Amongst the Poultry

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17569, 20 June 1925, Page 26 (Supplement)

Amongst the Poultry

SHOW DATES. Wanganui—Juno 24 and 25. Westport—June 26 and 27. Niaimate—June 20 and 27. Hastings—June 26 and 27. Taieri— June 27. Haw-era—July ], 2 and 3. Kaitangata—Julv 1 and 2. Gisborne July 3 and 4. North Canterbury--July 3 and 4. Masterton— July 3 and 4. Waiuku—-July S and 0. Heriot—July 9. Blenheim--julv 0, 10 and 11. Hutt July 9 and 30. AVairoa (H.R:>—July 10. Granity-—Julv 30 and 13. Oamaru- Julv 3 0 and 31. Stratford--July 10 and 11. Tapanu i— July 11. Te Puke—Julv 16. Nelson—July 16, 17 ,and IS. Auckland (Bantams)—July 17 and 18. Lvttelton—Julv 17 and 18. Wellington—July 23, 24 and 25. Grevmoutli—July 2t and 25. Mr Jim Griffin, who was for eight years caretaker of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's egg-laying competition, was in Christchurch for a few days recently. Mr Griffin is nowresiding at Governor's Bay, where ho has seven acres of orchard ideally situated, and is combining poultry farming with fruit growing. His two score of light Sussex were bred from birds imported from New South Wales. His numerous friends will be pleased to know that his health has improved considerably. 'There are many signs of increasing prosperity in the poultry industry. Calling at 21. Alexander Street, Richmond, f found the occupier, Mr H. C. West, busy extending his accommodation- The present stock in these yards consists of 350 White Leghorns in the pink of condition. The additions when completed will accommodate another 200 birds. Mr West’s threebird team in the Papanui test were a week late in arriving, but they settled down to business immediately, and are now amongst tliei leaders. Incubators should bo overhauled during this r—ontli. Do not postpone the job until you are ready to iiut the eggs in the machine, as" repairs may ho necessary w hich will probably cause a. delay of several days. The room in which the incubator is .to be operated must be well ventilated, but ventilation should be arranged s.o that there will be no direct, draught on the machine, causing the lamp to burn unsteadily. Concrete makes the best floor for the incubator house, us it is proof against vibration. See that the machine is set perfectly level. If this is not attended to, an air-lock may occur in the pipes, preventing the water from circulating and thus causing a»u uneven temperature in the egg chamber. The secret of success in incubating is strict attention to Hie instructions that accompany the machine, and regular trimming of the lamp Thero arc many causey of infertility In eggs. If birds aro allowed free range during wet weather and not sufficient shelter provided, a big percentage of thefr eggs will prove infertile. Too many liens for the male or male bird out of condition, due to him being too attentive to the hens and not getting sufficient food himself. Immature or stunted stock produce a large number of infertile egg?, hens carrying too much fat, and the use of condiments or too much feed of a forcing nature. Mr Harry Williams is leading in the three-bird heavy breed aggregate, and light breed aggregate, at tlio Papanui competition. The same breeder holds the lend in tlio single test. His 4\ Into Leghorn lias laid Go eggs in 70 days, and is still going strong. Mr G. 31. Bradford's pullet has laid 63 eggs averaging over two ounces each. This bird was awarded second prize at the New Zealand 1. tilily Poultry (’lull's young bird show in March last. Mr C. Bennett’s White Wyandotte has laid 60 eggs and is leading in the heavy breed test. Mr H. P. Slater’s duck has 61 eggs to her credit. W. 3,. V. ard s 4\ hite Leghorns aro now in the lead in the light breeds team contest-, and Rogers and Thomson’s Black Orpingtons have a big lead in the heavy breed teams. 11. W. Beck has a big load in the duck teams’ contest-. his birds being 64 eggs ahead or the next team. There is a marked improvement in the size of eggs la>d by tlio birds in ilio Papanui contest compared with last year, especially in tlic heavy breeds.

CHRISTCHURCH CLUB.

ANNUAL EXHIBITION. Although the weather conditions were unfavourable, there was a good attendance, during the three days of the recent show. M*" \\ . Arp*, Lincoln, was a successful exhibitor of White Rocks, with seven exhibits. Mr Arps secured six tickets, including South Island championship. UTILITY BLACK ORPINGTONS. The Black Orpington cockerels in the utility section were a big improvement on last year’s exhibits. The winner, exhibited by A. E. Hough, was a grand bird, well trained and splendidly shown, excelled in type, carriage, good head, and was 'well furnished. He had the advantage of age—l should say. he was only a few days short of 365—carried rather more fluff about the hocks than I like to see on a utility bird. However, lie had the right ticket. The second bird was good in type and colour. I consider the fourth bird was an easy third. He excelled in type, was better furnished and had a better head. The cocks were a moderate lot; T. S. Hanna securing first and third awards, the second prize bird I did not like’ being very narrow across the back. The pullets were the biggest class, and probably the best that have been shown in Christchurch, the entries numbering nineteen. A. K. Hough was first with a nice type of pullet, u little weak in lobe and colour, but otherwise good- The second ticketwinner was good in colour. A pullet shown by G. Waite was worthy of recognition by the. judge, but she did not receive a ticket. This bird was a good type, splendid face, with good eye, and she appeared a little on the small side, but the weight was there, and I would have placed her second. There were ten entries in the class for hens; the majority of which were too loose in the feather to have any claim to recognition as utility stock. The lien exhibited by L. J. Moore was placed second; a good type, showing rather much comb, but nice and light in feather. 1 would have placed her first. The judge’s task at the show is by no

NEWS AND NOTES BY “ GAMECOCK.”

