Among the Poultry

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17027, 28 April 1923, Page 5

Among the Poultry

Note* and Hint* by

“Crowblack”

The regular monthly meet in? of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club trill be held on Tuesday evening, and the annual meeting trill take place on the following The Christo*iur_h Poultry Club tvill meet every Monday night t-ill after the show. The. Christchurch Poultry Club has decided to hold its annual dinner on Lho second night of 'lie show. Mr .1. P. i>r.'\veti'- Black Orpington holds the world’s record (3421. ft was thought by many that, v hen tho finals for the Geelong competition carce to hand C. B. Bertcl&meier's Black Orpingion would have surpassed the New Zealand record, but the returns show that it only equalled Chtis. Graham’s and R. Christie's world record of 339 egg.-. Phenomena] laying was recorded at- Geelong. The final scores appear in our egg-l»ying competition column. Mr and Mrs F. Gorinski. the noted •Southland poultry breeders, arrived in Christchurch o;i Saiurday after a. fortnight's holiday in Auckland and Rotorua. On Monday they visited the egglaving competition at Papanui and were greatly pleased with the fine lot of birds penned. and the large quantity of green food available for them. During their trip north they received a number of orders for cockerels. Mr and Mrs Gorinski returned to Invercargill on Thursday. Mr J. Balch. late manager for Mi* J. B. Merrett’s Poultry Institute, recently purchased a fine property of four acres of land in Winter*.* Road, where he intends carrying on poultry faAn'•ng. Mr Balch has already erected olio . of the finest poultry houses yet, seen and intends catering for the day-old chick trade. He has a fine flock of White Leghorns and Black Orpingtons. On -Monday night Mr ,T. Biggin? (president of the New Zealand Poultry Association), Mr J. B. Merrett (secretary) and Mr W. E. Green will leave for Wellington to transact business on behalf of the poultry industry. Mr J. Liggins report* that sales of fowls have been good sineo the dose of the competition. Cockerels and breeding pens have been supplied to - number of North and .South Island breeders. A member of the Christchurch Poultry Club has imported twelve utility M bite Leghorn cockerels from Geelong. The birds arrived yesterday week in good order.

SEASONABLE HINTS.

