POULTRY INDUSTRY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2681, 29 January 1916, Page 15

POULTRY INDUSTRY

iBl CHANTECLKK.i

Questions and Answers. "Thinker" writes: "Will you kindly explain what is meant by 'in-breeding' and 'line-breeding'?" Answer: Line-breeding is the result attained by the blending of two distinct strains. Primarily it is in-breeding, but results lead to distinctly separato families by continuity and the exclusion of alien blood, in-breeding is the promiscuous blending of related birds without any regard to relationship. In line-breeding repeated acts of in-breeding becomo less closo in their relationship as the start-ing-point is receded from, and,the multiplicity of birds is increased. "Duck Culture" writes: "Can you tell me why I lose so many duckliugs at three or four weeks old? I have lost several just when I thought them out of (lunger." Answer: We should consider tho cause an irregularity of freah water supply and exposure to heat, u rowing ducks must have shade aad a full supply of water. If kept without water they gorge themselves when it is supplied—cramp and staggerß result, and death follows. ".Perplexed" writes: "I always read your notes in The Dominion with interest, and would.be glad if you would give ma any information regarding the loliowing:—Last week I had a very fine White' Leghorn hen taken suddenly ill. She became paralysed in the legs, and dragged her tail on the ground as sho tried to walk.. She was only last year's chick in full lay at the time, and laid an egg while in that condition. She was a splendid-lookiug bird, and seemed in good condition, ' I isolated her for two or three days, and gave salts.- - She got worse, so I had to destroy her. Can you give me any. idea as to the cause of the trouble?"

Answer: We are pleased to note you ars a'reader of The Dominion. Your trouble was prolapsis of the oviduct, by the use of stimulating food,; and overforced laying. You could do little to save the bird. It is a temptation, to force good layers, even when they are working at concert pitch. Over-forcing brings its penalty, and the faithful worker collapses under' the strain. It always appears to us a- pitiful sight in the plant to see a bird that has broken down in her faithful service.- In. many cases it is caused through inherent weakness, but mostly through forcing too much for eggproduction. m "E.R.," writes: "Thanks for The Dominion- notes. I look for them every Saturday, and profit by reading them. The Dominion is my paper, and I like it very much/' "Inquirer": Charcoal is a, good cleanser of the system. It removes all impurities, and promotes vigorous circulation of the blood. The speaker was quite correct in his advocacy of charcoal. If you feed plenty of green food-the use of charcoal is not essential daily. Onto a week 1b sufficient. , "Malcolm" writes: "I read an interest-ing-account of Mr. T. Fazackerley e address, and there is only ono thing X would like to know, and that is how much meat meal he feeds to a given number of fowls. states 2lb. daily, but does not state the number. Perhaps you could inform me how you would feed it yourself, and also which you flunk the best out of the above and dried blood. So as not to take up too much space in your valuable coluinfcy I will ask three question.:—(a) "What quantity of meat meal to 12 birds? (b)what quantity ot: dried blood to. 12 birds? (c) .which do you think best-meat meal or dried blood I have the following mash, which I feed about lloz. daily to six birds. Is this all right, or have you a better ° n6 ;:~ 501 mash (2 sharps, 1 bran), Jib. salt, $lb. sulphur, lib. charcoal, lib. linseed meal. Answer: Mr. Fazackerley feeds 260 fowls daily with 21b. of meat meal, though this amount may be and is increased by many producers. It may safely .be fed 20 per cent, of every 1001b. of dry feed during the fall and winter, but i 10i- per cent, in the spring.- (A) feed 1- buds daily 2oz. of meat'meal; (b) loss, of dried blood is sufiiHetitf (6)' 1 most 'poultryinen. now consider meat meal the better rood of the two, as it is a. balanced toodl and contains bone and lime elements.v Blood is too concentrated, and ruins the birds if fed to excess. Ovarian troubles re. suit. Dried blood .is certainly the richer of the two, but it requires great discrbstion in its -use. Its chief element is protein, but meat meal has a blending of protein and carbohydrates, both, of which form the chief parts of an egg. Your mash is satisfactory. Are your results go ° d? Helping the Soldiers. ' There has been some suggestion of askin" the Government to set aside certain portions of land for returned soldiers to take up poultry farming.' The idea is a .good one providing the soldier had some experience and enjoyed good health. Poultry-keeping for a living is not to be commended for convalescents. The long and strenuous hours of chicken raising soon plays a man out if his health is indifferent.. We would suggest that poul-try-keeDing lie made an adjunct to other lines, and that sufficient fowls ]>e kept to acquaint soldiers with tho work. It would be a graceful tribute to the soldiers if poultrymen were to encourage all married soldiers by presenting them with a breeding, pen of birds. This could easily be done, and tho gift would be appreciated. The Now Zealand' Utility Club might well take this work in hand for Canterbury, or the New Zealand Poultry Association might arrange a scheme foT the whole of the Dominion.

