Amongst the Poultry

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17218, 8 December 1923, Page 8 (Supplement)

Amongst the Poultry

NOTES BY

“GAMECOCK.”

The next -meeting of the feathered clubs will take place as follows: Lyttelton Fanciers’ Club, December 8. ■ ‘ New Zealand Rhode Island Red Club, December 8. Christchurch Poultry. Pigeon and Canary Club. December 10. New Zealand Duck Club, December 11. Clhristohurch Flying Pigeon Club, December 11. United Pigeon hanciers’ Club, December 12. South Island P.P. and C. Championship Association annual meeting at Christchurch, December 17. New Zealand Poultry Club, December 18New Zealand Bantam Club. December 24. The New Zealand Duck Club will hold the first young bird show of the season at the club rooms on Tuesday evening, December 11, when some fine exhibits are expected. Those concerned in the culture of ducks will find much to interest them at this show. Poultry men will regret to learn that Mr W. P. Hern, who secured the noted dual success at last year's Papanui competition, is at present seriously ill. All will unit© in wishing him a speedy recovery. Mr G. Wilkins, secretary of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, has the schedule for the coming year’s competitions well forward, and expects to hare it in circulation before th© end of the year. A new class has been included for any breed of poultry other than Leghorns (White and Brown), Minorcas, Silver Wyandottes and Black Orpingtons. The conditions attached to this class will necessitate a bird laying 200 two-ounce eggs before being 1 eligible to win a prize. Mr A. K. Smith, late secretary of i the Lytteltop Fanciers’ Club, had an j unenviable experience a few days ago, J when a stray dog visited his pens and destroyed his entire flock of promising j young Brown Legnorns. The Rhode Island Red Club will meet j this evening to consider the South Island Poultry Association's agenda paper and elect a delegate to represent . the club at the conference. During the show season fanciers are always keen on securing “ the cards,” while some are more successful than 1 others. The members of the Christ- ! church Paul try Club have established a reputation for success with more than “ show cords.” In a euchre match on Saturday evening with the Lyttelton fanciers, the local club recorded another win, but the visitors from the port have promised to reverse j matters at an early date. * ■ Mr W. Brown, Chief Government j Poultry Instructor, is at present in ! Christchurch 1 supertising the grading: and packing of eggs for export to Eng- j land. The Rhode Island Red is apparently ! a popular fowl with the Lyttelton breeders. Messrs W. O. Smith, W. • Jory, R. Cairns and R. Charming have i among their flocks of this year’s breeding birds of rare quality. Messrs j Cairns and Channing are also inter- ; ested in Minorcas and Old English : Gam© respectively. Mr Frank Walklin, of Lyttelton, has • a bonnie flock of White Leghorns and . several Old English Game, and intends ' to be an exhibitor at the Young Bird Show. Ou present appearances Mr L- Glaswdu should be well to the fore iu th© Blown Leghorn classes during the coming show season, while the .came remark would apply to Mr J. Bundy, jun., with respect to his team of Black Orpingtons. In 1921 a few Australian fanciers in England formed a club in London for the promotion of the Australian type of Orpington. Recent English papers inform me that ~he club desired classes at shows for the Austral-Orp, as it is called in Britain, but the poultry club which governs the fancy at Home refused the request on the ground that one type of Black Orpington is enough. Most people .will agree with this. From Melbourne papers I gather that utility Orpington breeders want- a smaller bird, hut the State poultry expert and ‘ Chanticleer” in ‘‘The Australasian” are against the small fellow, both contending that the bird is a general purpose one and that flesh as well as eggs is desirable. The late Mr William Cook, when he founded the Orpington, made quit© clear that it should be a general purpose bird, and his standard has been adhered to by most Australian breeders, though some have gone away from it. Not so much so as the English fancy, however, the English type is no different from a clean legged Cochin. and consequently has too much size and feather to be either a good layer or a fine table fowl. The Australian type is more like the Lnngshan and is the better for this, and it would be a pity if the breed was spoiled by an extreme of any kind. Mr L. Penrose, one time secretary of the United Pigeon Fanciers’ Club, leaves next week on a trip to Australia. T understand it is Mr Penrose's intention to bring back some birds. This is good news, as fresh blood is badly wanted. The United Club did much for the good of the fancy when Mr Penrose was secretary. The new secretary. Mr F. Chambers, is out to keep the club t-o the fore. ‘‘Utility”* writes: —Table pigeons have been mentioned in the ‘‘ Star.” Some of us who keep them would make a better entry if the wording of th© classes was different. Tt. reads: ‘ Utility pigeon, Mondain. Silver King, Carmeaux and Runt.’ This bars th© many other varieties which cpnnt compete even in the usual A-O.V. classes owing to th© word ‘ fancy.* ” My correspondent should see the secretary and point out that if th© names of the four breeds were deleted and only the words ‘‘utility pigeons” used, all breeds could compete. Or if more classes are necessary one or move sorts could be named, and then the A.O.V. added. Some of the northern shows group Carneaux and Mondains and add the A.0.V.. Here I may point out that it, is white and not Silver King. Further that Mondain is as often as not spelt Mondaine. The breed was named in the 18th century by the Comte de Buff on. and he did not use the e. But, a Mondain squab by any other name would be just as appetising. 'Miss E. Lowe, in her book on utility pigeons, used the old style when writing Mondain, and it is wnrthv of note she is not in favour of exhibiting. She says; “It will be a little short of a calamity if. through the emphasis of purely ‘ show ’ points a Mondain or a Carneaux sink to the level of an Oriental Frill or a. Scanderoon. * ’ During a. decade of the layiug tests at Hawkeshurv College. New South I Wales, there were 347 deaths and out j of that number all except twenty-five were from ovarian troubles. This was ! most pronounced during extreme heat. I ouch as we have bee.n experiencing I lately. Tbe worst months for ovarian strain are December and January, and j they are usually hot months. The ini-

