FEATHERED FANCY

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 568, 4 December 1915, Page 5

FEATHERED FANCY

Mr J. W. Mathieson, of Percy Street, Linwood, writes:—"Referring to your poultry notes concerning Sicilian Buttercups, I would just like to say that I sent to Australia for a sitting of eggs, and hatched seven chickens' out of 12 eggs, but only succeeded in rearing four of them—one cockerel and three pullets. They are about three months old, and are doing splendidly. When first hatched, they resembled the Brown Leghorn, but now they are marked like the Golden Pencilled Hamburg: Leg, green shade; comb of the cockerel, two serrations in centre of head and about six or eight on each side, forming a cup. When they are about six months old I would like you to call and have a look, and see what you think of them. P.S. —I quite - enjoy your notes in the Saturday's Sun; it keeps one in the know of what is going on in the fancy.—J.W.M."

I have to thank Mr Mathieson for his information, and at present I regret that I am not able to give the correct standard of this breed. It has appeared, but it cannot be said that it is infallible. One peculiarity about this bird is that it is a Mediterranean breed, and such varieties as Leghorns and Minorcas and other breeds that come from the Mediterranean all have the White lobe, and Buttercups have been shown with red, and it has been suggested not to put too high a value on the allred lobe. The shanks should be willow green and free from feathers or stubs. Birds have been exhibited with yellow legs, but this is a disqualification. It will be seen that the standard of excellence for this new variety is not yet thoroughly established, and subject to revision. At a later period I will call and inspect Mr Mathieson's birds with pleasure, and, having further information regarding this breed, it may be of some value to him. It is a pleasure for me to note that the notes appearing under "Grit" have been appreciated, particularly so as this will be the last occasion that I will be writing for this column. In the past, I always endeavoured to cater for the small fancier. We hear a lot of the man with the 5000-egg incubator, but though these may be known in countries many miles from New Zealand, still they are only wind-whistles in our own land.

All perches should receive every attention, particularly cracks. A coating of tar is one of the best, only see that it is dry before the birds again perch.

Get rid of your surplus stock as quickly as possible, particularly Leghorn cockerels, that you do not intend to keep.

Master G. P. Bradford resides with his parents at Cust, and under the watchful eye of his father it must be admitted that he has got together a very fine kit of pigeons. Numerous varieties are kept. Magpies, African Owls, Fantails, Baldheads, Selfs, and Mottles, clean legged, and Mondaines all have representatives here, and, all being well, Master Bradford should be largely represented at next season's shows. The quality of his birds is too well known for me to give any detailed list. In his Magpies he has succeeded in greatly improving his stock of Blues, and is now on secure lines, and I think the Schedule Committees of the various shows would benefit in providing for this colour. In the Mondaines he has had an experience —a pair of young ones were hatched on October 17, and the same pair again hatched a pair on November 17, so it will be seen that they are wonderful breeders. These birds are for table purposes only, and as they are marvellous breeders, and as it is certain that it never pays to breed poultry for the table, the point arises whether it would not be more profitable for the table-rearers to direct their attention to the breeding of Mondaines, White Kings, etc. Master Bradford has a nice; lot of Fantails, and he has succeeded in securing one or two novelties in the colours. I noticed two basins of the ordinary table salt, and Mr Bradford tells "me that the birds have a great liking for it, and since giving it he has never been troubled with any sickness. The whole of Mr Bradford's birds are allowed to fly, and they are certainly a fine, healthy lot. '

The other evening I had a look at Mr S. Spedding's pheasants, and since my last visit his birds in their fine spacious aviaries are doing well. He has some 10 chicks of the Peacock, Amhurst, and Golden varieties, besides some sittings down. His quail arc also looking well. As Mr Spedding gives his hobby every attention, it can only be expected that he would receive a good return.

The Light Brahma appears to be a variety of the past. Light Sussex, Columbian, Wyandotles, and Ermine Malines are all breeds that for colouring and markings have to a certain extent taken its place. Malines I do not think wc have any in the Dominion. They are a Belgian breed of poultry and develop very quickly, besides being a winter layer.

When chickens are properly feathered they should be taken away from the hen, as on the warm nights they are likely to get overheated, and this is the first step to roup and other troublesome matters.

In conversation with Mr E. Clarkson, of Wellington Street, Linwood, he informed me that he had been successful in rearing a magpie. It appears that he owns a magpie and his neighbour, Mr P. Stevens, who has donned the King's uniform and

(By "GRrT.")

left for the front also had a bird that he left in Mr Glarkson's care and these birds mated. Magpies are in "great numbers in North Canterbury and breed freely, so there is nothing particularly great about a magpie having been bred, but it must be admitted that for magpies in captivity to breed is quite a novr elty.

One of the best ways to keep your birds free from lice is to see that they are provided with a good dust bath.

Egg production is more a question of strain than breed.

At the next meeting of the United Pigeon Fanciers' Club to be held at the rooms of the Christchurch Poultry Club on Thursday evening next, Mr E. F. Stead, a vice-presi-dent will deliver a lecture on "The Birds of New Zealand." The lecture is a very popular one and I understand the club will issue an invitation to other clubs for their members to attend. Knowing the interesting manner which Mr Stead conducts these little club chats I am certain that those that attend will thoroughly enjoy the evening,

All pigeon fanciers will now be busy. Occasionally canker will make an appearance and one of the best treatments for- this is to take a cake of Oxford blue and slightly wet it and then take a feather and paint the canker with the blue.

One point certain, no system of feeding can force egg production if the hens are not of the laying strain.

A few years back the modern Black Langshan occupied a prominent place on our show benches, in fact when Rogen and Andrew were so successful with theirs, Mr Rogen sent some to the Old Land and got well into the prize money. We have two types, the Modern and Croad. The Modern, like many other breeds, has undergone some changes, as it is now very tall and leggy, while the Croad is more like the bird originally imported. The Croad is a particularly good winter layer very hardy, and first rate table fowl, well covered with white flesh.

Speaking to m£ C. E. Shepheard, Lyttelton, I was informed that he had had quite a successful season in breeding black mottle, long faced, clean legged Tumblers. He has some promising stock, also a blue chequered Badge, and plenty of* time to breed many more.

Sussex is another variety of poultry that has been introduced into New Zealand. Though they have been here some time it is only during this season that any advance with the variety has been made. Light, Speckled, and Brown are the varieties best known, particularly the latter. With the presence of these new varieties on our show benches I am afraid that some judges who can judge whole shows will require standards of more than one variety of new stuff.

The Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Club will meet on Monday evening when the schedule for the 1916 show will be considered.