Help for the Belgians. We regretjio see that the efforts of the New Zealand Utility Club are somewhat discouraged by a reflection on the class of bird that is likely to he sent from New Zealand. It is pointed out that birds are imported from England, and that better quality could bB obtained •near Belgium to aupply the need. We the fancier imports birds from England, but for egg-laying birds New Zealand has shown excellent results. The freight question might prove a serious one, and- it would haidly be worth while paying exorbitant freight rates when cash could be sent. Onr returned soldigrs can very well do with all the help we can give them. We approve of helping Belgium or France, but our English poultrymen are watching their need, and have raised thousands of pounds to heln them. A good practical scheme to help our returned soldiers as they settle down in married life is to our mind most de. 6irable.

The "American Standard." A copy of the new "American Stand ard" has reached us, and is ' a great im provement on the : 1910 . edition. The "Standard' is revised every five years, Tho edition of 1910 contains inanv ser. ions errors and caused much dissatisfaction among fanciers. The later «lition is free from many of the 1910 faults, and should meet the-needs of tho. American. The book is* a work. of art, con. taining half-tone and coloured pictures of all the breeds, and full descriptions of their characteristics. ,

Good Appointment. The appointment of Mr. I?. W. Hawke as supervisor .of the forthcoming competition should meet the approval of all poultrymen. Mr. Hawke is a practical poultry-keeper and well suited for tho position. His appointment ontails ,somo sacrifices, as ho has always been a competitor, and has shown up well ists. Under- his iruidanco tho commit'tos ihould be relieved of a ffrcat deal of reponsibiiity, and better results should bo

obtained. What Should Producers Do? Help has been given to keep out American eggs by a duty of 3d. a dozen. A law was passed last year to compel exporters of egsrs to New Zealand to stamp their eggs. These facts should help us, but producers want to keep up their supply so as to mako it lin profit a bio for American eggs to be sent here. Last vcar several thousand dozens landed in Wellington and were used by pastrycooks, while our own locally prodiisscl eggs were Ignored. Bumping prices up to 2s. 6d. a dozen is not the way to meet tho American eggs; it Ms just the thing to Jielp organised importations of every winter to compete against our production. Competition frm America will be keen this year, as owing to the war they have a large excess of eggs over and abovo their requirements. Will Inquire From New Zealand. Recently a deputation Waited on tlie Hon. K. Pi Blundell, MinlstK pi latlua-

