POULTRY NOTES

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 28 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. H.S.—lt is advisable to remove the goldfinch if you think he attacks the young ones. The canary will hatch and rear the youngsters without his help. Feed them the same as for young canaries. N.J. —You can remove the lumps from the claw by soaking the feet in warm water, but this takes a long tune. A quicker way is to place the toes on a piece of wood and gently tap them with a small hammer. This causes the lumps to crack and these can be eased off with the finger. Care must be taken not to tap so hard as to bruise the toe. Novice.—lf the chicks have been running with a scaly legged hen they are pretty certain to contract the complaint from her. A good preventive is to keep the legs coated with sulphur ointment or any greasy matter such as lard or vaseline. MX).—Ducks will lay at six months old if they receive proper care and attention. Your method of feeding is quite all right. I would not advise you to force them as there is nothing gained in the long run by doing this. Black Minorca.—From your description, I would say your fowls are too fat. They get too much fattening food. I would suggest the following which I think will put them right:— Stop giving them mash for a few days and just give a handful of wheat for each bird. Then give the mash again. Allow all they will eat in about 20 minutes, then take what is left away. This will give you an idea how much to give them next day. At mid-day give about three handfuls of grain among the lot, and in the evening a handful of wheat each. Provide plenty of straw to scratch in, making it about a foot deep. This will keep them busy. You need not be afraid that they will not find the wheat. Cut out the corn altogether. It is not required this time of the year, as it is a very fattening food. Keep the grit before the birds and give as much green food as possible. Also give Epsom salts in the drinking water, about once a fortnight, one packet to twenty fowls. I will call on you during the week-end. NOTES. (By "CROW BLACK.”) The Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club will hold a meeting in the rooms, Lichfield Street, on Monday evening. The council of the South Island Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association will meet this evening in the Christchurch Poultry Club rooms. The United Pigeon Fanciers* Club’s next meeting will be held in the Christchurch Poultry Club rooms on Wednesday evening. Poultry keepers are warned against the ravages of the hedgehog. Several instances have come under the writer’s notice of batches of chickens being destroyed by this pest. It is advisable to see that the chicken runs are boarded up about one foot from the ground, and to put the boards in the ground to prevent the hedgehog from burrowing underneath the pens. If a hedgehog is caught and you wait a little while you will get another, as hedgehogs generally run in pairs. Whilst hedgehogs may be useful in the garden, they are a nuisance in the poultry yard. Mr M. C. Craig has forwarded several consignments of White Leghorn pullets, totalling six hpndred, to poultrymen on the West Coast. The Commonwealth and New Zealand egg laying competition is receiving very favourable support. So far 1053 entries have been received, including thirteen from New Zealand. Mrs Mary J. Irving and Messrs P. A. Cornish, M. C. Craig and A. M. Espie, members of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, have sent entries. The location of the competition is within twenty miles of Melbourne, and the area contains 77 acres and is very heavily grassed. The management intends running five cows to supply milk to be mixed in the mash, also about 30 calves for killing, the meat to be fed to the birds, instead of meat meal. This competition promises to be the largest in the world. Entries from New Zealand can be made up to December 31. Further information can be obtained from Mr W. H. West, secretary New Zealand Utility Poultry Club. The Canterbury Bantam Club held its monthly meeting in the Christchurch Poultry Club rooms on Tuesday evening, Mr A. E. Webb presiding. Correspondence was received from Messrs W. J. Minty, J. S. Liddle (Nelson), and G. Doig (Wellington) accepting the office of sub patrons of the club. Mr H. L. D. Smith, Wellington, wrote in connection with the proposal to form a New Zealand Bantam Association. This matter was left over for further information. Mr V. Ryder “Poultry Bulletin,” Auckland, wrote offering to donate a silver cup every year to be won outright for the best bantam in a certain section of the club’s show, the cup to be open only to subscribers to the “ Bulletin.” The offer was accepted with thanks. The breed selected for the first show was Pekins, all colours being eligible. An anonymous supporter donated one guinea to the club funds. Mr C. H. Bull, the club’s delegate to the South Island Poultry Conference, gave a detailed report of the meeting. It was decided to hold the next table show In January, the breeds to be benched being Old English Game, all colours, that Mr F. R. Bust be asked to judge and to give a lecture on the mating and breeding of this variety. Miss E. Boyns, the well-known exhibitor of Persian and Siamese cats, has taken up Sebright Bantams and intends exhibiting them at the coming show. At present this fancier has several batches of chicks that give

