POULTRY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20447, 27 October 1934, Page 29 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES.

(By “CROW BLACK.”) The Christchurch Poultry. Pigeon and Canary Club will meet in the Fanciers Hall on Monday evening. The report of tlVe committee set up to rearrange the entry fees and prize money for the annual show will be received at this m Yhe’ S New Zealand Utility Poultry Club will met in the Chamber of Commerce Hall on Tuesday, November 6. During the evening final arrangements will be mad's and committees set up for the field day to be held at the competition grounds on Saturday, November 10. The writer would be pleased to receive the names and addresses of breeders of Dorkings. Tim poultry section of the Ellesmere (Leeston) Agricultural .and Pastoral Association’s recent show was a great success, good entries being received in all classes. M. C. Craig won the special for the best light breed in the show with a White Leghorn male, and J. Cordner won the special for the best heavy breed with a Black Orpington cock. The South Island Leghorn and Minorca Club will meet in the Fanciers’ Hall next Friday evening to deal with the agenda paper for the South Island Poultry Association’s annual conference. The Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association has arranged for passes and privileges for visiting delegates attending the South island Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association’s conference on November 8 and 9. The United Pigeon Fanciers’ Club will call a special meeting at an early date to revise rules and draw up regulations for the control of the fancy. The Canterbury Bantam Club will meet In the Fanciers’ Hall on Tuesday evening. The Burwood branch of the Poultry Producers’ Federation has made arrangements to conduct educational evenings. Mr C. Casson, Government poultry instructor. Is to be asked to give a lecture at the n£xt monthly meeting. The chilled egg question is receiving a ereat deal of attention. At the moment poultry keepers are of opinion that severe measures should be adopted to combat this competition, and remit? have been forwarded to the various boards asking that all eggs be branded before being put in the chiller. A meeting of the Paoanui branch of the i New Zealand Poultry Producers’ Federation will be held in Rickerby’s Building on Thursday, November 7. Hints for Breeders. Poultry-keeping is not free from disagreeable and difficult duties, nor is any other business; but there are no more of these in the poultry industry than in am- other. Condition is one of the principal, and often the deciding, factor in the show bird. To be successful in poultry-keeping several things have to be carefully carried out, even though they might appear simple. When the bird is in good laying condition it must be appreciated that she knows as well as the breeder how much and what to eat. For that reason her behaviour at her mash trough should be studied. She should be given only wholesome mashes. If the bird leaves any mash in the trough it is wise to rlean it away quickly, especially in the warm months, and if it contains any animal matter, as it surely will at this time of the year. Tt is a wise plan for the poultry farmer or his attendant to he punctual and always considerate of his birds. The hen knows her feeder as well as the feeder knows his hen. The hens will not do well if they are hustled about the shed by an unsympathetic feeder. Tt is just as well to appreciate now that the summer is here that while it is essential that sunshine should be provided, there are times when too much sun will cause trouble. The hens, and more particularly the layers and the growing pullets, must have good shade If they are to get on, and if ♦ hey are given the run of the yard. Then, with the birds that are running

on the ground outside the pens, it is necessary to see that they have good, sweet soil. Tainted soil will cause just as much trouble and reduce the egg yield just as quickly as the feeding of tainted foods. Guard against this at all costs. The spreading of lime in the pen will do much to sweeten it. After seeing to it that the birds are fed well, see that they have a plentiful supply of succulent green feed. It is also important to see that the birds have access to a full supply of fresh, clean water; this clean water is just as necessary in egg production as the feeding of good grain and wholesome mashes.— (“Poultry World”). The broody hen is a trouble at this time of the year. Be on the look-out for her, and do not allow a broody to appear on the nest, especially in the pen in which a male bird is running. The broody sitting on the eggs will do much harm and will do more to deteriorate the eggs than anything else. The broody hen works for twenty-four hours each day, and it should be appreciated that she generally goes broody in the dark, secluded nest filled with eggs. Watch, then, that her work is checked, and take her out and run her by herself.

The healthy bird is one that carries a medium-size, bright red comb. This is really the health barometer of the bird, so it is just as well for the poultryman to watch it closely. To keep up their health the birds must be fed regularly and the evening feeding of grain should he given in good time, so that they will have plenty of time to get all the grain out of the litter before night. The biggest part of the poultry business is in the egg, so give the hen every chance to produce the best egg. Do not sell or offer for sale eggs that you would not use at home. The good market is obtained and then maintained only by selling the best graded eggs.