EGG-LAYING.

DUCKS.

means an easy one, and the most infallible person cannot hope to give universal satisfaction, but when the discontent is general—as was the case concerning the judging of the ducks in the utility class, at the recent show—the complaints may not be altogether without foundation.

DISEASES OF POULTRY.

Gapes is a disease that . attacks chickens and young fowls, and consists in the windpipe being infested with small white worms, causing the chicken to gape for breath, waste awnv. and finally die of suffocation. The worm is about half an inch long, of a pale reddish colour, and. the number in one chicken usually varies from two to a dozen. Dirty brooders arc the cause of this ailment. Gapes scarcely ever trouble a clean and dry yard, and the free use of a good disinfecting powder is an almost certain preventive, and on this and on every other account very desirable where chicks are reared in large numbers. When the disease, however, has entered a yard it may be checked in its progress by adding camphor or lime to the drinking water. Bumblefoot is caused by fowls jumping from a height, on to hard, rough ground, or by a thorn in the foot. A large swelling full of matter forms at the bottom of the foot, and sometimes extends up between the toes. Some cases seem incurable, but if painted with iodine in the early stages and kept cooped, on soft straw bedding, it may disappear. If not, wait until hard and ripe, then cut a straight incision across the hardened part, and squeeze out the pus. Then wash with water and permanganate of potash, bandage, and keep bird cooped up until well. To prevent bumble foot, set the perches low 7, and see that the floor of fowlhouse has a good covering of litter, so that the birds will have a soft spot on which to alight.

PAPANUI. Following; are the results of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's egglaying; competition at Papanui for the tenth week ended June 13:— SINGLE HEX STANDARD TEST.

THREE BIRD TEST.

THREE BIRD TEST.

THREE BIRD AGGREGATE. 3 11. Williams. 8.0. . „ „ . .14-! C. Bennett, W.W. ... - rq Rogers and Thomson, 8.0. . . 120 THREE BIRD AG R REG ATE. WnUams „ „ . „ „ „ . is>; H. A. paw be r gon G. Retteridgre . , „ . . .153 T. W. Tletteridgo it*i If. r. West 14 0 «:::: ; ; in N. and B. Harrison . . . .112 FLOCK TEAMS. Six Birds. .

THREE BIRD AGGREGATE. IT. T\ Slater . , . . . . 34*; B. B. Mounsell 1j j J. G. Greenslado . , . . .11l FLOCK TEAMS. (Six ducks. 1

THE WHITE LEGHORN.

“Alpha” in the “Leader” gives the following interesting history of the White Leghorn. Of all the varieties of utility fowls the White Leghorn is the most valuable asset the utilitarians have. The Leghorn was first imported into this country from America, the first whites appearing in this country in 1870. These birds had. however, won prizes at the New York show two years previous to that. The original' home of the Leghorn was the Mediterranean, and it is generally conceded that it is a truly Italian variety. The Leghorns were known on the Continent, long before British breeders knew of them, and they were called there Italiens. These birds were of the true exhibition type. Since those days a new variety of Leghorn has sprung up in the utility stamp, and it was the latter type that has made so much history in the commercial poultry industry. The task of turning the White Leghorn into a veritable egg machine was under-

