POULTRY NOTES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 1 May 1913, Page 7

POULTRY NOTES.

(By Utilitarian.) J.t will be gratifying to c.o-cpcra th rethinking poultry keepers to know viiai •Johnsonville bas formed a circle, due to the energetic Hutt Supply. Company. There are largo numbers of fowls kept*round about that district, pra-ctically all of which find their wn\ into Wellington, in the shap? of eggs and table birds. Most bodies stand or fall through their secretaries, ana it is to bo hoped that Johhsonvilie hay secured a live man for the position, for ne wmovements such tas tin: circles still are, require a tremendous lot of push and enthusiasm. Old ideas take much slaughtering .But quite recently the vw:t.~r was asked, in all seriousness, whether lie recommended a farmer to keep puiobreds or barn-doors. The latter, in comparison with the former, musft always be unsatisfactory. True, plenty of mongrels are good layers, but the* trouble is to reproduce the same quality again from such birds; the result is always highly problematical. Again another question was which breed would we recommend. Considering the inquirer was an old Wyandotte breeder, we had no hesitation in giving that breed the preference, as it wa.s fairly safe to assume that he would be*reasonably conversant with the characteristics. But, in any case, the choice of breed must lie with the owner-to-be. 'For one needs to have a love for the business to be successful, and that feeling will be accentuated by keeping the breed or breeds most favoured. One? the breed is decided on to be kept, every available knowledge'should be brought to bear. The Utility Circle is making a fair* . ly large purchase of wheat for its' member,s. 2sew members, recently joined, are now sending in their egg*, thus realising the top prices. _ Even if one's birds are not laying just at present, it is wisdom to join the circle and feed your birds during their resting period as cheaply as possible. A few weeks will bring us again to the mating season, and it is a,s well to make final selection of the breeders for the coming season, and feed them full and plenty, especially the males. The two sexes are best kept entirely apart until required for mating, which will thus ensure them starting off full of vigour, in the early spring. . . . Within the last year a 'number ot people have given up keeping ducks. With many, difficulties with frequent moulting have been met, and not always overcome ; with others, it is considered the work is unduly heavy comwith fowls. There is at least fine man in .Masterton, a breeder of Bliff Oi'nington ducks, who claims to }iaye obtained 208 eggs each, on the average? * ix M rds ' fet * tn " tlreTy on tll'.V IBM#. io attention. If this can be generally effected, with 1 results, it. \\il iro a long ivay toward* dnck farming Again, a.3 work of carrying moist mash avoided. The preparing of a duck plant is of small cost, there being no neocf of houses in this district, ar WO and a half netting being high enough to hold them in their pens.