ECONOMY IN POULTRY KEEPING

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1022, 12 July 1930, Page 28

ECONOMY IN POULTRY KEEPING

At the present time culling is imperative. It is the great economy. Few poultrymen cull as they should. To keep only the profitable bird is a sound business proposition in normal times, but when cost of production is so excessive as it is at present, culling becomes a vital requirement. It is necessary, therefore, to study laying type whenever possible. POINTS OF THE LAYER Expression and carriage are characters which guide the successful breeder of all classes of livestock. Yet the first quality is seldom mentioned in connection with poultry. The point I would make here is that there are fundamental characters in judging any type of bird, no matter what the purpose for which it is kept, which must be present before indications of its special purpose are considered. Expression (the good eye), carriage, width across the loin (the legs being wide apart), and thick through the heart, are features which any animal should possess, for they are all indications of constitutional power. The only animals which fail in any of these respects, and yet are counted successful types, are fancy strains of poultry, which are mainly valued for some useless point. The lanky specimens are often so narrow, and too often knock-kneed, that they obvi ously are lacking in vigour, aiid if they are not so tall that they are quite out of proportion, they go to the other extreme, as with the fancy Black Orpingtons, which are often a mere halt of feathers. But even if these peculiar types are to be main-, tained at the standard aimed at, any divergence from the fundamental characters referred to above will be fatal. Having these characters, indications of' egg-laying power should then be looked for. These are the clean face, light feathering, flat bone in the legs, depth at the business end, a short breastbone, and a fine textured skin In the abdominal region. TYPE The question of type is a very important one. It is well to see that Increasing attention is being paid to utility classes at our shows. There are .still instances, however, where fancy judges are being engaged to judge both fancy and utility classes. There are fancy judges who can be depended upon to judge utility types; they are broadminded, and will do better work probably than many so- • piled utility judges who have never re«*Hy studied t.h© work of breeding

IT has been said that it is not the amount of money that is made; it is the amount that is saved that counts. So it is in poultry-keeping. It is not the number of birds that are kept, or the number of eggs that are laid that counts; it is the money that is saved by eliminating waste, especially by culling out every unprofitable bird, and the consequent good net result. The successful poultry-keeper has been described as a man with a keen eye for detail. Capital, experience, enthusiasm, and hard work are other essentials. Nevertheless, lacking method and the eye of a hawk for the leaks, he may possess all these above advantages, and yet fail to make a real success of his undertaking. The businessman will often succeed where the enthusiast will fail. •

standard poultry, and only look upon a fowl as a laying machine. All breeds are practically alike to them. On the other hand, the unbiased fancier knows the breed points which cannot be discarded, and realises that the true objective of a utility class is to favour the type which, while true to the standard, is not outstanding because of some exaggerated fancy point. The utility type is merely a bird which will conform to a sane reading of the English standard as typified by Ludlow's plates. It is really better to err on the side of attaching overmuch importance to breed points than to favour utility points purely and simply. A poultry show is to maintain breed type, whether it be in the fancy or the utility sections. LUCERNE Considering the great value cf lucerne as a green food for poultry, and as an important means of bulking up the morning mash, it is surprising that poultrymen in general do not make an effort to establish a plot of this great fodder plant. Nothing worth having in this world can be obtained without an effort and the effort required in establishing lucerne is assuredly worth while. With poultry manure at command there are very few localities in the country where lucerne cannot be grown. One thing to remember is that lucerne will not tolerate wet feet. The land must be naturally or artificially well drained. Good cultivation in the first place is essential and while broadcast sowing is the best method where the ground is clean and favourable to its growth, it. should be sown in close drills where the control of weeds is necessary in the first stage of growth and where the environment is not as suitable as may be desired. To obtain a winter supply it has been the custom to make some hay in the summer months and chaff this for the winter. The method adopted at the Milton Poultry Plant is to chaff the lucerne green and lay it out on a concrete floor to dry, when it is stored away for the winter. A concrete yard is admirable for the purpose, or even the work may be done on concrete paths. Certainly this may not be practicable where a large quantity is required, but on the great majority of plants it would be quite feasible. FRESH AIR The results of scientific investigations, substantiated by the teachings of practical experience, prove that fresh air with its necessary accompaniments of space and light is the first essential factor in successful

poultry rearing. Fresh air produces vigour, without which production cannot be permanently maintained. Agricultural colleges, not only in England and America, but in New Zealand and our Government poultry instructors as well, are advocating the, use of fresh air poultry houses. We have all heard of the power of "sweetness and light," and nowhere are the beneficial results accruing from them more necessary than in the houses and runs devoted to the rearing and accommodation of poultry.

