THE POULTRY YARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 224, 10 December 1927, Page 28 (Supplement)

THE POULTRY YARD

GEO . H . AMBLER)

(By

SELECTING LAYING STOCK

Significance of the Head

WHEN selecting the best layers from a flock of fowls the shape, size, colour and condition of the bird’s comb and wattles play a very important part. It is these excrescences from the bird’s head that indicate very largely the activity of the ovary and also the state of its liver and digestion.

DUCKS, however, have no such useful excrescences to indicate their probable lajing power, so that we are obliged to look for some outward sign of an inner activity. Fortunately we have such signs in the bird’s head and bill if we know how to read them correctly.

By the size, shape and setting of a duck’s head we can conclude her probable laying potentialities, the efficiency of her liver and digestion and her activity, as well as whether she is likely to be’a good or indifferent layer. These signs, however, need very careful reading, and, although I am going to consider each part of the duck’s head separately with its own especial significance, it must be remembered that, when making the final judgment of the bird’s ability, the signs must be considered as a whole rather then separately. For instance, a wonderful eye will very often redeem a poor bill. HEAD AS A GUIDE

Let us now deal with the head as a whole. The head of all birds is almost a distinct body, for it is only joined to the body proper by a thin strip of flesh and bone. It is almost correct to say that the head is a complement rather than a part of the body, and it can. therefore, be treated separately. Being so small, any coarseness which the bird may have is at once apparent in the head, because if it has any undue development of any particular part the symmetry is spoilt. Symmetry of head and body is very closely allied, and symmetry of body goes hand in hand with high egg production. and, what is more important, high hatchability of the eggs laid. The eye of a fowl or duck is of extreme importance, for the nervous system of a bird is very closely connected with its laying power. The eyes give a very true impression of the activity of the brain, and the brain, it must be remembered, is only a very highlydeveloped nerve centre. Therefore aim for a, bright, alert and well-opened eye, which goes with an efficient nervous organisation. It should be set high up in the head, because a lowset eye is not a characteristic of the laying breeds of ducks, and is, therefore, nearly always found in birds which have a tendency to fat, and which show a lack of energy. The colour is of no importance in a laying duck, but the right eye colour should of course be maintained, as it is a breed characteristic. The skull should be fine, of moderate size and very symmetrical, well developed behind and sloping slightly from the top to the base of the bill. A fine-boned symmetrical head goes with a fine-boned, symmetrical body. While advocating a fine head one must be careful not to go to any extremes; the head rqust be broad enough to carry a strong bill, without being unduly heavy. IMPORTANCE OF THE BILL Next we come to the bill. This is a very important feature, which illustrates to a large extent the probable fecundity of the duck. It should be long and of medium width; the short, broad bill is an objectionable characteristic, and it is very rarely that birds having this type of bill prove themselves to be good layers. The bill is of cartilage, and if it is thick the cartilage over the whole of the bird’s body

will be thick and coarse. And coarseness is very opposed to high egg production. The bill ought to form a straight line from the top of the skull, but so long as it is of a good length it does not matter if it has a slight dip. However, aim for the straight _ bill, especially in Runners, as its straightness is nearly always connected with a straight, well-formed body. Look with suspicion upon any birds whose bills are inclined to bend easily when pressed gently between the finger and thumb, because any undue weakness in that direction indicates a softness of bone. Softness must not be confused with pliability. The first is to be avoided, the second to be sought. The colour test which is applied to the legs of yellow-fleshed fowls can be applied with equal success to the ducks which have yellow bills. With heavy laying the colour fades first from the tip, then all over. The probable type of bill which the duck is likely to have can be judged when it is as young as three weeks of age, which is, of course, a very great advantage. The head should be carried with a good balance upon the neck; it should not point downwards like a vulture’s or be held high like a dab-chick’s; but it should give the impression of being carried in just the right manner. GOOD-TEMPERED DUCKS Lastly, the duck’s expression should be considered. They have expressions, just as we have, but it needs observance to see them. The best bird is one having an open, good-tempered look. It is very rarely that a first-class head is put upon a poor layer, or vice versa. Although it is not suggested that the birds should be selected on head alone, it is suggested that no bird should be bred from before its head has been examined and passed. CAPACITY AND EXPRESSION One of the problems which is presented in connection with production of eggs can best be represented by the question: Why are some hens more productive that others, when all carry within them the oocytes for a much greater number of eggs that they lay? It will be remembered, in the wellknown investigation made by Dr. Raymond Pearl, at Maine, some years aero, he found that though the range "of visible potential eggs was considerable the fewest found iri a Cornish Indian Game hen, a race that is not characterised by heavy laying, was about 1,800. On the surface it would appear that the capacity of the hen named was the number stated. Thus it is evident there are repressive influences which prevent the materialisation of eggs beyond a small proportion of the germs carried. Here arises a suggestion that possibly for every egg laid in the complete form there are several oocytes which are discharged from the ovaries, and that only in so far as these waste-possible eggs are restricted can the number laid be increased proportionately. As to that nothing is known, so far as I am aware. It may be that high fecundity is determined by the capacity to complete the. individual and unit oocyte, and that all hens discharge from the ovaries a much larger number of these than of eggs they produce. If that w’ere the case it would open out a new field of investigation, which, in turn, might lead to dealing with this subject in a totally different manner with regard to our hens.