The breeding a* p.scm is fact approaching, and breeder? who have stock for sale, and are- prepared to accept- orders to supply r.ittings of eggs or cater for the day-old-chick trade should announce the fact in the advertising celvmna of the "Star.’* Many buyers realise that it is a wiso thing to get in early, and decide what the-v are going to bur and who they aro going, to buy from. The early buyer is usually of ter the best obtainable, and breederwho advertise tljeir goods for sale are anxious to do - their best for their customers. They recognise that it is the or.ly way to become well known as a reliable breeder, beea-ueo satisfied customers are the best iidvertisemefft. To »«oure the best results a buyer must have full confidence in the person he buys from, and the seller must at ali times do his beet- to supplv stock and vggs that will do him credit. There are number? of breeders who are willing to let customer? benefit to* the extent. of obtaining strains of fowls or ducks that har« made them famous. Buyers should not orpect to get the best blood at cut prices. Good laying specimens of standard type and true t© breed points are valuable and cannot be produced every day. Such specimens are worth good 70rice?, and from such birds are also valuable. Low priced stock and eggs are not ofton the cheapest in the end, and thoae who went the best must be prepared to pay for it. A matter of groat importance but not sufficiently appreciated in feeding laying hens, is giving a supply or; iron. An egg may b<* considered as a chicken m a. sem-fluid state. When a chicken hatches out of its shell it b?s red blood m its veins. Tho redness i* due to the presence of iron. If follows then that the chicken obtains its dose of iron from the hen. i.e.. a cert-din amount of iron must pass from the lien’s system into every egg she After laying a number of eggs the hen’s srstein becomes deficient in iron. Her comb becomes pale and flaccid, it shrinks much until she become - broody or goes off ” laying. Then tutor a time her comb brightens again, ard she recommences laying, th e length cf time depending in » great measure on the quantity of nun she inn obtain in her food. If a hen is permitted to range on a large grass run. she obtains her supply of iron from worms and insects. In confinement- she cannot do this, and if the supply be not furnished she cannot lay. Meat, liver, bullock*? blood and kitchen scraps contain a- small amount, hut the surer wav is to add I>ouglae mixture to the food dissolved in water. One or two grains of the sulphate of iron to fifty hens once ii . Care must b e taken not to give* it to ex'-e??, and make the comb grow too red or inflammation of tin, ovary, or oba ruction in the blind gut, may result. By withholding the supply of iron a hen may be to a. certain extent checked in her laying, and the ovary given a rest. From experiments made in all kinds or poultry foods it is necessary in every 1001 b co have 161 bof flesh forming food, 601 b of fat. 41b of bone and shell, and 101 b husks (says Elmira '’ in the -• leader.”) The average daily allowance for each hen is So*. Fed only twice a day, one meal should be thoroughly disposed of before another * a given, and some rest allowed to thi-ctigest-ive organs. Too frequently feeding causes indigestion, and the food is then voided in the excrements. In ad dirion to the foregoing a liberal supplv or grass, green®, onions, crushed flint, grit, broken oyster shell* and pure water should ho given daily. Infection is spread through the drink mg water more so than Hv any other so urce. Feed your fowls regularly Do not keep them waiting for their food or cold mornings. Charcoal is n health producer. Bird tha.l feed freely on charcoal leave 1 neir perches in 'fcbp rooming fine nn fresh. It arrests all poison in thstomach, aids digestion, cleans the in testines and prevents sour crop. Yo; should have it continually before you birds. Fowl manure i? of great -value, especially when mixed with sand and wood ashes. grains to ailing: stork. Ha-re *» isolation pen in vonr vard, hut- keep ) f as far stray as possible from the other pens. From row on a careful watch should ,, f° r Keep a camphor ball (tied in a m tori in bag'] or Condv’s in the drinking water. Now t,h« cold weather is coming on

add a little maize to the evening meal. Give the evening meal in good time so that the birds will have ample time to secure a crop'full before going to roost. Before retiring at night take a trip round the pons, and ii you hear a rattling noise seek lor the crack that is causing the draught The water supply must bo constant. It is not sufficient to give birds a full drink at intervals. The water must be available as the birds require it. The show season will to with ns again in ?ix weeks. Adult birds backward in the moult should be given a good wash and good nourishing food Most, important is an abundance of green food fed regularly.

AMONG OUR ADVERTISERS

GREEN BROS. In going through the. list of Green \ Bro?.’ public performances one must i come to the -conclusion, that the achievements put up by their birds since 19.1213 aro wliat any breeder in the world might well be proud of. Not only in this Dominion have their white Leghorns performed well, but also in South Africa, where a breeding pen was supplied to one of their clients and produced the winners of the South African competition. They hare not only competed successfully in public competitions, but hare won several prizes in the show pen. Green Bros, hare a flock of about SCO birds. They possess sound constitutions, good type and size and the necessary substance that ds essential in a. utility bird. In looking over their flock one cannot help but admire their fine -uality. During the breeding season Green Bros, hare about eleven different breeding pens. The hatching eggs are all separated on the pedigree trays in the incubator. The chicks are all toe marked and records kept of the different- matings. In the competition just closed the Cornwall Street breeders’ single bird finished equal sixth with 269 eggs and third for greatest weight of eggs. Their records are not only consistent, but their high totals speak well for the quality of the stock. In the 1913-14 competition Green Bros.’ team of six birds finished second. laying 1508 eggs and gaining gold medal for the greatest weight; first prize in 1914-15 competition and first, prize for greatest weight of eggs. They also won the Russell Oup and laid 1425 eg®3: Ist prize 1917-18 competition, single bird laying 317 egg*, in fifty two weeks and creating a. Dominion record. Tn the 1918-19 competition Green Bros, bred and supplied H. W. Berk’s team which laid 1560 eggs and finished first, recording a Dominion record for weight of eggs—2ollbs 7ozs Bdrs ; the record being lie Id previously by themselves. In the 1919-20 competition Green Bro?. again supplied the winners in E- O. Terry’s team, which laid 1559 eggs. In the same year they won the single hen contest with a total of 286 eggs. Their bird? have won five first prizes for the greatest number of eggs and seven other first prizes for the different tests, besides five second and four third prizes. Green Bros, are proud of their average in tests. In the 1918-19 and 191920 competitions all their birds gave the groat average of over 241 eggs per bird. In their performances birds from Green Bros.’ yards have broken the Dominion record three times for weight of eggs and won numerous standard certificates. Anyone requiring breeding stock can be assured of getting what is desired from Green Bros.

