THE POULTRY YARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 394, 30 June 1928, Page 26

THE POULTRY YARD

(By

GEO. H. AMBLER.

H- - ■ ■ - Breeding Stock

THE breeding season is now coming on, and already many pens of the heavy breeds will be mated, but as a rule smaller breeders leave it until July before putting the birds together, so that a note now will be in time.

YVTHERE j u ]y chickens are required eggs will have to be set by the end of this month, but as a rule August and September are early enough for most poultry breeders, then the mating need not be done till early in July. It is unwise to put the cock with the hens during the cold rough weather unless you need the eggs for hatching but keep him out and feed well, so that he can more readily fertilise the eggs when required for hatching. The number of hens with the cock must depend upon the condition of the male. A vigorous cockerel can manage six or eight hens better than four, and though it is usual to start with the smaller lot, aud add more hens as the season gets on, I am not so sure but that it is not better to put the whole lot in the pen and never disturb them after KEEP BREEDING PENS UNCHANGED Breeding pens should not be changed when once started, for it means clear eggs and weak germs, unless there is absolute necessity. Should a hen turn ill, move her out, or if the cock is not fertilising the eggs, then change him, but these are things that do not often happen when the birds are well selected. The light breeds will not need to be put up yet, for September is quite early enough, but all stock should be selected, or, at least, the owner should know where his breeding stock is and have it under his own control. It is a mistake to leave this to the last, for then the birds are often not fit, and delay is caused in laying, so that things are late all through the year. There is always a number of agricultural shows during the summer, and the prize money is always worth ■winning, so that anyone wanting to win at these with chickens must be at work soon, and have chickens running out next month. For all summer shows chickens should be out in Julv otherwise they get no chance to develop before being wanted for the bench, -

and then they do not show to the best . advantage. The early broods need : care, and unless they are from healthy • birds, they soon go under; hence the ; need for using only the best conditioned birds. ; KEEP BIRDS IN GOOD CONDITION Although birds should not be made too fat for laying they must be kept in good condition, otherwise you cannot get the best out of them. The cock must he fed liberally, and with stimulating food, because so much depends upon him. Sometimes he will not feed with the hens, which means ■ that he must be taken out and given ■ a good feed alone, or you will soon ‘ have him out of form. During the cold ■ weather the breeding pen is difficult \ to manage, because they need out- j door exercise, and yet when it is l raining they will not move far. The i best plan is a good, roomy house in < which the birds can be fed when it I is raining, and leave the door open, r so that they can get out if it turns ' fine. On a short grass run the birds ! do not hurt much, so long as there J is some litter on the floor of the 1 house to dry their feet before their * going to roost; but if the outside is 1 earth, it soon becomes mud, and then sticks to the feet, and makes the bird uncomfortable. Do not force the f breeding birds in any way except with t the meat in the food, but never use e forcing or hot spices or condiments, t for these unduly excite the egg or- e gans, and though you may get eggs, s they will not be fertile or the germ c strong enough to hatch out; then the 1 object is defeated. f HOUSE MUST BE DRY * The house must be perfectly dry, so r that the litter can be moved about v easily; then the food thrown down in the house will amuse the birds and s keep them busy scratching for hours, t For breeding stock the food must be a sound and good, but not of a forcing t nature. Change the diet a little when- a ever possible, and give enough with- n out any waste. You will soon find g

how much they need, and when walking away as if “fed up” you can see they have had enough. It is easy to confuse the result of a change. Probably the birds do not like the new food, and then will not eat it at first, but if left they may soon iiave a turn and perhaps clear it up. The change may be good for them, but they do not always like it; just the same as a hen will eat maize first every time, and yet it is not a good or suitable diet for all meals. The feeding and keeping the houses clean is almost all that can be done now, but after June we shall look for longer days. COLLECT EGGS REGULARLY We can often trace the breakage of eggs to irregularity in collecting them from the nests. After a hen has deposited her egg in the box, another layer enters and lays her egg. The two clash, and there is a breakage. Which ever way we look at it, common sense dictates that eggs should be collected frequently and regularly. Let us look at it from another viewpoint. A hen desires to lay and finds a nest box with several eggs therein; she cuddles the eggs until broodiness comes over her and the fever gets a hold. If she is already broody, the fact that eggs are always there for the hen to sit on means that the fever will get a firmer grip, and will take longer to check and remove. Particularly when broodies are about, should eggs be collected regularly, for the reason stated, and in the winter, when frosts are met, regular collections are important, or the shells may be found broken. As this is the end of the poultry year in New Zealand, all accounts should be squared up. Accounts give interesting results, as by keeping proper records one can bring the balance forward monthly. Records of hatching experiences should be noted, and. in fact, all items of interest, 'the weak spots can thus be seen at a : glance, and measures taken to prevent their recurrence. WORMS ! Where many birds in a run are infested with worms, either there must ; be something wrong in the feeding, or i else the ground is tainted. In the lat- : ter ease dig the runs over if they are < earth runs; but before doing i so, give the surface a covering i of powdered unslacked lime, and let this remain on the sur- 1 face for a few days, of course having ‘ first removed the birds to another pen. Having turned the surface over, let the run remain unoccupied for another week and then turn the birds ip. ] As a cure for worms, the dose of t spirits of turpentine is from ten to 1 twelve drops in a teaspoonful of suet ] an hour before breakfast and the last I ' thing at night for four or five days for I adult fowls. Chicks from three to six 1 months, eight or nine drops. When i giving the oil the birds should be kept j <

in a pen by themselves, and the droppings swept up and removed twice or thrice a day, and in a week a cure should be effected. * « * In mating-up ducks, use a July or August hatched drake; it is generally labour in vain to depend on a two or three-year-old drake.