GENERAL NOTES HOMING PIGEONS In Great Britain are scattered Hundreds of homing pigeon lofts, for the most part unpretentious structures of wood that are passed by without particular notice from the casual observer, yet these lofts, as they are called by pigeon fanciers, contain some of the finest homing pigeons for racing purposes that may be found anywhere in the world. Many times birds fly home 5 50 and 600 miles in most unfavourable weather. When weather conditions are favourable these birds fly at a. velocity of over a mile a minute. The world’s record velocity of a homing pigeon is something like 2,744 yards a minute, or 90 miles an hour. The average velocity, however, is between 1,200 and 1,300 yards a minute, and it is at this rate of speed they fly from 500 to 600 miles in a day. One can appreciate the pluck and stamina required by a pigeon to fly from 14 to 15 hours without going down for food or water. The 1,000 mile record is held by Mr. Henry Beach’s famous King Abilene, which made the flight in 1 day 14 hours 32 minutes and 16 seconds. Hew York, however, holds the best 1,000mile consecutive record in the world, with a pigeon that flew' this distance five times, winning first prize three times and second prize twice. The longest distance flown by homing pigeons is about 1.700 miles. Two years ago a 1,600-mile flight was made‘from Antonio. Texas, to Brooklyn, New 1 ork, in which. 35 birds were entered. However, only half a dozen birds returned home, the first bird flying- the distance in 2 days. In Britain, where big races are held annually, there are over 300,000 homingpigeon fanciers. The record price paid for a homing pigeon was by Mr. J. B. Joel, the wellknown English racehorse owner, who paid ,0 220 for Mr. J. W. Logan’s winVn'i, °l the Grand National Race in 19-1 from San Sebastian, Spain, to London, Lngland. We have recently heard of several homing pigeons being shot in Auckland. Those -who shoot these birds evidently do not appreciate fully the part played by these birds which were recruited from British and even New Zealand racing lofts, in helping to win the war. History tells us that the use of pigeons in warfare dates back to 43 8.C., At that time Pecimus Junius Brutus was besieged in Modena by Mark Antony, and the Consuls Hirtius a nd Pansa with Octavius came to raise the siege. Brutus communicated with the Consuls by pigeons which flew over the heads of the besiegers. PERSONAL During the week I had a visit from Mr. Pickering, president of the newlyformed Whangarei Flying Homer Club Mr. Pickering informed me that the new club is making rapid progress, its membership increasing at every meeting. The members are quite enthusiastic and already several races have been flown. We regret to learn that Mr. R. Timewell, son of Mr. Timewell, Whangarei the well-known Orpington and White Rock breeder, is seriously ill. All fanciers will join in wishing Mr. Timewell a speedy recovery. Mr. Harold Winstone, Remuera, the well-known White Wyandotte breeder and exhibitor, who recently took up the breeding of Alsatians, had a run of success at the Kennel Show held in conjunction with the Auckland A. and P. Association’s Show, his two dogs being awarded 10 first, 2 special, second for best Alsatian dog in show, sec-

BANTAM BREEDING

[ ond in Brace, and third in Grand Puppyi * Stakes.

Mr. K. S. Higginbotham, Henderson., also won several prizes in the Alsatian classes.

Mr. Geo. H. Ambler, Glen Eden, has) received an invitation to judge all! classes of poultry, fancy and utility! at the Poverty Bay Show, to be held] at Gisborne, July 7 and S. CANARY NOTES

The Auckland Yorkshire Canary Club has recently changed its headquarters. This club now meets in the Y.M.C.A. Buildings. Wellesley Street East, at 8 p.m., on the third Wednesday in each month.

Several canary fanciers have asked us if it were possible to obtain show cages. Mr. Hutchinson, of Hutchinsons. Ltd., is expecting a shipment shortly. Canary fanciers should, therefore, avail themselves of the opportunity of obtaining suitable cages, as this will go a long way toward bringing about a state of uniformity which is so desirable on the show bench.

At the last meeting of the Canterbury Bantam Club it was decided that the club’s delegate to the South Island Poultry Association move the following remit:—That the Bantam Club have a representative on the executive of the South Island Association. Seeing the ”wee ones” are now being exhibited in such large numbers at the South Island shows we agree with the Bantam Club that a representation for bantams should be elected to the South Island Association.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS T.W., Te Kuiti, seems to be bewildered by the varied instruction which present-day poultry literature provides. He writes to me as follow: “I have taken up dry mash feeding since September last, and my birds are doing very well and the chicks coming on nicely. Please let me know how to prepare a mixture for the latter, as some are now six weeks old and others a month old. I have the following meals in stock: barley meal, ground oats, meat meal, sharps and bran. I have read in a poultry paper that to bring pullets on to the lay, wet mash is the best and better than dry in cold weather. I am told that poultry farmers who feed on dry mash at certain times of the year give wet mash. Is this the case? I have no intention

to go back to wet mash, as all my chicks and hens are doing well on dry mash.” There is perhaps some ground for claiming that pullets in a general way may come on to lay a trifle earlier on wet mash than on dry, but there has not, to my knowledge,, been a thorough test of the point. On the other hand, I have definite reports that pullets reared on dry mash have laid at five months, and surely that is early enough lor the well-being of the birds and the profit of the owner. If wet mash can beat this, then it loses more points than we estimated. Much, of course, depends upon the breed, but six months is quite early enough. Commercial egg farmers with few exceptions employ the dry mash system, and the suggestion that wet mash is a more suitable winter method is not supported by practice or theory. As a formula for the chicks, I have to point out that my correspondent’s stock of food is, according to my tastes, incomplete, and I would suggest the following: 61b ground oats, 41b maize meal, 21b pea meal, 21b meat meal, 121 b good sharps, 5 lb bran.