THE POULTRY YARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 631, 6 April 1929, Page 28

THE POULTRY YARD

(By

GEO. H. AMBLER.)

BREEDING ANYTHING M\ experience is that there is no body of breeders of any kind of domestic live stock that holds such a diversity of views on the subject of breeding as poultry breeders. When one considers how quickly—compared with cattle and sheep breeding—it is possible to obtain a large number of examples of the result of any special mating of two fowls, it is extraordinary that such a wide difference of opinion should exist.

'pHE probable cause Is that there is not one poultry-keeper in a

thousand who could trace the true pedigree of all his stock—both of the dam and sire—back for even five years. But tell me of the fancier who can do so (there are few who can go much further back), and l would feel assured, even before I had seen his stock, that I would find him a really scientific breeder, and owner of some of the best specimens to be found in the variety he kept. A knowledge of how a fowl is bred is absolutely essential before one can with real confidence predict that he will, if mated to a given hen, produce the desired effect in the offspring. Take size. It is a recognised fact that the female has the greater influence over the size of the progeny. One has. however, only to mention this fact to have half a dozen poultry-breeders write back and say they have bred from a very small hen and produced some of the largest chickens for the breed that they ever had. Freaks or "sports” in Nature undoubtedly do occur, but they are very rare, and In almost all cases—such as above —it would be found, if one could accurately trace back the ancestors for a few years, that the explanation of the apparent exception to the rule was very simple. SIZE OF ANCESTORS Possibly even the mother and the grandmother of the hen that bred the large chickens were also small in size; but tracing back another generation we find the original stock was purchased-—possibly as day-old chicks —from a breeder whose stock was noted for size, and that the apparent deficiency in this respect of the purchased stock was due either to unfavourable conditions of accommodation or climate, or to a deficiency of care, or poor feeding in the rearing; and that for two years one or other of these adverse conditions prevailed, at the expiration of which time the owner had considerably Improved one or all of these conditions, with the result that he reproduced the original characteristic of the strain. Take colour. Another well-estab-lished rule is that the male is far more responsible for tho ground colour (as i distinct from barring, pencilling, etc.) j nf the progeny than the hen. However, if the youngsters from a good-ground-1 coloured cockerel are reared under such conditions that they have little , or no protection from the Inclemency t

of the weather or the scorching sun that fades the plumage, they will probably not be nearly so good in ground colour as other chickens that were produced from an inferior male as regards ground colour, but had, nevertheless, the advantage of natural or artificial protection from sun and rain. The casual visitor, or even the owner, is liable to conclude that not only is the foregoing rule wrong, but also to make the error that the apparently best ground-coloured chickens which he possessed among those reared under favourable circumstances would produce better ground colour in their offspring than those who deficiency in this respect was really caused by the conditions under which they had been brought up. Such would, of course, be a great mistake. RECORDS OF PARENTAGE

11l a similar manner I could enumerate practically all other points, but I think I have said enough to show that (1) an accurate record of the parentage of all birds used for stock purposes is one of the greatest possible assistance at the time of mating. No need to discard this grandly-marked little pullet on account of size; both parents and grandparents excelled in this respect. She had a bad attack of “ticks” when a youngster, or the continual rain and cold that we experienced when she was a little chick gave her such a severe check that she never properly recovered from it for months afterwards; and (2) that if you are a novice, and desire to pen off birds suitably mated to produce winners. by far your best way is to go to the breeder of your choice and say to him: “I am prepared to pay so much for a breeding-pen, and I leave it to you to do the best you can for me.” He knows far better than you how they have been bred, and if he understands the science of breeding, would be able to mate up a ten times better breeding pen than you probably would, even if you picked out all his best-looking specimens, and. being thus placed on his honour to treat you fairly, there are few poultry-breeders who would not do their best to give satisfaction. The art of breeding anything is to know the tendencies of your stock. In poultry one strain fails in comb, another in lobe, a third in lacing, and so on. I dare say I have had as much experience as most breeders in mating up other people's yards for them, and I always make a rule to ask first of

all to be shown the season's young stock before making any attempt to sort out the stock birds. Here, anyhow, Avithout previous knowledge of the bird's parentage, l can see what are the defective tendencies of the strain; and then, armed with this knowledge—if the pens are left as bred from—it is ten times easier to see, even with only generations avi liable, whether the faults are inherent in the strain or are due to improper mating. HoAvever, if the details of five or six years’ breeding are available, the veriest novice would probably be able to discover Avhere the fault lay. GENERAL NOTES HAWKE’S BAY AUTUMN SHOW The entries in the poultry section at the „ I l awke s Bay Autumn Show were of high merit. Some excellent youngsters were exhibited, many of which will be heard of again at the winter show's. Modern Game Bantams were a feature of the show'. The veteran. W. Hart, penned a grand team. "Tuning every prize offered for competition. The birds were of great reach, colour and condition. We understand his two pile cockerels and the winning black red pullet, bred from Mr. Hart’s English Importation, w'ere the most promising youngsters seen for years, whereas the winning Duckwing pullet was a beautifully coloured bird. Old English Game were, however, good. Minorcas. in the fancy section, were the strongest classes in the show. A. M. Tickner won in both cockerels and pullets. The winning Orpingtons, as usual, were penned by W. T. Hicks. Rhode Island Reds and Light Sussex were good classes. R. F. Hunter had the honour of winning the Light Sussex and Plymouth Rock classes in both fancy and utility sections. J. N. Barries scooped the pool in the Silver Wyandotte classes, C. W. McFarlane capturing all the specials in the Black Rosecomb bantam eldteses. Ducks W’ere strong classes, W. Shakespeare being the most successful exhibitor in the Indian Runner section. Quite a number of Angora and Chincilia rabbits were exhibited at the Hawke's Bay show, and it w'ould seem as if this class of exhibit was going to be an important one at the shows. The long-haired White Angora apd the Silver Blue Chinctlla, apart from their commercial value, are the most attractive varieties. Mr. Angell, of Tarndale. made the awards in this section of the show. At the meeting of the Christchurch Poultry Club held last week the following judges were appointed for the 1929 show: Open Classes.—Game and Game Bantams, Mr. Huggins, Nelson; all other open classes,. Mr. Don IStew-art, Normanby; Bantams, other than Game, Mr. Arthur Gapes, Christchurch. Utility Classes. —White Leghorns, Miv W. E. Green, Christchurch; all other classes, other than White Leghorn, Mr. J. G. Gobbe, Christchurch. Fancy Pigeons.—All Tumblers, Mr. W. Mabley, Christchurch; all other varieties, Mr. W. Fraser, Christchurch; junior classes, Mr. J. W. Green. Christchurch; Utility Pigeons, Mr. C. P. Bradford, Christchurch.

