POULTRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19816, 6 December 1919, Page 11

POULTRY.

NOTES BY " CRQW-BLACK." f ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. | E.H.S., Chriatchurch (1) It is diffi- \ calt to give any reason for a lieu becom- 1 ine hostile to her chicks and killing f them when coining out of their shells. j I have known of similar cases to yours. J (2) You aTe fortunate in having \ hatched heavy breed chicks in. July, js There is nothing like getting the heavy | breeds out early, but it is not wise to | have the pullets coming to profit before !! they are six months old. l J ullsts v/hicii ij I;VV at fom\ and a half months redely, ; ever lay a 2oz egg, and aro unsuitable \ for the breeding pen, though they may | lav a great number of in their \ first year, \ A.W., Burwood.—(l) The following ; plan is adopted by a noted breeder ; when picking Indian Runner drakes \ from ducks at tinio of lunching:—When *j they are three days old, examine the jjj bills of the birds, and you will find the | bills of the drakes fully a quarter vf jj an inch longer than those of the ducks, j,< also the top of the head, instead! of 'i showing a rounded curve, is inclined to \ bo flat. The bil] tends to be perfectly \ free from coloured spots, the body is I also longer, and the general appearance \ of the drake is stronger. You will * find that duck's havo a rounded curve a on the head, the hills are shorter, and \ show a decided tendency, to dishing, and •! aro very often black spotted. A dislt | bill means a hollow, very prominent.. \ from the top of the skull to the end of i tiie beak; later the hollows should | leave, and tho bill' hecomo wedge- \ shaped. With a little practice you will j[ easily discern the difference between * 1 tho sexes by followinc the above meth- \ ods. (2) Ducklings should not bo al- > lowed water in tho morning until they i have; had food given to them, as thelyi are very apt to drink to excess, withf fatal results. ' The newly elected executive council of the South Island Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association will meet • this ' evening. The' New Zealand Utility Poultry Club has decided that the Government Poultry Instructors (Messrs F. C. Brown and C. J. 0. Cussen) be asked to reject all birds sent forward to tlio next competition! that are not fair specimens of tho breed entered. The Canterbury Eck Circle has arranged for Mr J. Liggins to giro a seoond lecture in the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night on " Poultry Management." The Runner duck 'belonging to Mr Daniels, and competing in the Auckland egg-laying competition t has now laid 184 eggs in the Inst 184 days, and is stated to bo still looking in vcrv fine condition. In thirty-two weeks it has lnid 205 eggs. Mr G H. Shaw's No. 1 Black Orpington in the same competi- . tion has completed a sequence of 87 eggs in 87 davs, a remarkable run of continuous laying for fowls. the Utility Poultry Club meetina; on Tuesday, it was decided not to include any two-year tests in the next schedule, but to point o"at_ that the club would favourably consider an application at the end of a twelve month*, test from a competitor if there was a | possibility of a two-year record being |. made bv'a, team or a single bird. A complimentary social was tendered to Mr John Jam's on November 28 at Palmerston North by tho members of tho New Zealand Wyandotte, New Zealand Leghorn, New Zealand Orpington and North Island Rhode Island Red Clubs. There was a large number of people present. In the course of the evening a handsome illuminated address was presented to Mr Jarvis by Mr John Cunninghame on behalf of j the four specialist clubs. _ , In making the nresontation Mr Cunniughame referred to the successful , work of the recipient in the initial '- stages of the industry. In tho course , of twenty-five years ho had secured over 1200 prizes in poultry. Mr Jarvis , was also an enthusiastic pig breeder, ] and had imported tho hrst black . Devon into New Zealand. ' Arrangements aro well in hand for a Boy Scouts' Poultry Club. The schemo is being arranged by Mr J. B, Mcrrett and organised by Mr Tooth, an enthusiastic Scoutmaster. A series of lectures will be given by Mr Merre,tt and examinations held. All successful competitors will bo admitted as members of the club. The movement will also apply to Girl Scouts. It is anticipated that scores of young poul-try-keepers will result from the movement. Tho Canterbury Egg Circle held a most successful meeting at Kaiapoi on Thursday evening. Fourteen members of the circle notored out and, were entertained by the Kaiapoi poultrymen. The Mayor presided over a large attendance. Mr 11J. E. Marsden gave an address on " How to run an Incubator." Mr J. T. M'Harg on "How - to select and cull the flock," Mr W. Wigglesworth on "How to feed for ege production, Mr W. A. Gee on "flints for farm yard poultry keepers," and Mr J. B. Mcrrett on "How to prepare and market eggs." Rich of tho speakers gave valuable information and answered questions at the close of his address. The visitors were- treated i to an excellent supper and accorded a ; hearty vote of thanks for their ad- \ dresses. ' ] Eggs are at a record price for this I time of the year. This week every ■ member of the Canterbury Em Circle received *Js per dozen foj. first graile eggs. Tile listings wore very heavy. Tho Christmas demand is likelV to last for two or three weeks, after which the markot will in doubt case again. Table poultry continue to bring very high prices, but most of tho birds being sold aro culls and in poor condition. When the yountj stock comes into the market culls will fall in. price. At present buyers havo no option but to buy what iB offering. ) UTILITY POULTRY CLUB. The December monthly meeting of | the New Zealand Utility' Poultry Club was held on Tuesday night, Mr W. A. '. Gee presiding. . The Education Committee wero re~ , quested to prepare remits for tho , Poultry Conference and submit them • at tho January moetiiif;. The caretaker reported that a bird - died in pen 99 during the month, two 3 had been removed from itheir pens I (Nos. 11l and OS) owing to ovary j troubles, and a bird in 'pen 128 had , been treated for leg weakness. Mr J. W. Greon submitted the » Schedule Committee's report, which I was adopted. 1 Votes of thanks were passed to 1 Messrs J. T. M'Harg, li. W. Bock and ;' C. W. Tritt for donations of special i I prizes.

