THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1978, 7 February 1914, Page 15

THE POULTRY INDUSTRY

4 (By Chantecler.)

Answers to Correspondents. "E.H.M.," Hutt —The cause of the trouble is generally assigned to jumping off high porches, but I am more inclined to believe that it is hereditary. Bumblefoot is a complaint that may be temporarily relieved, but, to my mind, it is a tubercular troublo, and I should not in any case use the fowl as a breeder. "Inquirer," Brooklyn.—The conference is open to all poultry enthusiasts. Membership in tho association costs only 2s. 6d. per annum, and you should join. "Breeder." Hutt.—There is only one competitor in tho Vanoouvor test from Now Zealand this year, and he was loading with 236 eggs up to December 27. Thfere are seven competitors from New 'Zealand in the Missouri test. Getting Winter Eggs. Tho riso in the egg market indicates that the supply is falling off, and winter prices are drawing Hoar. Hens aro row going into the moult and will tube thoir annual rest. It is to the pullets that one must look for supplies, and unless they have heon hatched early and have been priperly cared for,'they will not respond to the call. Late-hatched pullets rarely do well. They.are slow to maturo, and as tho cold weather approaches, they ' become stunted in growth and are useless for winter eggs, Urge the young stock forward. ■ Givo thorn an abundance cf- food. Keep them warm and free.from parasites. Any extra care given to the birds' run will moro than compensate the tr6uble, as they will lay when eggs are dear. Tho Compatltlon, The present competition. ends on March 31, and from the position of the birds it seems almost a certainty that,a Nelson' man will win. Tho records will not bo as high as thoße of last year, but still the average will be a good one. Tho second year's test is the most exciting. There are nine weeks to go, and there Is a difference of 18 eggs between the two leading pens. It is almost fcortain that a world's record 1 will bo established in tho two-year test. Notes for tho Novice. ! Separate the male birds from the hens in the moulting season. 'In .the jraising of- chickens try to i givo them either a free run or let them out onco a day for'the first three or I four months, at any rate. If for any reason you have been unable to hatch-any chicks this season,, and want some, the best thing to do, tow would bo to purchase a few that will turn into layers in the autumn and early winter months, which is the time when prices are at their highest. Don't try to hatch chicks now. It is too late in the season for them to thrive well, and, if you did get theni, they wouldn't turn into .layers until August, say, when prices will be beginning the annual run of low rates. . In buying pollard, l do not forget that the white, floury stuff is quite the best, because it contains a high feeding value. As a line to"go on,.remember:that the coarse, yellow stuff should; be turned, down.. Get it white and floury. ' The: hen that becomes oi/er- fat' is never so good afterwards, and the cock •.birds that gets in a fight is not so go6d.'.jib'.;--breed 'from', as the bird that whips .Him. ' ; " : " :