promise of turning out good show stock. Last Saturday the Christchurch Poultry Club held a card evening, which was largely attended and proved very enjoyable. It is intended to hold another evening next Saturday. Anyone interested is invited to attend. The Greymouth Poultry Club is making great strides since its last show. The members are taking a live interest in the club. Recently a competition was held amongst the members, who were asked to write a paper on “ What Constitutes a Layer.” The papers were sent to Mr Cussens, Government Poultry Instructor, to adjudicate on. A very valuable trophy has been donated for the winner. At this week’s meeting Mr O. Jackson was to read a paper on “ How to Prepare a Bird for the Show.” This is a very fine idea as it creates a lot of interest among the members and teaches the novice the finer points of the show business. It is not much use breeding a good specimen if it is not properly benched. The next World’s Poultry Congress, to be held in London at the Crystal Palace, will take place next year, from July 22 to July 30. No fewer than thirty-four Governments have accepted the invitation of the British Government to send delegates, in addition to which some -thousands of other delegates are expected from bodies interested in poultry breeding. As New Zealand is recognised as one of the leading poultry breeding countries in the world it will be a great pity if New Zealand is not represented at the congress. I understand that there will be on exhibition pens of all varieties of birds from all the different countries. It has been suggested that Mr F. C. Brown, Chief Government Poultry Instructor, should represent the Dominion, also that pens of fowls should be sent to show the quality of the stock in this country. This is a step in the right direction, and I am sure it will have the support of all the poultry clubs in the Dominion. It is time the poultrymen got busy on the matter if New Zealand is to be represented. The Christchurch Premier Pigeon Flying Club conducted a race last Saturday from Morrinsville, a new place of liberation for South Island clubs. It was a good test for the birds, the distance being 440 miles. The birds failed to do the journey on the day of liberation, but a number timed in early on Sunday morning. Mr S. Mallard owned the winning bird, Poneke, which flew the distance in 16hr 17min. Results:—S. G. Mallard’s Poneke, 791 yards per minute; A. Pegley’s Au Revoir, 760 yards; B. Pegley’s Cockney Bill, 747 yards. The first Invercargill race conducted by the Christchurch Homing Pigeon Society this season was flown last Saturday. Nine owners were represented with twenty-six birds, *which were liberated in dull weather. As the journey progressed the weather became worse, consequently very slow times were recorded, and only two birds arrived home in race time. Master E. R. May owns the winning bird. Black Boy, who flew the journey in I9hr 15min. Results:—E. R. May’s Black Boy, 445 yards per minute; E. F. Margett’s Smash, 400 yards per minute. The encouragement of young fanciers, as practised by the Bantam Club of Victoria, is a subject worthy of the attention of other poultry societies. At its" last monthly meeting the Bantam Club conducted a show for novices and juniors, and amongst the exhibitors were a number of schoolboys. At the conclusion of the judging, Mr Hocking, who made the awards, handled each bird and demonstrated on their good and bad points. Selecting two unplaced exhibits, the judge asked the owners to put up their hands. Two schoolboys signified their ownership of the birds, in the manner prescribed, whereupon Mr Hocking told them that their birds were of poor type and quality, and that they would never breed good bantams from them. Then, hand ing one of the boys his address, he said, “Come round to my place, lad, and I will make you a present of a couple of good bantams that you can breed good stock from.” Mr M’Cracken, secretary of the club, made a similar offer to the second lad, and the two boys instead _of being disappointed, went off smiling and encouraged, and determined to avail themselves, of such generous offers. Green foods are valuable in feeding poultry for (1) They conain vitamins. (2) They contain minerals. (3) They supply bulk or balance. (4) They make the ration more palatable. Vitamins according to recent studies are essential to the proper digestion of food. Practically all green feeds are rich in these food factors. Green feed contains minerals essential in food digestion. Feeding green feed for bulk or balance is important, for it prevents constipation and allows the various digestive juices to work upon the food most efficiently. Palatable rations are essential if the flock is to eat large amounts of feed. Green feed is the most valuable part of a ration. The poultry producer should carefully - plan two green feed schedules so that there will be a sufficient amount for the birds through the twelve months of the year.—“ Poultry World.”