Mr M'Rarg, <ho club's delegate to ' j the annual meeting of the Soutlilsland j Poultry Association, reported that the i championships for utility fowls would J "he competed For at Kaitanpuita (White Plymouth Rocks), Punedm (Brown I Leghorns), Oamaru (Indian Runner i I ducks), Inveroargill (Black Orpingtons), | j Ashburton (Minoreas), Tapanui (White : ! "Wyandottes), 'J'oieri (Rhode Island j Reda), Rangiora (.White Leghorns) and | Chrislchurcli (Silver Wyandottes). He ' also reported that utility poultry • classes would be included in the competition for the association's victory challenge shield at Ashburton next June. The report was received and p. hearfrv vote of thanks passed to Mr M'Harg. It was decided io hold over the Show Committee's report, also the appoint- ', ment, of delegates to the Poultry Conference till the Jnnuary meeting. i

EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS} PAPANTJT. Though the birds in the egg-laying competition at Papanui steadied a little last week, nevertheless it was a good week for the season of the year. In (ho single pen bird test possibles for the week were laid by George Gee’s, W. Sail’s and H. Williams’ White Beghorns and J. Donald’s Black Orpingtons. '1 he following table shows tho laying of the leading half dozen pullets for the past three years on November 30;— 1917. Grtra Bros. . . . . , 209 Mis Mills 192 T. Wilson . . . . ,183 Atkinson Bros. .... 183 H. Williams . , . .183 R. Tavlor 131 1818. Wilkinson ..... 135 3. Beor ...... 184 Green Bros. ..... 187 E, Geo (go. Reliable 133 T. Kins 1919. J. Donald 197 3. Beer 184 Green Bro* 16fj E. Hunter 182 J. James ..... 182 Cnldor Bros 181 In the light breed flock teams of six pullets, 6. H. Bradford’s laid the highest total (37) for the 61-0011. Good work was done also by J. Robertson’s (35), G. Bonnott’s and Green Bros. (34 each), O. Ilenn’a and George Geo’s (33 each). The lending team has steadied considerably lately, and a comparison of tho leading pens in the record year and this year will be found interesting;— Nor. 30. 1012. Nor. 30, 1919. W. A. Nixon . 1104 E. Marsden . 1078 3. W. Greon . 1039 E. G. Terry . 1058 A. W. Irvine . 102,4 C. Thomson . 1044 Herotaunga P.C, 931 D. M’Dougal . 973 Heretaunga (No. 2) 90S S. B. Beer , 972 H. Lcgcr . . 908 J. Biggins . 369 The four teams competing in the two years’ tost are laying steadily, and there are only a dozen eggs between H. W. Beck’s leading team and Mrs Gorinski’s birds. Williams’ Minorcas are also putting up a. good score. It is quite possible far either of the leading teams to break tho world’s record (2717) created by the Heretaunga, White Beg-

