THE POULTRY YARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 460, 15 September 1928, Page 28

THE POULTRY YARD

GEO. H. AMBLER.)

(By

Factors in Chick-Rearing

SEPTEMBER is the month when most poultry-breeders ( hatch their largest crop of chickens, and with good weather and prospects in the way of exporting our eggs I see no reason why 1928 should not he a record chicken year, and so be beneficial to the industry.

\yiTH the advent of September, days

get longer, but there is always plenty to do when chickens are about, for no sooner do they get fed round than they need another meal almost at once. It is not enough to give youngsters a big lot of food and then think they will not want any attention for some time. The most successful way is to give little and often, then to see they have a period of warmth and rest in between times. They must have exercise to make muscle and constitution, but they also want rest if they are to grow fast. One can hardly say the work in the poultry yard is really hard or laborious, but it is continuous, and there is usually something to be done as long as daylight lasts. See that your chickens are kept dry, as cramp in chickens is often caused by their running on cold, wet ground, or by hard, bare floors. Moreover, unless chickens are very robust, and descended from hardy and vigorous stock, they are predisposed to cramp in case of bad weather. The best means of preventing cramp is to provide plenty of dry litter. At all costs, too, we must maintain a dry run, with dry litter for the chickens to scratch among. If the chicks are being brooded by hens see that the hen is free from lice. Chickens cannot thrive if brooded by a hen infested with lice. Brooder chicks have one advantage over those raised with the mother hen; that is, they are less likely to become infested with lice. I hatch and rear a good many chickens with hens. When the chicks are taken from the nest I anoint each chick’s head with carbolised oil. At a fortnight old they are given a good dusting with insect powder. As warm weather comes on you will need to examine their sleeping quarters frequently for red mites. If any are

Y\ r -E are now offering a limited number of Settings of Eggs from our Pedigree White I.eghorns, Black Orpingtons, Black Minorcan, Light Sussex, lvhaki Campbell and AVhite Runners. Winners of more cups and prizes than any two breeders combined in the Dominion. Trices from. AMP.LKR, West Coast lid., Glen Kden

found, spray the coops or brooders with Yama disinfectant. To rear chicks successfully it is essential that their sleeping quarters be kept clean, dry, cool, free from mites, and well-ventilated; also that the chicks have sufficient room and are never permitted to sleep crowded at night. Failure to provide these conditions means weak, slow-growing, stunted, unprofitable chicks. Crowded sleeping quarters and filth are against a quick and healthy growth. Feed liberally with good, nutritious food. Little chickens seem to be an especial attraction for rats. If you have only a single rat around your premises catch him now before the season of rat-breeding starts. After chicks have become partly feathered rats have been known to carry off entire broods. THE MALE BIRD Watch the results from your matings this season, and do not make the common mistake of discarding or neglecting an old friend. It requires some discrimination, but a bird that has bred really good pullets that mature well, lay early, and are vigorous and healthy, is of more value, since tried and proved, than many a younger specimen of good promise but as yet untried, for whom he makes way. We know that to keep a bird into the second season is often inconvenient; through the moult, too, it is an added expense, yet for the reason given it may prove cheaper in the long run. There Is always a risk of disappointment, but good judgment will weed out the unsuitable birds sooner or later according to experience. Coarseness in appearance, dropping wattles, receding comb (due regard being paid to this result when moulting), a more vicious appearance, are all bad signs. Slovenly carriage and gait, thickening of the legs, absence of any attempt to seek food or father the flock, should condemn the bird’s retention. On the other hand, many a second or thirdyear bird will show the vigour and activity of a cockerel, clean in appearance, ready to protect his flock, attentive and gentle to them, if not to the attendant. Much is to be

No cold is “NAZOL” proof. The best family protection. Prompt, pleasant, powerful. BO doses Is (id. —(i

learnt from the attitude of the hens themselves. In these days of pedigree birds, when breeding for egg production, too much weight is given to the pedigree and not enough to the individual. It is not sufficient to rely upon the reputation of ancestors only, even in the poultry world. Though not a difficult matter for a novice to distinguish the best in a flock of young cockerels seen together, it is far less easy to judge a bird by himself, and a comparison under the former conditions would frequently give rise to disappointment in an expensive bird. Since we cannot all have the pick of the flock, it is perhaps as well not to see them in this way. Yet it does not follow that the bird which stands out under these conditions always proves the best. The most assertive bird is frequently the best breeder, but others, less, when under different environment will develop, showing a truer value. VIGOUR FIRST Look for vigour before everything. Size is of importance; you can err on the small side, and this is better, perhaps, than the other direction, but the bird should not be stunted. At times, too rapid maturity, tending to check growth, leads to impaired stamina, and often in this case coarseness of comb indicates the defect. A flattened appearance about the face and a beak too long and straight are not healthy signs. Even the experienced hand analyses for defects after a general survey. Always look for faults. Pedigree has proved its value, but particularly in the hands of practical men who have also grasped the true value of some of their old birds by the practical proof of results given. The number of females in the pen is a much disputed question, dependent in most cases upon circumstances. If on free range more females can be included than on the intensive system. The light breeds vary from the heavy breeds, and more females can be put into a breeding pen, of, say. White Leghorns than a pen of Orpingtons. Much depends upon the vitality of the male, and whether kept under natural conditions or otherwise.