Do not make the mistake of running .young cuclcs and grown .birds together. lr you do the young ones will not, come oil properly. Thoy will be bullied and starved by tho older and bigger birds. . if you think your birds are weakening in vigour, it would bo wiso to introduce new. blood in the sliapo of farmI raised stock. Iu breeding any live stock it is always a wise plan—when new blood 13 wanted—to bring in stock that has been raised in the'country. Tho reason: Because tho open air conditions and tlie free run that farm fowls have causes them to bo of robust constitm tion. ■ Eggs will bo worth most money in March, April, and May, so seo to it that tho growing pullets have plenty of room and aro fed generously, so that they will come on. Now is tho timo to go through tho birds and sell, or pot those that you do not intend to carry over to the next season. The moult will .-begin at any timo now, and onco it starts you .wil'l have to hold the birds until they have grown tho new coat of feathers, which mollis that you will get nothing out of them for the months when eggs ! are up. _ . , . There is no method of breeding to order. The only sure way of- it is to hatch the egg and wait to see what sex the chick turns out to he. Overcrowding is one of the worst evils in the poultry yard. Why ? Bocauso tho soil auickly becomes contaminated, tho limited space prevents tho birds from getting necessary exercise, there is too much heat in tho roostingshed at night, which causes colds; tho food is trampled under foot in the' rush—while some birds get too much of it, and others too little. ' Onions ,aro good to bring on young stock. . In more than one yard thoy have been extensively fed, with satisfactory results. The young birds are .bright and active, and iu better shape than they would be had onions not been fed. It should bo fed in tho raw. .state—if the birds will cat it—as it is more effective this way. If they won't ,eat tho raw stuff it may he boiled a hit, and mixod with the mash. / ; It is not advisable to feed onions to laying hens more , often than onco a week, because of tho effect it will have in imparting an undesirable odour to the eggs. The tendency of tho heavy breeds is to lay on internal fat; it is tho way they aro built. When fat they cannot lay many eggs, and the internal congestion might—and often does—choke the lime-forming glands, • and cause tho birds to lay.soft shells, which are bad about the place, as the hens eat them, and are thus likely to contract an evil habit, which is practically incurable. Also,,the eggs laid by fat hens are frequently poor in fertility. To counteract tho tendency to the formation of internal fat, it is necessary to feed plenty of green stuff, and for 'this reason; it is a good thing in those cijse?, ; where it is not possible to supply tho green stuff to dissolve a packet of Epsom' salts in water—a packet to 15 or 20 birds—and add to the mash once or twice a week. And tho final thing is to provide the birds with abundance of scratching exercise, or a wido, ftp* run! .

EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS.

fThff. returns for-the forty-third- weekof the' New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's ninth egg-laying test for fowls afebas follow ;v> ■■'•:•.;.•■■•.■•.:. •"-..• . rr -\ ■■•■• :•:"' ;<"- : -- Total Total ' . - for to -week. dato. W. Mcrcqr- Howick, White ' •' • ' ■ Leghorns ..,...;........... 31 ; 1259 R. A. Lazarus, Hutt, Wh. Leghorns ;.. 29 1237 A H. Browne, Pottiiio Beach, Wh. Leghorns 26 1221 C. ]). C. Eggcrs, Nelson, White Leghorns 23 1209 Dominion P. Plant, Coromandol, Whito Leghorns 22 1201 W. Soull. Christehurch, White Leghorns 23 1196 J Cocker, Bromley, Whito Leghorns .......' 22 1191 R. Wyiio, Hutt, Whito Leghorns •....:.....• '33 1192 Beretaunga P. Co., Silverstream, Wh. Leghorns,' No.l ...:.../. 27 '1186 Thomas Voso. ' Carterton, White Leghorns '31. 1186 T. Kennedy, llangiora, Silver Wyan., dottes7—Blß; A. W: Adams, Sheffield, Silver Wyandottes, 16—998; A. E. Wilson, Shirley, Silver Wyandottes, 15—763;

