POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 15

POULTRY NOTES

.(By Chanteclbe.)

SELECTION OF BREEDERS To an attendance of forty members of the Canterbury" Egg Circle, Mr. C. J. Cusscn, assistant Government poultry instructor, gave an address last Saturday on the "Selection of Breeders." Mr. W. Wigglesworth presided. Mr. Cussen had several specimens of birds with which to illustrate his remarks. An Old English game bird was used to compare the great progress made in the structure of the layer. The shape of the game bird was shown to be wholly unfitted for egg-production, and its typo absolutely useless for this purpose. Mr. Cussen maintained that three points were essential in good breeders: (1) Purity of blood, (2) vigour and constitution, (3) ability to produce and reproduce. He said 'it was essential that birds possess purity of blood to maintain a pure breed and transmith characteristics to progeny Thousands of pounds were lost annually owing to farmers keeping mongrel birds. Mongrels cost just as much- to keep, while their power of egg-produc-tion Was not one-half of that of pure breeds. He advocated' a knowledge of birds individually and, to the beginner there was no better method of acquiring knowledge than to study a good layer and become acquainted with her type. Vigour and constitution were of vital importance. In no case should a weak bird be bred from.. A late moulter, while indicating a good layer,. should not be bred from until 6he had several weeks' rest. ' He advised saving all, the eggs early in the season. They'give the best results. Mashes should, not be fed too frequently, as they forced the birds too much. Hard feed was best for breeders. There was no doubt the hens that laid the fewest eggs gave the strongest cliicks. Exercise was essential to successful breeding. Good scratching material was invaluable, as it made the birds work for thetr living. The number of hens to mate up varied according to the nature of the male bird. If the birds were gives free 'range a larger number of hens'could be allotted. There was no way in which to control 6ex. It would be found that the chickens would average out half of each sex. Fertility took place seven to ten days after-mat-ing. The strongest chicks came' from .liens two to three years old. Mr. Cussen demonstrated from his specimens what a good bird should be. The fullfront, short breast, good crop, texture of abdomen, and the various > breed points were fully explained, and proved most instructive. ' At the conclusion ■ of his address' Mr. Cussen answered: a number of questions, and was accorded ti hearty vote of-thanks. ■ ■ ■ • The Value of Maize. Among a large number of poultrymen there still exists a . prejudice to feeding. This is the result of an old' conviction that has come down from the fancy. It was found that their inactive birds, bred for show and not egg-pro-duction, laid on fat when fed on maize. ■ This is a different proposition to feeding a <layer which cannot be fattened. Mr. James Hadlington, in the June "Agricultural Gazette" for N.S.W., says: "The idea that maize is too fattening for laying hens is a fallacy; our breeders will do well to discard such' notions. When one considers that the yolk of an egg is nearly all fat, it should be apparent that a hen that is to lay well must have a fsijr quantity fed in some shape. 'It is only the hen that lays but fo\v eggs that maize will fatten, but the prolific layer will fully utilise it. At any rate, it is an ascertained fact that at least a third and up to a half of maize fed to the breeding pens will produce better results in chickens .than, feeding solely upon wheat or wheat products. Itis realised that this advice to feed maize to breeders—or, for that matter, layers in general—runs counter to the accepted notions of many poultry-keepers, but the sooner tho lesson is learned the better." These are weighty words and from such an.i authority are invaluable,') -Our 1 ownexperience bears out Mr; Hadlington's contention. It is gratifying that the Canterbury Egg Circle managed to secure 1500 bushels of Java maize three weeks prior to the recent advance of one shilling per bushel. Table Poultry. The excellent table poultry now coming into the market is proof that" the farmer soon adapts himself to the requirements of the market. Once ho learps the quality of goods that commands high prices he is prompt to effect a change in. his methods. Compared with a few years ago the change-is remarkable. Quietly and unostentatiously a great' amount of education has been going on among the farmers, and the table poultry industry is growing in importance. At an early date a big display of table poultry will bo held in Christchurch with a view to further educating the farmer and interesting him in this phase of the poultry industry. .