X.S.W. GOVERNMENT TEST. RESULTS OF 1922-28 COMPETITION, Interesting details in connection with the 1922-23 egg-laying competition at Hawke*bury Arricultural College have, been made available by the New South Wales Department of Agriculture. The competition embraced four sections, vis.:— Open sections for light and heavy breed*, and standard sections for light and heavy broods. A total of 540 birds~9o teams—took part in the competition, the sectional details bein*r:— Open Light, Breeds—White Ijeghorne. 48 teams; Minorca*. 2 teams. Open Heavy Breeds—Black Orpingtons, 18 teams; Langehans. 9 teams; Silver Wyandottes. 1 team: Plymouth Rocks. 1 team; White Rocks, team. Standard Light Breeds—White Leghorns, 3 teams-. Brown l eghorns. 2 teams. Standard Heavy Breeds—Columbian Wyandottes. 1 team; Silver Wyandottes. 1 team; Block Orpingtons. 1 team: Langalians, ' team: Plymouth Rooks. 1 team. RATIONS FOR THE HENS. Tho birds were fed the following simple ration; Morning Mash. Pollard ... .80 per cent Brand .... 20 per cent •Lucerne dust . . 15 per Cent M.T.B. meat- meal . 5 per cent -‘When lucerne duet was unobtainable :c; equivalent in bran was used. Common ea.lt. at the rate of 4£oz to eacn •291 b of mash, was added. Evening Grain Feed. Wheat . . . 66 2-3 per cent Crushed, maize . 33 1-3 per cent Tn addition to the above as much chaffed green lucerne a? the bird* would eat was given at midday. Shell grit, consisting of two-third* sea shell and one-third crushed oyster shell, was always available. The method of mixing the mash wae as follow*:—The proportion by weight of bran or bran and lucerne dust was added to the meat rpeal; then there was poured over it. sufficient liquid into which had !>een dissolved a quantity of common salt equal toyi*oz for each 901 b of food to be mixed. The bran then resembled a wet mash in the form usually given to horses or cattle; the proportion by weight of oollard was then mixed thoroughlv into a mash of consistency tha.t could be balled by the hands under slight- pressure, and would fall to pieces when thrown down. When the pollard was of coar?e description Tees bran was used. On the other...hand, when it. was fine more bran was used. THE FINANCIAL ASPECT. The cost- of feed for the 540 birds for the year was £233 9s Gd, representing—- £ 9. d. Wheat, 382 bushels 191 b . . 120 5 8 Maize. 122 bushels 381 b . . 37 IQ l Pollard. 793 bushels . . 79 13 1 Brin. 268» bushels 12sH> . . 24 11 ft Lucerne dust. Bcwt 23ilb . . 4 ft 8 Green feed. 88owf 941 b . . 4 14 0 Meat- meal, locwt Rplb . . 14 0 il Common salt. 9841 b 4 or . . o 19 1 Vngom silts. 391 b . . . o 7 .3 Shell grit. 3 tone . . T l 3 The average coat of feed per head was •hue 10r 10d. The market, value of the egga laid was cfiSft 4s ftd. so that the profit over cost of **ed waft £344 15s. equal to 12s 9d per GRAND CHAMPION PRIZE. Grand champion prize, value £5 sa, for •’roup of six birds laying eegs of greatest market value, without replacement of a Mrd—A. SC. Kennedy's Black Orpington?, market value £8 18s 9d. SECTION PRIZES. Greatest number of eggs laid in twelve months, individual hens.—Light Breds—B. "larke, 281 cgg«, £3; h. j. fox. 273 eggs. *2 10s; P. R. Barsbv. 285 eggs. £2 ; G. Hon•>ing. 261 eggs, £1 19* ; F. S. Horner. 260 £t. Heavy Breeds—D. Kenway, 27S £3: C. Judson and Bon. 277 eggs, £2 ’Os; R. Mallard. 270 cscer. £2; O. Watte. 268 ->ggs. £1 10s; R. Mallard, 267 eggs. £l. Greatest number of eggs laid in twelve months. Broun of six birds.-—Light Broods H. J. Cox. 1425 egvs. £2 10* ; P. R. Bnrsbr. 5 414 eggs. £■?.-. F. T. Wimble. 3409 eggs. £1 TV; H. R. Morris. 13C-6 eggs. £3. Heavy Breeds—G. .Tobling and Bon. 3 417 eggs. 02 TO?; A. TT. Kennedy. 133 ft eggs. £2 - j Farrar, 1326 egg?. £l in*; A. F. .Terrett. 1300 egr-s. £3. Highest average, grout*? of five or sir birds.—Tight Breeds—TT. J. fox. 237.5 egg£3; P. R. Barsbv. 235.6 eggs, £•? 30s- F" T Wimble. 234.8 eegp. £2: F. A. Bailev 230 ? I"**' £ll°*- rTMTr Breeds—G. .ToMing -ml **on. 236.9 egtrs, £3; A. R.. Kenned*-, n c-rgs. £? 30?; r. JnrUon and Bon. 222.3 cErg?" £2: J. Farrar. 221.3 QUALITY PRIZES. Open sections for group? seloctcd as con-

