ACTIVITIES OF LOCAL FANCIERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18644, 22 December 1928, Page 28 (Supplement)

ACTIVITIES OF LOCAL FANCIERS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS FROM NEAR AND FAR. Answers to Correspondents. Egg Bound.—When a hen becomes egg bound, pass a feather dipped in olive oil several times into the vent; then hold the bird with the vent over a jug of boiling water for a few minutes, after which place her on the ground, and she will make a strong effort to pass the egg. Should these measures fail, hold the bird on its back between your knees, with your finger and' thumb of the left hand outside the bird’s body, and push the egg carefully towards the vent until it slightly protrudes; then prick the end of the egg, liberate its contents and carefully break the shell and • take it away. Afterwards oil the finger and pass it into the vent, and make sure that all the pieces are taken out. Double-3'olked Eggs.—This is partly due to the overfeeding of nitrogenous matters, among which condiments may be included. The latter in no shape or form should be fed to the laying hen. They simply over-irritate the ovaries, and, although a few more eggs may be gathered when first given, a reaction sets in, and the hen soon falls a victim to disorder. Reduce the meat ration, light feed for a few days. Supply plenty of green food, do not give mash for a week. (By “CROWBLACK.") The next meeting of the Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club will be held on December 29. The first East Cape race promoted by the Christchurch Racing Pigeon Society will be flown on January 5. The distance is 523 miles. This race will be a good test of stamina and quality for the birds. The Christchurch Homing Pigeon Society will conduct a race from Woodville on December 29. The distance is 280 miles air line. The championships drawn by the Lyttelton Fanciers’ Club for competition at their annual show, to be held in July, are as follow;—Brahma (open class), Orpington other than Black (open class), Utility Silver Wyandotte, Nun or Jacobin Pigeon, Norwich Cinnamon Canary, non-colour fed, Persian cats, smoke, blue or black, female, not over six months. A match and social evening was held in the Christchurch Poultry Club room on Saturday evening, between the Lyttelton Fanciers’ Club and the Christchurch Poultry Club. There was a very large attendance of visitors. The match resulted in a win for the Christchurch Club by five games. The Rabbit Industry. The rabbit industry promises to be a big thing in the near future. Quite a number of local enthusiasts are taking them up, both with a view to showing and for the fur. During the week Mr A. C. Smart, of Mount Pleasant, received eight Angora rabbits from Surrey, England, two bucks and six does, at an average cost of £lO each. These animals are bred from some of the best stock in England. Mr Smart is to be commended for his enterprise in importing these animals, and will have the good wishes of all fanciers for a successful season. Mr W. O. O. Smith, a former secretary of the Lyttelton Fanciers’ Club, is at present on a visit to the port. Mr Smith is on the sick list, having met with an accident at Reef ton in the course of his duties as a guard on the railway. Crystal Palace Show. The poultry entries at the last Crystal Palace Show totalled 5670, as compared with 5970 for the previous year, a drop of 300. The classes averaged 133 a class. The show caters for a large number of varieties, many of which have never been seen in this country. The largest entry was in Plymouth Rocks, with a total of 309. Sussex was well represented with 252 entries, Old English Game 226, Rhode Island Reds 203, White Wyandottes 156, Gold and Silver Wyandottes 137, Barnevelders 144, Dorkings 114, Australorp 118, Minorcas 144, Old English Game bantams 228 and Modern Game bantams 219 were other large sections. The utility section, with thirteen classes, had 284 entries. The duck sections were well patronised. Indian Runners had 90 entries, magpie ducks 18, Turkeys (white) 49, bronze 68 and buff or cinnamon 19. The entries in eggs totalled 100. In the pigeon section the total entry was 6972, or 1302 more than in the poultry, which speaks well for pigeon fancy. The Modenas, with 577 entries, were the largest, variety pigeons, 557 entries, were next, and covered a great many varieties. The Self Tumblers, with 474 entries, were a show in themselves. Many of the other classes were well filled: —Jacobins 319, Dragoons 385, Bald and Beard Tumbler 321, Nuns 243, Oriental Frills 253, Magpies 223. Turbits 227, Norwich Cropper 251 and

racing pigeons 330. A good number of other varieties had entries of over 100. The table pigeons did not have an entry. To those responsible for the display, the large entry was very pleasing, as it brought together all the leading fanciers in the one big show.