N.Z, UTILITY POULTRY CLUB'S NEW COMPETITIONS.

Th© official results of the ninth week of the Now Zealand Utility Poultry (Hub's twelfth egg-laying competition for fowls for the week ended Tuesday, June 13, are as follow:— LIGHT BREEDS. • Totial Total for to . week. date. Verral Bros., B.L 22 • 215 Braokenfleld Farm, B.L 14 149 W. Davcy, W.L 24 117 J. B. Merrett, W.L. 19'- 208 R. G. Shearman, W.li 32 ; 177 Heretaunga Poultry Co., W.L. 23' 101 H. Ball, W.li. 23 199 M. A. Currin, W.L 31 161 Dalmuir Poultry Yards, W.L. 21 238 Mrs. H. Graham, W.L 16 133 J. Wordsworth. W.L 14 83 If., E. Eoss, W.L '25 170 R. H. James, W.L. 23 134 C. J. Norton, W.L 24 183 Alfred Eaton, W.L 27 215 M. B[. Walker, W.L. .'. 14 -123 Green Bros. (No.. 2), W.L 21 181 IT. Leger, W.L. ■ .: 27 I 135 J.- Nancarrow, W.L 32 208 Calder Bros.; W.L 30 224 R. Pounsford, W.L 23 171 A. W. Adams, W.L 34 .201 A. E. Phillips. W.L ; 30 '228 T. .Kennedy, W.L ; 18 . 11l V. J. Hill, W.L 21 192 B. P. L. Clayson. W.L. 9 . • 174 T. E., Conway,. W.L 28 153 Heretaunga. P. Co. (No. 1). W.L. 28 192 Rangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L. ... 27 212 S. Bick. WX 24 16b G. Gee, W.L 19 . 186' H. C. Yates, W.L .'...... 13 172 E. P.- Amyes, W.L 14 211 A. E. Wilson. W.L 21 186 Mrs. J. Mills, W.L 31 . 214 A. G. Brailey, W.L 5 82 Green Bros. (No. I),' W.L. ...... 18 163 Atkinson Bros.. W.L 25 177 A. A. Hoare, W.L 28 151 L. T. Wrieht. W.L 22 .114 Te Anau Utility Stud, W.L. ... 19 145 T. M'lhvraith, W.L 25 64 E. A. Lazarus, W.L 14 160 H. W. Bower, W.L 9 127 H. S. Woodnorth.' W.L 15 140 Hokowhitir Poultry Co., W.L. ... 15 173 Calder Bros.. W.L : 23 189 J. B. Merrett (No. 1), W.L 17 150 Jack Green, W.L 21 225 Totals 1053 8213 ■THIRD HEAVY BREED TEST. Total Total for to week. date. T. Kennedy, W.W ; 10 25 Green Bros., W.W. : 34 87 W. Kniirht, W.l'.R 19 94 A. 8. Ooodcv, E.I.R. 20 124 Miss E. Willis, 13.0 32. 205 0. J. Norton, 8.0 27 81 T. E. Conway, 8.0. : 27 200 J. Nancarrow,. 8.0 24 187 Mies J. James. 8.0 15 2C9 I'. Dowthwaitc, K.W 28 107 A. W. Adams. S.W. ~ 9 43 Totals 225 1362 FIRST SINGLE ''PES'' TEST. Total 'Total for to Week. date. A. S. Coojicr, K.I.R 12 82 R. H. James, W.L 6 49 T. L. Wright, W.L 4 25 Eangiuru Egfr Ranch, W.L. 5 37 Green Bros., W.L •• 5 42 Calder Bros.. W.L. 5 47 W. Davey, W.L 4 36 J. B. Merrett, W.L 0 21 A. E. Wilson, W.L ;3 35 Mrs. J. Mills, W.L 5 51 Atkinson Bros., W.L 5 37 H. P. L. Olayson. W.L. 5 45 J. Wordsworth, W.L 0 2. Totals 59 509