Canaries. —Messrs. R. W. Thompson and T. Wilkinson, Christchurch. Homer Classes. —Old birds, Mr. F. D. Wilson, Christchurch;’young birds, Mr. F. C. Kingsford, Christchurch; junior classes, Dr. A. C. McKillop, Christchurch: coloured classes, Mr. C. Barlow. Cats and Rabbits. —Messrs. F. Biggs and G. Radford. Duck Classes.—Open and utility, Mr. Don. Stewart, Normanby. Art Needlework.—Mrs. F. R. Bust. Cookery.—Messrs. Taigel and Pratley. Dame Rumour has, 1 hear, been busily engaged circulating statements to the effect that there had been a split in the executive of the Auckland Poultry Club. At a meeting of the club held on Thursday, Mr. Wood, who had attended the New Zealand Poultry Association’s Conference iri Christchurch, stated that these rumours had even reached the South Island. The fact of the Auckland Game Club holding a show of its own had also conveyed an impression that all was not well. Mr. Bust, secretary of the Auckland Game Club, and also one of the most enthusiastic members of the Auckland Poultry Club’s executive, said that he had given sufficient evidence during the past six months of his loyalty to the Auckland Poultry Club. The fact of the Game Club holding a club show was due to it considering that the time was opportune for a New Zealand Game Club show to be held. It was, however, its intention to support the Auckland Club to the fullest extent. Mr. Ambler, as president, regretted rumours had been circulated which may have been a detrimental effect on their 1929 show. He could say the executive, to a mail, had done its utmost to clear up the deplorable system in which the club had been placed. There was perfect unanimity and no sign of disloyalty on the part of any single member of the executive. Mr. Bust’s and Mr. Ambler’s remarks were supported by Messrs. Skinner, Wilson, McLaren and other members of the executive, and we were, therefore, requested to state that the rumours in circulation were absolutely without foundation and also that the club’s executive has not, in any way, been responsible for the non-payment of exhibitors’ prize money. The club’s executive has decided to nay all prize money in full and is determined to use every effort to make the 1929 show a success. The club’s motto for 1929 will be “AD UNTJM OMNES”—AII, to a man. The annual meeting of the Auckland Poultry. Pigeon and Canary Club will be held in the X.M.C.A. on Thursday next, at S p.m. PERSONAL NOTES I regret to announce the death of Mrs. Hanson, mother of Mr. W. A. Hanson. Epsom, the well-known judge. Mrs. Hanson, who has been an invalid for some considerable time, was the widow of the late Mr. T. Hanson, who, a decade ago, was one of the most prominent exhibitors in the Dominion. Mr. A. Palmer, Auckland, who has been in ill-health for some time, is now

in tho South Island and was a visitor to the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club’s Young Bird Show, held at Christchurch last Saturday. Before his coming to Auckland Mr. Palmer was a prominent South Island judge. The honour of being the oldest fancier in the British Empire must, we should imagine, belong to Mr. Alex. Frazer, Christchurch. Mr. Frazer, who is 93, is still keenly interested in the fancy, and was a visitor to the New Zealand Utility Club’s Young Bird Show held in Christchurch last week. Like most Scotsmen, Mr. Frazer is full of humour, and his company has always been sought after by those who knew him. We trust our old friend may live to reach his century and still be “not out.” MEAT MEAL AND OTHER AIDS When fowls have arrived at the eggproducing stage of development, stimulation may be secured by increasing the supply of albuminoids, and one of the cheapest, simplest and best forms by which this can be given is by meatmeal. This is a food which is becoming more and more popular with utilitarians, and the results shown through my own experiments have decided me upon making a more extended use of the meal in future. The egg is largely composed of albumen, and since meat meal contains a large percentage of albuminoids in an easily digestible form, it is clear that, if added to the usual diet in reasonable quantities, good results must follow. You must, however, remember that out of nothing comes nothing, and that if you desire eggs you must furnish the bird with the materials wherewith to manufacture them; you must put the penny in the slot, or you cannot extract the toothsome chocolate. Many people look in vain daily for eggs, and they are furnishing only a bare sustenance diet to their birds. This is very unwise, and the fact must be grasped that a bird can only furnish eggs when supplied with the necessary materials to make them, after the hen has already received sufficient food for her own bodily upkeep.