POULTRY NOTES.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11735, 18 September 1906, Page 4

POULTRY NOTES.

(By "Chanticleer.")

The September number of the "Australian Hen" is to hand. It is an interesting- number thig month. It is pleasing to note the kindly notices it makes to our "N.Z* Poultry Jonrnal. " Several illustrations from that journal are reproduced in the "Hen."

The Blenheim Egg-LayingOompeti-tion seems to be going stronger than ever. Not only are the weekly. totals high on an average, but a glance down the columns fails to disclose a single pen chat is not doing well now. The manager may be justly proud of his results so far. It .a to be hoped tnat tne proposed competition for Nelson will not be allowed to fall through. The fact th a£ the lessee of Richmond Park cannot alow it to be held there should not be allowed to block it altogether. The Park is not the only place in Nelson and is certainly not the roost suitable site for a competition. It might perhaps with advantage be held nearer town. However the inevitable "battle of sites" is nut the first consideration. What is most necessary now is that every wellwisher of the project should put his snoulder to the wheel and help the thing along in a practical way. Our j suggestion is that a public meeting be called to get the competition under way. We know from the experience of other competitions that the venture would pay. We have what is most probably the most suitable climate and soil in Australasia for the purpose. All that is needed is a little capital, and from rumors current it appears the" re are plenty of people willing to supply that; The contention of a member of the A. and P. Association that most probably the public interest in these competitions would die out shortly is certainly naive. If memory does not play U9 false the same fate was predicted with regard to the A. and P. Association's Shows some years ago. Egg-laying* Competitions, like Agricultural Shows, have come to stay. The beeeders of heavy- laying strains of poultry are anxious to demonstrate this to the public, and that fact ensures the holding of the competitona. Besides, it must be remembered that once the entries are made the competition is self-support-ing, and does not depend on a fine day and the attendance of the public. Feed the chickens on all the good things you can get: finely-chopped meat, bread crumbs, oatmeal (raw), mixed small seeds are all good. Never give them sloppy food. Bran and pollard mash made very dry will not harm them after the first fortnight. If there is any sign of bowel trouble stop the mash and feed on rice for a day or so. Do not coop the hen altogether. One hears often that it is impossible to let them have free range. In that case a wire nesting coop four feet square, without a bottom floor, is the beat place for them. It can be moved about to enable the hen to get r -«sh sratohings daily. Fertility L. t*ie eggs from the breeding stock is a do i Jeratum at this, season To ensure this the birds should have a'good supply of animal food, especially if they are confined in a close peD. It is not generally known that for market purposes eggs that are not fertilised keep longer than those that are fertilised. "And do they sell the eggs from the competitions at the ordinary market prices?" asked a man the other day. When 1 told him that that was the case, he said, "Well, if I lived near there I should have a few sittings from some of the best pens." I simply told him that they might not hacth, and left him wondering why. Perhaps he will manage to think of it some day. He certainly ought to go in for poultry though, such men make their mark — that is as failures.