More attention should be given tile male than is often the case. Never use spices or temporary stimulants, and do not allow the bird to run down in condition before taking any trouble. Too often loss of vitality in the male toward the end of the season is accountable for the weakly late chickens, which are unprofitable to hatch or rear. Male birds do not pick for themselves to the same extent as hens, and it may be necessary to feed them apart at night. GENERAL NOTES

The following is the result of the Taranaki egg-laying competition to and including the twenty-second week; In the White Leghorn section, A. J.

Davey’s bird, which has been leading the competition for several weeks, has now dropped to third position. W. Cannon’s and W. Ferguson’s birds tying for first place with 112 eggs each. J. K. Hawkins is leading in Minorcas. Black Orpingtons are not laying as well as the White Leghorns, G. L. Gaylard’s bird leading with 79 eggs. H. Kirkwood’s Light Sussex is laying well, and has now 95 eggs to her credit. C. C. Cleaver’s bird is leading in Rhode Island Reds, A. Gibbons’s bird holding premier position in White Wyandotte section with 99 eggs. In the Fawn and White Runner ducks, V. L. Gane’s duck is still laying remarkably well, having laid eight eggs for the week, bringing her total to 136, A. Morse’s duck being second with 127 eggs. W. M. Waddell is leading in White Runners, his duck having now laid 114 eggs. * * * Just recently I have been asked several times for the standard for Croad-Langshans and will now give it. The following is the latest English standard: THE COCK Head. —Skull small, and full over the eyes. Beak fairly long and slightly curved. Eyes large. Comb single, upright, of medium size, evenly serrated, with five or six spikes (five preferred), tree from side sprigs. Face smooth. Ear lobes well developed, and pendant. Wattles rather large. Neck of medium length, well covered with hackle feathers. Body.—Moderately long and deep, broad back, flat on the shoulders, and the saddle rising abruptly to the tail; deep and well rounded breast, with long breastbone, and keel slightly rounded. Wings high or low. usually the latter. Fan-shaped tail, carried rather high, plentiful side hangers, and the sickle feather some six inches or more beyond the rest. Legs rather short. Thighs covered with soft feathers. Shanks smallboned, well apart, and feathered down the outer sides (not too heavily nor scantily) to the ends of the outer toes. Toes (four) long, slender, and straight. Carriage graceful and verv active. Weight 91b. THE HEN With the exception of the fluff, which should be rather more abundant ,the general characteristics are similar to those of the cock, allowing for the natural sexual differences. ‘ Weight, 71b. COLOUR Beak, light to dark horn. Eyes,

CHICKS CHICKS 8.0. Competition Strain. 12s doz. Setting - 6s (Hen 15 chicks 255, Monday). TANNER, Bollard Av., Avondale via Mount Albert.

brown to very dark hazel—the darker the better. Comb, face, wattles, and ear lobes brilliant red. Legs and feet blue-black, with pink between the soales, the web and sole pink-white (the more pink the better), and nails white. SCALE OF POINTS Type 15 Size " Colour 15 Head " n Legs and feet n Condition n Skin (thin) and flesh (white) ii Bone (fine) li 100 SERIOUS DEFECTS Lop comb, yellow at base of beak and around eyes; permanent white in ear lobes; white (in adults) or coloured feathers, white tips to feathers; white ill shank or toe feathers; a decided blue or purple gloss or barring; slate of blue legs in young birds; five toes; brown or black patches on toenails; yellow legs; any deformity. PIGEONS BEAT MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT A race from Westminster to Bolton took place recently between several homing pigeons and Mr. C. Hilton, M.P. for Bolton. As the pigeons were released at Westminster, Mr. Hilton caught an express to Manchester, and then motored to Bolton. He arrived at 2.58 p.m., and the first bird clocked in at 1.29 p.m. PERSONAL NOTES During the week I had an interesting conversation with Mr. Nakamaehi, who is paying a visit to New Zealand on behalf of the Japanese Government. Mr. Nakamaehi intends visit ing several of the leading poultry plants in New Zealand in order to obtain first-hand information regarding the poultry industry in the Dominion. Mr. Nakamaehi hopes to visit the chief places of interest in New Zealand, and left for Rotorua on Friday morning. Mr. I. Ball, who won the Pascoe Cup for best variety bantam with his Black Rosecomb cockerel at the recent Auckland Show, has sent a valu able breeding pen of Rosecombs to a Taumarunui fancier.

Mrs. H. M. Wilson, Hastings, who for several years has been one of the most enthusiastic fanciers in the Dominion, lias decided to give up her hobby, and has disposed of her stud of Barred Rocks to local fanciers, conditionally that they exhibit them at the shows. Since the days of the late Mr. Geo. Jackson, Mrs. Wilson has practically been unbeaten in the 15s 6d—Mechanics’ Overalls Suits— At Bert Marshall's.

Barred Rock classes. We regret that she has decided to sever her connection with the fancy. There are so very few fanciers who breed birds for the love of the beautiful, and not from a monetary point of view, that Mrs. Wilson’s retirement will be a serious loss to the fancy. Mr. W. Hart, the popular president of the Hastings Poultry Club, tells me he has had a most successful show season, having won no fewer than 56 firsts, 21 seconds, 10 cups (four of which have now been won outright), also quite a host of specials. His grandson, Master C. W. McFarlane, during the past season, has won 17 firsts, shield, and four cups with his Black Rosecombs.