POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2675, 22 January 1916, Page 15

POULTRY INDUSTRY

N.Z. UTILITY POULTRY CLUB'S COMPETITIONS.

(By Ohantecuk.) Wet Dry Masli, At the Barnley (Victoria) competition 336 Leghorns are fed with the ordinary mash of bran and pollard mixed with water into a moist condition. In another division 114 Leghorns are fed with bran, pollard, and other meals supplied in a dry state. With the exception of the mash the other feeding is the same, viz., a little meat, gTcen stuff, etc. The desire is to find out which method gives the best, and most profitable results, and the second test is now proceeding. With tho last one tho wet mash hens had a bit tho best of the averages, although the highest soore on the ground (1699—the present world's record for 12 months' laying by six hens) was made by Leghorns fed with the dry stuff. The superiority in overago was so small indeed as to warrant the belief that when the saving in time and labour with tho dry stuff (a week's supply can bo placed in a hopper so that the fowls may help theniEolves at will) is taken into account, tho dry feeding method produces tho Tcldtively better results. However, just as one swallow does not make a summer; neither does one test prove the virtue, or otherwise, of any particular method of feeding. Realising this aspect of tho case, tho Victorian authorities wisely determines. upon a further trial, whioh is now proceeding. It has goiw for nearly nine months, and the figures, pan out about the same as for the last test, and a coincidence is tho fact that a pen (six hens) of dry feeders has again put up the highest score on the grc-und. A point which should bo taken into, consideration is the fact that 330 wet mash liens are competing against 11+ dry fed birds. This must liavo the effect of slightly reducing the averages of the former hens, as the tendency to mediocrity is larger with the bigger number than with the lesser. This is how the two divisions compare up to the date of the last return:—Prom April 15 to December 30—Highest pen score, 1222 damask, 1201 wet mash; pen average, 977 1005 wet,mash. In reply to a question which I sent on, the Victorian export informed me that tho dry fed hens in the last competition handled firmer than did the the wet maSl feeders, and wero less subject to bowel troubles. Altogether, the results from tho two testa have produced data which will, no doubt, be of much value to poultry men throughout Australia. Hot Weather Hints,

The weather lately has been so hot as to suggest that the lid has come off a certain place which may not be named in this column. It do;6n't matter much, though, to us—the reason for the excessive heat, I mean. It is here, and must bo faced, and our job is to do it in the best possible manneT. So far 86 the fowls are concerned, they will—if not over-fat—get through the hottest day in comparative comfort, if they can lie in damp, loose, earth in a shady spot. It is easy to break up a patch of ground into a loose, fine condition. Easy, too, in most cases to pour water on tlie patch, and easy to fix up a frame of light wood given. If the box is raised off the ground over it: When this artificial shelter is placed over the damp earth the fowl 6 will ho ail" right. Further, on hot, stuffy higlits, if there isn't plenty of head room in the roosting sheds, the fowls should be kept out of them, and made to camp outside; on the ground if necessary. If they should get wet, through Tain, it won't hurt so much as would tlie ill effects set up by the heated, stuffy houses,. The water vessels should he kept scrupulously clean—noxious germs multiply rapidly in stale water in. hot weather—and freshly filled every day witli clean water. The vessels should be kept in a shady spot. A kerosene case, placed on its flat side, and with the water pot put insids is a good idea to adopt, as dust and other refuse cannot fall into the water. If the box is painted white—white is a colour which does not attract heat—the water will bo kept in a cooler condition. If necessary, to keep out tho rain, and prevent fouling of the water by the drop, pings percolating through a crack, the box should bo oovered with a sheet of iron, painted white, for tho reason just given. If the bor is raised off the ground on a couple of bricks, there will be a current of air passing underneath, which will mean cooler water. For tho 6ame reason it is a sensiblo idea to bore tu;o or three inch holes in the back of the box, just above the water vessel. Finally, in order to keep the water as clean as possible, and to stop the birds from standing in it—as they are apt to do on a hot day—the front of the box should be closed up, so that they can only get their heads in; 3-inch netting will ao in most cases. . I

Feeding. The feeding should consist largely of chaffed green stuff, mixed with a bran and pollard mash, a little meat—they must have, a bit in order to keep up their strength—and wheat at night. Crushed charcoal should always be before the fowls in' hot weather, as it is a splendid bowel corrective and internal cleanser generally. There isn't much danger of over-feeding during the hot weather. Foitfs are like humans at this time, they go off their food and have to be tempted, which means that Juicy green stuff, chaffed up, will be the more desired. On Moulting. Tho annual dropping o£ feathers will shortly begin, and it is at this time that the observant pouitryman may learn quite a lot. For instance, he will notice some of the birds shut right up, stop laying, their combs will shrivel up and beoome hard, and their feathers will drop off, all at once. In this condition the fowl is keenly sensitive to climatic changes, and may be burnt and blistered by the sun. There is tho danger, too, thai some of the other birds will discover that there is blood in the butts of the new quills with whichi the bird is completely covered. I don't like this kind of moult at qll, 'and, in my opinion, the birds which go through the dressmaking business that nay should not be bred from, as their constitutions are clearly weak. What chance would they-have of living under natural conditions? Even in sheltered, domesticated state the strain of growing a complete neiy coat of feathers, all at the same time, is very great, with the result t-hat the bird does not torn to lay again for a long time, and produces weak ohickens when she does. I like the gradual, almost imperceptible moult, my-self—the-feather by feather business. Tho fowl which ha 6 new feathers- and old feathers on at the same time is doing well, and indicates the possession of a strong constitution. As often as not the strain of tho dressmaking is eo slight that this hen will bo moulting and laying at the same time. Such a bird always has a soft red comb, a red faoe, is a good feeder and doer generally, and the one which can certainly be used as a breeder. In my own knowledge competition winners have been bred from hens of this sort, but I have nover known the progeny of the other sort of moulter to do anything in that; way.

