THE POULTRY YARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 496, 27 October 1928, Page 30

THE POULTRY YARD

(By

GEO, H. AMBLER.)

CHOOSING A BREED IT is quite generally assumed that the question of choosing a breed and variety of fowls is of particular interest only to beginners, or to those who have been keeping poultry of no particular breed or lacking the standard qualities of the breed it represents. My impression, however, from a good many years’ contact and correspondence with poultrykeepers, is that at any time fully half of the subscribers to a poultry paper are interested in this question, for everyone whose poultry is not giving the profit or the satisfaction expected is more or less disposed to consider the possible advantage of a change of breed, while a good many poultrykeepers like to change just to have something different for a time, and not a few, who are permanently interested in one variety, like to try something else as well.

The tendency of beginners is to choose the breed and variety that is most popular, or that appears from what they can learn, to most popular. A generation or so ago the average beginner started with at least two different breeds, and most of those who had room to do so began with more. The idea was that in this way one could test the breeds for himself to see which he liked best. It was the custom then to keep an egg breed and a general purpose or a table breed in order that the egg supply might be more uniform throughout the year and that a greater number of grades and some higher quality in table poultry might be secured, than ‘if everything were subordinated to the nighest possible egg yield from a single variety. The varieties of the breeds generally then were not as highly finished as they have since become. Neither the amateur nor the commercial breeder was yet convinced of the necessity of concentration on one variety, if progress was to be made in breeding for standard quality. Now the beginner or the poultrykeeper wishing to make a change in breed is much more inclined to learn all he can about the different breeds and their varieties, and to weigh their advantages and disadvantages for his purpose and location very carefully before buying stock. He generally prefers to put all

the money he has to invest in breeding stock of high quality as he. can afford to buy of the variety he chooses. This attitude has become more and more nearly universal as people have come to understand the differences in strains of the same breed. Beginners now are advised that it is better policy to select the breed and variety that in their judgment will be best for them, and then try the different well-known strains of It until they find which of these meets the requirements best, than to experiment in a random fashion with stock of different breeds There are. of course, many cases where two or more varieties are kept, hut as a rule beginners do not undertake more than one variety. SELECT A POPULAR VARIETY In selecting a breed and variety for commercial purposes, it often makes a great difference whether one expects to sell breeding stock on its standard merits, as well as market poultry products. However, if one is to eater only for the market trade it makes little difference whether the variety one uses is popular or not. Yet, as a rule, it is wiser to take a popular variety, because if it should come about that the poultry keeper can sell purebred stock profitably he has something that is in demand and. that will sell readily.

The highly popular breeds are all found in the dual purpose and laying types, because these are the types that suit the greatest number of poultry keepers and the most varied conditions of soil and climate. Some of the table breeds are fairly popular, hut none of this class is as extensively kept, in New Zealand, as the popular breeds of the other classes. None of the breeds classed as ornamental is widely popular. White is the most popular colour. It is generally preferred unless some particular condition makes white objectionable. A flock of white or nearly white fowls is more showy and attractive, more ornamental, as the birds are sen at a little distance, than a flock of any other colour. The individual white bird, too, when living where it can keep clean, has the beauty that everyone can appreciate. It is quite probable that if there were no soot in cities and towns, and no hawks in the country, every poultry-

keeper who had not a decided preference for some other colour would keep white fowls. Even with these drawbacks the general preference for white is so pronounced that, as a rule, the white variety of a popular breed is the most sought for variety of that breed. In selecting a coloured fowl for the farm two things are kept in view. It is desirable that the fowls and chickens shall not be very conspicuous as they forage over the land, and that when dressed they shall be free from dark pin feathers. To get this combination most farmers take a medium coloured fowl. In early days the Doiqinique or hawk coloured fowl was a great favourite with farmers in America. When the Barred Plymouth Rock appeared, with the same colour markings, it quickly became most popular on the farm homestead. THE REAL FANCIER The colours that have been so far named practically make up the list of popular colours. In fact, the inclusion of black in a popular list strains the definition a little. These are the colours that are commonly considered serviceable. They are chosen by people who have no colour preferences, and who simply want something that looks well and gives very little trouble, either in care to keep the birds looking clean, or in breeding to retain the colour quality that the flock had to start with. Probably 75 per cent, of the transactions in pure-bred fowls and eggs in New Zealand are in varieties of these colours. That being the case, the odds are three to one that the beginner who chooses one of them is making the best possible choice for his purpose. The one great reason for passing them all by and taking something else is a personal preference for that something else. Or, if it be put in another way, we will say that the reason for not taking one of the most serviceable colours is that the person is a fancier. Now, in these days, outside of a limited circle of what I would call professing fanciers —some of whom have not owned a fowl for years—there seems to be more or legs antipathy to the word fancier, and practical poultrymen are not opposite or mutually exclusive. It is entirely possible for one and the same person to be both. What is and what is not practical in the choice of a breed all depends upon the extent of one’s Mans for the development of one’s poultry business. GENERAL NOTES Taranaki Egg-laying Competition.— The following are the results of the performances of the leading birds in the above competition up to and including the 28th week:— In the White Leghorn section W. Cannon’s bird still leads with 149 eggs to her credit. She, however, laid only 6 eggs during the week, whereas W. Ferguson’s hen laid the possible with the result that ouly a couple of eggs separate the birds’ scores. A. J. Davey’s bird is again laying well and has now laid 143 eggs.

