The Poultry Yard

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 28

The Poultry Yard

( Bv

GHO. H AMBLER.)

HANDLING A FOWL

There is probably nothing at which the beginner is so inadept' as at the correct way of handling a fowl. Whether he intends to exhibit or not, there is only one way—the right one

—of carrying, holding, or handling a bird generally, and I will endeavour to explain how this should be done. First and foremost, one has to avoid fluttering and struggling, and in order to do so it is essential that the bird should bo made to face you before pickfng it up; then grasp it firmly with the thumbs over the wing shoulders, and the fingers round the sides of the body, and lift. The bird is powerless to get away or flap its wrings. When carrying a fowl, slip the hand and forearm along under its breastbone until you can get a firm hold of both the thighs between your fingers. Then raise it, and tuck it comfortably away beneath your arm, keeping it in place with vour elbow', so that the wings and head are in a normal position—the latter, of course, facing the way from which you are coming. With a little practice you cart easily carry two birds at a time in this way; blit never under any circumstances try to carry more than this number* If you wish to examine under-colour or flights, stand with your left foot raised, and resting on a chair or something similar, and grasp the bird by both hocks firmly in the right hand, so that your fingers are uppermost: then lay her across your left leg on the breastbone, and you will bo able to make your examination with the left hand in comfort to both of you. Never be rough, and never allow' wing-flapping. CARRYING SHOW BIRDS The beginner makes a great mistake if ho attempts to handle more than one show' bird at a time, however short the distance may be over which tlmy have to be transferred. Every I‘ea.ther cracked or broken means so much off the value and chances of the exhibit, and it is impossible to be too careful v.ith valuable stock. You have only to watch a man take a bird out of a wire show* pen to discover whether or not he is a novice. The correct way (and there is only one) is to make the bird face you, having put both arms into the pen in the effort. Now get a firm grasp of both wings, on the shoulders, and throw* the bird on to its left side (your right), with its feet off the ground, when you can draw it out without ruffling a feather. Always return a bird to the pen face foremost also, and do not release your grip of the shoulders until it is well within the pen again. While holdiug a bird for the purpose of washing its legs, tuck it away under the left arm (much in the same way as described at the outset of Jspray Flytox round baby’s cot. Kills fell flies and mosquitoes, but perfectly harmless to humans.— l,

these notes), stern foremost, hold the legs firmly in the left hand, and scrub away with the right. To clean the scales out. its position must be reversed, and you must hold the leg to he manicured at the hock, pulling it slightly forward so as to be able to get at it properly with the other hand while you keep a tight grip on the bird’s body with the left elbow. Keep the bird in the same position to do its head, and if you want to keep the latter steady in one position, slip the left hand behind the comb, and get a hold on the beak only with the thumb and first finger. Never use more than two fingers in any case, and never by any chance seriously incommode the bird by pressing its windpipe. A little practice will enable you to do all these things correctly, though the first time you handle a bird you will very likely think it impossible to manage the entire preparation of a bird all alone. The whole art lies in a combination of commonsense, firmness, and gentleness. THE COCKEREL PROBLEM A question that often puzzles the experienced man—let alone the beginner—to answer is how to manage the full-grown cockerels that are at this time of the year beginning to shoot up all over the poultry yard. Most people know that if you take away a fine young bird from his brethren, even for 24 hours, there is likely to be trouble when he is returned to the run. One cannot afford to risk torn wattles or a damaged foot in the show birds, and so, when a bird goes away to show or for any other purpose, the question must be decided on his return as to where ho is to go. I confess it is one that has often puzzled me. and of course the larger the farm and the stock the more complicated the matter becomes. One way of solving it Is by providing a large number of cockerel boxes, one for each male; another is to have divisions of corrugated iron or matchboarding running along between each pen if the cock-

erels are housed in small runs in the open; while if there is not any other way out, find lie must be put back in the s r j!ne run, the following rather drastic treatment is very often successful: Should the cockerel you are returning to his former companions show fight, take a light switch out from the hedge and run him about for two or three minutes, giving him gentle repeated cuts (not very hard, of course) across the stern with the switch whenever you can get one in. He will very soon cry “Peccavi!” and will have settled down peacefully again in his old quarters by the time he has got his “cockiness” back. There is no need for any cruelty or disfigurement in this process. HOW TO TELL WHEN A HEN IS A SLACKER The worker hen —the fowl that produces persistently, and economically—usually carries ragged, worn plumage; is a late moulter; has a red, large, sleek plump comb, and white thin flat shanks. The beak and ear lobes are white, while the pelvic bones are thin, pliable, and wide apart, and the skin is thin, loose, and show's no indication of hard fat. The space between the pelvic bone and the end of the breastbone is wide. The breastbone is soft, pliable, and prominent. Shirker hens are characterised by neat, clean plumage; early moulting; a pale, small, shrivelled comb; creamy ear lobes; round and full shanks; yellow beak; heavj", rigid, and closetogether pelvic bones. The spread betw’een the pelvic bone and the end of the breastbone is narrow, while the small bones on either side of the breastbone are hard and well covered with flesh. The skin is thick, hard, and underlaid with fat. In making physical examination of the fowls for production efficiency, hold the hen with the breast bone in the palm of the hand, with the flesh part of the legs held firmly on either side of the forefinger. The feeling of the breast bone in the palm of the hand will indicate the quality of the skin, while with the other hand the examiner can measure the distance between the pelvic bone from the pelvic bone to the rear end of the bone. As he holds the birds lie also can examine the plumage, comb, shanks, beak, ear lobes, and thus accumulate accurate information for his diagnosis of conformation and production ability. It is essential that he consider all points in respect to their importance and not place too much dependence on cue or more prominent characteristics. It is not surprising that many j well-fed flocks do not prove profitable; substitute lucerne for grain, and the result will be a larger number of eggs at a lower cost, and the flock will keep in better condition. GENERAL NOTES The following are the results of the Taranaki egg-laying competition up to and including the 4Sth week: Three birds have topped the 300 egg mark. The premier position is held by D. M. Waddell’s Black Orpington ; lien, which has now laid! 334 eggs. The ! second position is held by J. W. Car- !