The offioial results of the forty-first week of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's eleventh egg-laying competition for fowls for tho week ended Tuesday, January 18, are as follow:— LIGHT BREEDS.

L. Mocdonald, S.C.W.L 26 832 Atkinson Tiros., S.C.W.L 24 '.'Oli A. E. Phillips, S.C.W.L 31 1)02 Dalmuir Poultry Yards,. S.C.W.L .". 32 1070 B. P. L. Clayson, S.C.W.L 21 858 Green Bros., S.C.W.L 11l 1012 Jack Green, S.C.W.L 35 JlO3 A. E. Wilson, S.C.W.L 32 10311 W. A. Nixon, S.C.L.W 27 S'Jl H. S. Wowlnorth, S.C.W.L. ... 21 102!) R. Roxburgh, S.C.W.L 2!l 883 R. A. Lazarus, S.C.W.L 21 857 A. W._ Adams, S.C.W.L 25 %'G 'l'. n Fazackerley and Sons, S.C.W.L 23 885 W. Davey, S.C.W.L 33 995 W. A. Nixuu, S.C.W.L 27 909 I?. H.' .Tames, S.C.W.L 23 1)17 E. Mills, S.C.W.L 2!) 1027 S. L. Leggott, S.C.W.L 25 857 P. Willis and Son, 5.C.W.L.... 25 967 George Gee, S.C.W.L 28 9-13 Cireen Bros, S.C.W.L 25 8U Bangiurii Egg Ranch, S.C.W.L. 9 (Ml T. Kennedy, S.C.W.L 25 898 Caldcr Bros., No. 1, S.C.W.L. 21) 1039 R. .W Hawke, S.C.W.I 23 845 Mrs. M'Kinnon, S.C.W.L. 28 892 ■ Green Bros.,'R..C.W.L 27 990 Totals 1276 45,802 HEAVY BREEDS. Total Total for to week. dale. A. W. Adams, Sheffield, S.W. 15 707 Crren Bros., St. Allans, 5.W.... 20 7811 E. Oate, St. Albans, R.I.E. ... 11 81G Cooper and Wainscott, E.I.E. 20 933 W. A. Nixon, R..L.R 4 318 A. E. Wilson, W.W 26 710 T. Kennedy, W.W 30 917 W. A. Nixon, 8.0 29 951 W. L. Walker, B.O! 24 966 E. Willis, 8.0 22 1077 W. Bloomfield, 8.0 18 920 Totals 219 910-1 FOR DUCKS. Tub New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's sixth egg-laying test for ducks. Returns for the forty-first week are as follow.— Total Total for to week. date. ,T. B. Men-ett, I.R 5 850 T. R. Ilall, I.R 30 959 G. L. Hayne, I.R 20 1005 W. Davidson, I.R 18 934 Thomas Dowthwaite, 1.R.. 19 804 W. ICnight, I.R 25 1134 W. Knight, I.R 31 SBl Wainoni Poultry Farm, I.E. 9 314 Totals 157 6911 The letters after each entry denote the breed, as under:—B.L., Brown Leghorn; S.C.W.L., Single Comb White Leghorn; R.C.W.L., Rose Comb White Leghorn; S.W., Silvor Wyandotte; E.1.R., Rhode Island Red; W.W., White Wyandotte; 8.0., Black Orpington; 1.E., Indian RiuineT.

Total Total for to week. date. Verrall Bros., B.I, 17 935 H. Leger, S.C.AV.L 27 101(1 Waikato Egg Farm, S.C.W.L. 27 1039 Glider Bros, S.C.W.L 20 10.1!) Hcrctaunga P.C., No. 1, S.C.W.L 21 %■! N. Solomon, S.C.AV.L 21! 8G7 J. Wordsworth, S.C.W.L 24 S(ii Dominion Poultry Plant, S.C.W.L 25 803 M. P. Chapman, S.C.W.L. 2fl (173 Mrs. J. Mills, S.C.W.L 2!) 107+ A. I?. Broivne. S.C.W.L 29 951 Hoietauiiga l.'.C!., No. 2, S.C.W.L 2G 027 T. MMIwraith, S/jrW.L 29 8">0 C. Warlnirton, S.O.W.r. "J) 770 A. G. Brailcv, S.C.AV.L 28 I02G AVainoni Poultry Farm, S.C.W.L 27 92f> G. L. Havno, S.C.W.L in 1028 A. W. Irvine, S.C.W.L 29 S9I> Asliburtoi! Poultry Farm. s§ l L, I, Wiiskt 6.CiJLh.