Among the Poultry

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16939, 13 January 1923, Page 14

Among the Poultry

Notes and Hints by

"Crowblack"

Last Saturday night week Messrs "W. A':'Gee and Son had thirty-six forward White Leghorn pullets lolled by a polecat. The polecat was found fast asleep ic. a corner of a house, and was quickly given his dispatch with a piece of four y two timber. The Executive Council of the South Isaapd Poultry Association will meet this evening. The Christchurch Poultry Club has decided to elect its judges on February hi and has invited all specialist clubs to 6uhtnit names before that date. Mrs Q‘ H. Bradford, who lias been in poor health for the past twelve months, passed away last Sunday. Much sympathy is felt for Mr Bradford and family m their irreparable loss. . . Mr J. B. Merrett has been on a visit to Auckland. He returned to Christchurch this morning. Mr W. M’Kinney, the well-known cliemist and a recognised authority on all poultry diseases, has been invited by - the New Zealand Utility Poultry f lub to give a .lecture at the club’s educational evening in February. Mr fcl’Kinney was one of the Utility Club’s early members, and competed in some of tho contests at Lincoln College. Mr H. Williams, who imported a White Leghorn cockerel' fropi Mr C. Ridley to mate with the Melbourne breeder’s winning single hen in the hist competition at Papanui, ha 6 bred some very fine stock from this mating. This year Mr Williams has some choice White Leghorns, some of the pullets now weighing 41 lb to 61b. Mr W. H. West, who has been in the prize monel- each year he lias competed at Papanuv, has had a most successful hatching season. He has a fine wellreared crop 'of young forward pullets. Show Committee of the Utility Poultry Club met on Tuesday night, Mr J. D. Gobbe presiding. The secret4ry reported that he had engaged the Orange Hall for three nights for the young bird show in March. Mr Wilkins Also reported that the following had ptottised special prizes:—G. H. Woods at n/i Co., Hampton Bros., J. B. MerA. C. Willis, Fleming and Hobacax, S. H. Whaitev “ Fancier,” J. Douglas, G. Mitchell, A. Patterson, W. j. Chambers, H. Williams and. H. W. tWk. Votes of thanks were passed to «he .donors of the special prizes. It was decided to include a number of kitten olassos in the sohedule. The judges 4/ere eleoted as follows : —Utility fight breeds, Mr W. J. Chambers, utility heatry breeds, Mr J, D. Gobi?©; bantnmi} and fancy classes, Mr J. Tindall; game, Mr J. Nesbit; ducks and eggs, Mr W. T. Green; kittens, Mr F. Biggs. It was decided to award a number of blue ribband*, including two for the kitten section. The most popular purebred domestic •fowl in tli© world is undoubtedly the White Leghorn. Probably if a world census of purebred poultry could be taken it would he found that this breed outnumbers all other breeds and varieties combined. The reason for this popularity is not far to seek. The Leghorn is the most successful commercial fowl in existence; it- is the t>ne breed which provides a living for commercial egg farmers, and it is the breed which generally yields the best egg returns when kept, in suburban or town poultry Min® The egg-laying tests in this oyrntry. Australia and the United States of America, are almost always •*c-n by tins breed. Its success in these has in some measure contributed the success of the breed, for the lay,ng tests constitute the truly impartial tests of breeds available. Next to the White Leghorn the Black Orpington may be accepted ns the best commercial bird, hut it falls a fair way ►hurt of the other breed’s suitbality for this purpose. The Orpington is somewhat prone to broodinesa, although in come strains this characteristic has to a great extent been bred out. Here again is seen the necessity for selecting strain rather than breed. Again the Block Orpington fails to the White l eghorn in earliness of maturity, the heavy breed taking at least a month longer to reach the laying stage than the light otic. In one respect at least the Black Orpington lias it all over the

White Leghorn and that is in regard t,o table purposes, for the Orpington table bird will always command a much higher price than the Leghorn. During the past twelve months ducks t ave come much into notice, especially the Indian Runner. The New Zealand Puck Club lias done much to further the claims of the Indian Runner, and is anticipated there will be an incteased entry for forthcoming laying test-s. There is certain to be a large display at Christchurch show. Though pot suitable for small householders, the Indian Runner is a profitable adjunct for a poultry farm. It is less expensive, entails less work and is less liable to disease than fowls. Waitoitoi Stud Farm has ceased operations and a clearing sale was held last week. Mr Hutchison reared over two thousand pullets this season, but unfortunately he had a po'or sale, and the pullets were sold at a very low' figure. Mr Tyler, a returned soldier who received his tuition in poultry keeping under Mr Fazackeriey at the Cashmere Sanatorium and took up a poultry farm at Blenheim, was in Christchurch during the week, and visited Air H. 'Williams’s poultry yards and others. Mr Mitchell, an Australian poultryman who is at present ’on a visit to Christchurch, states that England is importing great numbers 'of Australorps, one noted breeder selling one thousand of these famous layers in one line. The next educational night of the Utility Poultry Club will be held on Tuesday evening, when it is anticipated there will be a large attendance of members to hear short addresses by Messrs J. B. Merrett, R- W, Hawke, W. H. West, J. T. M’Harg and J. Gobbe. The two speakers last mentioned will deal with the subejet of li Progressive Suggestions for H uture Young Bird Shows.” a.nd Messrs Hawke and West will speak on “ Progressive Suggestions for Future Egg-laying Competitions.’ ’ Entries, close in six weeks for the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club’s egg-laying competition, and. as the club has reduced the three-bird entry fee there is likely to be a rush for pens bv February 20. SEASONABLE HINTS. Meat foods should be watched, especially at this season of the year, as any form of fermentation is liable to bring on bowel trouble. Success with poultry is obtainable on three main conditions. The blood lines, cleanliness and feeding. Blood lines are often a worry and elusive, and perilaps you may go back instead of forward iu introducing new blood, but cleanliness is entirely in your own hands. Feeding is not always a success. We find it hard to procure high grade foods, and we have to manage with what we get, but green feed Is the backbone of a balanced ration. Borne of the forward, pullet® will be coming into laying shortly. Do not force them, in any way. Feed, them a big percentage of first grade oats. Pullets that are expeirted to lay early Lr the autumn tf forced will lay for a while then drop into a moult just when prices are high. Do not put too many pullets in a pen. If yoxi crowd them they fight for positions at night time, become sweated, and thus fall into a premature moult, and the result is the loss of six weeks’ eggs. White Leghorns are the principal offenders. They are very fickle and play up all sorts of tantrums.