POULTRY NOTES
Chicken Biology, Tho following was Mr. J. B. Merrctt's address at tho recent speech competition at Christchureh:—"if you wcro to ask tlio man in the street tho meauiuc of tho word 'science,' nine out of ten would ho unablo to Rivo the definition, though each would have sonic conception of its mcaninir. The word is best understood by tho definition 'systomatiscd knowledge.' Every poultryinan ißiin a measure a, scientist, as lio waika along given linos that syßtern lias Bhown hira give practical knowledge. Science is a word that should not frightcji anyone, but encotiraEC. Years 1 ago religionists regarded the word askance. To-day, they regard' it as handmaid to religion. To the noultrymun scisuco opens up the way to a thorough study of biology in chicken embryology, tn physics in temperatures and proper ventilation of houses, to chemistry in nn understanding of the elements in foods and their correlation with the egg. Science can aid us in every department, and the morn wo trust to it the more successful we shall be. Chicken biology is an intensely interesting subject. From iho time fertilisation takes place to the exit of tho cluck, the study is ftrll of refreshing -discovery. By the aid of a strong light tho process of growth of the embryo may be watched from day to day. A warm fompcrauu'o of 103 promotes development. Thirty-six hours after tho genu shows signs of life, and from tho heart of tho cluck, tho capilliaries may be seen spreading towards the shell. Twenty-four hours after they aro rod with blood, and are carrying the oxygen to tho heart of the cluck. The timing of every section of the chick's body takes nlaco with unerring accuracy to the knitting of the bonus, tho formation of tissue, the pierciug of nerves. Tho system of respiration is abdominal, and is peculiarly Its own. Through the allantois Iho chick breathes In a. way seldom seen in nature. This abdominal breathing takes place until tho chick is almost duo to hatch, when the lungs are then brought into -use, and tho abdominal process of breathing ceases. This leads to nature's wonderful provision of the absorption of tho yolk of the egg into the system, which acts as food for the first throa or four days of the chink's life. Nature know how frail tho chick would bo. and provides its flrsi food from tho yolk, which Jh kept alnioßt intact during incubation. In the white of tho egg aro found nearly all those elements that form the chick. The bones, feathers, and tissue all como from tho white. The mineral elements are blended through the egg as tho result, of feeding green foods. The plants take in from the soil, raiu and sunshine, iron, phosphates and lime, and these are used in body consl ruction. Kvory section is complete, even to the little iron pick that covers tho beak and protects it from injury when brcakim' the shell. It has oulv 0110 nurposo to niercn the shell. Having' done Ihis.' it. falls off when the eontraction of the beak takes place through hardening. Tn every phase of the chick's life there is much to studv. but thosa twenty days in the shell afford a. study in biology rarely equalled iu nuturo."
A Poultry Management Demonstration. A very uleasant and instructive time waa spoilt on Saturday afternoon Inst at Sfr. A. 3f. Love's farm. Green Island, when Mr. D. .T. Gibson, from Glcnavy, talked pleasaiilly and practically lo about 100 residents and visitors on poultry .and their management'. 'J'hn demonstration was given under the auspices of the Otago Kng Circle, and as Mr. Gibson devotes all his attention to the nrolitable production of eggs, his remarks were confined to that branch of uoultry-kocping, leaving the general utility breeds out of the demonstration. Mr. Gibson started with tho proposition that (here .was not much profit in poultry-keeping as a husiness, unless it was well directed. Thero wero four essentials—breeding, feediuc. environment, and practical personality for the prosecution of the husiness. lie regarded environment as of the greatest importance, much more so than many people imagined. Environment included soil, climate, nnd proper housing. Breeding meant selection and propagation of stock showing vigour, energy, and size. Vigour should bo a groat point in the breeding pen, for without it poultry-farming could not succeed. Mr. Gibson had before him n, circular brooder similar to one ho used on his own farm, but much smaller. This apparatus had a kerosene lamp in tho centre, and