FEATHERED FANCY

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 253, 28 November 1914, Page 5

FEATHERED FANCY

At flic time of going to press the annua! mooting of tlio South Island Association will 1)0 in full swing tit Dunediu, and it will be impossible for me to give a text, of the business transacted in this issue, but I will do so in my next.

The Utility Poultry (Hub lias made application for affiliation. If successful, and I have no doubt that it will be accepted, it will be a further step in the fancy. Their representative will make application for several utility championships, the awards to be the association's ordinary certificate.

Recently our shows have had a large number of utility entries, and I think that this section of fanciers should in some way be recognised. At the same time, you will often find a breeder of the modern bird also winning in the utility class, and it has to be admitted that the only qualification it has for entry is that it is a smaller bird. I am afraid if its utility points were put to the test, it would be a failure. 1 trust that the application of the Utility Club will be accepted, as there are several such points that could be put on a more precise footing.

I understand that Mr .1. W. Green has had an enquiry for his team of White Leghorns now competing in the Missouri competition.

You will occasionally hear of a prop erty for sale at New Brighton suitable for poultry. Now, this usually turns out to be some sandhill, and is no more suitable for keeping poultry than a desert is for growing wheat. To do well with poultry you require good land. Where they are kept on sand, you will find them burning up in the summer time, and frizzled up with the cold in winter.' Think of Buruham. This was never a suitable position for a poultry farm. The late Mr Rose often told me that he could never get any green feed. It, was impossible to grow it on the soil, and 1 contend if the ground is not -capable of growing green feed, it is certainly not suitable for keeping poultry on.

I regret to hear that the Brarkenficld Poultry Farm, Russley Road, Riccarton, diad the misfortune to have a fire ■in their incubator house, and some £4O worth of damage was done. Mr Hoskyns has my sympathy.

The egg-laying competition at Papanui is now getting into a very interesting stage. At the end of last week's laying, Miss Nixon .025, Messrs A. W. Adams 915, Hcretamiga Poultry Farm 910, Calder Brothers 902, and B. P. 'L. Clayson 891, are all well in the running, besides others coming strong.

Mr J. Ford, Brookland, Wellington, Hie Roller Canary breeder, has some twenty-one young .birds.

Birds constitutionally weak, and those suffering from serious deformities, such as crooked, or round backs, also badly crooked breasts should be discarded.

It is now getting too late to hatch chicks. Thev rarely develop well, and it is always late before they come into profit.

It is useless rearing weak chickens, they never do any good.

T notice that the Government are ad vertising for two extra poultry ex nerts.

I am told that a local fancier has bred a very fine Yorkshire canary. It is reported as the best on these shores.

During carnival week Mr T. IT. Jones, of Manchester Street, had under his care a number of Mexican parrots. As these birds were very young and al ready starting to jabber, needless to say they were freely disposed of. These birds are usually* very fine talkers.

A recent, letter states that Mr Alex i'eat, of Dipton, intends to again take to the pigeon fancy.

At the last meeting of the United Pigeon Fanciers Club, the members held i very nice young bird show and some '•other promising stock was exhibited. The judge, Mr A. Walker, awarded the prize for the best young bird to a Black Magpie, the property of Mr G. Hales. Messrs H. Willshire, Long-faced Tumblers; L. Penrose, Tumblers; J. Shipcon, Tumblers; B. Johnson, Dragoons; W. Dacombe, Tumblers; A. Gapes, Tumblers; Macquarie and Smith, Tumblers; A. B. Menzies, Tumblers; and J. McLean, Tumblers, all exhibited good birds.

AMONG THE BREEDERS. COOPER AND WATNSCOTT. [ recently paid a visit to the yards of the above-named breeders, and had

(By GRIT.)

j quite an interesting time. The -majority of the birds are kept at, .Mr A. |S. Cooper's place in Frankleigh (Street, j Sprevdon, next, to the residence of Mr i Arthur Smith (Maequarie and Smith), j The breeds kept, are Rhode Islands !Eeds, Black Orpingtons, and Silver Wyandottes. It Avill lie noticed that on'lv the heavy broods are kept, and this is for a 'purpose. The property under Mr Cooper's care is some two acres of orchard. The land is inclined to be twitchy, and it is for the clearing of this that the heavy breeds are kept, the Leghorns being too flighty for the purpose required. At the last Christchurch Show Mr B. Wainscott exhibited in the Rhode Island Red classes, scoring first in the cock, and also cockerel class. Since then lie has joined forces with Mr Cooper, but he still keeps the breeding pen of Rhode Island Reds at his residence in Milton Street, Sprevdon. The Black Orpington and Wyandottes are of the utility type, and have been secured from prominent breeders, though ] think it would be to the fanciers' interest not to breed from so many birds. Some r.OO chicks are on the place, and the Rhode Island Reds are the breed receiving most, attention, and I understand Messrs Cooper and Wainscott Avill run this variety only. They have some 1.00 chicks, the result of excellent hatchings, and they are doing well, and the firm expects to make a good display of this comingbreed during the next show season. They (bid them excellent layers, develop quickly, and with all the properties of a good, all-round fowl. The houses, so that they can be removed about the orchard," are of the. portable kind. The chicken coops are made of the triangular shape, and the end for covering is covered with canvas, with a coat of rough paint, and this makes a very good roof. By making the coops of this shape they can be p breed right in under the trees. Mr Cooper thought about keeping the Wyandottes and Black Orpingtons for breeding birds for table purposes, but I am afraid his venture would not be successful. Still, as we have so few that breed for table only, a correct cost of production Avould be interesting information. . Mr Wainscott takes a great interest in his birds, and when he has been in the fancy a little longer I am certain he will develop into an enthusiastic fancier. I fully expect to hear of these breeders again.

MR H. JACKSON. Mr H. Jackson resides in Conway Street, Spreydon, and is devoting his time to the utility side of the fancy. He is at present keeping White Leghorns and Silver Wyandottes, though, with the exception of keeping a few for broody purposes, he will get rid of the latter breed, as he is of the opinion they are not a profitable investment. His White Leghorns are excellent layers of a fair-sized egg. He has a good number of laying stock, besides two breeding pens. At the time of my visit he had a great number of chickens of all ages, and coming away very nicely. He uses the hens and an incubator for hatching; the brooder-house is heated with hot-water pipes, an' invention of Mr Jackson's own. As his place is a leasehold, he has very wisely made his houses in sections, and they are easily removed. His birds were looking real well, the sign of careful attention.