portance of shade should be noted. Apart from ovarian strain the heat has. a bad effect on old birds, and they should he got. rid of at once. The next fortnight will see a big demand for table poultry, and though I do not regard old birds as suitable for the table T ran tell my readers to get rid of them when the demand is good.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

INVESTIGATION URGENTLY NEEDED. In accordance . with th© intimation marie a fortnight ago, I record some further observations on a subject which should b© of interest to all those who are concerned with any of the many branches of the poultry industry, namely, “ the increasing necessity for assistance from scientific research and experimental investigation.” The poultry industry is moving along much faster than most people realise, and there are a number of questions which require the immediate attention of the expert. T do not wish to create a scare, but it is a matter of importance, aud cannot be delayed without creating the grave risk of at least giving a decided set-hack to an industry which promises to be most fruitful to the Dominion. The rapid development of disease among chickens, especially the form known as “Bacillary White Diarrhoea.” has caused enormous losses in England, America, and in other countries, and year by year it accounts for an increasing toll of chicks in our own fair land, and investigation into its cause should be commenced without delay. An English authority says that this disease has always been known, at any rat© sine© tbe rise in specialists’ plants on the intensive system, but that it had not been diagnosed to the same extent ns is now the case. Formerly it was more or less exceptional, apparently being dependent upon the systems of breeding and rearing adopted. This is only one of the many diseases with which poultrymen are confronted. The sheet anchor of success with poultry, as with all other live stock, is the healthy body which can battle against 1 bacteria, microbes and parasites. Much \ may be done by clean hygienic con- I ditions. but the prevention of disease j plays an ever important part in duccess J or failure of one’s efforts, and this some . poultrymen realise more than others, j As poultry-keeping extends, esjoeci- \ ally as relative numbers increase, so 1 will the risks be enhanced. Tt is. j therefore, imperative that an exhaustive study into the affecting diseases j be undertaken, and if they are nc»t speedily overcome the result cannot fail | to. he disastrous. % . | The proper authority to conduct such an institution as I advocate is the Government. The expense would be | too great, and the problems too scientific to be within the scope of the average breeder. The services of a prac- j tical pathologist would be essential, j I and quit© a series of experiments would • be uecessary in directions which are j believed to have a direct or indirect ! influence upon the present perturbing | situation. In the event .of the Government i undertaking such a scheme, poultrymen i in general -could- lend valuable assist--1 a no©, and no doubt would be eager to ;do so to the utmost of their ability. : Breeders would probably place at the di<sr>ns«l of the experts a few' birds each for experimental purposes, and apart from such donations would provide valuable material for the general purposes of the institutions. Faultv methods would be immediately reveal'ed, through the fine comparison afforded. I have heard more complaints among local breeders this season than ever before concerning the loss of young stock. and that there is no unanimity of opinion as to the cause is a fair indication of the complex nature of the situation. Closely related to this question is that in which the stamina and vigour of breeding stock appear to be concerned. It may be that the methods of breeding and control are freaking down the powers of resistance, which, under normal conditions. is possessed by all animals. Should that be the case. then, unless a change is made in this respect, all other effo-,t will be vain. There is a vast field for operations in research work. In addition to internal disease, which is doubtless due in some measure to man’s interference with the functions of Nature, there are so many species of vermin and parasites which play a prominent part in the bird’s undoing, and the present means of combating these pests is far from satisfactory. Indeed the natures of some of these pests change so under different environments and climatic conditions, that treatment of them, which may be effective in some instances, proves useless under slightly different conditions. The distribution of the knowledge attained through the medium of such an institution would be the means of a yearly saving of an enormous sum of money to the Dominion and should prevent what threatens to wreck the industry. The Government have the Avonhead Poultry Farm, which was established for the purpose of training returned soldiers, and such work having been completed, the institution is now carried on as a poultry farm. This property could hardly be considered an ideal place for a research and experimental laboratory, first on account of its situation being so ungetatable, and secondly the pens are unsuitable and too large, and a good deal of alteration would be i-ccessary to make the property fit purpose. A much smaller property closer to a tram service would not only he m«'re suitable. but tbe upkeep would b© considerably less, and the entire cost would be infinitesimal compared with th© gain derived. The seriousness of the situation calls for the immediate attention of the Government authorities. The Agricultural Department already has a staff of highly efficient officers quite capable of superintending a research laboratory. the establishment of which would place the poultry industry beyond the ravages of the multitude of enemies at present assailing it.

