POULTRY NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10716, 29 October 1912, Page 3

POULTRY NOTES.

(By ''Utilitarian.")

Cteaaiajj Xhxdk Eggs.—lt is not a coimaaodable practice to leave the •ggfr in water as a' preparation for remoying waperfluous dirt. We have 1 coins across cases, where the eggs hare b*e» placed, in. a dish of'water as soon its gathered in the morning and left fciere' all day. A few minutes will do no harm but it is doubtful whether it doefl any good. If left long, the egg eoon becomes spoilt no matter how newly'laid it may be. The simplest' plan we know, of for cleaning is to use a pot-scrubber \ which can be obtained in Masterton for sixpence each. These are small linen bags 'coTered''irrfch. copper beads and answer •the purpose admirably. The work is done in less than half the time and better in the bargain. , Up to the 18th of October there wore only twenty eggs between the leading competing teams of ducks and pullets in ! the competition, .the difference being in favour of the latter. In the'present issu© of the N.Z. Poultry Journal, is a conspicuous notice to secretaries of.,egg circles and similar 'ds-sociatidnsy asking - >them to transmit any suggestions to Mr Brit- : ain-Bull, convenor of the Auckland conference, from. : their members, and to do so. as .soon as possible. It is hoped the request-will have the fullattention of all concerned for the cir- ! cles are virtually the bulwarks of the j conference. The. delegates .; thereof J are the;■.only ones eligiblc> ! for voting I and holding office, in the, Association',' though other's, are; welcome io\ attend the sessions. IVJcmfeeraV.bfy.any circle not at present .affiliated slimild move in the,matter at once", as only affilia't'ed circles.are eligible. 1 '- '"-' " : The wet season, npw being experi-i enced comes very hard on chickens, I and owners will need to exercise, ex- >' tra attention to prevent them getting wet." Though' chickens will often sur-.v.ive-a severe drenphing.the probability is there-"will be a loss of stamina resulting,' and' when they are found on the point of .death,, due to erposure, \ our advice is-not to try and revive, them, it is mistaken kindness. Kveii • if- the chicken comes from specially noted stock we still advocate to do away with it, under the above circumstances, as there will always lie the danger of transmitting the weak- ( ness incurred to future generations.*. 1 The poultry flocks of this Dominion 1 are fairly free, now, from disease, and | we should use every endeavour to. I keep them to this desirable state of, affairs. l

Preparations for winter feed (green) for'the fowls and ducks need attention from now to Christmas, • according to .the weather; Mangolds', oats.* in the latter part, broccoli, winter cabbages of all sorts, all make suitable provision and should be grown pn ©very poultry farm, however large or small. . , . \-v- • Beginners -sometimes experience n . difficulty'in detecting which of .their ducks-are; layings When in fnll lay the extra large development behind is very noticeable, and if the bird'.ls ■caught the "business" end will;be found full and.large, by hand over it. . If not laying the business part will be quite slack and flat. However good the otherwise general appearance of a bird may be, any that are extra undersized should not be bred from, any more than those too large. The happy medium must bo sought for. Mr S. H. Scott, who styles himself the Runner man, and who resides near Auckland, advocates October,. Novemj her and December a s the ideal month for hatching ducklings. Extra precautions would need to be taken in the hot months to ■ ensure adequate shelter. <. Mr W. C. Davis, a well-known breeder of Napier, has imported some White Indian Runners, which he claims to bo exceptional layers. v