taken by Australian and New Zealand breeders, and they were successful in their undertaking. The fame of the Australian White Leghorns soon reach- ‘ cd the uttermost parts of the earth, and British and American breeders made even greater advancement. In the early days of egg-laying tests a 200-egg hen was remarkable, but now 10-day it takes something like a 300egg hen to arouse the curiosity of the industry. With egg-laying tests came trap nesting, and by means of the trap nests the world’s champions have been produced. A hen has been bred that laid 343 eggs in 365 days, and a duck in New Zealand put up the remarkable record of 363 c.ggs in the same time. These are exceptional cases, but it cannot be doubted that marvellous progress has been made as far as egg production is concerned. The White ' Leghorn responded nobly to the wiles j oi the enthusiastic trap nester, with i the result that flock averages of long 1 < ver 200 eggs per bird have been steadi ily reported. The Americans have been i at work os well as the British 7)reducers, and there i a distinct dilferen e between the types supported bv the two counties, in spite of ail differences, however, the White Leghorn claims first place when high egg production is the . leading question. AMERICA FOLLOWS AUSTRALIA. The Americans have followed the same lines as the Australian breeders, who insist on a good-looking, well-fea-tured bird. Mr Padman, the great Australian breeder, admitted that he never trap-nested a pullet in his life. In making his selections lie did it all with his own eve, for he did not handle them or measure them in any way. His success in this way was proverbial. The mechanical measuring, or hand grading of birds is not satisfactory, and British breeders are beginning to realise the fallacy of such methods. No two men handle a bird in the same way, and much depends on the age of the. bird when her measurements are taken. The wise breeder will put more reliance on his own eye than on hand grading. The trap nest, of course, is the true index of the ability of a flock to produce eggs. Actual numbers tell their own tale. Never in the whole course of of its up and down career has the White Leghorn been so completely at the head of affairs. For a time the breed suffered badly in reputation owing to some strains laying undersized eggs. This was mainly caused by in-breeding and linc-breed-ng, so that the highly fecund factor would not be lost. It may have been retained, but owing to the lack of vitality and capacity it would not function to the best of advantage. Leghorns, to lay a first-grade egg, must be of a first-grade size. If the substance is not there, then the size of eggs must deteriorate. If the eggs are nut two ounces or over in weight then there is little use of producing eggs. This point looked like winning both the White Leghorn and the White Wyanotte at one time. The scientific breeders took the matter in hand and saved the situation. There is no use handling stock that do not lay the standardsized egg, for the small egg will not pay for the undertaking. Feeding, however, has a lot to do with second-grade eggs, and unless the ration is well balanced and suitable for the requirements of the laying birds, then small eggs arc bound to appear. Good food and plenty of clean water arc essential for the production of first-grade eggs. PLUMAGE AND EGG PRODUCTION. The Americans were not slow to note that the plumage of the birds had a bearing upon egg production. Badly feathered birds are only too common in this country. The Americans insist on, much more feather in both sexes than is asked for here. The males have beautiful flowing tails, and the same applies to the females, which usually carried what is known as a fan-tail. Tlic birds in this country arc much shorter and closer in feather. Substance and capacity are very necessary if heavy laying is indulged in. The hen must have room in her frame to carry and manufacture the eggs, and she must have the vitality and strength to utilise the food for the making of eggs. The little, under-sized specimens that are sometimes seen must be deficient in these attributes, and will in time deteriorate to such an extent that they will be unable to produce a dccentsized egg at any time. Trap nesting will assist in weeding out all such birds, and so the stamina of a strain will not be weakened. The White Leghorn has enjoyed a glorious and triumphal career for many years back, and it is likely to maintain its great popularity for many years to come.

Weekly total. Weight Jat'e.' 10 L w h S: 13- . , O. H. Bradford . 6 0 S 3 2 3 1 S! Green Bros. . f> J. Big-gins . f, 30 11 S 3 r.t r.2 r>2 •T. Biggins . 5 3 i 1 1 y 1 T. Bond. bTo. . -t 11. W. Beck, B.O. 7 8 fi it y 30

Weekly Weight Total to total, oz dr date. Any Other Variety— H. W. Beck. B.'R. 3 R ft 30 II. W. Beck, B.R. 0 12 8 27 C. ’ Bennett, W.W. . . G 317 60 C. ” Bennett, WAV. . - 6 10 M OS Hopkins and Swenson, B.O. li 31 7 ayHI. Williams. B.O. . . (5 3 1 15 02 Bogers and Thomson, B.O. 7 35 7 00

Weekly Weight Total to total, ua dr date. '-H'WnJtr7 13 15 65 •T. Kingsland IT. A. Dawber 11. A. Dawber r> 0 12 55 10 4 55 0 11 20 55 M. <Craig G. Petteridgo A. Patterson H 126 53 4 7 15 5:: 5 10 13 53 Miss’ m‘°White •T- J-iggine J. IT. DufCicld 32. Fuchs C 11 .12 5 2 •I 1112 5 2 A". sind* 13. liar rison L>. a. Knowles e 12 4 52 6 124 52

AN "c«?l\ly total. Weight Total to 02 dr date. Light Breed?-:— W. K. Ward . K. J^eque 28 5 7 f. 2? 2 no 0 2 7:> AI. <'. CTaigr . 27 r.4 r* 201 <'alder Bros. 4 -i 1 5 2 4 -t — 25 55 4 210 T ho in son 20 BO 1 265 1‘hillip Bailey 2S 56 0 165

Weekly •Weight Total to t°tal. r>z fir date. IT. t\ dialer . 7 is, «;i J>. 13. Mounseil .7 IV* 3 .3 r.*> J. r;. Greenslado 7 IS .1 r. 1 J. (J. OrefnKlado 7 If* 7 3T. P. JSlater .7 3 S 4 r. 1 J. W. Thomson 7 3 7 11 GO

Weekly AVeigrht Total to total, oz dr date. IT. W. Bfsclc . ;:■( 01 lu ‘j 02 11. A. Daw ber .it 00 S I OS