N.Z. UTILITY CLUB.

MONTHLY MEETING. The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club held its usual monthly meeting in the club rooms last Tuesday evening. Mr G. H. Bradford, who presided. made feeling reference to the president. Mr W. E. Green, who underwent an operation a few days ago, and wished him a speedy recovery. Correspondence was received from the New Zealand Poultry Association and the South Island Poultry Association. The secretary of the Port. Elizabeth Agricultural Society wrote enclosing the latest report of its egg-laying competition. and stating that the report would be forwarded regularly. The club was asked to reciprocate by sending reports of its competition. It was decided to comply with the society’s The caretaker reported that November the weather had been very bot. but the. birds were laving well. Tl-*re bad been a few broodies in both the light end heavy breeds, also in the ducks. Birds had died in pens No.

284 and 112. Birds had been treated for sickpess in pens No. 287 and 294. Eggs sent to market numbered 6sl dozen liens. 85 dozen ducks. The ground between the two front pens was ready for sowing, and as soon as the rain fell this would be done.

The secretary reported that Mr AA 7 . P. Hern had supplied rings for the ducks free of cost. It was decided to accord a vote of thanks to Mr Hern. It was resolved that the competition eggs be graded for marketing : also that, the club’s delegate should have a free hand with regard to voting on the remits to the .South Island Paultry Association .

A draft copy of the prize schedule for the 1924 to 1925 egg-laying competition was placed before the club, and was unanimously adopted. Mr H. Beck moved that all competitors in the. egg-laying competition be supplied with a printed form stating the total number of eggs laid at the end of the competition and also tl\e w-eiglits. This was carried unanimously. The president. Mr ,G. H. Bradford undertook to l>ear the expense of printing the forms for the first year. Mr AY. H. West, reporting on behalf of the Education and Entertainment Committee, said that a very enjoyable outing took place on November 17, and that the card match with members of the Christchurch Poultrv Club ip the evening resulted in the Utility Club being defeated. There would be no educational meeting this month.

BREED BRIEFS.