Black Minorcas and Andalusians are still doing badly and not by any means keeping up their reputation as layers. The leading Black Orpington, G. L. Gaylard’s bird, has laid 101 eggs. In the Light Sussex, IL Kirkwood’s bird still maintains her lead, having now laid 121 eggs. The leading Rhode Island Red’s score stands at 108. White Wyandottes are laying remarkably well, A. Gibbons’s hen being first in this breed, also in the heavy breeds. In the Fawn and White Duck section V. L. Gane’s duck has again laid 7, her total being now 179. D. M. Waddell’s duck is leading in the White Runners with 150 eggs. - The trustees of the championship Association have decided to disband the 'association and allow clubs under their jurisdiction to link up with the North or South Island Associations. The Championship Association was formed some 20 years ago by several clubs which seceded from the North Island Association and the South Island Association. These clubs, together with officials, exhibitors and judges, were, however, disqualified by the parent bodies. Thanks to the untiring energies of the late Mr. J. Jarvis, Mr. J. Shaw, also Mr. Jeffries, the president of the South Island Association, and others, a healing of the breach was effected some 10 years ago, with the result that exhibitors and judges were free to judge and exhibit under all three bodies. For some time now, three or four of the leading clubs, under the jurisdiction of the Championship Association, which had its headquarters at Nelson, have been anxious to join one of the other associations. The permission was, however, withheld and it is gratifying to hear that the true fancier spirit has prevailed alid clubs are to be allowed to again affiliate with the parent bodies. The championship certificates, issued to exhibitors by the association, were works of art and without an equal in any part of the world.

Importations.—Mr. J. S. Parkin, manager to Captain the Hon. C. K. Greenway. (England), informs us that he is shipping a first-class trio of Rhode Island Reds to a well-known New Zealand breeder. He is also negotiating with the same breeder to ship out a trio of Magpie ducks. * • • The Papanui Laying Test.—The birds in this test are laying well and competition is very keen in the Memorial Test. At the end of the 27th week Messrs. Green Bros.’s and H. J. Knowles’s AVhite Leghorns are equal first with 162 eggs each. In the flock teams H. Harrison’s White Leghorns are leading with 831 eggs. In the three bird test one of J. M. Campbell’s team of Black Orpingtons is leading with 172 eggs. In the duck section J. W. Thomson’s Pekin has laid 157 eggs, C. B. Barnett’s Indian Runner, however, holds pride of place as she is leading over all breeds of ducks or fowls, having laid 178 eggs. She is closely followed by H. A. Dawber’s duck with 172 eggs. Auckland fanciers will be pleased to hear that Mr. A. E. Crossley, Grey Lynn, the well-known fancier, who has

been touring Britain with his wife and daughter, is now on his way back to New Zealand. Mr. Crossley has motored through'the most interesting parts of Britain and, no doubt, has met a few of the English fanciers and visited a number of their yards. * * * Fanciers will regret to hear that Mr. W. P. Hern, the well-known Leghorn specialist, has suffered a bereavement in the loss of his wife. Mrs. Hern was just as much an enthusiastic poultry-keeper as her husband. POULTRY HINTS All duck eggs should be tested at least twice during incubation, preferably on the seventh and fourteenth days, and the Infertile eggs and those with dead germs removed. Dead germs In duck eggs decompose very rapidly, and are often detected by their odour. ... This breeding season should find the poultry-keeper a little nearer a perfect poultry plant. Better birds should be reared, however many may be reared by others. The aim of all poultry-keepers should he better birds, better equipment, and better methods of handling the business. * * * When you buy high-priced eggs remenjber to give the chicks the best of care; keep the coop clean, and both coop and chicks free from lice. Divide them in small flocks so that they cannot crowd at night and thereby become overheated and thus lose all the strength and vitality out of their bodies.

Remember, it is not how many chickens you rear, but how good. Remember, also, that it only takes one bird a shade better than the rest to win first prize, and that means success. Hence, we say, give your chicks extra good care so that you may get all the good qualities out that were bred into them. Herein lies success. ... You should select the breed or variety that suits you best as to colour, size and shape, and breed them up until they satisfy you as to quality and productiveness. You make a mistake by jumping from one breed to another trying to discover a better layer. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT Dairyman, Edendale.—Will you give me the approximate weight of the following breeds, cockerels and pullets, at six months: Indian Game, O.E. Game, Light Sussex, Buff Orpington, Dorking, Barnevelders and Rocks? We feel bound to point out that there is a wonderful difference in the weights of these birds at different ages. You might, for instance, have an Indian Game that - only weighed 41b at six months, and you might have one that weighed 71b or B>b, and the same with other breeds, so that the weights we give are only approximate, and may be attained or surpassed, according to the weights of the stock birds from which these were bred: — O.E. Game cock, 4 to 4Xlb; hens, 31b to 3tlb; Indian Game, 6 to 71b: hens, lib less: Sussex, 71b to 81b, hens, 61b to 71b; Dorking, Sib to 91b: hens, 71b to Sib: Orpington,. 71b to 81b, hen or pullet, 61b to 71b; Rock, 71b to Sib; hen, Gib to 71b.