POULTRY-KEEPING.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XVIII, Issue 4, 21 April 1919, Page 229

POULTRY-KEEPING.

By

F. C. BROWN,

Chief Poultry Instructor.

BREEDING QUESTIONS.

With the approach of the breeding season . various aspects of mating will naturally be under consideration by poultry-keepers. A correspondent writes ’ that he mated some Black Orpington hens of a noted laying-strain with a male the son of a hen that won an egglaying test, . but the pullets produced proved to be very susceptible to broodiness . and disappointing from, an egg-laying viewpoint. He asks why this should be, seeing that the mothers did not go broody during the whole season, and laid continuously. The obvious answer to this is that one strain did not “ nick ” well with the other, and the layingpower of the pullets has been affected as a consequence. This is a

common experience where a direct out-cross has been introduced, and even where the birds are pure on both sides. Especially, however, would this apply in the case of some of the strains of so-called purebred Black Orpingtons to be seen at the present time. The appearance of many of these birds clearly denotes that one of the lighter breeds has been recently introduced in order to find a short-cut to heavy egg-production. In other words, many of them are nothing short of mongrels. True, the first crosses may have proved heavy-producing stock, but the subsequent generations distributed throughout the country have not only had the effect of spoiling many a purebred- strain, but they have also been a source of vexation and loss to the unfortunate people who introduced them to their flocks.

After all,* there is no definite way of mating birds of different strains that will develop all the - desired- characters usually looked for in the progeny. Probably the best course for a breeder who has a flock of undoubted layers which is thought to be sufficiently inbred, and fresh blood is required to maintain the necessary constitutional vigour, is to select a small number of the best hens and put them to the male of the strain to be introduced. In this way, in the event of the union not being a successful one, the result of the mating can be proved without seriously lowering the productive capacity of the laying-flock, for if the progeny proved to be unsatisfactory they need not be bred from. On the other hand, if the progeny , were of desirable quality from appearance they could be tested and carefully selected before being introduced to the main flock. When a half-blood is introduced in this way it will probably have the effect of imparting to its progeny the good family qualities of the parents. On the other hand, if the. fresh blood is introduced in a haphazard way to the whole of the breeding-pens the union will most likely beget throw-backs and latent undesirable characters, which would be a serious loss to the breeder.

A most common mistake made in breeding poultry- is to imagine that fresh blood should be brought in each year for the maintenance of constitutional vigour. Far too many follow this practice without realizing its. bad effects. The man who possesses and desires to maintain a heavy laying-strain takes no such risks. He would never dream of introducing a male into his main flock unless the bird first proved his value as a sire in a small way. Then he would mate the males of that cross with the hens of the flock, or vice, versa, which, of course, would be inbreeding. The aim of the poultryman should be to breed a flock of birds of uniform type, and which possess the desired points indicative of a strong constitution and laying-power. It is no easy matter to attain this ideal, and it is even more difficult to perpetuate the type when once it has been secured.

It would therefore appear that careful selection of purebred stock, and inbreeding to a certain degree, is the keynote of building , up the characters it is desired to develop, and the only way of maintaining them.- Nature is probably the best guide we have. Inbreeding apparently does not trouble, rabbits and sparrows. Nature provides for elimination of the unfit. Constitution is maintained without the necessity of importing fresh blood, and '■with no assistance from man these pests multiply with amazing rapidity. It is therefore imperative that where inbreeding is resorted to none but the. strongest specimens should be bred from. Inbreeding has the effect of intensifying desirable

characters, but it also has the effect of fixing the bad ones. Careful selection is thus essential.

AGE-DETERMINATION.

An inquirer asks for definite signs by which the age of hens can be determined. There is no outward sign by which this can be ascertained, apart, of course, from the general appearance of the bird to the eye of the experienced poultryman. Generally speaking, the condition of the breast-bone will indicate whether the bird is a first-season one or older. If the former, the end of the breast-bone is much more flexible than is that of a two- or three-year-old bird, but apart from this it is impossible to tell with any degree of certainty the age of a fowl. Therefore the only safe course for age-determination is to mark the web of the foot with a punch. ' Chickens may be marked immediately they leave the incubator, and a punch for the purpose can be obtained for about 2s. 6d. - - '

THE CONFERENCE.

The conference of the New Zealand Poultry Association at Christchurch last month was from all viewpoints easily the most, successful one yet held. Indeed, .it may be safely said that never before in the history of the poultry industry of the Dominion was there assembled such a keen body of enthusiastic poultrymen. The delegates present came from practically all parts of the Dominion, and it was claimed that no less than ten thousand poultry-keepers were represented. The officials of the association are to be congratulated not only on the growth of that body, but also on the businesslike way the conference was conducted. The manner in which the various delegates expressed their views as to the best means of aiding the industry was in itself sufficient to indicate that the interests of poultry-keeping in this country at the present time are in the hands of men of keen intelligence and capacity. ■ .

An outstanding feature of the conference was the presence for the first time of delegates representing the North Island and South Island Poultry Associations respectively. These bodies chiefly concern themselves with the show movement. It was really gratifying to see how the old-time rivalry between the fancier and the utility man has died down, and how each and all had the one object in viewnamely, the production of more table poultry and guaranteed fresh eggs. With the general adoption of the new standards for judging utility poultry, which are being prepared, it is safe to assume that poultry shows will be given a greater - stimulus .than ever previously. The great aim is to have the birds judged on breed points as well as on their usefulness. Right from the start of the Poultry Association its main aim has been to place the marketing of the egg product on a sounder footing, through the medium of egg circles. That the circles have done excellent work in this direction no one can deny. Each egg is stamped with a number denoting the producer from which it was supplied, and a guarantee to the consumer of its quality. True, there is room yet for much reform in this respect, but ' the association is doing its best to have more circles formed in order to bring this about. It was pleasing to note that the question of cool storage of the summer surplus of eggs was freely discussed,' while it was even more satisfactory to learn from an Auckland delegate that his circle had in

cool store no less than 50 tons of pulped eggs for use during the scarce season, besides large quantities of eggs in shell. This is how it should be. Any. surplus should be preserved on the circle's own account, rather than allow others to do it and reap the reward as a consequence. No doubt other circles will follow the excellent principle adopted by the Auckland circle. Once this becomes more general it will go a long way towards bringing about a more, uniform price for eggs throughout the year.

An important point in connection with the conference that may be mentioned was the absence of any suggestion to place .the marketing of table poultry on a sounder basis. If it is essential to market the egg product under co-operative effort for the uplifting of the industry, equally so does this apply to the marketing of table poultry. Surely there ' is no reason why the centralization of both eggs and poultry should not be combined at the one depot. Further, why not move for co-operative fattening-depots whereat store birds could be primed and marketed in a proper condition ? Again, why should not all poultry be sold by the pound according to its quality? If this muchneeded reform is once brought about and well-primed birds are available it will not only have the effect of creating a keen demand at good values for choice poultry, but .will also have a decided influence in building up the industry. At the present time at least half the poultry marketed is in- a lean and unsatisfactory condition, which means a tremendous loss. Undoubtedly 'the foundation upon which to build the industry is to market both eggs and poultry to the best advantage.