POULTRY

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6573, 7 February 1925, Page 5

POULTRY

WRITTEN FOR BEGINNERS J (By “Duo Purpose”) This week I have to deal with a breed that holds a very prominent position in the poultry world. THE WYANDOTTE As an all-round farmer’s fowl the Wyandotte is particularly, hard to beat. It is hardy, a heavy winter layer, sits well, and guards its brood with great care. THE WHITE

There is no breed more widely known and appreciated than the Wyandotte, and in colour the White is by far the most popular with English fanciers and breeders of utility stock. This is easily understood when on looking up the results of laying contests held in all parts of England, we find the White Wyandotte well up among the leaders and often winning in strong competition. Add to this the fact that it is a comparatively small eater, matures quickly, and makes a first-class table bird at an early age. Being plump.in the breast, small in the bone, with little offal, it is indeed small wonder it holds such an important position with poultry men.

The colour of the White Wyandotte should, of course, be of snow white purity, but this is only of vital importance to exhibitors, when a yellowish tinge may put an otherwise good specimen out of the prize list. Much of the straw and cream colour seen in the hackles and saddle of the male may be due to exposure, white being; a colour easily affected by the sun. Some strains have naturally a yellow tinge running through the plumage. This often goes with richness in leg colour. Faulty colouring can be greatly improved by careful selection of the breeding stock.

It has been found that the male has most to say where colour is concerned, and it is therefore of the first importance that extra care be given to the selection of cocks and cockerels. Do not, however, make the mistake of choosing the male bird on his colour alone; he must have egg-laying records behind him or you will find the egg-laying properties of his progeny will be largely impaired. It will be found that the best layers are birds of moderate size for the breed. For breeding purposes select the most active-looking hens/ which are always looking round the run for food, or if the birds are on free range those which are found farthest ( away from the house will generally prove to be the best layers and the most satisfactory breeders. - . ! ' THE SILVER-LACED

Nothing looks finer than a pen of perfectly laced birds of this variety, but to attain this is a matter of the utmost difficulty. Apart from the difficulty of. breeding perfectly laced specimens, the Silver-laced Wyandotte is well worth keeping as a duai purpose bird. It has all the good points of the White as a winter layer, but lays a somewhat smaller egg. The cockerels sell well for table purposes; they can be got off at an early date as they fatten quickly, and always command a fair price on the market. THE GOLD-LACEp In general characteristics the golds are similar to the silver, except of course in the ground colour, which is a rich golden bay. To produce exhibition stock double mating is not necessary, as is' the case with the Silvers. It is possible to breed good specimens of either sex from the one pen. This is of advantage where space is limited. There is room for improvement in the size of the- '"'gs of this variety. Much might be done in this direction by judicious mating, using only layers of the largest eggs in the breeding pens.

As a table bird the Gold is, I think, the liest flavoured of the Wyandottes. due no doubt to the Game blood used in its make up. The hens make good sitters and excellent mothers. The chicks grow quickly, and maturingearly, they are not difficult to' get in prime condition for the market. There is a,rapidly growing demand in our cities for good table poultry, which at the present time is not receiving the attention it warrants. There will always be an outlet for surplus cockerels and culled stock of a breed such as the Wyandotte at good prices, which fact should carry weight when the beginner has under consideration the question of which breed to select,

“Eggs are worth threepence apiece,” said the friend. “Don’t say it so’s that hen can hear you,” replied farmer George. “Every time eggs get dear she acts like a regular miser.”