THE POULTRY RUN.

Waipa Post, Volume IX, Issue 432, 16 July 1915, Page 6

THE POULTRY RUN.

EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS. (A. Rose.) In the results of the competitions just completed I was' much struck by the fact that many strains finished the term .with a lower average than one would expect to see. Instead of an improvement there is an appreciate falling off in egg-laying capacity. | On the other hand, some strains have made a steady advance on their previous performances. From a studv of various competitions and a comparison of averages from year to year one is compelled to admit that there is a limit to output in any strain, and that this maximum capacity is by no means stationary, but rather a matter of one or two years at the most before the falling off tendency takes place. Certainly the weather differences have some influence on domesticated poultry, but not to an appreciable extent. We notice how a breeder comes rapidly to the top with a strain on which he has expended much time and patience; his record is the topic of conversation in every meeting 'of poultrymen. Why is it that his fame is so short-lived ? There is a reason not far to seek, in that any poultry, if bred up to a high pitch of egg-laying power by continuous selection of the most prolific specimens as breeders, becomes lowered in its natural functions to such an extent as to become unfit to propagate its own type. This may seem a somewhat sweeping statement to make, but it is nevertheless quite true. Many men have purchased winning pens from competitions only to find that the heavy egg-production had unfitted them for breeding purposes. Again, poultrymen all admit that it is surprising how, in going through a flock to pick out the " top-notchcrs," one finds how few, comparatively speaking, there are. Sometimes one will find only about 20 per cent are of the desired type and development for the purpose in view. In some instances the number is very much lower. It is obvious, therefore, that nature demands some recognition in this unnatural method of treating her feathered subjects. It would seem, then, that a poultryman must limit his demands on his flock to a reasonable extent, so that he will not be troubled with a fluctuating output, but rather maintain an even standard, which in the end will be found more profitable. Another thing of great, inport is that fowls are attacked by many diseases, which may be largely avoided by keeping the flock sound in disease-resisting power. The foresighted man will be found preparing. a second strain to take the place of the one which-is showing the effect of artificial treatment, for it is strange to say, a rare thing for a strain to last more than two or three years and still be as profitable as if replaced by a new strain or by mating. In many cases high production among the heavy breeds is resulting in an increasing number of the undesirable small egg, and, in the case of continual breeding of these same strains, a distinct falling-off in the size of the birds reared from them. White Leghorns are an easy breed to obtain regular results from, and they are amenable to the influence of a fresh mating. Being of one colour, the type and characteristics are easily picked out when mating up pens, thus facilitating what is undoubtedly the most important work of the season. Many breeders advocate using only the largest specimens to breed from; but while size generally goes hand-in-hand with constitution, it is notable that heavily framed birds often lay the smallest eggs, and that in time continuous use of this cl iss of fowl would result in a reversion to the old type, which is now discarded by the utility poultryman. Generally speaking, the medium sized hen or puliet will be found the most satisfactory in every way, as her own bodily sustenance will require less upkeep than that of her heavier sister, leaving a bigger margin of nutriment to' be used in egg production. I am of the opinion that if, sav, the ten highest average pens were photographed every year, at the close of each competition some interesting comparisons could be made in types, characteristics, and heads of the various breeds. The cost would be a mere bagatelle to the educative value of such illustrations.