horns at Papanui in 1914. The following is a comparative table of the laying of the 1912-13 and 1918-19 two year teams:— Nov. 80, 1913. Nov. 30 1919. VT. Nixon . 2311 H. W. 'Bock . 2236 Horelaungn, . 2256 Mrs Gcrinski . 2224 H. Leger . . 2151 H. Williams . 2056 J. W. Green . 2111 J. Liggins . 1942 In the first two-year tests held by the ebb the ducks laid a greater number of eggs than the fowls, but owing to two of Mr "Green 1 s ducks dying in the second yertr, much interest is lost in tho present test. Early in the second year Mr Green's prospects of beating the club record (2776) looked bright as ■will be seen by the scores, of November 30:— Nov. 80, 1913. Nov. SO, 1919. T. R, Hall . 2269 W. T. Green . 227S The two two-year test single fowls are laying consistently in their second year. Both birds are in good form and Mr King's White Leghorn now only requires 72 to bring its total up to 600. Tho leading pens in the remaining tests are as follows: EXPERIMENTAL HOUSE SINGLE BIRD CONTEST.' 1 No. Weigfct. Eggs, oz. drs. Total. E. Marsden, W.L. .2 4 0 132 I. Liggins, W.L. .4 3 9 180 T. E. Conway. W.L. .0 II 2 178 i Groen Bros., W.L. .4 8 10 166 T. Wilkinson, W.L. . C 11 VI 167 Mis S. Dick, W.L. .6 11 It IGS S. Dick, W. L. . .3 6 4 105 HEAVY BREEDS TEAMS CONTEST. T. E. Conwuy, 8.0. .28 67 9 912 T. Dowthwaito, S. W. .27 51 8 785 J. Nancarrow, 8.0. .27 55 1 767 DUCK TEAMS CONTEST. W. T. Groan, I.R. . 35, 87 12 1103 J. Donald I.E. .S3 74 3 1028 SINGLE DUCK CONTEST. W. T. Green, I.R. .4 10 0 216 L. Wadliam, I.R. , g 12 6 193 Broodies—One bird in Pens 6?, 89, 101, l'H) 121, 122, 125 imcl 131; and two in Pen 124. AUCKLAND. ! The seventy-two teams of light and heavy breed fowls in the Auckland 1 oultrykeepors' Association's single pen competition laid 1860 eggs and tho 35 ducks 170 eggs during tho thirty-second week. Thirty-onu possibles were laid by the individual birds, 22 in the heavy breeds and nine in the light breed* Hie leading individual scores are:— G'. E. Moody's No. 4 W.L. . 181 H. G. l-'errott's No. 4, 8.0. . 177 R. M. Copland's No. 6, 8.0. . 175 G. E. Moody's No. 2, W.L. . 175 J. Smail's No. 4, W.L. . . 17-1 C. H. Izard's No. 4, 8.0. . .174 J. Owen's No. 3, W.P.E. . 174 L. G'. Eayrs' No. 1, S.W. . . 172 HEAVY'BREEDS. Black Orpingtons— E. Haugard—lsß, 172, 161, 156, 16G 119 . 982 Mrs C. Thomas—l6B, 155, 143, 136 163, 157 ". . 022 'G. H. Shaw—l 72, 160, 127, 143, 103 121 SSli W. Bloiufieid— 130, 142, 148, 169, 155*, 135 879 R. M. Copland—ll9, 144, 163, 141, 131, 175 873 W. Windust—l49, 155, 123 146, 149, 146 BGB 11. G. Porrctt—lo6, 121, 168 177, MS, 145 864 A. S. Holmes—ll6, 133, 142, 135, 154 130 810 Silver Wyandottos— L. G. Eayrs—l72, 169, 105, 118, 148, 128 840 Rhodos Icland RedsMrs A. P. Martin—l 42, 142 142, 126, 143, 123 ...... 818 White Rocks— W. Bisk—ls9, 134, 121, 154, 132, 112 . 815 J. Owen—lls, 151, 374, 111. 149, 75 . 805 LIGHT BREEDS. Whits Leghorns— • T. P. Blomficld—l(ss. 152, 127, 154, 170, 162 930 R. SI. Smith—l 39, 150, 162 145, 152, 153 901 A. G. Hciglnvav—l34, 157, 142, 147, 143, 172 593 Mrs J. Smail—lss, 127, 155, IGI 151, HI 892 A. S. 'Holmes—lsl, 131 159, 119, 143, 153 886 J. A. Arbury—l4o, 143, 155 125, 151, 143 557 Waitoitoi No. 4—144, 154, 157 13S, 140, 122 855 Mrs R. M. Smith—l 39, 153, 148, 148, 129, 125 813 DUCKS. E. W. Daniols—lo9, 205, 107, 194, 190, 178 .962 ,T. Owens—l6B, 172 152, 176, 105, 179 . 952 S. H. Scott—l 73, 123, 124, 102, 198,. 147 567