Poultry Keepers’ Guide

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 44, 14 May 1927, Page 20 (Supplement)

Poultry Keepers’ Guide

BY.

GEORGE H. AMBLER.

MAKE PREPARATIONS

FOR COMING SEASON BREEDING PENS AND APPLIANCES By GEO. H. AMBLER The autumn of the year is rather suggestive of a time of rest after the labours of-the season. When the days get short, making it difficult to do muoli out of doors, the weather often renders the open-air life anything but a joy. Who, however, can afford to sit still and be content to let the winter pass without bestirring themselves in some effort to make the coming season a little more successful than the last? Whatever progress was made this year, was is good enough? Were there no items in which some better method could not be employed, and is it not possible to go another step in improving the flock? The dark and long evenings are even now with us, but there is no reason whatever why they should be entirely idle ones for the enthusiastic poultry-keeper.

Possibly the first step at this time of year is arranging for the breeding pen, an item which should not be put off any longer. Very few have reached that stage of perfection that they can safely say their flock is all that can be desired. Certainly in many cases the introduction of a new cockerel from p, reliable ’trap-nested pen would do much to improve production in the future pullets, especially where accommodation does not admit of free range and the rearing of one’s own stock birds under the best of conditions. Select your cockerels and be sure that they are early-hatched, healthy and vigorous, and that they possess an ancestry which will stand inquiry. Then, again, where type is not all that could be made by bringing in fresh blood through the sire, select a bird which is descended from a line of true type specimens. HIGH PREPOTENCY Digressing for a moment, there is a point not always readily grasped by novices, which is that the mating of two ideal birds does not always produce equally desirable progeny. That' “like breeds like” has certain reservations, as is well known to experienced breeders. If the first prize-winning cockerel in a show was mated to the first prize-winning hen, the prospects are that the sons and daughters would be a very mixed lot. For like to breed like the parents must be bred along similar lines for many generations in order that they may possess high prepotency, or, in other words, have those characteristics definitely fixed which it is desired to transmit to the progeny. Therefore, if one desires to improve the type in their flock they must introduce oijly such stock that has been bred for many generations along definite lines for type, and, of course, egg production.

Proceeding with preparations for the coming season, the hens should be settled in their winter quarters without delay, so that they may not be upset later on when eggs are desired. The cockerel should be kept in a separate pen away from the hens until a few weeks before hatching commences. Many male birds are so gallant that they will deprive themselves of food in order that their mates may have it and so they lose condition; but, in adidtion, I believe that the mating of hens for many months before eggs for hatching are required may result in poorer hatchability and rearability. OVERHAULING THE APPLIANCES Going from the breeding pen, the next item should be the overhauling of the incubator and fiittings. This is a duty which can very well be performed during the long evenings at home. Let there be no question that the thermometer is registering correctly, and although this may have been tested last year, have it done again rather than leave anything to chance. Few realise how much thermometers may alter, and the questions I am asked every year point to the constant need of reminding poultrykeepers to have their instruments checked regularly. The success of the whole season rests upon the satisfactory registering of the thermometer.

The capsule of the incubator also needs testing every season. These are delicate things and it is an easy matter to strain them so that they become useless for accurate work. I have found some which apparently work well at the correct heat, but when, from some cause or another the temperature rises more than is desirable the damper will stick up and allow the egg chamber to cool off too much before the capsule feels the effect and closes again. MAINTAIN AN EVEN TEMPERATURE This is a feature which is fatal to incubation and the only chance of success is in maintaining a very even temperature in the room and irom the source of heat supply, whether oil lamp, gas jet or stove. Capsules do not last many seasons they have to work night and day for three or four months in the year without a break; and even in the case of small hatcheries the value of the eggs entrusted to the care of the capsule warrants an occasional expenditure in order to ensure a satisfactory conclusion. Looking to the incubator itself, make sure that the whole of the machine has been thoroughly disinfected' inside and out. In nearly every make there are cracks and crevices into which microbes penetrate for breeding purposes, the warmth generated when running the incubator encouraging them to increase. Old machines may often prove unsatisfactory in working merely because they have not been thoroughly disinfected. Mould and mildew must be carefully guarded against and it would be as well to creosote the woodwork if it has been exposed to damp. Those who have used incubators to any extent will know that the canvas cloths included in some makes get in a filthy condition from the droppings of the newly-hatched chicks. These should be renewed each season, and after each hatch it is essential that they should be well dipped in disinfectant to prevent any contagion. A HANDYMAN’S JOB Poultry-keeping provides many opportunities for the handyman to show his ability and the more one is able to do for oneself the better are one’s chances of profit. Among the odd jobs for long evenings should be the repairing of brooders and their preparation for the coming season. .It

will doubtless be found that where these appliances have to stand on damp ground for many months of the year the bottom battens soon rot unless they have been thoroughly tarred before putting them out and also been raised off the ground at the close of the rearing process. Coops and other wooden apparatus should be attended to and all repairs effected, so that they are in readiness when wanted.