(Continued.) GEESE. The few varieties of domestic, geese are descended from the Grey-Lag, which has a range from the shores ou the North Sea to northern India. White geese were known in ancient and are mentioned by A'g-iro, Horace, Lucretius and Columella. But though domestic geese are of great antiquity tew varieties have been evolved. Practically the only gees© known to the fancier and farmer are the Toulouse, which are grey and whit© and take their name from the city in southern France, and the Embden, pure white and named after Embden in Germany The standard weights are: Embden, gander. 301 b to 851 b, goose, 201 b to 221 b; Toulouse: gander 231 b to 301 b, and the goose the same as the other breed. Fat geese up to 5011> and 601 b have been seen at English shows. Chinese geese and Sebastopol geese have been rarely seen in New Zealand. The former has a knob at the base of the upper part of the beak aud is the best layer of the lot. The Sebastopol goose is only worth mentioning because of its very long frizzled or curled feathers. The Toulouse and Embden geese are not great layers, but much depends on whether they are pastured like sheep or partly grain and meal fed. If the latter and tbe eggs taken away they may lay two or three clutches of nine t-o twelve eggs in the year. • Other varieties seen at English shows are the African, which are like che Chinese but much bigger. English geese are merely small editions of the Toulouse and Embden. Geese have been known to breed up to forty years and before the advent of steel pens their quills were v pf some value- The white down which is plucked periodically is in much demand. Geese are rarer in New Zealand than formerly and fresh blood is wanted. Geese can find for themselves on good pastures and well watered country, but should not be run with .other farm stock unless there is plenty of room for both. The other stock have a strong dislike to feed that has been fouled by gee§e droppings. GUINEA FOAVEB. The wild guinea fowl is a native of Africa, where a. number of varieties may be found, some plain beaded, some with feathery crests, others with the bone-like crest or helmet. Tih© latter is considered the ancestor of the domestic kinds. How these fowls got their name I have not heard. The main colour is called pearl ; the ground colour is purplish grey, well dotted over with round white spots. Sometimes the order is reversed. There are a.lso whit© and pied guinea fowls. The weight is about 3slb, and th© sexes look much alike, hut the male has a. different cry and is more pugnacious. Indeed, they are apt to push out other classes of poultry and game. The hen may lay up to 100 eggs in a year if they are taken away as laid and the birds fed well. The hens are good sitters, and th© eggs are small and pointed, and rich in colour and flavour. The flesh is dark but good, with a gamey Savour. Th© guinea, fowl has never been taken up by the fancier and is only seen on a few farms. HAMBURGS.

The name of this breed was given at one if not the first of the Birmingham shows. It would seem that the golden and silver pencilled varieties

came from Holland and their plumage and general appearances indicate that they are of the same root as the Campine. The so-called pencillings of the Hamburg is called barring in other breeds and the bar across the feather is different from pencilling, but I do not suppose anything said now will alter the name.

The spangled varieties, both gold and silver, appear to have a. different origin. Lancashire and Yorkshire fanciers must have the praise for giving us the Spangles, which were often called mooneys (because of the moonlike markings) and pheasant fowls (because of some resemblance to the plumage of pheasants). The panoilled were called Dutch everyday layers which speaks both of the laud of their origin and also of their prolificacy. Then we have the blacks, another handsome variety, but the silver spangle is the most beautiful of the family, aud has the spangling in perfection. That the plumage of the silver spangle has not been grafted on to some other breed is surprising. The Hamburgs are non-sitters and have the same weights for all varieties, namely, 51b for males and one pound less for female?. The hens are prolific layers of white-shelled eggs, which ere a trifle on the small side, a matter not beyond repair. There used to be many breeds of Hamburgs in New Zealand. Possibly, however, it was tbe small egg that sent the breed to the ■wall, but there should be fanciers with an eye for the- beauty of the breed and the knowledge to improve it. Hamburgs were one of the first- three breeds the writer kept, and I confess to a weakness for them. HOUDANS. This is the best known of the French breeds, as it is one of the oldest. It has been called the French Dorking, probably because it should have five toes on each foot. Like all the French sorts the Houdan is a general purpose fowl, good in flesh, which is white, and a fine layer of large whiteish eggs. The hens are classed as sitters by the standard and the weights are Sib for cocks and 61b for liens. The ground colour is a fine greeu-black, with white mottling. The Houuaus arc both crested and muffled, and at one time made good •lasses at, our shows. Quality Gf flesh and quick growing puts them high up as table fowls.

•TAYAS. The name suggests that, this breed comes from Java, and that is probably so. Tli© Java has been known in America for. about seventy years, and a little less in England. The breed resembles the old Langshan in appearance, hut is clean legged. Dike the Langshan the flesh is juicy and white, and the hens are sitters and layers of brown-ohelled eggs. Ido not remember any in New Zealand. Tine breed helped to make the barred Plymouth Rock. Cocks should weigh 9*lb and hens 7}lh. The colours are black, white and mottled. LA FLEOHE*.

