Poultry Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 114, 17 May 1939, Page 11

Poultry Notes

EGG ORGANS OF THE MEN The ovary in an inactive state is a comparatively small organ resembling in appearance a diminutive bunch of grapes. It is attached near the backbone of the fowl just in front of the kidneys, and contains an indefinite number of undeveloped ova, which when they reach full development are known as yolks. The ova have been counted by different observers who have reported anywhere from 2500 to 4000 visible to the naked eye. In addition to those which may be so counted there probably are many more that can only be counted by the use of a microscope. The number actually visible in the ovary of even the poorest layer, however, is much greater than the number of eggs any hen can pos- ■ sibly lay, hence there is no reason to . believe that the number of ova present I bears any direct relation to product- ! ivcness. The oviduct is the organ which receives the yolk when it reaches full size and escapes from its follicle in which the albumen and shell are deposited. In the non-laying hen the oviduct is extremely small, being only a few inches in length at the most. In the active state it is from 18 to 24 inches long, in which condition it occupies a good deal of space—one reason why the abdominal capacity of a heavy layer must be larger. The upper end of the oviduct, known as the funnel, is not directly attached to the ovary, but at the lime at which each yolk bursts from the follicle the funnel rises up so as partly to enclose it, thus to secure the entrance into the oviduct. A Reliable Spraying Mixture. Shave half a pound of common i laundry soap into a half a gallon of soft water and boil the mixture until ! all the soap is dissolved. Remove it I to a safe distance from the lire and stir into it, while still hot, two gallons ; of kerosene. This makes a creamy : emulsion, which may be used as a | stock solution. For spraying add nine J quarts of water to one quart of emul- , sion. To convert this into a strong disinfectant capable of dealing with all insect pests stir in one pint of crude carbolic to the total amount of stock mixture. When the shed is dry put in fresh litter and allow the birds in, but 1o do a complete job they also should be subjected to treatment, although I am c afraid this is seldom done. Give the birds a good dusting with insecticide sodium fluoride. In the | b case of large flocks individual treat- v ment by dusting may occupy too much a time, and dipping can be resorted to, 1 but choose a warm day for this. For s dipping use a wooden or enamel tub and mix one ounce of commercial, or two-thirds of an ounce of chemically q pure, sodium fluoride to each gallon of water. The bird is held by the wings with one hand and submerged in the solution; the other hand is used to ruffle the feathers and wet the body. Finally, duck the head a few times. ( . drain for a second or two, and release. ( One pound of commercial sodium fluoride will be enough to treat 300 birds when using the dip method. Standard Requirements for Selecting Leghorn Hens. v The New Zealand Utility Standards 1 give the following as the chief characteristics of good Leghorn hens: a Head.—Skull round and moderate in f size. e Beak.—Short, the front standing t well clear of the front of the comb. Comb.—Single, of fine texture, h medium size, not overgrown, falling P gracefully to cither side of the face, f but must not obstruct sight, free from s thumb marks and side sprigs, deeply v and eveniy serrated, with from three a to seven spikes, but five preferred the other spikes broadening at the base. Face.—Bright red (without any trace of white), smooth, and of fine texture, and free from wrinkles or feathers. Wattles. —Moderately long, thin and c ’ of fine texture. a Ear-lobes.—White, medium in size, and rather pendant, equally matched in size and shape, smooth, open and free from folds. 2 Eyes.—Bright, large, and prominent, p Sight.—Perfect. Neck.—Medium to thin at head, and y medium length. q Body.—Deep, oblong, forming a y wedge-like appearance, and widening 2 from shoulders to thighs, showing p ample feather, tight, and dense, back y wide and medium to long, and tail ( carried fairly close and at an angle ( of 45 degrees. ( Abdomen. —Full, deep, broad, and plenty of space between the breast-; -j bone and pelvic bone, which must 1p be fine in quality. ? Breast. —Full in front (at crop). y Keel.—Short and straight. ( Wings.—Large and carried close to the body. 3 Legs, Shanks, and Feet.—Legs, I y strong and medium length, thighs set I p wide apart, bone flat. j < Toes.—Four, straight and well ■ ( spread, toe-nails medium length. ! ( Carriage.—Very alert, vigorous, and j p well-balanced. | n Weight.—Hens, 51b. to*6Mb., pullets. 1 ( 4Mb. to 61b. Colour. Plumage,.—Pure white (straw tinge : to be avoided). Eyes.—Red. j (,

