THE POULTRY RUN.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 100, 3 October 1918, Page 3

THE POULTRY RUN.

RHODE ISLAND REDS. Probably no breed of fowls has been originated on the same principles as the Rhode Island Reds. Having been produced by out-breeding for the sole purpose of obtaining fowls of hardy constitution, and capable of laying a goodly number of eggs, and possessing desirable table features, the farmers of Rhode Island have given us a breed which, for all-round utility qualities, is hard to beat. Having discovered that the male birds which possessed the reddest plumage were the most consistent breeders, and sired the strongest progeny, the farmers of Rhode Island decided to breed from different styles or lied cocks, ana \>y so doing fov many years the offspring 6omewhafc resembled an established breed. To hit on with the ""Fancy" to-day, any. bteed tvewly originated must possess, in addition to beauty of colouring or type, some utility value, and the exhibitor, having seen something both useful and beautiful in the Bed, has set to work upon the breed, with the result that birds well-nigh conforming with the standard of perfection have been produced. It must not be taken horn the above, however,

that the Reds are easy to breed to exhibition requirements, but, on the contrary, they are difficult subjects to deal with, and are likely to be for some time to come, owing to the fact that most strains do not breed true to colour. But, however far from the standard the colour may bo, birds of fullblooded origin can be depended upon to lay well during the most inclement period of the year. There are two varieties of the Red—the rose and singlecombed. Both are exactly alike in colour of plumage, the body, excepting the tail, which is glossy black, being of a rich, bay colour, and this colour, contrasting with the bright red appendages of the head, and the yellow legs, imparts to the birds a very striking appearance. A good laying strain of Reds can be depended upon for egg production under the coldest conditions, and the produce will be highly esteemed for size and colour. That there is a great future for the Rhode Island Reds there is not a shadow of doubt, and when they have been specialised in for a few more years with a view to egg production they will not be far from top in the laying competitions. * £ ON CULLING. The best men, notwithstanding all their experience and care, produce a percentage of wasters, and the price of their success is eternal vigilance in the weeding out of the unfit. It is the same way with everything elsethere is always a percentage of lowgrade, poor stuff. In regard to fowls, the experienced man kills off every bird that does not pass his test for strength, size, and general appearance. The new man usually goes at the matter differently; he wants to hold on to every chick that he breeds. He won't cull, except urder protest, and when he docs start in on the weeding-out business he doesn't do it thoroughly. He won't, or can't, understand that it is only by continuous and thorough weeding-out of the poor specimens, that success may be achieved. There is no other track to success than that of continuous and thorough culling of unfit specimens. If they are killed out of hand they can't breed, and if they can't breed they can't pass on any weakness or other undesirable characteristic. USEFUL HINTS. Take particular care with the water in hot weather. Remove to a shady spot, and place the vesse/ in a box to keep out the dust. If the box is raised off the ground on a couple of bricks, and a few holes bored at the back, the draught will keep the water cooler. It is also wise to tack a bit of big mesh netting across the front of the box, so that the birds have to poke their heads through to drink. They can't foul the water this way, as they are apt to do on the hot days. A a rule, the hen that lays first thing in the morning is a good bird. Some of the best layers I have seen come off the nest with hardly any noise. It is a common belief that the hen which raises a big noise when she has dropped an egg is a good doer, but it often is not so. In fact, you get it every way in the poultry yard, and constant observation is the only means by which you are able to size up each bird properly. The bist way of getting fowls through a hot day is to damp a patch of ground with water, in a shady spot. If there is no natural shade, artificial shelter may be made by stretching a few bags across a corner of the yard, so that they throw a shade underneath. If the ground is made soft the birds will dig a hole and lie in it, than which there is no better way of getting them through a hot day.