EGG-LAYING.

9 PAPANUI COMPETITION. At the twenty-fifth egg-laying comT^S Ucte £, the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club at Papanui. . the leading birds on Novembter 30 were as roiio-ws:— TEST x. J. H. SHAW MEMORIAL TEST. (Heavy and Light Breeds.) Weekly f Black Orpingtons—. total - 02 dr Tl.

TEST IV. (Three Birds.)

J. M. Campbell r i - j T. D. Dalziel . White Leghorns— 5 10 13 150 C. E. Stratford No 2 R. J. Ross 6 A. M. Espie . . . 1 194 11 13 T. D. Dalziel . . . C. E. Stratford No. 2 Miss A. Jakins . Millard Bros. 5 11 7 17i TEST IL WHITE LEGHORNS. (Single hen test). (Each, competitor to enter three birds) Weekly. total S. E. Davey .... T. D. Dalziel .... 1 6 2 3 1 170 2 3 211 201 E. Fuchs, No. 2 . . J. Liggins, No. 1. 6 7 5 4 191 175 192 W. K. Hamilton . 5 4 6 189 199 150 174 183 M. C. Craig, No. 2 6 A. M. Espie, No. 1 5 7 1 138 199 177 190 163 Miss J. Williams 3 6 4 A. C. Goodlet E. Dunstan, No. 1 'I 3 G 219 162 151 TEST III. ANY OTHER VARIETY light BREED. (Three Birds). (Except White Weekly Total. R. Pearce, No. 1 (Anconas) 4 4 3 170 134 S. H. Mitchell, No. 1 (Anconas) 6 5 5 148 161 115

Black Orpingtons— R. M. Cookson .. 5 4 1 137 178 177 A. R. Leckie 5 1 5 184 132 155 H. J. Ballin 3 5 4 177 124 156 TEST V. ANT OTHER VARIETY HEAVY BREED EXCEPT BLACK ORPINGTONS. (Three Birds.) Weekly Grand Total. Total. 1 2 S 1 2 3 J. R. Griffin (Light Sussex) B B 7 170 116 180 R. Pry y dale * (White Rocks) 5 5 4 133 70 130 TEST VI. FLOCK TEAMS. Light and Heavy Breeds. (Six birds). Weekly total, oz. dr. Tl. White Leghorns— Green Bros 28 62 2 1053 M. C. Craig 29 62 7 1047 W. E. Ward 28 60 13 1016 G. J. V err all .... 30 62 4 993 F. Hawes 23 48 1 990 H. W. Beck 31 62 10 934 W. H. West 2S 57 14 932 Black Orpingtons— J. Kingsland .... 22 47 5 831 H. W. Beck 25 53 1 744 TEST VII. DUCK 'lEST. (Each competitor to enter three ducks.) Weekly Grand Total. Total. 12 3 12 8 White Pekins— J. W. Thomson .. 6 6 7 126 162 128 Indian Runners— G. A. Heath 6 6 5 223 203 198 F. R. Cotton .. 6 7 5 216 195 204 J. W. Thomson .. 7 7 2 191 218 194 A. G. Ross ....... 7 B 0 181 213 202