W. Knight, Hutt, Silver Wyandottes, 10—828; J'as. Ashton, Hanmor, Silver Wyandottcs, 10—879; Tiros. Wilson, Marshlands, Silver Wyandottcs, 28— 882; W. 0. Sail, Oust, Silver Wyandottos, 17—992; S. H. Scott, Onoluuifia, Silver Wyandottcs, 20-969; A. K Wilson, Shirley, White Wyandottcs, 27— 832; T. Kennedy, Hangiora, White Wyandottcs, 11—85G; King and Watson (N.S.W.), Black Orpingtons, 19-910; Verrall Bros., Swammanoa, Brown Leghorns, 29—1105; J. H. Shaw, Christchurch, .Brown Leghorns, 2G--*985; A. W. Irvine, Mount'Hoskifl, Blue Mot. Leghorn's, 19—018; H. Loger, Wc-rnroa, White. Leghorns, l 2B-1107; D. Y. Gibson, Herbert, * "White Leghorns, 21— 30G2; Heretaunga Poultry Crub, Silverstream, Whito Leghorns No. 2, 26— 1166; T. M'lhvraith, Wert Molten, White Leghorns, 2u~ 1097; E. ' - Hawke, I'apanui, White Leghorns, 18— 1002; J. Wordsworth, Gerakline, White Leghorns, 21-993; A. W. Irvine, Mt. Roskill, Whito Leghorns No. 1, 25— 1003;- Middlepark Poultry Farm, Riccarton, Whito Leghorlis, 14—929; T. White, Napier, White Leghorns, 28— 1115; Stewart and Landsperg, Nofwanby, White Leghorns, 22—1002; J. A. Corric, Beckonham, White Leghorns, 20 —1128; F. Mason, Hutt, White Leghorns, 21—1093; G. Bswmett, Spreydon, White Leghorns, 22—1123; E. Willis and Son, New Brighton, White Loghorns, 21—1039; Braehcafiold Poultry Farm, Eiccarton, Columbian Wyaiidottos, 21-1010; H, S. Woodnorih, Winton, White Leghorns, 24,-4088; Mrs.. J. Mills, Dunedin, Whito Lcghcrns, 26—1136; Thos. Faaaokerky, Sydonham, White Leghorns, 12—1101; A. W. Irvine, Mt. Roskill, White Leghorns No. 2. 28—1050; Mrs, J. Greon, St. Albans, White Leghorns, 25—1138; Mrs. Ansloy, Bromley, White Leghorns, 18—928; Mawson Stewart, 'Christchurch, White- Leghorns, 23—1133 J W. Knight, Hutt, White Leghorns, 26— 1128; R. James,' Marshlands, White Leghorns, 15—1160; J. W. Green. St. Albans, White Leghorns, 22—1132; I. Stephenson, Wanganui, White Leghorns, 24—1073; Mawson Stowart, "Christchnrch, Whito. Leghorns, 26—1143; N. Solomon, Wcstport, White Loghorns, 27—1140; Wainoni P. Farm, Wainonii White Leghorn's, 31—1183;. -Verrall Bros., Swannanoa, White- Leghorns, 24 -1113. - , • FOR, DUCKS. [New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's fourth laying test for 'lucks. 'Returns for forty-third week.] Total Total for to . week. date. W Knight, Hutt (No. 1} Indian Runners 18 1056 W. Knight, Hutt (No. 2) Indian Runners 13 993 Hcrctaunga P. Co., Silve'rv stream, Indian Run- '••' ncrs :... 13 • 843 Thos. Dowthwaite, Arondale, Indian ..Runners 13 897 W. Mercer, Hawick, Indian ■ Runners 7 §13 Miss A.' Donald, Bunsandel, Indian Runners ••• 19 872 A. It. Brotv.no, ' Petano Beach, Indian Runners 6 877

£.TWO YEARS' COMPETITION*

[Noit Zealand Utility 'Poultry Club's two years' egK-laying. fnst for fowls. Returns for ninet.y*fou*th week*—fortysecond week' of, second year.] ■ . . . Total Total for to week. date. T. Kennedy, B-nngiora, Si! ver WyandotteS 23 2109 Romain Munger, Huti, Black Orpingtons ...... 3 1707 Herbtaung.i.l'.- D 0.., Sjjver- ■ ■' ; .: stream! Leg- ■ ' horns .'......'..'..:;,...'.... 21 - 2510 J. W. Groon, Christohurch, '■' ; ( :{W:Wte):!;LcglioWls -.uAU; 20 ' 2312 H. Lcger,- -Levin.,. -Wnito Leghorns 22 2386 ■W. .A. Nixon, Christ-, church, Wh. Leghorns '21 "252£ FOR DOCKS i [IVo Years' Egg-laying Tost for .Ducks. Returns for nmoty-fourth week—fortysecond . week of Second year.] 'Total Total for to weak, data, Thos. Dowthwaite, Avondale, Indian Runners 25 2273 Heretaunga P. Co., Silverstream, Indian Run* „ ners «...,; i 6 2286 T. R, Hall, Wcreroa, Indian Runners 1 27 25§'f> P. Keller, Rolleston, Indian Runners 19 2108 S. H, Scott, Onehunga, Buff Orpingtons 10 1700