INTEREST IN POULTRY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19940, 26 October 1934, Page 10

INTEREST IN POULTRY

INNOVATION A SUCCESS Last year the Association decided to include classes for rabbits, and this year another fresh section appeared in the way of poultry. The section was included purely as an experiment, but the entries received indicated clearly that the move was a wise one. In all 85 exhibits came forward, and keen interest was displayed by the public throughout the day. The birds were well housed and well displayed, and the Association has every reason to feel satisfied with the support accorded the section by breeders. Now that a start has been made, no doubt other poultry fanciers will fall into line, and next year should see the need for the provision of further accommodation.

The judge, Mr J. H. Betten, of Waimate, was particularly pleased with the poultry and expressed the view that it could be made one of the features of th show. This was borne out by the fact that although the show was the first at which poultry had been exhibited, the entries had reached the fine total of 85. The Black Orpingtons had been good, but several of the birds were of the English standard, and not the New Zealand utility standard. The males were more impressive than the hens. The Black and White Rocks had also been good, but in any other variety class, he had had to pass over some good birds as they were not utility birds. This same remarks could be made to apply to the ducks. The Indian Runners were not as good as he would have liked, and it appeared as though breeders were losing the Indian Runner type. The entries in the White Wyandotte class had been well up to standard. Mr Betten said that it had been surprising to find that a number of birds had been entered without having been washed. The show would serve to indicate a few defects, but these could be rectified next year. Some improvement could be made by better classification, and a class might well be included for any other variety, open.