a. screen of felt with slits In it fastened to the circumference The openings were there to allow tho chicks, when they felt too warm near the lamp, to como out into the fresh air. He recommended that the brooder be placed on a bed of chaff, and that the temperature bo kept at about lOOdcg., a hen's temperature being about lOJdcg. Chicks, ho' thought, should be removed from tho incubator about 36 hours after coming out of tho shell; that their first feed should be stalo bread crumbs nnd dry, coarso oatmeal, with a little tine grit and water with the chill off. At first chicks should bo kept within 3ft. of the brooder to prevent them getting a chill, for many chicks were lost from chill and overfeeding. At three weeks old they might bo allowed more liberty by placing thorn under a covered frame and fed'-on broken wheat. At six weeks, when they began lo get their feathers, n little soft food might be given with advantage, together with green food that must be succulent and cut up very fine. After six weeks tho birds must be fed for growth and size. Oats was one of tho best frame-builders, but bran and bouemcal contained a lot of tho mineral constituents that growing birds renuired. To keep stock healthy they must have a frco range as well as-' shade, for exercise was of great benefit' to stock. Mr. Gibson said he preferred a medium-sized hen, as he found big birds were not the best layers. He exhibited a White Leghorn hen from Mr. Love's fiocl;, and explained tho good points of a bird kept for egg-laying, and how to judge the best layers. Those that did not come up to tho standard should be got rid of at once. Mr. Gibson then replied to a number of questions, and as many of tho visitors took notes of the information given it was evident that they were practical poultry hoopers bent on profiting by t.ho knowledgo so freely given them by the expert demonstrator. Mr. Gibson, in answer to an inquiry. Baid he thought it would bo a great mistake for a returned soldier •without experience to go in for poultry farming on a largo scalo at the present price of fowl food. It would he mtich wiser for such men to take up. say. from JO to 50 acres and begin with a few birds to bo kept in connection with other farm stock, and to enlarge his poultry stock as experience was gained. At the close of the address afternoon tea was handed round, and Mr. Smart, president of the Otago Keg Circle, explained the objects •of tho organisation and the benefits to be derived, from membership.' Mr. Gibson was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his instructive demonstration.
EGG-LAYING
NEW ZEALAND UTILITY POULTRY CLUB'S COMPETITION. The fourteenth CKE-layiaE competition of tho New Zealand Utility Poultry Club commenced at Fapanul on April 6, and will contimio until March 31, 1915. The figures for the fiftieth iveek to March 25 are:— LIGHT BEEEDS. Weekly Total total, to dato. .
Minorcas—, Miss Jessio James 2 931 ll.' Williams 20 1339 Totals 967 73,520 HEAVY BItKEDS. Weekly Total total, to date. I!lack Orpinelous*C. It. Izard 12 917 *T. E. Conway. No. 1 7 780 Norton and Dove 13 1077 ,1. Nancarrow, senr 22 857 W. Bloomllehl- 21 1080 T. E. Conway 24 1152 White Plymouth Hocks— W. Knight; 24 1105 Ehodo Island Beds— ♦Norton and Dovo 7 728 E. R. Marsdcn 12 963 Silver Wyandottes— W. W. ilewinson 16 864 T. AVilson 16 IW4 T. Dowthwaite 21 1055 tT. 10. Conway 2 509 A. W. Adams 12 895 T. Kennedy 21 887 «Mrs. F. Howell 30 933 Totals 1 240 14,864 DUCK CONTEST. Weekly Total total, to date Indian ItunnersT. Dowthwaite 17 1276 *T,. A. Wadha-m 17 1365 Mrs. W. A. Geo 14 1261 W. T. Green 14 1396 1!. M. Copland 3 1262 *lleretaunga Poultry Co. 8 1331 *W. T. Green 8 1330 Totals 61 9223 SINGJiK MUD CONTEST.. Heavy Breeds. Weekly Total total, to date. Silver WyandotlcsE. J. Boss 0 196 T. Wilson 4 215 Rhode Island Iteda- ... T. 33. Conway 4 170 Norton and Dove 6 140 Barred Plymouth ltocks~ A. E. Wilson 7 190 Totals 21 910 Light Breeds. Weekly Total total, to date. White LcghornsGreeu Bros., No. 1 0 237 tlreeu Bros., No. 2 4 246 ii, W. llawke 5 196 11. Meadows , 5 263 Tracey King 5 281 6. li. Beer 2 258 E. K Marsdeu 5 183 T. Wilkinson 6 306 Mrs. J. Mills, No. 1 0 163 B, Dick 4 244 Atkinson Bros., No. 1 3 238 ■f. Stevens 3 255 Mrs. J. Mills, No. 2 ... 5 231 blaster Ern Gee 0 186 Reliable Stud P. I'arm .... 0 189 .If. Y7. Beck 0 117 W. A. Geo and Sons 4 2:3 Atkinson Bros., No. 2 5 256 11. Williams 0 198 Totals £6 4169 *Ouo bird dead, fi'wo birds dead.
