POULTRY NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 191, 8 May 1920, Page 12

POULTRY NOTES

EGG-LAYING COMPETITIONS WORLD'S RECORD BROKEN, All laying records have been broken by ™r. R. R. Ohristie'e Black Orpingtons in tho Geelong egg-laying competition. In tile single test for twelve months one of hiß pullets laid 339 eggs, and his team of six laid 1733 eggs. The former record lor a Bingle bird jrus 335 eggs, and for a team 1699 eggs. It is worthy of note that these figures form a new world's rccord, and Mr. Chrifitie, who ia represented this year at Papanui, is to be congratulated accordingly. In the winter test at Geelong Mr. Christie's Blacks also broke all records, laying 576 eggs in four months. She late Mr. Hart, Victorian Government expert, mated: the stud birda which produced this wonderful record. When Mr. Ilart -was too ill to select the pullets for the competition the Government expert nominated Mr. Fred. Sogan to make the selections, and the result shows tlut the well-known Maorilander knowß his business. It iB now over twenty years ago since this old fancier remarked to the writer that he never put a fowl into the breeding pen until he had made a closn study of its eye,, and no doubt he applied tho same principleif whefn selecting Mr. Christie's representatives. It will be interesting to learn that Mr. Christie's six pullets laid eggs of good weight, averaging 2joz. each. The average yield was just on 289 eggs per pujlct, which is remarkable, but it shows in a nutshell what skilful breeding means in egg-farming operations. Taking <tic average value of eggs at Is. 6d. per dozen for the twelvn months, the six pullets earned £10 16s. 7d. in the year, or an average of £1 13s. sd. per bird. The cost of feeding at ljd. per bird per week comes to £1 195., leaving a surplus of £8 17b. for the year. Those who have no idea what successful poultry keeping means, and who continually air their eloquence in decrying the industry, will find some difficulty in linding any other occupation which gives 6uch quick and handsome profltß as a flock of prolific layers, bred to lay on the lines of the Geelong competition winners.