forming most closely to standard type, prixos allotted for number of eggs laid.— ijignz Breeds —P. R. Bareby, 1411 eggs. £5; F. 8. Longley. 1312 eggs. £2 10s. Heavy Breeds—C. Judson and Sons. 1284 cgyfs, £5, Mrs C. B. Ferguson. 1213 eggs. .. 210 s. Quarterly a fid certficntc prizes (1350 eggs) were a leu awarded. GEELONG. At t-lie above competition, just concluded, the world’s record score of 339 eggs, held by C. E. Graham, has been equalled by Mr C. B. Berteissneier’s Flack Orpington hen, thus demonstrating that the Australian Orpingtons can lay. Rhode Island Reds, have also done well at this competition.- scoring 309. The above records were beaten at Papanui, J. P. Drcwett's Black OrpitigThe final scores in the several sections White Leghorns.—Singles—G. V. Walbran, 318: W. 4"oat©ft, 309; «. Howard. 307: W. Coates. 301; W. Coates. 29ft; C'. Bertelemeier, 294; W. Coates. 290. Black Orpingtons.— C. B. F.ertelsmeicr, 339; R. R. Christie. 330: R- R. Christie. 321; J. A. Dunn, 321; R. K. Christie. 811; R. V.. Christie, 310; C. B. Bertelsmeier, 310. Rhode Islands.—Single?—M'Covipack and Klnzel. R.T.R.. 300; F. R. T.van*. R.T.W.. 257; M’Cormnck and Kinzel. R.T.A., 2IS; F. R. Evans, R.T.W., 21ft. White Leghorns.—Teams—W. Coates. 1728; H. Groves. 1633; B. Howard, 1595 : A F. Dickirrs, 1599: 0. Bertelsnieier. 1149; Miss Kidd. 1362. Black Orpingtons.—Teams—R. R. Christie. 1557; C. B. Bertelameier. 1731; »T. A. Dunn (5 birds). 1637; A. G. Dawes. 1517; C. C. Dunn. 1450; F. Diekins, 1422. The egg yield from Christie'* Black Orpingtons and W. Coates’s White Leghorns is marvellous. EASTERN DISTRICT TEST. Fisa! scores:—White Leghorn Singles— C. L. SI carman. 319. Single Black Orpingtons—O'Mullane Stud. 314. White Leghorn Trios—J. Brownlie. 862. Black Orpington Trio?—W. A. Taylor. 812. The Leghorns averaged 238 i eggs per bird, and the heavy breeds 2204 jier bird. The average for the whole of the eligible birds being 230.

