POULTRY NOTES

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10593, 27 March 1912, Page 6

POULTRY NOTES

(By Utilitarian.)

It \vii,s rumoured a few weeks ago that the Elutahuna Egg Circle had been formed, and had joined with the Wairarapa Circle. It appears, now, that the report was somewhat premature. The- Chairman (Mr O'Lear.y) of the Utility Egg Circle recently commented oiv the extremely gratifying manner in which his Circle's members got up their eggs, there being but one small fault to find, viz., the delibility of the numbers. Members who find the stamp dees net leave a clear impression on the eggs require to re-ink their pads, which- can he 1 done by applying ordinary writing ink, failing possession of anv of the sort usually supplied. ' Xet only dors the stamped number being delible cause trouble in. tracing eggs, which fortunately lias, ' r.o far, not been necessary, but it diminishes the outward appearance of the ai ti-j'le, laiirl in these days cif keen competition, it is imperative to put all ' merchandise on the market in an as attractive a form as possible. These who are not enamoured <>i Wyandottcs.'on account of their propensity to lay somewhat small eggs, should give a trial to the Leghorn-Wy-andotfc, cross. If properly nutted I they are topical layers, for numbers, and the egg is a shade bigger than the "Wyandotte's. The carca.se, teo, is heavier than the Leghorn, a:id their appetites are moderate ; in fact they are a chu.:; of bird hard' to heat, for all round utility. 'lhougli -hero ;,re some exceptions, they gene.-illy come out white in colour with either utigio or double combs.

Last year a number of point ymer were too late in putting their j r'eterved eggs oii the market, waiting for a higher 'price. Ueuerally .from tho middle of April to the middle of May is the most suitable time, fresh eggs being then almost always at their highest figure. " • ' It is very pleasing to notice that the Zeahmdia Egg Crate is once again on the market, a Southern nrni baling them for sale. This crate, in the writer's opinion, is far an.; away the best of 4ill the various wac'j!. lie: has had some in use for sever.il years, and finds they wear out ilie c. , K ,, ."s ea;.-y The wires for holding the eggs are ( made out of copper, and nam .their shape, a factor not to be despised aiid j also the crates being a trlile j.vger than any other anakes t-nable suae ;o use-them for duck -gg-, wltho.u any I trouble whatever.. The lids ,m e made I to slide- in and •out, whi::h ; s • more [convenient than fastening th-.-m at the ends-with a ben't'nail.'

! The chick trade is evidently going to-be. a la-rge. bit sine :•:■>• in the

"future--nrt •rtiris--.-.dimit- n 'o •,- judging by the anticipations of i.-.mo poultrymen. Mr Leger, of Werarta. erioects to scatter some six thousand of these- halls .of down and fluff over the country this coming season. It is -.certainly a ' comparatively cheap and easy .method of raising stock, as either a tireless-brooder costing but a few .shillings will rear them, or if preferred, a ducky hen can be called into requisition. ■ - - The New Zealand Poultry Journal, a Jew ■ months ago, gave a very simple method of curing that unsightly blemish, known as scaly leg. The following is the recipe: "Beismear plentifully the iaffected parts' with tar. Let the bird run out as usual for a week; then examine ivs legs, and you will iiu-d that the incrustations are peeling o ffa<nd leaving tdie legs as clean as possible. . . There is just a modicum of danger in the bird getting some of the tar on its (plumage; and to avoid (this, it is advisable to perform the operation during the day time and allow the fowl to walk about in- the run until the tar dries, which does not; take long, as it is speedily absorbed by the incrustations." The following method of curing a broodv hen is taken from the "Scientific American," and has been patented: "A poke-like device strapped on the hen, which is provided with a

pair of legs which project down in front of the hen's legs so that she cannot assume her usual poisture on the eggs." « What has become of those who

were advocating a Xortih Island Laying Competition ? Nothing is heard now concerning it. We recommend the idea- to iJie A. and P. Association of this town, as they have splendid facilities on their commodious i and up-to-date grounds. It would | add another very interesting and in- . stmotive side show to their annual | gathering, and judging -by other similar egg speculations should be a I sound paying preposition. If over a Fruit Co-operative Company is started here, fowls could with advantage be run amongst the trees, which would help to keep them clean, especially if the birds were housed in movable quarttrs so as to give the whole of the ground planted the benefit of the birds' activity in insect hunting. We have the climate and a first class soil .suitable- to poultry, and auore could he done with them than there is at present.