Legs and Feet. —Brilliant yellow. Toe-nails. —Horn or nearly white. Beak.—Yellow or horn. i Ear-lobes. —White. : Comb and Face. —Bright red (with- : out any trace of white). Wattles.—Bright red. The colour given above for legs and beak is for well-matured pullets. It ■ will be found, that good laying hens i at this time of the year are pale in , legs and beak, and have often a slight • straw tinge in the feather. > Scale of Points. Skull, beak, neck, face and eyes 12 1 Comb, lobes, and wattles 10 I Type and carriage 3(1 Tightness and density of feather 20 L Legs and feet 3 Tail 5 ' Condition and size 10 Colour, including plumage, beak, ' eyes, feet, and lobes 10 Total 100 A Study of the above scale of points will show that the chief characteristics ; to look for when selecting utility ■ breeding birds are type and carriage and tightness and density of feather, , for it will be seen that these characteristics are of sufficient importance to , be given 50 points out of 100. The full text of the standard has been given in order to assist the be- ■ ginner, as, if he is to become a successful selector, he must first know the standard requirements of the breed in ■ which he wishes to specialise and have a definite model to guide him. EGG-LAYING CONTEST MASSEY COLLEGE RESULTS The results for the fifth week of the egg-laying contest, which is being coni ducted at Massey Agricultural College, are:— SINGLE PENS. Section A.—A. A. Hoare, W.L. (5), 27; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 4 (5), 27; B. E. Wilkinson, W.L., No. 1 (5), 26; A. G, Mumby, W.L., No. 1 (4), 24; W. F. Stent, W.L., No. 1 (6), 24; A. Thomson, W.L. (4), 24; J. A. Annan, W.L. (5), 23; Huxtable Bros., W.L. (5), ’ 23; H. S. Saunders, W.L. (4), 23; A. J. Shaiier, W.L. (5), 23; E. O. Collier, W.L. (3), 21; W. F. Stent, W.L., No. 3 (6) 21; B. E. Wilkinson, W.L., No. 2 (7) 21; Capt. Middleton, W.L., No. 1 (5), 17; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 3 (4), 17; Capt. Middleton, W.L., No. 2 (3), .15; Capt. Middleton, W.L., No. 3 (3), 115; H. A. Lucas, W.L. (3), 10; W.- F. Stent, W.L., No. 2 (3), 7; A. G. Mumby, W.L., No. 2 (0), 6; P. Mummery, Min. (0), 0. Section B.—Huxtable Bros., A.O. (7) 30; W. A. Larsen, A.O. (6). 27; K. I Mullins, R.I.R. (7), 26; A. A. Hoare. R.I.R. (4), 23; Mrs. R. Willers, A.O. | (5), 23; Sunny River P.F., R.1.R., No 2 I (3), 22; Sunny River P.F., R.1.R., No. 1 l (5) 21; B. Pimm, A. 0.. No. 2 (6), 12; 18. Pimm, A. 0., No. 1 (7), 11; P. MumI mery R.I.R. (0), 0; S. Wilkinson, R.I.R. I (0),’0. TEAMS RESULTS. Section | J. Wilson, W.L., i 3, 25, 22, 18. 28, 23 I (32), 144.

S. D. Morris, W.L., 17, 27, 22, 13, 17, 23 (31), 119. H. A. Lucas, W.L., 20, 14 , 26 , 24, 12, 22 (30), 118. F. S. Allen, W.L., 21, 19, 23, 31, 3, 15 (25), 112. Cotswold P.F., W.L., 9, 17, 25, 21, 22. 12 (22), 106. Sunny River P.F., W*.L., 19, 23, 5, 10, 18, 25 (13), 100. W. F. Stent, W.L., 19, 17, 4,3, 19, 16 (1). 78. J. Mold, W.L., 12, 10, 12, 6, 19, 10 (13), 69. J. T. Hazelwood, W.L., 21, 8, 17, 0, 17, 5r (20), 68. Section D. W. A. Larsen, A. 0., 16, 30, 25, 18, 26 (28), 141. E. W. Stephenson, A. 0., 30, 11, 12, 28, 10, 4 (32), 95. J. D. Wealleans, A. 0., 24, 21, 1,0, 1, 14 (11), 61. r, replace bird.