POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2890, 30 September 1916, Page 18

POULTRY NOTES

(BY CHAllTeclkr.) DEAD IN SHELL Several correspondents state they aro in trouble over the dead-in-slicll problem. One writer laments 18 chicks from 100 eggs. There aro several rciisons for tins, any one of which may bo.the causo in this instance. Lack of vitality in breeding stock, lack of exercise, want of freo range, eggs kept too long before being sot in the machine, too high or too low temperatures, want of cooling and turning, want of moisture or excess of moisture, faulty thermometer, rough handling of tho eggs in embyronic state. Tho beginnor must search out for himself t'he cause of the trouble. A good indication of a good hatch is the position of the air-cell. Should this bo dried down one-tliird of the egg, the chick is almost sure to hatch. Should it not ho dried down the moisture becomes excessive, and as soon as the shell is cracked tho liquid becomes 6tickyarid holds tho chick in.' When the chick breaks the shell and cannot get further it is a sure sign tho egg has not dried down' sufficiently. Longer cooling is needed, and better ventilation. When chicks are dead in shell before tho duo date tho excess moisture has drowned them or the high temperature has smothered them, or the even temperature chillcd tliem. Dead in shell is always a cause for investigation of one' or' many of tho above troubles: . The New Zealand Utility Poultry Club. At the -last meeting of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club it was resolved that' tho club do all in its power to interest local M.P.'s in tho question of Asiatic eggs. It was suggested that a big public meeting be called of poultry producers and whoever of the public that cajed to attend, and that the M.P.'s bo invited to bo present. This course would make them familiar with the subject, so that should an effort be made to amend tho Act, they would be well versed from the poultry industry point of view. Tho finance committee of the club -lias also recommended that next year's test consist of sixty pens for the teams, 3G for light breeds, and 21 for the heavy breeds. ' The single-pen tests to to have 24'pens—JG for light breeds and eight for the heavy. Preference will be' given in the single-pen entry those entered in t'ho teams' sections. Tho entry fee for all events to be £2 cach. Raising Chicks. Every available eg" for hatching should now be set. All the chickens will be wanted. Broody hens should now be available in larger numbers, so that chickens should be abundant during October. Farmers aro also urged to hatch all tho . chickens they can. Table poultrv is very dear, and the market "is open for any Quantity. The ■ high prices ruling are bound to hold all next season, lo set the hen place her in a coop or box. Make the nest on the ground. Take out the soil so as to form a hollow, and place somo hay or straw for nesting material. Dust the hen with disinfectant powder, so that she will not be irritated with vermin or transmit them to the clucks. Place food and' water before her, and she will usually regulate her own periods of feeding and airing the eggs. When tho chicks arrive do not feed them till the second day. Leave tho hon so she will hatch out all the eggs. The chicks aro better without food for 50 hours after hatching, as they absorb the yolk of the egg before hatching, and this is Nature's food for tho first two days. - Feed a.littlo chick feed or coarse oatmeal soaked in milk and raw egg beaten together makes .a good food for the first few days. Should two hens hatch at tho same time and have nine chickens each, place all tho chickens with 0110 lien and set the other on fresh setting of eggs, hens usually lay away, and bring' their chicks home with them. In addition to this every broody hen should be set so as to meet the demand for poultry.

The Demand For Eggs.' Tho best arrangement made to encourage bakers local eggs was to offer them at a price fair to tho buyer and the producer. This has had the desired effect, and bakers aro placing thousands of dozens in preserve ready for next winter. One baker, determined that the public shall not accuse him of using Asiatic egffs, has all announcement in his window that Jie never has, and never will, use anything but locally produced eggs. The demand for the local output is excellent, and the poultry producers are doing their best to fill the large orders for them. The Returned Soldier Problem. While in New Zealand wc are wasting time theorising what to do with the returned soldier, the Australian Government has purchased a block of land at "French" .Forest, and all those soldiers who have shown an aptitude for poultry have been started in poultry-keeping. The poultry farmers havo' given liberally of their stock and many a returned soidier is now settled down with his fruit and poultry to look forward to contented days. Ifs time something wore done in New Zealand. An experiment could be tried with a few of the men, and a clianco given them to make good. A Christchurch poultryman, known for his generosity, has signified his willingness to purchase 100 layers for the Queen Mary Hospital at Hnumer. This is a most generous offer. As soon as accommodation can bo found for the birds they will be sent forward.

