Egg-laying Contest

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 5, 6 January 1940, Page 10

Egg-laying Contest

CONDUCTED AT MASSEY COLLEGE 39th WEEK'S RESULTS Single Pens. Section A— H. 8. Saunders, W.L ‘ (7) 217 Huxtable Bros., W.L (6) 215 A. Thomson, W.L (5) 208 B. E. Wilkinson, W.L. .. 2 (0) 207 A. A. Hoarc, W.L (5) 206 W. F. Stent, W.L 1 (6) 20G W. F. Stent. W.L 3 (5) 204 J. A. Annan, W.L (G) 202 A. G. Mumby, W.L 1 (5) 201 Capt. Middleton, W.L. .. 2 (6) 199 A. J. Shailer, W.L (4) J 97 A. G. Mumby, W.L 4 (2) 194 B. E. Wilkinson, W.L. .. 1 (0) 18G H. A. Lucas, W.L (5) 184 A. G. Mumby, W.L 3 (5) 181 E. O. Collier, W.L (5) 179 Capt. Middleton, W.L. .. 3 (5) 179 Capt. Middleton, W.L. .. 1 (0) 123 d A. G. Mumby, W.L 2 (3) 98 P. Mummery, Min. .. .. (5) 77 W. F. Stent, W.L 2 (0) 60*J Section B Huxtable Bros., A.O (5) 197 Sunny River P.F., R.I.R. . 2 (5) 175 A. a! Hoare, R.I.R (5) 169 P. Mummery, R.I.R (6) 166 Mrs. R. Willers, A.O (2) 164 K. Mullins, R.I.R (0) 159 B. Pimm, A.O 1 (4) 157 Sunny River P.F., R.I.R. . 1 (0) 153 x W. A. Larsen, A.O (0) 147 d B. Pimm, A.O 2 (4) 145 S. Wilkinson, R.I.R (3) 100 Teams Results. Section C (All W.L.)— J. Wilson—--197 201 206 205 x 210 208 (31) 1227 H. A. Lucas—--201 206 224 165 176 228 (34) 1200 8. D. Morris—--163 lS3x 173 218 130 x 206 x (20) 1075 F. S. Allen--203 161 d 182 243 x loir 130 (25) 1070 Cotswold P.F. — 64d ISS 201 202 203 74d (23) 929 Sunny River P.F.— 178 174 124 88 170 185 (31) 919 J. T. Hazelwood—--73d 158 164 142rx 178 x 181 r (31) 896 J. Mold--179 152 155 152 118 88 (20) 844 W. F. Stent—--165 135 d lOd 73d 158 174 (13) 715 Section D (All A.O.)— E. W. Stephenson—--194x191 180 226 162 189 (22) 1142 W. A. Larsen— US 243 69d 112 183 194 (12) 919 J. D. Wealleans—--165 173 x 130 r 118 d 132 r 168 (21) 886 r," replace bird; “d,” dead bird; “ V’ disqualified egg weight clause. SEASONAL ADVICE ON OBTAINING BEST RESULTS The pullets arc going to be recruits iu the poultry yards. Make this a vigorous month of preparation for the work which will soon begin. If (hey are to fulfil their allotted task thoroughly, they must begin laying soon, in order to get into full swing by the month of highest prices. Only by careful attention to feeding details can this work bo successfully accomplished. In order to get the pullets into production for the season of highest prices aim to mature them from Ist October up to 15th November (April 1 to May 15 in N.Z.—Ed.), says D. C. Kennard, poultrvmau at the Ohio Experimental Station, Wooster, Ohio. The best pullet ,s l ho one that lays first and yet has acquired normal body weight. this as a definition, the poultrykeeper will have little trouble picking his best pullets, providing he has kept an accurate record of the hatching dates. Early maturity has a direct bearing on the winter egg-production of pulletj. The rate of maturity also has an important bearing on winter egg-pro-duction. Those pullets which maturo at five to seven months are superior pullets. There are several factors which influence the rate of maturity of pullets: hereditary factors coming from a latematuring strain, inbreeding caused by too close breeding of the fowl, feeding, management, diseases and parasites, light or heavy breeds, adnt i mofeeta light or heavy breeds, and time of hatching. Pullets can be retarded or advanced in their rate of maturity by the method of feeding. Pullets that arc well fed throughout the summer and are given a liberal supply of protein will develop sexually much more quickly than those fed on a lower developing ration. In regard to the stage of maturity, every flock has early, medium and latematuring fowls. Those that mature between five and six months of ago class as early, and those between six and seven as medium, and those after seven months as late. These late-matur-ing pullets should bo culled, other factors being equal. Iu the case of the heavyweight fowl, at least a month must be added in each case. Plenty of Room Essential. Especially during the last few months of tho pullet’s life is it important not to crowd them. They need plenty of room that they may develop their individuality so that the poultryman can cull them closely and accurately when moving them to the laying house. The condition of the range regarding parasite infestation and other diseases directly influences the , rate of maturity in pullets. Young J stock infested with worms from an infected range cannot mature as rapidly as other youngsters free from these parasites. Early Hatched Pullets Lead. Iu an experiment conducted at the Ohio Station, late-hatched pullets were tested against early-hatched pullets. It was found that tho late- hatched pullet* exceeded in production in February and March (August and September in N.Z.—Ed.), the months of high-egg-production and lowwest prices, and that the early pullets exceeded during the remainder of the year. Iu order to produce these earlyn a jfing pullets, o£ the light breeds it is necessary to hatch them in April (September in N.Z.—Ed.). Tho pullets of tho heavy breeds need to bo hatched in February and March (August and September in N.Z.—Ed.) in order to mature in time for tho season of highc: t prices. Early Layers Are Healthier. Maturity and mortality have a direct relationship when naturally occurred.

In a test on early and late maturing pullets at the Ohio Station, there was no mortality among the early maturing fowls while the late maturing fowls had 14 per cent, mortality. The matter of mortality is not only important the first year, but also the second year. Kennard finds that the difference between the early and late-maturing pullets is even more marked during the second laying year. Poultrymen who have always experienced a difficulty in moving laying pullets will be interested in Kennard’s confession that even college poultrymen do not yet know how to move laying pullets without handicapping eggproduction. Not infrequently pullets moved at the Ohio Station drop from 55 per cent, production to 15 and 20 per cent, production. In this connection it is interesting to keep in mind that about the only way to eliminate this troublo is to confine the pullets to the laying house for several weeks before they begin laying. In this way they become accustomed to the new surroundings, and this heavy loss in production due to moviug. is entirely eliminated. Provide Comfortable Quarters. When tho pullets are. placed in the laying house conditions should be made quite comparable to those they previously enjoyed. First of all, the house should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and then provide thorough ventilation. The pullets will become accustomed to their new surroundings and adapt themes!ves more easily if the mash hoppers are set flush with the floor and the nests removed and set on the floor for a time. In this way the pullets will show their natural inquisitiveness and become familiar with the location of the nests before they begin laying. This practice eliminates a large number of floor eggs which poultrymen always encounter when placing pullets in a laying house. This point is especially important where pullets are to be trapnested, for a large number of eggs are often lost from the trapnest during the beginning period of production. Much can bo learned of the possible future production of the pullet by watching her laying cycle during the period when she begins to lay. This is a very important factor.

In handling the young pullets one must remember that they are easily frightened. Jfor this reason it is we.ll to walk around the house, using caution and speaking to the pullets to set up a spirit of friendliness-. It is surprising how easily pullets adapt themselves to the mental attitude of their keeper.