rick’s Khaki Campbell duck, with a score of 317 eggs, followed by M. Scanlon’s White Leghorn with 308 eggs.

In the White Leghorn section Cibbons Bros.’ No. 1 hen occupies second place with 293 eggs, followed by R. Cannon’s hen with 289 eggs, and C. W. Taplin’s hen with 284 eggs. In the Rhode Island Red section A. J. Lacey's No. X hen is still leading, having laid 253 eggs. Gibbons Bros.’ hens are leading in White Wyandotte, Langshan and Golden Wyandotte sections. A. J. Davey’s hen is leading in Light Sussex, E. M. Galvin in White Rocks and F. W. Walker’s No. 2 hen in Brown Leghorns. In the Fawn and White Runner ducks D. Riley's duck is now six eggs ahead of V. L. Gane’s duck. D. M. Waddell’s duck is now 33 eggs ahead of her nearest competitor in the White Runner section. In the three-bird team test, light breeds, R. Cannon’s White Leghorns laid 19 for the week, bringing their total to 843 eggs. Gibbons Bros.’ White Wyandottes are leading in the heavy breed team test, their score being 697 eggs. Fanciers will regret to hear that Mrs. Smith, wife of Mr. Arthur Smith (president of New Zealand Utility Club), is still seriously ill. In a letter just to hand Mr. Smith says that Mrs. Smith has shown little improvement for some time. All will joiu me in wishing Mrs. Smith a speedy recovery to good health. Mr. Reg. Hooper (Gisborne), who was one of the prime movers in the formation of the Auckland Poultry Club (being its first secretary), and who now occupies a prominent position in fancy circles in Poverty Bay, is at present spending a holiday in Auckland and has visited quite a number of fanciers’ yards. Mr. Walter Scott (New Plymouth), who recently had a serious illness, is gradually recovering his health. lam informed that he has already got his eye on a few Black Orpingtons with a view to their defending his laurels during the coming show season. “Walter" has a keen eye for type, and Messrs. Patterson and Hicks will need something good to win. Another old fancier in Mr. S. Teed (New Plymouth) endorses my argument that many of our breeders are not paying sufficient heed to size in Utility White Leghorns, with the result, constitutional vigour, also size of egg, are suffering. Mr. Teed says they have too much of the American Leghorn introduced into them, which he humorously terms the “poodles of poultrydom.” This year is jubilee year of the New Zealand Utility Poultry Club, and Mr. Arthur Smith, the club’s president, was one of the founders of. the club. He has been exhibiting poultry and pigeons since 1573.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS J.H.H. (Onehunga). —(l) Regarding the omission of lucerne meal from your mash. Yes, it will be advisable to increase the bran to the same proportion, but if lucerne meal be added, reduce the quantity of bran. (2) Regarding the standard weights of eggs laid by White Wyandotte pullets. I presume you mean at what age will the birds lay a 2oz egg. Much depends on the strain, as some birds are “small eggers” no matter what age. It usually takes a bird at least two months before her eggs attain full weight. (3) iTie Auckland Show' was for birds of any age. In some breeds, however, separate classes were provided for cockerels and pullets. (4) Most judges are willing to give an exhibitor any information lie requires regarding the faults of his birds. Personally I am always pleased to do so and assist the amateur in any way possible. It is to him we have to look for our future exhibitors. (5) If you let me know the most convenient time to see your birds I will try and make an appointment and give you a practical lesson. Thomas Goff, Pukekohe.—l am afraid if your ten-months-old White Wyandotte cockerel has not grown any hackle or tail feathers he i 3 not likely to grow any now. The cause may be from constitutional weakness or from feather disease. Is he or has he been troubled with insect pests? Your best plan is to mix his food with linseed tea, and rub the affected parts with vaseline. The hen that has not laid since last November may be laying her eggs internally, in which case the best thing you can do is to kill her. Redness Belov/ Vent. M.G.N., Avondale. —No, J don’t tliink you need worry about the redness of the skin below the vent of the hen, for such a thing is very common, and is of no detriment or importance. Rub the bare patch now and again with carbolised vaseline or iodine.