EGG-LAYING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12086, 15 August 1917, Page 5

EGG-LAYING.

FEW ZEALAND UTILITY POULTRY CLUB. THIRTEENTH COMPETITION. The thirteenth egg-laying competition or tranised by the New Zealand Utility Poultrj Club commenced at Paprnui on April 8. The figures for the eighteenth week, ended August 14, are as follow: LIGHT BREEDS. Daily laying. Commencing Tl. to Competitor and Wednesday, Date, breed. Brown Leghorns— Verrall Bros. . . 4462544 29 293 White Leghorns— H. F. Roes . . . 6156336-30 • 327 Georg-o Gee . . . 5244243—24 420 Caldor Bros., No. 1 . 4553553—30 421 W. Stephenson . . 1444314—21 369 A. E. Phillips . . 2442451—2-2 352 J. M'lnnes . . . 2-152462—25 200 L. T. Wright . . 2543533-05 362 11. W. Bower . . 334345*1—23 30-2 Green Bros. . . 4525463—29 320 The Anau Utility Stud 4&0;h54—30 322 Atkinson Bros. . 5535445—31 266 Hokowhitu Poultry Co. 2332433-20 231 S. Dick .... 2454535--2S 305 Dftlmuir Poultry Yards 3451535-23 337 J. M. Alley . . . 2152132—17 252 J. Rohinson . . . 3414343—22 259 Ranjriuru Egg Ra.nch . 32.53353—24 253 Onißfi Poultry Farm . 3143535—27 205 Heretaunga Poultry Co., No. 1 . . . . 5135334—24 287 Master Jnck Green . 33614-43-27 266 Smart Bros. . . 3533353—25 369 W. Davev . . . 4362544—23 317 T. E. Conway . . 3444543—27 352 Mrs J. Mills . . . 4560653—-29 257 T. W. Wilfon . . 4432303—19 273 R. Mills . . • 1325223-18 200 A. W. Adams . . 4244345—26 322 "Reliable Poultry Farm 0246546—33 374 A. G. BTailev . • 2312423-20 232 John Ste.ve.ns . . 5513643-30 340 Fazackerlev and Son . 4433.134—25 304 R. W. Hawko . . 2321332—16 235 J. Nancarrow, sen. . 3443543—26 306 Colder Bros., No. 2. 3553446—30 384 T. Kennedy . . . TOOIIII- 4 60 Herotaunga Poultry Co., No. 2 ... 3334525—25 255 M. A. Currin . . 3564365—32 ala H. Ball . . . 5444644—31 360 W. H. West . . . 4365355—31 475 A. E. Wilson . . 3441354-27 2£7 If. Williams . . . 4154544—30 357 _. 1 Totals ... 106 ft 12*83 HEAVY BREEDS. Silver Wyandottos— Green Bros. . . 2213213-14 2PO A W. Adams . v . 4252132—2-2 2SO W. W. Hewiuson . . 4425524—26 331 Mr? F. Howell . . 55643.54—32 302 T Kennedy . . - 3123322—16 276 T. Dowthwa.it* . . 24.54344—26 M 0 White Wvandottes— G. E. Benjes . . 35223M-20 2?8 Black Orpingtons Mrs C!ar;d?« . . 1011121- T 95 T. E. Conway No. 1 . 2413433—20 227 AS. Cooper . . . 2212331—14 217 .T. Nancarrow, sen. - 3654653 32 429 T. E Conwav No. 1 . 5534534—29 325 Victor Gee ! . . 1223331-15 352 F-. E. Ma-rsden . - 2313332—17 255 F. Staines . . • 35«5&33~23 457 Hokowhitu Poultry Co. 3333423-21 '274 Miss J. James . . 3525523-25. 247 White Rocks— H. .T. Gopperth . . 54645-43-31 137 Rhode Island Reds— A. S. Cooper . . 4325325-24 123 E. F. Oakoß . . • 4223333-W _l<* Totals . ' . . • • 43S 523S 234 eggs were, gathered from the 124 spare birds. DUCK CONTEST. Indian Runners — W. Knight . • • •132.3353-23 464 Herataungs Poultry Co. or. Mr, Gee . . . 4133355--27 ,21 W. T. Green . . . 65«544-St &} H. W. Bower . . 6555465—36 628 Toia's H 7 * :6B 3S eggs were gathered from t.ho 10 spare ducks. SINGLE BIRD COMPETITION. Light Breeds. White Leghorns— Green Bros. . . 1111110-6 100 W. Dnvcv . • • IIOMOI-o -U Victor Geo . . . OCCOOOO-0 71 .Nancarrow . . 1110111-0 0 4 Atkinson Bros. . . 1101UO-S 0b r. Mill* ...• imou-e -I H. Williams . . • 0110110-1 07 R. H. Tavlor . . • IUIIII-7 107 To Anau Utility Stud . UIWI -« £ Mrs Mills . . • 0111011-o 0t R TT. James . • • WlllOl-o •> > A. E. Wilson . . • WMOCOO-O . 1 Green Bros. . • 1110111-6 4, RW. Hawke . . 0000010-1 72 Minorcas— Miss J. James . . OOOOOnO-0 36 Miss J. James . . 01.11011—5 Totals * 7 1037 Heavy Breeds. Black Orpingtons— T. E. Conway . • 1011110-5 93 Silver Wyandottes— „-,.,« . n7 Thos. Wilson . . . 1101 J\°--? ?! Green Bros. . . . OOOHOiIO-0 .ii E. J. Ross . - • 1101110-O 4,-, Rhode Island Reds— iIIAII , .. r J. Nancarrow, &en. . 1110111— h o Totals ...*• 21 236 BACKYARD POULTRY. POINTS FOR AMATEURS.