YACHTING
Tito points raeo postponed from the end of January is to lie sailed by tlio Port Nicliolsou'Yacht Club to-tlny. There aro seven entries in the first-class, ami an interesting raco is anticipated. Each of these points races carries a club trophy for the winner, and the yachts competing in these races obtain points according; to their places at tlio finish. These points aro totalled up, and a substantial trophy is presented at the end of the seasjn to the yacht obtaining the greatest number. Tlio covirso for to-day's race is from Clydo Quay Wharf lo Koro Koro and back via the Jeminghain Buoy.
Brown Lcshoms— . Vcrroll Bros 13 1165 *H. Hunter 0 928 'tMrs. T. Jlorcton 0 949 White Leghorn's— *W. Newall 21 1197 0. J. Hadley 10 939 tt. Ooombes 10 1289 *0aldcr Bros., No. 2 16 1364 N. Stark 15 1196 ' K. W. Joiil-3 18 1349 Atkinson Bros 22 1339 . Calder Bros IS 1492 *,I. Nancarrow, sanr 19 1283 J. Stephens 16 1240 ♦Oxford l'oultry Farm .. 18 1379 *JI. Ball 16 1225 W. A. Gee and Sous, No. 2 14 1227 A. E. Phillips 16 1166 Mrs. M. B. Pulla-r 18 1223 Mrs. E. A. Gorinski 24 1498 ' Trig l'oultry Farm 23 1352 nirs. C. Atkinson 23 hm J. Nancarrow, juur 16 1256 IK jr. West 22 1395 0. biggins 22 1407 ' t\ W. Wilson 19 1219 A. ¥,. Wilson 21 1101 JJalmuir l'oultry Yards 6 1176 II. W. Beck 27 1536 it. W. jUawkc 14 1343 Omao Poultry Farm ... 15 1086 *M. F. Blackmail 14 1343 II. Williams 9 1249 Iloretaunga Poultry Co.. No. 2 21 1216 S. Ij. Beer 21 1345 A. K. Powley 22 1404 Mrs. J. Mills 17 1272 iMrs. W. Hoacli 13 1044 Uaugiuru Kgg Itanch .... 22 1197 ' iSmart Bros 6 1035 Traeoy Kintr 20 1333 M. A. Curi'in 16 1224 0. II. Ixarcl 23 1377 Green Bros.. No. 1 19 1354 V, r . Davey 15 1243 *Ii. T. Wright 13 1048 *W. Stephenson 4 986 G. Thompson 19 1435 K. Dick 11 1139 A. W. Adams 15 1219 .1. llobertsoii 5 1163 J. L. Benfcll 15 1043 W. Haley » 1369 P. Mulder 4 1223 •}]). Graham 3 1226 .Unliable Stud Poultry Farm No. 2 5 718 W.A.Geo a iid .Sons No. 1 19 1269 Unliable Stud Poultry Farm. No. 1 18 1262 Waimea Poultry Yards 18 1219 jleretaunsa Poultry Co., No. 1 16 1359 Green Bros., No. 2 21 1474
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 158, 29 March 1919, Page 12
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2,000POULTRY NOTES Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 158, 29 March 1919, Page 12
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