POULTRY NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1935, Page 24 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES

CHOICE OF LAYING STOCK SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HEAD. In the selection of the best layers from a flock of fowls the shape, size, colour and condition of the bird’s comb and wattles play a very important part. It is these that indicate very largely the activity of the ovary and the state of the liver and digestion. Ducks, however, have no such useful indication of their probable laying power, so that we are obliged to look for some outward sign of an inner activity. Fortunately we have such signs in the bird’s head and bill if we know how to read them correctly. By the size, shape and setting of a duck’s head we can conclude her probable laying potentialities, the efficiency of her liver and digestion and her activity, as well as whether she is likely to be a good or indifferent layer. These signs, however, need very careful reading, and although I am going to consider each part of the duck’s head separately with its own especial significance, it must be remembered that when making the final judgment of the bird’s ability the signs must be considered as a whole rather than separately. For instance, a wonderful eye will very often redeem a poor pill. HEAD AS A GUIDE. Let us now deal with the head as a whole. The head of all birds is almost a distinct body, for it is only joined to the body proper by a thin strip of flesh and bone. It is almos£ correct to say that the head is a complement rather than a part of the body, and it can therefore be treated separately. The head being so small, any coarseness which the bird may have is at once apparent in the head, because if it has any undue development of any particular part the symmetry is spoilt. Symmetry of head and body is very closely allied, and symmetry of body goes hand in hand with high egg production, and, what is more important, high hatchability of the eggs laid.

The eye of a fowl or duck is of extreme importance, for the nervous system of a bird is very closely connected with its laying power. The eyes give a very true impression of the activity of the brain, and the brain, it must be remembered, is only a very highly developed nerve centre. Therefore aim for a bright, alert and well-opened eye, which goes with an efficient nervous organisation. It should be set high up in the head, because a low-set eye is not a characteristic of the laying breeds of ducks, and is, therefore, nearly always found in birds which have a tendency to fat, and which show a lack of energy. The colour is of no importance in a laying duck, but the right eye colour should, of course, be maintained, as it is a breed characteristic The skull should be fine, of moderate size and very symmetrical, well developed behind and sloping slightly from the top to the base of the bill. A fineboned symmetrical head goes with a fine-boned symmetrical body.. While advocating a fine head one must be careful not to go to any extremes; the head must be broad enough to carry a strong bill, without being unduly heavy. IMPORTANCE OF THE BILL. The bill is a very important feature,' which illustrates to a large extent the probable fecundity of the duck. It should be long and of medium width; the short, broad bill is an objectionable characteristic, and it is very rarely that birds having this type of bill prove themselves to be good layers. The bill is of cartilage, and if it is thick the cartilage over the whole of the bird’s body will be thick and coarse. And coarseness is opposed to high egg production. The bill ought to form a straight line from the top of the skull, but so long as it is of a good length it does not matter if it has a slight dip. However, aim for the straight bill, especially in Runners, as its straightness is nearly always connected with a straight, well-formed body. Look with suspicion upon any birds whose bills are inclined to bend easily when pressed gently between the finger and thumb, because any undue weakness in that direction indicates a softness of bone. Softness must not be confused with pliability. The first is to be avoided; the second to be sought. The colour test which is applied to the legs of yellow-fleshed fowls can be applied with equal success to the ducks which have yellow bills. With heavy laying the colour fades first from the tip, then all over. The probable type of bill which the duck is likely to have can be judged when it is as young as three weeks, which is, of course, a very great advantage.

The head should be carried with a good balance upon the neck; it should not point downwards like a vulture’s or be held high like a dab-chick’s; but it should give the impression of being carried in just the right manner. GOOD TEMPERED DUCKS. ■Lastly, the duck’s expression should be considered. They have expressions just as we have, but it needs observance to see them. The best bird is one having an open, good tempered look. , It is very rarely that a first-class head is put upon a poor layer, or vice versa. Although it is not suggested that the birds should be selected on head alone, it is suggested that no bird should be bred from before ite head has been examined and passed. One of the problems which is presented in connection with production of eggs can best be represented by the question; why are some hens more productive than others when all carry within them the oocytes for a much greater number of eggs than they lay? It will be remembered in the well-known investigation made by Dr. Raymond Pearl at- Maine some years ago he found that though the range of visible potential eggs was considerable the fewest found in a Cornish Indian Game hen, a race that is not characterised by heavy laying, was about 1800. On the surface it would appear that the capacity of the hen named was the number stated. Thus it is evident there are repressive influences which prevent the materialisation of eggs beyond a small proportion of the germs carried. Here arises a suggestion that possibly for every egg laid in the complete form there are several oocytes which are discharged from the ovaries, and that only in so far as these waste possible eggs are restricted can the number laid be increased proportionately. As to that nothing is known, so far as I am aware. It may be that high fecundity is determined by the capacity to complete the individual and unit oocyte, and that all hens discharge fro: the ovaries a much larger number of these than of eggs they produce. If that were the case it would open out a new field of investigation, which, in time might lead to dealing with this subject in a totally different manner with regard to our hens.