OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 225, 28 January 1911, Page 3

OUR FEATHERED FRIENDS

(B,v Cock-o'-tlie-North ").

What is the best breed to start with? »'li, white Leghorns," says probably the I lirnt, one you ask. and if you ask him why, he will say, "Oh, they are the Uesi layers. You can't beat the Leghorn!" Of course to the novice this seems conelusive, but if any of my readers get the same answer I should advise them to seriously consider what I am about to state. The white Leghorn is neither the most prolitable breed nor the best layer. True, they have won more competitions than any other breed in Australasia, but that is, in my opinion, simply because of the fact that the entries of this breed are fully two to one of all other breeds combined. Take the New Zealand egg-laying competition at Ohristchureh as an" example. There are 37 pens of white Leghorns, eight pens of silver Wyandottes, three white Wyandottes, two black Orpingtons, and one each of Minorcas, white Plymouth Kocks, brown Leghorns, spangled Sussex, so that tiie white Leghorns have nearly five chances to one against silver Wyandottes, 12 to one against the white Wyandottes, I' 7 to one against black Orpingtons, and 37 to 1 against the other breeds. The record for New Zealand is 131)7 eggs from six silver Wyandottes, the property of Mr. T. Kennedy, of ltangiora, and the white Leghorns come next with 1371 for six birds. The record for Australasia is 1538 eggs, and is held by white Leghorns. This is claimed as a world's record, but on what grounds it is not stated. Eight , white Plymouth Rocks in an egg-laying competition at Pittsburg, America,' are credited with 2314 eggs, an average of 28!), as against 25fi each for white Leghorns at Gatton College, Queensland. Again, a light Brahma hen is credited with 313 eggs in 333 days, and a. Mr. Ford, of Maungapapa, near Gisborne, claims (per Poverty Bay Herald, July, 1907) that

nine black Langshan pullets laid from May 1, 1'906, to April 30, 1907, 2710 eggs, or 301% each. Now, in regard to the

American record - , people are too prone to say, "Oh, this is only a Yankee yarn!" But, on the other hand, the Americans would be quite justified in saying the same of our record. If we doubt one we must doubt the lot, unless we have absolute proof that one i.s right. If we accept one we cannot in justice refuse the others simply because of the fact that they exceed ours unless we are certain they arc not right. I have stated this only to show that the white Leghorn has no real right to claim preeminence as an egg-producer over other breeds. This is, however, not the most vital aspect of the question. Egg production, I freely admit, is the most important source of profit on a poultry plant, but it is by no means the whole source, and if the profits on eggs are to be drawn on to meet other expenditure the total profits are very small at the year end. In the first place, we will take the case of a person with plenty of capital who has perhaps enough to start a complete plant on a large scale, and who is also a firm believer in the white Leghorn. We will suppose that he intends to rear 2000 layers. If he knows his business he will raise to very near maturity about 2350 pullets, so as to allow him to cull out the most unprofitable birds before they start laying, and thus leave him with 2000 payable layers. Now, when raising these '23:>o pullets he will (the sexaphone notwithstanding) raise on the average 2350 cockerels, which, with the 350 pullets culled out, will'leave 2700 birds to dispose of for the table. If these are white Leghorns, he will be extremely fortunate if he gets back the bare cost of food necessary to raise these birds to the age of table poultry, viz., 10 weeks. The cost of the eggs necessary to hatch these, incubators, brooders, coops (or bouses), oil, food and water utensils and labor and attendance will be lost, and will thus leave a heavy debit which the pullets must wipe off out of the profits on their eggs. If, on the other hand, the production of table poultry were to suddenly exceed the demand, the holder of Leghorns would probably find himself unable to sell at all, and, in the case of small beginners, this would mean ruin. If, however, the beginner started with a good laying strain of, say, Wyandottes, Plymouth Rocks, Houdans, Sussex, Faverolles, Orpingtons, or any other general purpose breed, the cockerels would always sell readily for the table and leave a handsome margin on the cost of production, and so would the reject pullets, as these arc usually a better sample of table bird than the heavy layer. This margin would go toward paying for the rearing of the layers, and these again when sold for table would realise good prices for table and would more than pay for the cost of their upbringing. Again, in the case of a sudden over-supply as above, such breeds as these could be killed and held in cold storage, and if shipped so as to reach the 'English market in March or April would net a decent profit if the birds were properly reared, killed, plucked and dressed.

JOTTINGS. I am often asked what is the best remedy for certain discuses in poultry. Well, first, prevention; an<l, second, if the bird has really contracted a serious sickness I should advise a club and a good hot fire. Leave doctoring for the fancier; it will not pay the utility man. When it is necessary to kill a diseased bird never cut the head oil', or cause the Wood to flow (or drop) on the ground, as if the disease is infectious the other birds are liauie to pick at the diseased blood and so contract the disease them- ! selves. if you keep fowls and have plenty of docks growing don't be' in a hurry to cut them down and throw them away; the fowls like them and they give the yolk of the egg a very rich, deep yellow color. It is surprising the number of weeds fowls will eat. ' Almost any kind are good. If you have a good cow or horse you treat* it well because it pays you to do so. It will also pay you well to follow the same rule with a good hen. If you have a weakly, backward chick kill it at once. I never yet knew such to develop into a strong, vigorous layer. There are two classes of poultry culture—the sentimental class for the fancier only, and the business class for the utility man.