THE POULTRY YARD

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 678, 1 June 1929, Page 12 (Supplement)

THE POULTRY YARD

(By

GEO. H. AMBLER.

THE SHOW SEASON TO the exhibitor June is looked forward to more than any other month of the year. It is the month when all the »ig shows are held and the fancier is anxious to see how his birds will fare in the show-pen. Christchurch, Palmerston North, New Plymouth. Hastings and Auckland shows all follow in quick succession, and a win at any of the above shows at once ranks the exhibitor among the leaders in the exhibition world.

r'ROM reports to hand competition will be keener than ever. Several valuable importations have reached New Zealand during the past few months, and their new owners will naturally be keen to test them against the best New Zealand can produce. I have had the pleasure of seeing several of the imported birds, and must say it will be no disgrace to our New Zealand birds if they have to take second place to the new importations. Most of the importations come from the Motherland. “Value for money” is evidently the motto of the English breeders, as in every instance the birds reaching New Zealand were of .a very high standard. Since the forming of our New Zealand utility standard there has been a great improvement in the type of bird exhibited in our. utility sections. I am looking forward to a bigger improvement this season. My only hope is that judges will not go about carrying a pair of scales and tape measures, but will go for the birds possessing true breed and type characteristics. As probably the most successful exhibitor in the Dominion, a few hints from me on preparing birds for exhibition will be useful to many of my readers who intend trying their luck at the shows. PREPARING BIRDS FOR EXHIBITION In the first place, I would remind my readers not to resort to any act of trimming, faking, or fraudulent dyeing. I could give a whole string of such practices, but do not desire to be in the unenviable position of informing my readers how these malpractices are carried out. In the second place, remember judges are only human, and. therefore, apt to make mistakes. A judge probably has up to three hundred birds to judge in two or three hours and, further, we do not all see eye to eye. The disappointed exhibitor, like the poor, is always with us, and if you belong to the former and are disappointed at your exhibit not winning, do not abuse the judge and say he knows nothing, whereas he has probably forgotten more than you ever knew. Go to him and ask his advice. To commence at the early stages of this subject would take up more space than our editor would be able to allow, and I will, therefore, deal with the later stages. KNOW THE BREED Before exhibiting study one breeds

until its points are thoroughly mastered, for it is only by specialising that one can be certain of success, and it must not be forgotten that it is quality that is wanted, not quantity. The standard of perfection, scale of points, and special features of the breed must be memorised. It is essential to visit a few shows, and a good insight can be gained from photographs and coloured plates. Different breeds vary in the time that is necessary to elapse before they are fit to show. In most light breeds this will usually be when the pullets are from six to eight months old, and from seven to nine for the cockerels. With heavy breeds a month older. A few days previous to the show at which you intend to exhibit place your birds into exhibition pens, and carefully go through them, dotting down the good and bad points of each specimen, and finally allotting to each bird his share of marks according to the standard of the breed. With old breeders this is, of course, not necessary, but the beginner, by adopting such a plan, is less liable to make the mistake of sending an inferior specimen to those he has retained. Not until the beginner has surmounted the difficulty of ascertaining what is required to make an exhibition bird can he be assured of being on the road to success. Then every possible and legitimate means must be employed to attain the desired end. THE ROAD TO SUCCESS The day is past when a bird can be picked up from its run and sent direct to a show and win. It requires careful selection and preparation, and this is a work of sometimes several weeks. Of no slight importance is the matter of training a bird to hold itself well in the show pen. Bathe the comb daily in warm water, then wipe it dry and rub in a little olive oil, manipulating the comb well between the thumb and forefinger, but do not work too vigorously for fear of weakening the base of combs in males and the roll in females. In males, the comb sometimes has a tendency to fall over. Then it must be treated in just the opposite manner. and its comb bathed with vinegar and water; but if very much over, a comb guard must be used. If the wattles are folded or creased, bathe in warm water daily, and with a little glycerine work out the creases with thumb and forefinger. A dressing ]

with some good comb dressing for head points just before the bird’s being dispatched for show will make a wonderful difference to the appearance of the bird. The dressing should not be applied to white ear-lobes. Space will not permit of my advising how to wash fowls. Always run down the -way the feathers lie—never against the webbing. Let your water be comfortably hot, say llOdeg. of heat. Thoroughly rinse the bird to get rid of the soap, otherwise the feathers will not web out properly. Do not send birds to show with dirty legs and feet. These should be washed with a nail-brush and soap, and give alternative days 10 drops of Colchicum wine in a taspoonful of water, and them a good scrubbing. Rub the plumage well down with a. soft silk handkerchief. A thoroughly good grooming in this way will repay for the trouble. If the weather is cold, .three or four drops of eucalyptus oil, given in two-thirds of a teaspoonful of water just previous to dispatching the birds, acts as a preventive to their taking cold. See that the birds are well fed on hard corn before they are dispatched to the show. On the return of a bird from a show, if his appetite be poor, a teaspoonful of the solution of chlprate of potash and iron will .quickly revive it. TRAINING DUCKS It is almost as important to train ducks for the show pen as is the case with fowls. This important item should not be neglected, as a -wild duck is worse to judge than a wild fowl. Do not overshow your birds, especially those that you intend breeding from. Just for the sake of winning one more prize, the fertility of the bird in the coming breeding season is often spoiled or considerably impaired. Warmth and animal food are essenital for the growth of comb, wattle, etc. Thus, if the bird is of the smallcombed breeds, care must be taken in feeding and housing, or the comb may be ruined for exhibition. For largecombed breeds, the temperature of the house should be about TOdeg. Give a little cooked meat at noon, also on alternative days 10 drops of Colchicum wine in a teaspoonful of water, and give occasionally a little hemp seed. For dark-plumaged birds a piece of sulphate of iron the size of a bean in an earthenware vessel. Peas, cracked beans, pea and bean meal are excellent for bringing out sheen, but these tighten the feathers, and should not be given to soft-feath-ered varieties. A good feed ’of bread and milk never comes amiss in conditioning the majority of exhibition birds. GENERAL NOTES The following are the results of the Taranaki egg-laying competition to, and including, the seventh week: In the White Leghorn section Mr. Scanlon’s hen still maintains her lead, j followed by J. A. Macky’s, Gibbons j Bros.’, and R. Cannon s birds in the same positions as last week. In the Rhode Island Red section, I A. J. Lacey's hens occupy first and | second places. Gibbons Bros.’ No. 1 bird is leading*