There are, of course, certain duties which demand a little daylight outdoors. In these days it is, I am sure, unnecessary to refer to the importance of keeping* the roofs of the poultry houses watertight. We are likely to get enough rain to test the stoutest buildings—and often the patience of the poultry-keeper in his efforts to the litter and nest boxes in, keep anything like a clean condition. I think bad weather emphasises only too well the need for plenty of room under cover for scratching exercises, and in those cases where egg production is the primary consideration — not for hatching—l am convinced that the birds would lay better if kept under cover when the weather is All houses should be thoroughly cleaned out and disinfected before the birds are settled in them, so that there may be no vermin lurking in the crevices and cracks waiting for a return of warm weather to entice them forth. GENERAL NOTES The many North Island friends of Mr. J. Cummings, Christchurch, will be pleased to hear that he is now much better than he has been for several months. A few days ago Mr. Cummings received a further importation of birds from Lord Dewar’s yards, consisting of a Minorca cock and a trio of Black Rosecomb Bantams. The birds arrived in the. pink of condition —a credit to Mr. Bradley’s method of shipping. The Minorca cock is a son of the famous “McNab” Minorca cockerel and won first Torquay, first South Moulton, first and two challenge cups Exeter, second Dairy—the only times shown. The bird was hardly ready at the dairy show. The bird shipped to Mr. Cummings is a typical Minorca, full of quality, great range of body, clean face and capital head points, with beautiful quality bone. The Rosecomb Bantams are a wonderful trio; in fact, we consider the cockerel is practically perfect in type and the finest specimen of the breed ever landed in New Zealand. This bird won first, also special, for best bantam in show at Warrington. The females are a capital pair, one of them, the elder one, winner at the Dairy show. The younger is shaping well and is even more promising than her sister. Both have splendid head points, feather and are true to type. Mr. Cummings has done more than any other breeder for the Minorca in New Zealand and more winners have emanated from his yards than from any other yard in the Dominion.

The Rosecombs are for Miss Cummings, who is just as enthusiastic as her “Dad.” There is no doubt Miss Cummings will make as great a success of her bantams as her father has done with his Minorcas. We congratulate her on her venture. One of Mr. Cummings’s sons, who imported a trio of White Leghorns from Lord Dewar a year ago, has reared some extra good pullets. The English White Leghorn was, for some time, on the low ebb in the South Island and it is gratifying to know that such an enthusiast as Mr. Cummings has taken up this beautiful breed. We hear competition will be keen this year at the Christchurch Jubilee Show.

A new world’s record has been established at the Geelong (Victoria) Egg Laying Test by a White Runner duck, which laid 365 eggs in 365 days. During the 52 weeks she missed laying on five days, but laid two eggs on five different days. Her largest sequence was 295 eggs in as many days. She also laid one soft egg which was not counted. The previous record was held by Mr. Willoughby Knight’s fawn and white runner, which laid 363 eggs in 365 days at the Papanui Test. Mr. R. W. Hawke’s (Christchurch) duck still holds the world's record sequence of 313 eggs in 309 days, put up at Papanui. The Geelong duck ate twice as much as any other duck in the test.

Both poultry and pigeon fanciers will regret to hear that Mr. V. Ryder, secretary, Merchant Service Guild, is far from being well. He is suffering from heart trouble, and has been ordered by his doctor to take several weeks’ complete rest. We trust Mr. Ryder will soon be completely restored to health.

Mr. J. Tindall, Christchurch, who has been ill for some time, is considerably improved in health and has accepted an invitation to judge all classes of fancy poultry at the Wellington Annual Show.

Of the many returned soldiers who have taken up farming few have made a greater success than Mr. Alex. Smith. Mr. Smith has eight acres of land at Takanini, in spite of* being handicapped by a war injury, he milks eight cows and has a flock of over 600 head of White Leghorns. His birds are housed in one continuous house divided into sections of 20 by 16, with large grass runs. Mr. Smith believes in the semi-intensive system and allows his birds a run outside on fine days. We noticed several exceptionally good White Leghorn hens which will make fine breeders. The majority of pullets were in full lay and what is more were laying a 2oz. egg. Mr. Smith has several promising White Leghorn cockerels reserved for breeding purposes. We also admired a fine flock of Khaki Campbell ducks and drakes, several of the drakes being exceptionally good.

A hen owned by Mr. Sam. Stevenson, curator of the Norumbega Park, of Auburndale, Mass., has never hatched any of her own eggs, but she has put in her time raising peafowl and wild ducks. This old hen is called “Betty” by Mr. Stevenson, and he says she is an ideal step-mother; in fact, the best step-mother he ever knew.

AUCKLAND DISTRICT

AN IDEAL POULTRY CENTRE Although the Auckland Province has always proved attractive to poul-try-keepers there are still many parts of it where the possibilities of poultry farming have not been seriously considered, one of these districts being Coromandel, which is within easy distance by boat from Auckland and is a district which lends itself admirably to poultry-farming and the breeding of the highest class of stock and, due to its sheltered position, chickens grow rapidly, with few risks from cold or exposure.

During my recent visit I found several poultry farms, but space will not permit of my dealing at length with any of them, but let the reader imagine a countryside stretching for several miles in one of the most attractive districts around Auckland, with undulating scenery on every side’ The mountains and hills, together with the harbour within the beautiful Hauraki Gulf, form a wonderful setting to the lands around, and there are signs of honest prosperity on the poultry farms of such men as Messrs.

Godson. McNeil], Box, Ritchie, Holds worth and Gray, and o whose farms I visited —so that it is difficult to understand'* ' there are so few poultry farms i district. n-waie. In addition to its w-onderful cli Coromandel is within easy Auckland markets, as the X>ru» Steamship Company’s boats run * three times a week to and from-A. land. Freights are little m ore than those of many of the Auc suburban districts. Land is cheap apart from its suitability for P 0 farming, is well watered by ® streams from the surrounding m tains. T During the past 10 years * visited practically every part oi Zealand, and nowhere have 1 district so suit€-d to be the of New Zealand as is <^ all Socially there is ample scope . Ailing, as cricket, football, croquet, J yo . tar g tennis clubs, billiard rooms ana P theatre cater for all. In its prosperity, when gold digging , * much in evidence, Coromandel population of something in vicinity of 5,000. This hu* go>). dwindled down to something *** We feel sure its possibilities as a s poultry farming district have o * n? be made known to increase its P population and a return to its former prosperity — the posflio*** are certainly there.