POULTRY NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10576, 6 March 1912, Page 6

POULTRY NOTES

(By Utilitarian.)

Correspondence from the Chairman of the Levin Fgg Circle, Mr H. Leger, shows that that body expects to make imich hotter progress this coming year. The district is in a somewhat unique position owing to the fact that there are two buyers of eggs who give the producers, at their doors, within a penny of Wellington prices, and this lias been a dominant factor in retarding .the advancement of that Circle for some time. .It is the penny-wise-pcund-fooiish policy; if two buyers can afford to go so near the Empire City's quotations a body or a Circle should he able .to do as well. As a matter of facfc the members of the

Levin Circle have obtained, after paying all expenses, within one halfpenny of the Wellington n arket. Yellow or brassy colour, so often found on White Leghorns, is generally looked noon as a blemish. From an exhibition point of view it is, and a had one at that, hut 011 the other hand there are some breeders, such as Mr Bradley, of Papanui, who consider Leghorns, tinged with yellow, are more vigorous and prolific birds. His pen, which was leading so long in the present competition, has had a slice of bad luck owing to one of his birds taking isiek ; as it is the pen otherwise is doing remarkably well. On the Utility Poultry Farm aro to be seen several good looking cockerels of the Bradley strain. Good birds are worth good money; bad ones are dear at a. shilling each. Good birds are worthy of good food, and give good returns. Don't neglect the ducks because they are moulting and probably off laying. Feed them well, and they will come on all the sooner.

This is an excellent time of the year j for beginners or any one wishing to I obtain fresh strains to look round and i buy up some hens. Breeders are gen-! orally culling out heavily at this season to make room for younger stock, I and can afford to make a concession to their clients, but when would-be purchasers come along in the flush of the laying period one cannot expect them to forego anything then,, if they will sell at all. Buy now, and stndy your flock right up to next breeding season. They will be under your command, and you will know when hatching time comes round .that if you have treated them judiciously you may expect to get good percentages of chickens. We are but a few weeks off. the time of .year when eggs fetch in the vicinity -of two - shillings per dozen.

[ How many poultry keepers will have < all iheir pullets ready, in April or even May? Now is the time to be giving them the utmost attention, or some of you will be caught napping, and it will lie June or July before 'eggs come in, in any quantities, when the market is again on the down grade. Indications show that there is likely

to be a very fair demand for preserved eggs next winter, which -will be a pleasant contrast to last winter, when they were almost a glut, and very difficult to quit. That a good laying strain is of immense value is beyond all question,

but unfortunately* there are breeders who over-estimate their stock, no doubt in some cases unknowingly, by asking all sorts of abnormally high prices 'because (their birds come from a good strain. Hie percentage of

high quality stock, oven from the most careful breeding, is very small, probably not more than 5 .to 10 per cent.

But this is the point many appear to overlook. They are wont to demand a guinea or more apiece for almost every cockerel they rear, whereas it would be more jusfc to buyers- to grade their stock, selling from one.or two guineas down to market or killing prices, according to individual characteristics shown. If we obtain abnormally high cltiss specimens worth scores of pounds apiece as are occasionally .to be seen there is .sure to be

the opposite side of the question seen in weedy and inferior specimens ,evon though all may have been bred and reared under the same conditions. ■When a breeder sells his birds, according to their characteristics, an 1 not bv breeding alone he may then be looked upon as a man who understands his business.