Wyandottes.

These tests, as I have previously stated, are to an extent for educational purposes. I notice that the official organ of the Utility Poultry Club makes reference to the falling-off in the laying as being attributed partly to the poor laying of some of the heavy breeds. I consider it is the duty of the club, on such valuable information as Mr Kennedy's,'to immediately take steps to enquire into this considerable drop, Wither the strains of heavy breeds have deteriorated or the feeding is not correct.

POULTRY, PIGEON AND CANARY NOTES

At this time of the year chickens are subjected to leg weakness. Oil of turpentine, in conjunction with olive oil, is a good cure as a leg dressing for rheumatism, cramp, and leg weakness. During the week I had a look at the recent* Minorca importations of Mr J. Cummings, of Sydenham. The birds arrived by the Opawa, and are from the yards of Mr Walter Bradley, of Homelea, Silsden, Yorks. The trio consists of a cockerel and two pullets, and I doubt if we have had a better trio in the Dominion before. They were landed in splendid condition, one of the pullets being ready for tbe show pen. I understand that this pullet is full sister to the last Crystal Palace winner. They are good in head pieces, good lobes, .clear faces, and a good greenish glossy black in colour. Mr Cummings is to be congratulated in securing such fine stock, and with the assistance of the Pitts hen of his last importation he has a good pen for the coming season. I noticed several good-bodied hens suitable for cockerelbreeding in the yards. Friar's Balsam is a handy remedy to keep about your yards. It can be" applied to any cuts, bruises, and bumble feet, also handy to check bleeding from torn combs, wattles, etc. At the meeting of the Egg Farmers' Association on Tuesday evening, after attending to the usual business, the president, Mr A. C. Wilson, presented Mr C. E. Butler, of the Provision and Produce Company, with a very fine case of pipes as a mark of the association's appreciation of the manner he had attended to the shipping of their consignments of eggs.

The United Pigeon Fanciers' Club held a very successful "club show at the club rooms on Thursday evening. Mr A. Smith, the president, presided, and the varieties decided on for the evening were clean-leg tumblers (broken feather) and magpies, with the following results: Clean-leg tumblers, adult birds: N. Vale ], H. Wiltshire 2 and 3; young birds: Macquarie and Smith 1 and 2, T. 11. Jones 3. Magpies, adults: B. Johnson 1, N. Vale 2; young birds, black: G. H. Hales 1, 2, and 3; any other colour: G. H. Hales 1, 2, and 3. The club's prizes were awarded to Messrs Vale and Hales respectively.

Mr J. 11. Hullen, the hon. secretary of the Tim am Homing Pigeon Society, was in town during tlie holidays. He visited several of the lofts in our midst.

Mr F. Hayhurst, of Temiika, who lias just returned from England, has brought with him two pens of Blue Orpingtons of Captain Max de Bathe's and one pen of Red Orpingtons. The Blue Orpingtons are very popular in England at present. The reds are only in. the hands of a few breeders. The new arrivals will be welcomed. With the large amount of recent importations the fancy is evidently getting back to its popularity of a few seasons back. At Mr Hayhurst 's residence he lias some fine Blue Leghorns bred from birds sent out about three years ago.

The annual conversazione ami supper of the New Zealand UtilityToultry Club was held at the Alexandra Hall during last week, the president, Mr (1. Willis, presiding. Mesdames B. O'Brien, Misses Muriel Brewins, 11. Cocker, Stringer, and Dunn, and Messrs G. lloskyns, J. Cocks, .1. Woodward, W. Ward, R, Clark, and Dr C. .1. Russell provided an excellent programme, Miss Stringer ably presiding at'the piano. Among the visitors were Mr T. 11. Davey, M.l\, and his Worship the Mavor.