Poultry Keepers' Guide

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 56, 28 May 1927, Page 20 (Supplement)

Poultry Keepers' Guide

By

GEORGE H. AMBLER.

THE FANCIER

! AN ABSORBING HOBBY WHAT IS REQUIRED LIKING FOR THE WORK By GEO. H. AMBLER It is an old saying: that every man should have a The poultry fancier has a most absorbing: and wonderful hobby. To really enjoy this hobby, and in order to be successful in raising poultry, one must like the work, and must acquire a love for the feathered tribe that will move him at all times to do everything required to make his poultry yard successful, even if at times the devotion to duty causes some inconvenience. Let us see what is really required of a real poultry fancier. He must be sufficiently interested to make a study of the work. He must study his matings and determine in his own mind whether a certain male mated to certain females will produce the results that he is striving to attain. After his matings are made he hatches the chicks and he watches them from the time they leave the shell until they are fully developed. He notes the changes that occur in their plumage, he carefully examines their feathers, notes the type and other characteristics that go to make up a perfect bird. He does not trust to luck but devotes time and study to his birds. He constantly has the highest ideal in his mind and he strives to attain a position among his fellow fanciers that will command respect. TRUSTING TO LUCK The slip-shod fancier does not make a study of his birds. He is enthusiastic for a few days during the show and the balance of the year he never mentions his birds. He trusts to luck and if he happens to raise a few good birds he is satisfied, and if he does not he is ready to quit. A real fancier is never a quitter. He may meet with misfortune and discouragements, but the winter show season always refreshes him and he is ready, the following spring - , to start with new enthusiasm and all because of his natural liking for fine fowls. If defeated in the show pen he takes it with good grace, congratulates his competitor and starts out to tvin next time. That is the spirit that makes a good sport and a true fancier. It is remarkable, however, how many true fanciers we find. Men in all walks of life have standard poultry as their hobby and many of the best birds at some of the largest shows are raised by fanciers whq> keep poultry as a sideline and for their pleasure. Professional men, mechanics, merchants, clerks and others who admire fine poultry can have a hobby that will not only afford them pleasure, but will also net them a neat profit. It is sometimes said that poultrv cannot be made to pay on a smail section, but the real fancier who makes it v a point to keep nothing but the best and that is about all an enthusiastic poultry crank will keep, insure to sell, enough surplus stock and eggs from his flock to pay all his expenses and make a little profit besides. Rearing a few fowls is not onlv a recreation for those who like it, but it is very fascinating, especially the mating for better and higher class stock. The problems that present themselves keep up the interest and the fancier enjoys his work because he is constantly watching the results of his effortsAN EVERYDAY JOS In order to be successful, it is necessary to be a poultry man every day in the year, not only spasmodically, because each season has its important work to perform. It is like seeding and growing a crop of grain. In the spring the eggs are set, during the summer the chicks are developing and need care just as the grain needs attention. In the autumn the birds develop into maturity and in the winter when the show season opens comes the harvest of hopes realised. The true fancier enjoys every minute of his time with his birds. He does not grumble about the little details that must be attended to, nor does he dislike a little extra work now and then. If he does he cannot be 'classed as a real fancier and his career as a poultryman will be limited.

Hundreds and hundreds of so-called fanciers last only a year or two and then quit in disgust. Such men are, however, not genuine lovers of poultry and it is impossible to make fanciers out of them. In order to be successful in any line of work one must take an interest in it.

We hear of born mechanics who show their talent along certain lines when they are children. A boy who drives nails in the side" of the shed, or one who attempts to take the lawn mower apart to see how it is constructed, would not do those things unless he were a natural-born mechanic. Another boy may draw pictures in school indicating that he possesses a talent for art. Instead of being punished for these things the boys should be encouraged and an ..effort made to develop tlieir talent along the channels in which it may run. I have always claimed that a real poultry fancier must have love for nature to be successful as well as a mechanic must have a natural love, .not only for his work, but also for the materials with which he works, or as an artist or a musician must be particularly adapted for their certain lines. CONDITION IMPORTANT

Condition has an important meaning m every phase of life, both hitman and animal. Man, unless in proper physical condition, is not able to properlv cope professionally, athletically, or in a business way. This is equally true of a horse, a dog, or any other member of the animal kingdom.

It often seems strange to me why an owner of a fowl who is sufficiently interested in poultry to put his bird in a competition in a poultry show should overlook the all important fact of proper physical condition. You will note that I have used the term “physical condition,” which, to my mind, is sufficient, as a bird so conditioned will unquestionably be in prime appearance. A properly conditioned prize fighter shows it in his appearance. Equally if he is over or under-conditioned (trained) he will show it. The same is true of a horse.