try for South .Australia, urging that imported eggs should be stamper. Tlio speakers cited that New Zealand hnd passed ail Act making it compulsory that imported eggs be stamped." The Minister, in reply, said the matter would receivo his attention, and ho would write Mr. Massoy, of New Zealand, and gQt full particulars of what had been done. Ho felt suro the Government woolil meet their wishes by passing a similar Act iu South Australia. N.Z. UTILITY POULTRY CLUB'S COMPETITIONS. The official results of the forty-second week of the New Zealand' Utility Poultry egg-layilig competition for fowls for tho week ended Tuesday, Janu-ary-25, aro as follow-.— LIGHT BREEDS. Total Total for to iveek. date. Verrall Bros., E.L 17 952 H.. Leger, S.C. W.L 24 IMA Waikato Egg Farm, S.C.W.L. 33 1072 C'aldor Bros., S.C.W.L 27 10CG Heretaunga P.t'., .S.C.W.L. ... 27 991 N. Soiomon, S.C. W.L 27 8!H J. Wordsworth, ,S.C.W.L 25 BS9 Dominion Poultry Want S.C.W.L 22 885 M. P. Chapman, S.C.W.L 29 1002 Mrs. J. Mills, S.C.W.L ;io 1101 A. E. Browne, S.C.W.L 23 377 Heretaunga P. 0., No. 2, S.C.W.L 21 !)4S T. M'llwraith,- S.C.Yv'.L. 29 859 C. AVarburton, S.C.W.L 25 SO4 A. (}. Brailey, S.C.W.L. 29 1055 Wainoni : Poultry Farm, S.C.W.L 30 956 G. L. Hayne, S.C.W.L 25 ' 1053 A. W. Irvine, S.C.W.L 30 926 Ashburton Poultry Farm, S.C.W.L 29 837 G. Cattoral, S.C.W.L 30 905 L. T. Wr:ght, S.C.W.L. , 35 1088 L. Macdonald, S.C.W.L. 27 859 Atkinson Bros., S.C.W.L. • 27 !)3o a. \E. Phillips, S.C.W.L ;... 29 831 Dalmuir' Poultry Yards, S.C.W.L 32 . 1111 B. P. L. Clayson, S.C.W.L. ... 19 877 Green Bros., S.C.W.L 30 1042 Jack Green, S.C.W.L 32 -* 1135 A. E. Wilson, S.C.W.L 25 10G1 W. A. Nixon, S.C.W.L 25 916 H; S. AVoodnortli, .S.C.W.L. ... 26 1055 li. Roxburgh', S.C.W.L 26 909 E. A. Lazarus, S.C.W.L 24 881 A. W. Adams, S.C.W.L 21 990 T. Fazackerley and Sons, S.fc'.W.L 25 910 W. Davey, S.C.W.L 29 102-1 W. A. Nixon, S.C.W.L 29 998 E. H. James, S.C.W.L 23 910 It. Mills, S.C.W.L 34 1061 S. L. Leggett,' S.C.W.L 25 882 E. Willis and Son, S.C.W.L', ... 26 993 George Gee, S.C.W.L. . 30 973 Gieen Bros., S.C.W.L 23 867 Eangiuru Egg llanch, S.C.W.L. 12 . 653 T. Kennedy, S.C.W.L.- 28 926 Calaer Bros., No. 1, 5:C."W.L.... 26 1065 R. W. Hawke, 5.C.W.L.,. -.27 , 872 Mrs, M'Kiimon, S.C.W.L 30 922 Green Bros., R.C.W.L. 25 1015 Totals 1305 47,107 'HEAVY BREEDS. Total Total for to week, dnto. A. W. Adams. S.W 22 729 Green Bros., S.W 12 798 E. Oakes, R.I.R '25 841 Cooper and Wainscott, R.I.R. 16 919 W. A. Nixon, R.I.R 9 327 A. E. Wilson, W.W. 22 732 T. Kennedy, W.W 28 , 945 W. A. Nixon, 8.0 24 978 W. L. Walker, 8.0 24 990 E. Willis, 8.0 23 1100 W. Bloomfield, 8.0 13 ' 933 Totals 218 9322 FOR DUCKS. TiTe New Zealand Utility Poultry Club's sixth eg!f-laying test for ducks. Returns for the forty-second week are as follow: - Total Total for to week, date; J. B. Merrett, 1,8 1 857 T. R. Hall, .LB. 15 1004 G'. L. Hayne, I.R 18 1023 W. Davidson, I.R. .... 20 954 Thomas Dowthwaite, I.R. ...... 23 827 W. Knight, 1.E...... 29 1163 W. Knight, I.R 30 911 Wainoni Poultry Farm, 1.E.... 11 325 Totals 153 7064 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., Hose Comb Whitn Leghorn; S.W., Silver Wyandotte ; ■ R.1.R., Ehode Island' Red; W.W.; ■ White- Wyandotte; 8.0., ;■ Black Orpington; '1.R., Indian Rucier.