Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 192, 15 August 1931, Page 20 (Supplement)

Poultry Notes

THE FERTILISATION OF HEN’S EGGS. The above problem crops up every season, and the poultry breeders themselves are not very confident at any time in answering the question—“ How soon can eggs be incubated fter the introduction of the male into the breeding pen?” writes an English breeder. Much depends upon the vigour and vitality of the male, much depends upon the condition if tho hens, and again the weather has also a decided influence upon fertilisation To gain certain data on this question, Professor C. S. Cluelaroff, Sofia, earned out certain experiments and his Endings make interesting reading. These rests were made owing to the great diversity of opinions that existed upon this question. The object ol the tests was b> eludicate the following points:—(l) at what time is the last fertilised egg lai J after the male has been removed? (2) When are the first and last fertilised eggs laid after one single mating? (3) How many eggs are fertilised at one single pairing? To this end tho Central Laboratory for Poultry Culture at Sofia arranged for three tests with 44 test fowls taken from American Leghorn, Black Minorca, Black Shumeuka, and White Sevlievka. The fertilisation of the egg was verified by means of the incubator, and in doubtful cases also with the magnifying glass. The Results of Experiments. The results may be tabulated as follows:—(1) An egg laid the day immediately after the pairing is always nonfertilised. (2) The first fertilised egg is laid as early as the second day after the pairing. If the hen did not lay on the second day, then the first fertilised egg was laid on the third, fourth or fifth day. The first fertilised egg was laid: In 26 cases on the second day (66.6 per cent.) In 8 cases on the third day 20.5 per cent.) In 2 cases on the fourth day (5.1 per cent.) In 3 cases on the fifth day (7.6 per cent.) It did not make any difference apparently whether the pairing took place in the morning or in the evening. The last fertilised egg after one pairing was laid by the majority of the test hens in the course of the second week (38 eases—77.s per cent.); only by two hens (4 per cent.) at the end of the first week; and by nine hens (18.4 per cent.) in the course of the third week, and not later than the 19th. day (two cases) after the pairing. The small number of fertilised laid by some of the best hens i s to oe attributed to the fact that the hens in qustion stopped laying. The number of eggs fertilised at one pairing varies greatly and depends on the intensity of the hens’ laying activity as well a» on the intensity of the cock’s sexual impulse. With the test hens this number amounted up to eight eggs. It is, of course, a very difficult matter to arrive at any accurate ligure as to the exact number of eggs that are fertilised at one pairing, for there was no doubt but that weather plays a very important part in this; as it uiwloubiedly affects materially what is known as sexual impulse in both the sexes. It will be seen, however, from the above, that eggs can be set from hens m full breeding conditions with safety after the third day from the nitro n..tion of the male into the pen. It -an also be deduced that eggs ..’in be sc", for luliy a week after the male has been removed from any cause or otner. lhe greatest danger, however, to be

guarded against is that the male may become reduced in vitality, and so feltihse very few eggs at one (.airing. At this season of the year, th? breeding hen s should not be too large Fix >or six hens of a heavy breed are suffice.)* ioi one male and about double ih-jt number iu the case of light breeds ,1ways assuming that the males are lull bloom and vigour. Every brooder should keep a cockerel or two in resel l a during the early part of the season. PROLIFIC POULTRY. NEW BREED IN HAMILTON. HIGH EGG PRODUCTION RECOKD. Considerable interest has been aroused among Hamilton poultry funeiers by the importation by a Hamilton breeder of several Australorps a special Australian breed which has establish *d new records for egg production. The.o • birds are a type of Black Orpington, but, unlike that breed, ,ney arc no ■■ sitters. There are three heii s and a cockerel in tho Hamilton ’pen. and 11 are first-year birds, bred from a Ill:.' 300 egg strain. These Australorps were specially selected by the editor ■: •■Poultry,” Sydney, from Henholm.’t Utility Stud in New South Wales irerd poultry breeders. In single pens last year the • - 9 hens laid 28.1, 2(11 and '56 ■ r spectively, al! full weigo't. tVw ■•» heavily built birds. The otraA bo commended on the enterpn-G u in introducing a breed which should 1« much to raise the standard of 'ype • ■ production locally.