One great and valid reason why fowls should have a plentiful supply of fresh air is that they have no sweat glands, so that poisonous waste matter cannot be conveyed from their bodies by means of perspiration. To make up for this deficiency “Dame Nature” has endowed the fowl with nine air sacs, as well as its lungs, the result being that a large amount of waste matter must necessarily be carried off in the breath. The poisons excreted in other animals by the skin are, in the fowl, carried off to a large extent by the breath. It is therefore quite easy to see the absolute necessity for an abundance of fresh air m the sleeping places. Fowls that sleep in houses where there is overcrowding or insufficient ventilation quickly become a prey to all kinds of disease. They begin by losing their appetite and general ill-health is followed by some definite complaint or disease to which so many fowls become victims. A test of insufficient air space or bad ventilation in a house or coop is to go inside first thing in the morning and if there is a stuffy, unwholesome smell you know that the ventilation is bad, or that too many birds are being housed together. GENERAL NOTES The Taranaki egg-laying test has now reached the end of the winter quarter. The cold, wet weather has evidently had an effect on egg production as the totals are not quite up to those of last year. In the White Leghorn section, Gibbons Bros.’ No, 1 hen is leading with 80 eggs to her credit, followed by G. L. Gaylard’s hen with 68 and A. Millar’s with 66. In the Black Orpington section V. L. Gane’s No. 3 hen is leading, having laid 71 eggs. A. J. Davey’s Light Sussex has laid fairly consistently, having 70 eggs to her credit. The leaders in the remaining breeds are: Anconas, W. R. Lee, 61 eggs; White Rocks, E. M. Galvin, 28 eggs: Rhode Island Reds, A. J. Lacey, 60 eggs; White Wyandottes, Gibbons Bros.’ 66. In the three-bird light team test Gib bons Bros.’ White Leghorns occupy first position with 194 eggs. The same breeders’ White Wyandottes are also leading in the -three birds heavy breeds team test. The first position in the duck section is held by J. W. Carrick’s Khaki Campbell with 69 eggs, F. A. Warren’s Fawn and White Runner being second with a total of 52 eggs. The following exhibitors were winners of the principal awards at the Dunedin Show: South Island utility Minorca championship, E. Congalton; best bird in open classes, J. A. Morris; best White Leghorn, utility classes, A. C. Goodlet; Dunedin fanciers’ cup, A. C. Goodlet; cup for best Minorca, E. Congalton; cup for best ban tain in show, special for best Modern Game bantam and medal for best bantam (Pile cock), W. H. Turvey;. best O.E. Game

bantam, D. Ede; cup ror best bantam opposite sex, J. P. Hoare.

From reports to hand it would appear as though Buff Orpingtous were agaiu coming into favour, as a number of this variety were exhibited at both the Christchurch and Dunedin shows. Mr. F. J. Hayhurst, Temuka, who Iras remained loyal to the Buffs for many years, also exhibited five Blue and two White Orpingtons at the Christchurch show.

I have just received a schedule of the Oarnaru show. The club is offering a number of valuable trophies for competition, including 90 special prizes and 14 silver cups. In addition, the Oarnaru Bantam Club has allocated nine cups for competition. The New Zealand Old English Game Club (South Island) is also holding its annual show with the Oarnaru event, where its cups and trophies will be competed for. With an array of prizes second only to Christchurch Poultry Club this year 3 show should have a record entry.

For the past three or four yehrs Anconas, which were previously strong classes at Christchurch, have been on the down grade, and it is interesting to hear that new blood is being imported into the Dominion, Messrs. Neill Bros., Westport, having recently received a vef-y fine trio from a leading Australian breeder. lam informed that the imported birds are an exceptionally good trio.

Mr. W. Turvey, who had such a run of success at Christchurch show, followed this up by winning 10 first prizes at the Dunedin Poultry Show.

By the death of Mr. F. Biggs, another fancier of the old school has been removed. It is 64 years since Mr..Biggs benched his first exhibit a? the Christchurch show and he has been a continual exhibitor ever since.

Evidently Mr. James Patterson (Taumarunui) holds a strong hand in Black Orpingtons, as he followed up his successes at other shows by the following wins at Palmerston North: New Zealand Orpington Club’s Challenge Shield for best male or female in utility classes, also special for best Black Orpington cock. Mr. Patterson, who is an enthusiastic fancier, is publicity official of the Taumarunui Club.

The death has occurred, after a long and painful illness, of Mrs. Smith, wife of Mr. Arthur Smith, Spreydon. Christchurch. Mr. Smith, who was one of the founders of the New Zealand Utility -Poultry Club, also Christehureh Poultry and Pigeon Club, is well known throughout the Dominion.

The fifth annual show of the Auckland Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Club will be held in conjunction with the Auckland A. and P. Association’s Winter Exhibition on July 14 to 17. Classes are provided for practically all breeds of poultry, pigeons and cage birds. The prize list is a valuable one, as in addition to 22 silver cups a long list of trophies and special prizes will be offered for competition, also North Island championships for American White Leghorns and Anconas. From an advertising point of view a win at Auckland is valuable and fanciers will be well advised to exhibit their birds at this popular event. The Judges are; Modern and Old English Game, Mr. W. A. Hanson; fancy poultry and bantams, Mr. W. A. Hanson; utility poultry and ducks, Mr. J. Nixon; fancy pigeons, Mr. N. Hanson; homing pigeons, Mr. V. A. Ryder; canaries and cage birds, Mr. S. Wood.

Entries close on Wednesday, July 2, with Mr. O’Donnell, secretary, Winter Show Exhibition, 41 Albert Street, Auckland. Probably the most successful exhibitors at the Christchurch show were Messrs. Stone Bros., Nelson, who benched no fewer than 33 Game bantams, winning 11 firsts, 8 seconds, 1 fourth and 1 special prize, also American Bantam Association’s gold medal for best display of Modern and Old English Game bantams: gold trophy for best display all varieties bantams: special ribbon Old English Game bantams. PREPARING THE GARDEN The secret of success in raising any kind of growth is the thoroughness of the preparation of our ground in the initial stages. Position is a leading factor in supplying the neceessary surroundings for successful operations in regard to the plant life in general. Some require the maximum of sun and light; while others relish a cool, shady place. Don t be persuaded that you c-an grow twice as much by sowing the seeds thickly. An overcrowded bed of seedlings will rarely produce any sturdy growth except it be on the extreme outer edge. HAVE AN IDEAL Every poultry-man should have some ideal which he is striving to perfect. It may be colour of plumage, breed, type, egg productiveness, early maturity, etc., or it may be a combination of them all. Whatever it may be, It is very true that he will run but small chance of attaining that end unless his birds have the strength and stamina sufficient to make them prepotent in it.