SUMMER WORK FOR THE POULTRYMAN.

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

SUMMER WORK FOR THE POULTRYMAN.

(By "BARRED ROCK.”) (Continued.) If more of the eggs ued for hatching were from fully matured stock, which had passed the first adult month, there would be fewer kicks about poor hatches, and the mortality would be greatly reduced. But we must get back t.o the breeding birds. The best individuals which are to be retained for breeders the following season should be carefully selected, and we might say a word about calling out the old stock. At this season many are moulting, or, at least in very poor feather, and sometimes our very best birds will be in this condition. Care must be taken that we do not discard a valuable breeding or exhibition bird because of her poor appearance. It is always well to mark the best birds each winter or autumn, when they are in full feather. These birds should be placed where they can have every possible advantage during the summer months. Give them liberal range in a well shaded lot. We are not entirely in favour of giving breeders and show birds absolutely free range after the breeding season, preferring a good-sized pen or yard which has an abundance of natural green food, plenty of shade and a good, roomy colony house. Never force these birds for laying. Cut their grain feed down gradually until they are on about one-half the regular ration, supply

plenty of water, grit and charcoal, and see that they have plenty of tender, green food. If they have done their dut}-’ during the breeding season, they are entitled to a good, long rest away from the male birds. Handling them as above mentioned will have a tendency to hasten an earl\ r moult. Moulting is not a hard proposition for a hen in proper condition. It is the weak hen, whose constitution has been weakened by ill treatment or otherwise, that has a hard time to get through the month. Moulting is Nature's way of reclothing their bodies for the winter season. A hen in a healthy condition, with a strong, sturdy constitution, should go through the moult and lay eggs at the same time. So it is well to give the breeders the best of care during this rest period, and aim to keep them in the best of health. Those females not intended for breeders we would place in a good-sided flock and crowd them all it is possible for the best egg production we can get. Try to make them lay enough eggs before they start to moult to, at least, pay for their keeping for the entire year. If not to be retained for winter eggs, dump them upon the market as soon as they slack up in laying, just prior to their moult. They, can be made profitable for eggs up to the moulting period, but if not intended to be kept over, get them off your hands just before the moult starts. There seems to be a vast difference of opinion regarding the care of male birds. Of course, those not to be kept for the trade or our own breeding yards should be disposed of as soon as possible. Of those held over for breeding, some advocate that they should be kept from the females. Our experience with this proved very expensive on several occasions. An exceptional bird of quality was taken from the breeding pen last January and kept in a good yard and coop by himself until the pens were mated in June. The eggs from his pen the season before had been remarkably strong in fertility. The second season started out well and tested nearly 100 per cent fertility, but gradually fell off, until late in September he was unable to fertilise the eggs from two females. The following season another valuable bird went the same way. A friend of ours, who was a well-experienced poultryman, gave as the reason the j fact that the birds had been giving good service the year before, and had been separated from the females several months, when again given the society of females, after being away from them so long, went to pieces. lie advised giving each male that we were to hold over for breeders two or three cull hens as mates during the summertime. We have practised this ever since, and have never been troubled with a male going bad. It seems to be natural for fowls to have their mates during all the season, and we believe that it is always well to follow' Nature as nearly as we can in handling the male birds. • Aft'er all, it is close attention to the little details that makes poultry raising profitable. Clean houses and yards, plenty of good feed, judiciously given in the shape of grain, whole or ground, meat and green food, charcoal, fresh water and grit, and a little grit on the side for the poultryman who lgicks nerve when it comes to going up against the hot weather work, are what help to make the business show a profit on the right side. RACING PIGEON RECORDS. A CHALLENGE. To the Editor. Dear Sir. —Mr Pearson suggests that I am bluffing when he asks: Can “ Old Fancier” produce these records? I am depositing -with the Editor of the “ Star ” the sum of £5. If I fail to produce the records that prove that Mr Pearson’s bird’s time from Kaitoke has been beaten on many occasions, my money is to be handed to the Christchurch unemployment fund, providing Mr Pearson deposits the same amount, his money to go to the “ Canterbury Pigeon Flying Club, if I can produce the records to the satisfaction of the Editor of the ‘ Star.’ ” Should he lose I would suggest that the C.F.C. purchase a trophy, to be called the Pearson Memorial, as his record will be as dead as Julius Cassar. My nom de plume evidently annoys Mr Pearson, but think of the fun I am having. I have him and the Christchurch Racing Pigeon Society scratching like a lot of healthy pullets in a litter of straw. 1 have the courage of my ' convictions all right, Mr Pearson, hence my fiver. I noticed in last Saturday's " Star’s ” notes by “ Crow Black ” that the now famous pigeon Courier would have won the Napier race had he not hesitated at the traps. Evidently a good bird! It is a great pity that he did not hesitate a little longer in the Kaitoke race, as he then would have saved his owner from getting into the awkward position in which he now finds himself. A bulls-eye to me, I think! Although the old Christchurch Homing Pigeon Society is defunct, their books are intact, and some of their members are too wide awake to allow any new club to claim records unjustly. If Mr Pearson is genuine, his money should be in the “ Star ” office shortly after reading this letter. If he loses he will get his money’s worth by discovering my identity.—l am, etc., OLD FANCIER. The sum of £5 has been lodged with the editor, who is prepared to decide the question on the evidence to be submitted. —Ed. “ Star.”