Pigeon Moulting. All young pigeons are practically adorned with full plumage at six weeks old, possessing primary, secondary and tail feathers, says the “Feather World’’ They then proceed to moult through in exactly the same way as the adults, starting with the primaries, each one falling in turn. In coloured or marked varieties much can be learnt from this process. For example, a white may appear amongst the nest feathers when it should be coloured. If this white feather has - a coloured quill and shaft running to the edge of the feather at its tips, it will probably moult out a coloured feather. Where the shaft is inclined to be white there is little hope of feather colouring altering. In laced varieties, the ground colour of feather generally moults out a lighter shade, and in some chequered colours the chequering becomes fainter and not so clearly defined. Some black pigeons appear “ticked” or “rusty.” but on assuming adult plumage all traces of smut, tickings, or rustiness are lost, and the pigeon may prove to be lustrous with a beetle-green shade. Cod Liver Oil. The value of cod liver oil can hardly be over-estimated, both for adult birds and chicks, but poultrykeepers are apt to give too much at one time. Not that this will harm the birds, but it is pure waste, as only a limited amount can be assimilated. About two pounds to every hundred pounds of mash is quite sufficient. This works out at, roughly, one ounce to every three or four birds. Less should be given to chickens. The skin of a fat fowl is much more tender than that of a thin bird, so more care must be taken when plucking. Also remember to pluck while the body is warm. It is more easily done then and with less risk of tearing the skin. Drinking Water. Particular attention should be given to drinking water during, hot weather. The vessels should be cleaned every morning, and they should be placed in the coolest spot available, and so fixed that the air can play over the top of the water. If you cannot get green food, lucerne chaff is an effective substitute. Pour hot water on it oversight and cover with a bag. Next morning mix the chaff and liquid with the bran and pollard. It is good stuff, but of the course the fresh green lucerne is better if it can be got. In every kind of food to supply it in a raw, uncooked condition gives the best results in the case of fowls. It is generally accepted that ten cubic feet per bird is the minimum space to be allowed when constructing a fowlhouse, but, of course, a more generous allowance of space than that is better for the birds. The house must be well ventilated, but there should be no draughts. Slaked Lime Useful. To prevent vermin from breeding and to sweeten the fowlhouses, slaked lime is very useful. When ' building a fowlhouse, the perches should be arranged so that they can be easily removed for cleaning purposes. The perch is the first place to look for the red mite. \\ hen the fowls are supplied with litter for scratching, the grain should be well scattered so as to provide healthy exercise for the birds. No food should be thrown upon damp or tainted ground. It is advisable to keep one standard of fowl. The look of the pen will be something to be proud of, and you will be able to supply customers with a definite class of egg. NOTES. (By “BARRED ROCK”) Mr C. W. Gee, of Passmore Poultry Farm, Blakehurst, Sydney, was a visitor to Christchurch last week. He visited Messrs Green Bros.’ poultry farm at St Albans, and was pleased with the stock. Mr Walter Green took the visitor to the Papanui egg-laying competitions, and Mr Gee said that he was very pleased with the plant and the general condition of the birds. He stated that the White Leghorns were an especially fine lot, and compared very favourably with the Australian birds, but that the Black Orpingtons were not so good, although there was an odd bird ofr two which were not bad. It is pleasing to have a poultryman from Australia to see our birds, and his remarks about the Black Orpingtons are probably right, as the laying generally of this breed does not compare with the same breed in Australia, where they are putting up such good scores.