in the Golden Wyandotte section. In the Black Orpington section, D, M. Waddell’s hen has again laid the possible, thus maintaining her lead over all breeds of ducks or fowls. First place in the White Wyandotte section is now held by Gibbons Bros.' No. 1 bird. Light Sussex. Langshans, Brown Leghorns and White Rocks are still low down on the list. in the Fawn and White Runner section, V. L. Gane's duck laid seven for the week, as did J. Magill’s and D. Riley's ducks. White Runners have not made a start yet. I In the A.O.V. duck section J. W. Carriek’s Khaki Campbell duck laid seven eggs during the week and is still well ahead of her competitors. In the three-bird team test, light breeds, R. Cannon’s team of. Leghorns laid 16 eggs for the week and is still leading. In the heavy breed team test, A. J. Lacey’s Rhode Island Reds have displaced Gibbons Bros.’ White Wyandottes. I have received poultry schedules of the Taumarunui Winter Show, which will be held in the Theatre Royal, Taumarunui, on June 7 and 8. The show is purely a utility show, all poultry having to be judged under the New Zealand utility poultry standard. The prize-list is a very valuable one, having the support of practically every business firm in Taumarunui. Several challenge cups and trophies will be competed for, also North Islani championship for Rhode Island Rerl (utility) and White Rocks (utility). One of the most valuable specials is that of one year’s subscription to The Sun to the exhibitor making the greatest number of entries. In a letter from Mr. J. Patterson, publicity officer, he informs me that the executive is looking forward to an entry of something in the vicinty ot' 300. The executive ot the Taumarunui Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club is to be congratulated on its optimism and also on the splendid prize list put forward. The writer remembers quite well judging at the club's initial event, which was only some four years ago, when the birds were penned outside in the open in packing-cases with wire-netting fronts. At that time the enthusiasm of Mr. Patterson and the few remaining exhibitors I met gave me grounds for predicting that the club would have a successful future, and it is gratifying to know this has been realised. Mr. W. A. Hanson, Auckland, will judge this year’s show. A meeting of the executive of the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club was held in the Y.M.C.A. on Thursday, Mr. G. H. Ambler presided over a good attendance. Correspondence was received from the North Island Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Association regarding suggested alterations to poultry standards. It was decided to write the North Island Association stating that notices calling for suggestions for alterations to standards should have been forwarded to specialist clubs. It was unanimously agreed to hold a four days’ show, viz., Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday, July 4, 5, 6 and S, poultry to be exhibited on Thursday and Friday, Bantams and pigeons on Saturday and Monday, and canaries on Monday paly, A -

PERSONAL NOTES During the week I had a visit from Mr. Adams, Marten, the well-known Brown Leghorn specialist, also Mr. Bremner, Otahuku, another Brown Leghorn fancier. Mr. Adams tells me he has a grand lot of his favourites fit for the shows. I-le, however, does not intend exhibiting before the Palmerston North event, where he is looking forward to repeating his previous successes. He is also reserving a good team for the Leghorn Club show to be held at Stratford in July. Mr. Adams, who is on holidav. intends visiting the Christchurch show. Mr. Bremner is looking forward to penning a few Leghorns at the Auckland show. Mr. Keyworth, Mount Eden Road, who is one of the most enthusiastic pigeon fanciers in the district, has had the misfortune to lose a valuable Pigmy Pouter cock. Mr. Keyworth attributes the death of his bird to the cold snap having a serious effect on it during the moult. Although he has several promising youngsters among his flock, Mr. Keyworth considers the one which died as one which would have been hard to beat in the show pen this season. DEATH OF WELL-KNOWN CANARY FANCIER The news of the death on Thursday, at Onehunga, of Mr. J. Gibbons, the well-known canary specialist, came as a surprise to most fanciers. Mr. Gibbons, who was a member of the Main Body, while at the front was badly gassed. Although it did not prevent him following his occupation, he suffered the effects of the gas until the time of his death. As a canary breeder few had greater success or more enthusiasm than Mr. Gibbons, and for many* years he took an active part in the doings of the Onehunga and Auckland Canary and Cage Bird Club. Mr. Gibbons leaves a widow but no family. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS Mrs. G.W.G., Te Kuiti.—The usual cause of soft-shelled eggs is that the hen is too fat. The muscular movement of the oviduct is hindered by layers of fat, and instead of the eggs being controlled by firm muscles it merely slips through a flabby mass without getting its shell on. Another cause is lack of lime, whereas a third cause is the forcing of hens for frequent egg production, a second yolk breaks off from the ovary and drops into the funnel of the oviduct, causing the first egg to be laid before being completely formed. In your case the cause is probably due to over-fatness, and I would advise you, for the time being, to leave the potato peeling out of the mash. Give the Glauber Salts solution as advised in last week's Sun. For the next week or ten days, according to the condition of the fowls, give but one small handful of grain per bird, per daj r , no other solid food, green food, however, may be allowed ad lib. Naturally the over-feed-ing on too fattening foods must be discontinued in the future, and the birds supplied with oyster shell or the same trouble will arise again.