I have seen many a good bird in the show pen that was beaten by an inferior bird simply because the beaten bird was not groomed and properly prepared, and it is really unfair to a bird for the owner to show him at a disadvantage. We hear a great deal about faking in the show pen, and many people confuse this with condition. but I do not believe it possible for any man to fake «n inferior bird to an extent where he can beat a good bird, provided the good bird has had the chance that he deserves, as faking can always be detected, and in my opinion a large majority of our judges, if not all, detests faking, for a man to be a judge of poultry must necessarily be a poultry fancier, and faking must be disgusting to him. SHOWING TO ADVANTAGE The amateur should be instructed and educated how to show his birds to the best possible advantage. He should not be laughed at for his lack of experience and every assistance should be given him by the judge and the large breeders interested in his particular variety—in this way stimulate his enthusiasm and interest. Many people have an idea that they can. pick a bird out of the run, tuck it under

their arm, or put it in a box and send it to the show, and when they find that their bird was unplaced their interest in poultry takes a sudden drop and they either consider that the judge made an unfair decision, or that they are not able to handle their birds and compete with the other fellow. •

Two or three days is not sufficient to spend on a bird when conditioning for the show pen. In my opinion, in order to have a bird fat for a show such as Christchurch or Auckland the time to start conditioning is at least a month before the show. The first step is to select your best birds, making sure that you have a number in excess of the actual number you intend showing, as some birds will not make the proper progress.

Birds should be handled at least once a day for three or four weeks, but they should be handled with great care and not excited or grabbed in a reckless manner. Picking a bird up by the base of the wing is the best and safest way and does not give the bird an opportunity of running around and breaking feather as grabbing them by the tail or legs does.

All birds should be washed regardless of colour. This, in itself, tends to tame bird very much, it also frees it from vermin, and gives an appearance to the feathers that canijot be obtained in any other way. A bird should not be overfat for the show pen, otherwise it will not show the proper amount of vitality. A great many people seem to think that extra weight is an indication of condition. This, however, is all wrong, just as much so as if the bird were too light in weight. The bird that goes to the show taking on weight will show to much better advantage than the' bird that is over-weight. GENERAL NOTES The Christchurch Poultry, Pigeon, Canary and Cat Club’s Diamond Jubilee Show which will be held in the King Edward Barracks on June 2, 3 and 4, will be a record show for the Dominion. Over 1,200-entries have been received in poultry alone. The total to date for all classes of poultry, pigeons, cage birds, cats, and toy dogs is 2,700 with all late entries to come. With this record, Christchurch show can safely claim to be the “Palace Show” of New Zealand. HELPING THE HOSPITALS Over 60,000 eggs were this year collected in the*, Bradford and Shipley area (Yorkshire) for voluntary hospitals. Last year the figure was 73,000. The prize for the largest number of eggs collected went for the fourth time to Mr. A. Best, Law Moor, with 2,400. BUNYAN A FANCIER Bunyan must have known something about the plumage of a fowl when he wrote in Pilgrim’s Progress—“ They’ll be fine feathers that make a fine bird.” WATERFOWL CLUB The New Zealand Waterfowl Club has decided to hold its annual club show in conjunction with the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club’s .third annual show to be held in the Drill Hall on July 7 and 8. The selection of judges will be made at a special meeting of the Waterfowl Club to be held this week. Members are reminded that subscriptions are now due and should be remitted to the honorary secretary, Miss Ambler, Glen Eden. YOUNG BIRD SHOW The annual Young Bird Show of the Auckland Yorkshire Canary Club, which was held last Saturday was very successful. The entries totalled 44 but, owing to adverse circumstances over which the fanciers concerned had no control, absentees totalled 12. The birds benched were really good specimens, the upward trend in the type of the Yorkshire being very evident. Outline and quality of feather "showed most improvement over previous years. Mr. S. A. Wood placed the awards and is to be congratulated on such a successful initial effort as a judge. His awards appeared to give general satisfaction, and the A.Y.C.C. is also to be congratulated on the success of its enterprise in sacrificing Mr. Wood’s ento enable him to place the awards. The special for best bird in show was won by R. Prentice with a typical cinnamon variegated Buff Cock. Other speciai winners were: W. J. Moreland, Vv. H. Hammond and W. Roach. The following were the owners of the leading prize-tvinners in each classClear Yellow Yorks, Cock or Hen. Ist and special.—Moreland.