HINTS ON MULE AND HYBRID BREEDING. (By C. J. WARD, in the "Cage Bird Annual.” ) Selection of stock for hybrid breeding is a matter in which great care should be exercised. Do not think for one moment that a.ny sort of cheap birds will do for producing good hybrids. You must have a reallv good bird on one side; better still, both the male and the female should be good specimens of their respective breeds Jf you are thinking of trying the (Jold-iinch-Bullfinch, Goldfinch-Redpoll, etc.. the Siberian Goldfinch is the sire. You then have a larger bird with a bigger blaze; and providing he is mated to a good rich-coloured hen, you will have a more prepossessing hybrid than vou would if you used a British Finch. ’ A br’ed S than° Ult r d '"tf 111 wre ,ikely Hand-reared birds do not,’’'as a rule, yield such vigorous hybrids as do those which are purchased from the •'catcher.'' as he is commonly called, or from the bird shop. You require birds that have been reared by their parents on everything that nature can provide for them. Having purchased ytfur stock you have many obstacles to face. The hen will build, and lay eggs, but the cock bird often fails to perform his duties. Another hen will build, and the male will duly perform his duties, but' the hen may lay no eggs. Another hen will lay, but unless you rise with the lark, the moment the egg i

is dropped she will eat it, as will the cock bird sometimes. Nothing will bring the birds into better condition forbreeding than dandelion. Commence bird at about the beginning of July, following this with the ripe seed heads as the season advances. A little egg hard-boiled for ten or twelve minutes, mixing same with twice the quantity of cod-liver oil; biscuit is also very beneficial if grown twice a week. A bath should also be provided. See that your birds have good, sound seed, plenty of room for exercise and fresh air: avoid all draughts as far as possible, and maintain cleanliness at all costs. If the cock bird interferes with the eggs when they are laid, he should be partitioned' off every night; failing this, placed in another cage until you have secured the eggs. The best method of securing the eggs is to place nice, light moss within about an inch of the perches, or if the hen lays in the nest box all right, examine it each night, and if it is not to your liking, place a. little cow-hair or short, soft rnoss on the bottom of same, or the egg will probably get broken. Another good way is to have a nest-box something after the fashion of a spittoon for the egg to drop through, especially if the hen is an egg-eater. When the young hybrid Is hatched, for the first three or four days no egg food should be given to the foster parent. I say "parent,*’ because I do not consider it wise to have the cock canary with the hen for successfully rearing hybrids; in many cases she will do the work better on her own account, the cock bird frequently driving her to nest again before the young can do for themselves. Commence by giving scalded rape, a little maw seed, and canary seed, ripe dandelion heads and plantain. After the fourth da.y, half a leaspoonful of egg and cod-liver oil biscuit, sprinkled with a little maw seed, should be given, together with lettuce and groundsel. . .. After a week you may add to the seed mixture every day a teaspoonful of hemp. Ripe banana and apple are a 1«« excellent when the young reach this age. If only one hybrid is hatched, which is very often the case, place a voung Greenfinch or some other young Wild bird In the same nest (a day vnunger than the hybrid if possible), or falling this a variegated or dark young canary. (To be continued.)