tI.Z. UTILITY POULTRY CLUB'S NEW COMPETITIONS. The official results of tho twenty-fourth week ot the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club s tw.elfth egg-laying competition for fowls for the week ended Tuesday, September 26, aro as follow:— LIGHT BItEBDS. • Total Total for to „ _ _ week. date. Vcrral Bros, B.L 28 613 Brackenfield Farm. B.L. 2B <69 ■\V. Davey, W.L 32 567 J. B. Herrett, WX. 32 (.19 If. O. Shearman, W.L '30 553 Heretaunga Poultry Co., W.L.... 26 525 H. Ball, W.L 32 558 M. A. Currin, W.L. 31 612 Dalmuir Poultry Yards W.L. ... 33 571 Mrs. H. Graham, W.L 35 525 ,T. Wordsworth, W.L. 36 <72 11. K Boss, W.L 33 618 K. K. James, W.L 32 479 C. J. Norton, W.L '31 555 Alfred Eaton, W.L 32 519 Jf. H. Walker, W.L : 32 455 Green Bros. (No. 2); W.L 35 612 ][. Leger, W.L. 34 555 J. Nancarrow, W.L 33 659 Caldcr Bros., W.L 3-1 570 It. Pounsford, W.L - 31 593 A. W. Adams, W.L. 32 C 33 A. E. Phillips. W.L 32 . (64 'J'. Kennedy, W.L.• '34 465 V. J. Hill, W.L • 35 553 B. P. L. Clayson. W.L 35 557 T. E. Commy, W.L. 30 531 Heretaunga Poultry Co. (So. 1), W.L. . ; 27 625 Banciuru Egg jtancii, W.L 25 627 iS. Dick, W.L. 30 561 U. Gee, W.L; 31 549 IT. C. Yates, W.L 28 518 E. P. Amycs, W.L 30 594 A. E. Wilson, W.L. .'. 27 549 Mrs. J. Mills, W.L 35 684 A. G. Broiley. W.L 29 i'CO Green Bros. (No. l). W.L 33 561 Atkinson Bros., W.L 30 597 A. A. lloare, W.L. 26 520 L. T. Wright, W.L '. 34 568 To A"au Utility Stud, W.L 37 573 T. I,l'llwva.ith, • W.L. 31 505 H. A. Lazarus, W.L. 36 550 H. W.. Bower, W.L 34 495 IT. K. Woodnorth. W-L 31 • 425 Ilokov.'hitu Ponltcv Co., W.L.... 24 497 Caldcr Bros.. W.L :. 34 6'.', ,T. Tl. Murrelt (No. 1), W.L 32 573 Jack Green, W.L.' 35 671 Totals :.... 1547 27,530 HEAVY BP.EED TEST. Tolal Total for tn T. Kennedy. W.W 34 326 Green Bros., W.W 33 459 W Kiiiih!., W.P.H.. 33 ■ M 8 A. S. Oooii°r. E.T.I) 31 515 Mis« E. Willis, K.O 31 571 i a .T. Norton. 8.0 53 5^ T. Tl. Cftnway. Tl.O. 33 . 6SB .T. iS'ancarrow, P».O 27 . fOR JTis« J. Jnroos, 8.0 19 ' f.OZ T. rowt.hwait-c, 29 576 A. W. Adams, S.TT. 32 '36 Totals ;! 335 :868 " STNOIjK PEN TKST. Toffl] TotAl .for to vreoU. do'" A. Cooper, T1.1.R. 5 106 A. S. Cooper, E.I.R 5 126

It. H. James, W.L 6 328 T. 1. Wright, W.L 5 73 itangiuru Egg Ranch, W.L 6 IC6 Green Bros., W.L 6 117 Caldcr Bros., W.L 5 124 W. Davey, W.L 6 121 J. B. ItCerrctt, W.L. 5 65 A. E. Wilson, W.L. — 41 Mrs. J. Mills, W.L. 1 126 Atkinson Bros., W.L 6 305 H. P. L. Clayson. W.L 6 58 J. Wordsworth, W.L 6 52 Totals 67 1380 rou DUCKS. Tho How Zoalaud Uuuiy I'cuury Oltih'a seventh cgg-laylng test tor ducks. Itoturna for tho twenty-fourth week.aiaas follow:— Total Total for to week. date. W. Knight, J.lt 41 535 lleretaunga Poultry Co., 1.11. ... 28 718 11. W. Bower, 1.8 35 810 Totals 101 2063 Tho letters after each entry tleaoto the Ijreoil, as under:—BX., Brown Leghorn; W.L., White Leghorn; S.W., Silver Wyan. (lotto; K.1.K., Rhode Island lted; W.W., Whita Wyandotte; 8.0., Black Orpington; W.P.lt., Whito Plymouth Rock; 1.E., Id. dian Runner.

PRIZES FOR FOOTBALLERS

SOLDIERS' SISVEN-A-SIDE MATGmS. Teams selected from tlic various companies of the Nineteenth Infantry Reinforcements at Tauherinikau- are to play in' a. soveu-a-sido football tournament . to-day•, when it is hoped that the" whole of the I games will bo got off. Through tho generosity of Mr! Arnold Bimns, Mr. Cliarles Haynes, and ail anonymous donor, prizes will be . given to members of tho winning teams- in tho. first round, and gold and silver medals to-the* members of the first and second teams in tho final. These medals, • which were given by Mr. Bums, are 14 in number, 6even being of silver, with gold centres, and seven of solid silver. Mr. Binns has also presented a silver cup, to be won outright by the best shot in the Nineteenths. ■