EGG LAYING.

WOOLSTON TANNERIES. The results for the third week are is follow:—H. Taylor 15. G. Russell, E. Irvine. G. Black It each, J. Campbell and A. MConohie 18 each. Forty-eight eggs were collected from the eighteen pullets for the week. PAP AN El. The egg yield in all sections of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club’s competition was excellent for the second week. The egg? collected in the several sections are as follow;

With a few exceptions alt fTie light and heavy breeds in the championship are i ) profit. Tile leaders in the light breeds

HEAVY BREED SINGLES, in which competitors have three representatives.

a. u. orauey. .\o. a . o 10 u» In the three-bird light breed singles, G. L. Beer’?, 11. P. Hern’s and Mr? Gorinski’s No. 1 team are tlie only competitors who have not one of their three birds in profit The leading single birds are:—

wood Bros.. .\o. j . .4 b 14 10 In the duck section, R. W. Hawkes No. 2 laid 8 eggs for the week (two on Saturday) and the following laid 7 eggs for the week:—F. Hendron’e Nos. 1 and 3. T. Bond's No. 2. J. 0. Muegrave's No.s. 2 and 3, R. G. Batten's Nos. 1 and 3.

114. (Flock team*) . . . . 204 yo H.B. Singles «, * . 93 20 L.B. Championship _* • » TO 10 H.B. Championship m * * 24 232 L.B. Singles . . . 714 SO Single ducks « « * 109 456 birds ' 4220

Weekly TI. Wgt. eggs. G. IT. Mitchell . . 5 9 1 10 S. I.. Beer . . . .5 8 14 10 S. Ch. Loader- ... 4 7 7 0 P. W. Shacklock ..597 a W. Newall . . 9 12 o S HEAVY BREED SINGLES. J. P. Drewett . . . 6 10 13 .11 B. SI. S. Cookson .. 4 7 7 S J. Lynesfi . . 6 15 8 7

J. P. Drewetts No. 1 . 6 12 14 11 J. P. Drewott, No. J 11 4 31 A. 0. Brailey, No. l 11 10 11 J. Gunn, No. 3 11 Hill and Rodgrere. No. 11 3 10 N.Z. Supplie* No. 2 . 5 8 13 10 A. G. Brailey. No. 2 . 6 13 12

C. Bennett. No. 3 .6 11 5 12 J. H. Driffield. No. 3 . 6 10 13 12 J. H. Duffteld, Xo. 1 . 6 - 14 11 11 Hay and Congolton, No. 3 6 3 15 11 W. J. Richards?. No. -2 . 6 -10 10 11 R. W. Coombes. No. 2.6 10 0 11 C. Bennetts, No. 1 . 5 9 7 10 G. H. Mitchell. Xo. 2 . 5 8 9 10 G. H. Mitchell. No. 3 .6 10 9 10 Jj. V. Couch. Xo. 2 . 5 9 10 30 W. Ledger wood. No. 1 . 6 11 3 10 Cumberpatch Bros.. Xo. 15 8 9 10 D. E. Blyth. Xo. 2 . . 5 8 10 3 0 J. Liggins, Xo. 1 . .6 11 11 3 0 J. Ligscips, Xo. ‘2 * . 6 10 7 10 Mrs Whitbrock . . fi 310 30 E. Fuchs. Xo. 1 i . 6 10 11 10 E. Fuchs. No. 3 . , 7 11 3 10 ,T. P. Firth. No. 1 . .7 11 3 io J. P. Firth. XO. 2 . .6 10 7 3 0 R. V.’. Coombes. No. 1.5 94 10 T. W. Betteridge, Xo. 2 6 11 6 10 Hay and Congolton. No.2 6 10 1 10 Webb Bros., Xo. 2 . .4 6 14 10