There, are few people who do not appreciate poultry, whether that, appreciation is fixed on the. fowl for its beauty of plumage or for the more matter-of-fact, desire, the breakfast, egg- In poultry we in Australia have birds that, have that dual quality, beauty and utility It only requires the ordinary householder to gather together, by giving a little care in the selection, poultry that hove these dual properties. AN hat, can be. nicer than to see fowls that are well kept, even if the "run" is only a few square yards in extent. Ihey give that touch to the home life that, few can help hut admire. And then that new-laid egg so difficult to buy, ib there at their bidding. And when a pullet is wanted for the pot, what, better bird for the table than the homegrown product? . . ' A few fowls can he kept at a. minimum of expense. They oonsumo and prosper on the waste from the table. A small saucepan of potato parings, the scrapings of carrots, a few cabbage leaves go to make up a mess that, by adding a handful of pollard and bran, is sufficient to keep half a dozen fowls in excellent health and profit. Half a dozen fowls may be kept in a 6ft x 6ft lean-to shelter. That will give a 6ft area space for each fowlample room. That shelter may be constructed with a few posts, together ■with pieces of packing cases and a front of wire netting. Let th/> roost, on one level, ho about 2ft to 3ft from the ground, and be clear of any part of the shelter; the latter to prevent any inflect life moving from the roost to the b'ulidine, and to keep the roost clear of anything of that sort an occasional use of kerosene to the joints of the roost will exterminate any insect pest. In such a shelter the bird may be kept from one end of the year to the other. The floor, which must, of course, be dry, should be thickly covered with straw, shavings, cinders, sand, etc. A few ears of grain, say, half a handful or so for each fowl, are to be thrown into the debris each evening. To get at the grain the, fowls will each morning scratch and burrow amongst the debris, thus giving them exercise and lusty The advantage of confining the birds to their quarters is a dual one, preventing them flying over the fence and'keeping them clear of offence in perhaps a restricted yard. As to the fowls themselves, avoid the so-colled barn-door article, a nondescript animal, usually of little use, and seldom of any ornament. If possible, have birds of one breed and of one colour. Birds even in type and of good quality may be obtained' reasonably cheap from reliable breeders. When a little breeding can he indulged in, the few hens that the owner may have, even if they are wanting in any special virtue, if mated to a cockerel of quality, will rjroduco a number of pullets which, in "the season following, will give pleasure to the family, and eggs to gladden their hearts. Remember to keep on the up grade. The improvement of fowlSj as in other kinds of stock, is always interesting, and is ohvavs profitable, both to tho mind and the pocket.—" Chanticleer," in the "Aystjalflsian."