Buff Yorkshire, Cock or Hen—All prizes to Belcher. Ticked or Lightly Variegated Buff Yoiuvs, Cock or Hen.—lst and special: Prentice. Ticked or Lightly Variegated Yellow Yorks, Cock or Hen.—lst: Moore Heavily Variegated Yellow Yorks, Cocic or Lien.—lst: Moreland. Self or Foul Green or Cinnamon Yellow or Buff.—lst and special: W. H Hammond. Novice Classes.—Any Variety Yellow —lst and special: W. Roach. Any Variety Buff Yorks.—lst: W. Roach.' * * * A.Y.C.C. OPEN SHOW Arrangements are well in hand for the forthcoming Auckland Yorkshire Canary Club’s annual open show. Two ISorth Island championships will be competed for besides numerous handsome cups and specials. Schedules will be out the third week in June * * * ' NATURE’S JOB Beauty without usefulness is a deiusion Nature never stops merely with beauty. As we look about in the fields, the woods, the canopy of the sky we perceive also that nature does not stop merely at usefulness. It appears that she has never considered her work complete until she has carried the practical to some final outcome of beauty. Critics of the breeds of poultry are too apt to regard beauty as some superficial thing. Many people say that beauty is only “skin deep,” not realising that beauty is the most perfect outward expression of all that lies deepest in the fundamental laws of being. Plato did not elevate to the highest place a thing that was superficial, yet this great thinker of old gave to beauty one of the first places in the system of the universe. * * m SUSPICION OF JUDGES It is always regrettable when dissension is stirred up in any fraternity. There is no easier way to do this than to impeach the motives of judges. In live stock and dog shows the exhibitors lead their own cattle and dogs into the ring.

HERE AND THERE

SALVATION ARMY

In some of the large American poultry shows the names of exhibitors are written on their exhibition pens. Both impress us as good practices, designed to remove suspicion, and to put judges on their mettle. Why poultry judges in New Zealand are subject to so much suspicion it is difficult to understand. Surely they are as honest as the American judges.

At a large poultry show to be held in England classes are being for eggs of any fowl, including freak We all know that shows are never all utility. The public wants to be interested and amused as well as educated. The above show committee have evidently learned this trait of human nature. No mater how much money may be spent in educational exhibits at our shows the biggest crowd is always in the midway, where the fakirs are presenting the fat lady, or the snake charmer is to be seen for a small sum, or the midgets are dancing. There is no doubt a crowd will be found around the midget eggs, the double-shelled eggs, the soft-shelled eggs, asking “why are they so ?” Such classes might be tried with advantage at some of our New Zealand shows.

At the last meeting of the Christchurch Poultry Club 77 netv members were elected. The membership of the club is now over 300.

Mr. U. W. Beck, who for some time has been the secretary of the New Zealand Utility Club, resigned his position at the club’s annual meeting.

We have received a schedule of the Waiuku Poultry Show which will be held in the Waiuku Town Hall on June 8. This society, which previously held its show in conjunction with the Waiuku Kennel Club, has decided to launch out on its own. The special list caters for practically every breed and variety—an object lesson to some of our older clubs. In addition Mr. H. M. Barriball has donated a challenge cup for best bird in fancy section, and Messrs. C. J. and S. N. West a challenge for best bird in utility section —both cups competed for annually. The “John Jarvis” Honour Bowl (fancy section), will also be competed for at Waiuku, also the North Island championship for English Brown Leghorns and American White Leghorns. Mr. W. A. Hanson, Auckland, will make the awards.

Entries close with the secretary, Mr. S. Bonnar, on June 1.

ACTIVITY IN AUSTRALIA FINDING NEW SETTLERS Having undertaken to find employment for 1,200 migrants, booked to arrive in Australia on a specially chartered ship in September or October, Brigadier James Imrie, directqr of Immigration for the Salvation Army, has already begun organising. It was Brigadier Imrie’s original suggestion that a “Salvation Ship” should be secured. The vessel will probably be one of the P. and O. Branch liners, and will travel by way of the Cape. With the exception of officers and crew, the chartered vessel will be staffed by

“Army” officials, including welfare officers of both sexes. Every possible arrangement will be made to give the passengers a happy and instructive time on the long voyage. There will be a school for the children on board, as well as regular public worship in accordance with the “Army” ritual; sewing bees for the women; lectures on hygiene, farming, and the general conditions of life in Australia. The immigrants will be distributed in the various Australian States as required. Details of the personnel have not yet been supplied from London; but it is understood that married folk, with and without children, as well as young men for farm work, and young women for domestic service, will make up the company. *