GENERAL NOTES

The Manawatu Poultry Association’s annual show, held in conjunction with the National Dairy Show, was a great success. Entries, which numbered close upon 1,300, were a record and a compliment to the executive; also to officiating judges. It was also gratifying to see quality of exhibits more than maintained, and the coarse type of bird conspicuous by its absence. We are pleased to be able to report that our experience of judging this year’s shows has been the fact that the number of birds of the monstrosity type have been fewer than usual, and it remains only for the judges to cut this type of bird for it to disappear altogether. Wyandottes were one of the features of the show in both fancy and utility classes, and Mr. Holdaway’s white cock, which was awarded club’s trophies and championship for best Wyandotte, was brimful of quality, and a real Wyandotte. Mr. Barrie’s silver pullet was a fine specimen and was awarded cup for best Laced Wyandotte. In Black Orpingtons, both Mr. W. T. Hicks and Mr. W. Scott penned some beautiful specimens, Mr. Hicks’s exhibits winning the cups in both sections. The Rev. Sleep penned a wonderful team of Rhode Island Reds and was awarded the club’s challenge trophies in both fancy and utility sections. Minorcas and Leghorns were good in both sections, and Mr. Hanson had a hard hour’s work in separating the winners in his section. V ariety bantams were exceedingly , fine classes and gave the writer something to do to separate the winners, , Mr. Guthrie’s (Wellington) rosecomb ■ cockerel winning the premier award. . also cup for best bantam in show, and reserve for best bird in show. , Ducks, too, were above the aver- i age and we were more than pleased -

with the Khaki Campbell drakes; also championship winning White Runner duck. Game classes were hardly up to the standard usually seen at Palmerston North. Mr. Hart, Hastings, however, penned a fine team of Game bantams and was the most successful exhibitor. The judges were;—Game: Mr. O. Anderson; remainder of Fancy section and Variety Bantams, Mr. Geo. H. Ambler; Utility section, Mr. W. A. Hanson; Fancy pigeons, Mr. W. B. McKenzie; canaries, Mr. R. Thompson. The Stratford Poultry Society, which holds its annual show on July 13 and 14, is looking forward to a record show. Already entries have reached 1,000, and as these do not close for several days, it is anticipated entries will reach the vicinity of 1,500. Messrs. Geo. H. Ambler, /(.ickland, and Mr. Don. Stewart, Normanby, are the judges. They are, at the least, assured of a hard day’s work.

CANARY NOTES

The annual open show of the Auckland Yorkshire Canary Club is being held to-day in the Epiphany Hall, Karangahape Road. Entries are larger than last season, and competition is very keen in most classes. All those interested in canaries and cage birds should make a point of visiting the show, which is open until 9 p.m. The writer had the pleasure of visiting the Palmerston North show held last week. The show is a well-man-aged one and is deserving of the support of local fanciers, our section being particularly well catered for. Yorkshires were not in great demand and those benched were not up to the Northern standard and would have great difficulty in getting among the cards at any local show. Four new members joined A.Y.C.C. during last week and the membership list is now reaching a very respectable total. At the Palmerston North show I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr R. Thompson, of Christchurch. Mr. Thompson was judging all sections of canaries, and severe is the critic who would quarrel with his placings. Mr Thompson judged the Palmerston show--23 years ago and many a good story he can tell of the “good old days.”

PERSONAL NOTES

Mr. Vic. Hanson, the well-known Minorca and - Pekin duck specialist, has bought a farm at Buckland. Mr.

I Hanson informs us that his farm is i an ideal one for poultry and he intends ; going in more extensively for his favourites. At the recent Christchurch show Mr. Crouch won the silver cup and silver medal for best adult- Sussex with a typical cock of great shape and colour. This bird won quite a host of cups and special prizes as a cockerel last year and has had an unbeaten record in the show pen. Mr. W. A. Hanson, Auckland, has been appointed judge of all classes of poultry at Wairoa. Mr. T. Sparkes and Mr. B. Duncan, Auckland, were both successful exhibitors in the fancy pigeon classes at the Manawatu show. We congratulate them on their wins at a show of such importance as Palmerston North. Mr, T. Dowthwaite was another successful exhibitor in both open and utility classes of Runner ducks. Competition, too, in the duck classes was the strongest we have seen this season. Mr. W. Hart, Hastings, who has had a great run of success at the shows this season, had quite a field-day at the Palmerston North Show, winning 13 firsts and five seconds, also several specials in the bantam classes. Mr. Hart made a clean sweep in the modern game bantam classes, winning first prize in every one of the 10 classes, whereas in four of the classes he won both first and second. A meeting of the committee of the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club will be held in the Y.M.C.A. on Wednesday, July 4, at S p.m. IMPORTATIONS Mr. J. Cummings, Christchurch, has just received a further importation of poultry from Lord Dewar (England). The last importation consisted of the Crystal Palace winning Minorca and White Leghorn. Both birds were dubbed, and one could not, therefore, give an opinion on the comb. Being winners at the Palace, and also having headed Lord Dewar’s breeding pens is sufficient to justify their quality. The Minorca, which we adI mired very much, was of wonderful quality, good flow of feather and beautiful lobe. The Leghorn was a typical bird and devoid of any coarseness, grand flow of feather, with correctly shaped lobe, well set on. We congratulate Mr. Cummings on his enterprise, and feel sure the recent importations will still further improve the quality of his stud of these particular breeds.