This is a French breed which used to have classes on the Christchurch Poultry Club's schedule, but was rarely seen at shows. The colour is black and tho breed looks like that of a big Minorca with a two-horned comb instead of a single one. The hens are non-sitters and layers of largewhite eggs. The flesh is good and I should say the breed was produced from Polish or CVeves crossed with a Spanish breed. Cocks should weigh 81b and hens 61b.

EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS

PAPANUT. The exceptionally hot weather has not been favourable to the competition birds, consequently the egg yield has fallen a little, and in some cases eggs under the standard weight have been recorded. Broodiness also has been troublesome in both the light and heavy birds, but on the whole the birds are looking well and apparently doing better than expected on their summer dietary. The following are the returns for the thirty-fourth week ending December 1, showing the leading bird 3 in each of the various tests:— LIGHT BREED. SINGLE HEN CHAMPIONSHIP.

WOOLSTON TANNERIES CLUB.

The following are the. results of . the Woolston Tanneries' Utility Poultry Club single bird egg-laying competition for the thirty-fifth weak ending December 4. 19-23:

Weight. Total. No. "Eggs. 07. dr W. New all - . C> 32 0 COO B. L. Peer . .6 12 6 200 «. H. Mitchell . .6 11 2 102 Mrs M'Naught-on .6 1! 3 173 P. W. Bhacklock .5 9 0 177 J H Williams . 5 10 14 169 HEAVY BREED SINGLE HEN CHAMPIONSHIP. J. P. Drewitt . .5 11 5 207 L. A. Wadham . .5 8 9 ‘192 R. M. Cookson .5 30 8 131 L. Lyness . .5 12 7 126 . LIGHT BREED SINGLES. (Competitors to enter three pure-bred pullets.) R. W. Coombee. No. 2 7 14 0 201 J. Lyness. No. 3 . .5 10 1 198 W. Ledgerwood No. 2 7 12 15 396 C. J. Norton No. 2 . 1 1 13 1^ W. J. Richards No. 2.3 5 13 191 J. P. Firth No. 1 .6 10 12 3 94 «T. H. Duffield No. 2.6 32 7 190 W. Barrell No. ‘2 . 5 10 9 387 F. E. Osburu No. 3 . 6 31 13. 386 F. Ellis No. 9 . .7 14 6 185 Tracey King No. 1.6 11 4 '.84 Smart Bros No. 2 . 7 14 7 384 Hay and Congalton No. 2 3 5 0 184 HEAVY BREED SINGLES. (Competitors to enter threo pure-bred pullets). W. Rodgers No. 2.6 32 4 381 J. P. Drewitt No. 2 . 7 32 14 169 F. H. Lovell No. 1 . 0 0 0 152 W. R. Sprosen No. 2.4 8 12 346 W. Rodgers No. 3 . 4 8 2 344 J. Gunn No. 3 - .3 6 3 142 FLOCK TEAMS CONTEST. (Six Birds.) •T. Liggina . - .31 K 0 1028 M. C. Craig . . .33 63 8 969 T. H. Gardiner . .27 51 12 889 H. Williams . . 28 55 9 868 W. E. Ward . . . 27 54 0 8€0 «T. C. Musgrave . .25 50 0 846 SINGLE DUCK CONTEST(Each competitor to enter three ducks.) R. W. Hawke No. 2 - 7 17 4 2U J. C. Musgrave No. 3 7 17 4 220 P. W. Hawke No. 3 . 5 12 5 218 F. W. Ha.wke No. 3.3 7 6 399 E. J. Ritchie No. 3.5 12 9 195 T. Bond No. 1 . . 2 5 4 193

Weigh t. dr Total G. Russell 1-5 m C. Irvine 5 10 3 137 o. Hall H. Tail q 10 it. Greenland c. Bribers 12 5 Campbell ,r. Edmond? . Smith 3 136 Black H. Taylor 163 M’Culla-grh 1 T/oader 13 A. M’Conchie 1 1 15 112 80 171 6 2427 Results for the month of No , Q.„ . W eight G. °4S dr Total K. Irvine H. Hall Tait 22 22 8 96 125 H. Greenland J. Brigget 25 54 162 Campl>ell G. Edmonds Svranston 23 2 140 Smith 32 50 P. Mauger Black w 14 134 11 Ifil A. M'Cul lough 44 21 132 Baker M’Conchie 20 40 7 112