POULTRY NOTES.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17976, 22 March 1930, Page 10 (Supplement)

POULTRY NOTES.

BUYING BREEDING STOCK. POINTS TO REMEMBER. The introduction of new breeding stock is a very important matter, as it depends upon the suitability of the birds introduced whether improvement is effected, or even quality maintained. In purchasing birds—and It is advisable to determine in good time what “new blQ(d” is required for the breeding season and not to defer it until all the best birds have been picked matter of quality and physique as well as laying characteristics should be kept in mind with a view to all-round improvement. For this reason (writes the Poultry Expert of the Department of Agriculture) it is best where practicable to visit the farm from which the purchase of stock is contemplated instead of relying upon pedigree alone, ■which, without the necessary constitutional foundation, only leads to deterioration. The first consideration is the general physique and health of the flock, and particular attention should be paid to the young stock to see if they are well developed and free from sickness. It should be noted whether the birds as a whole are of fairly uniform type,

and in summing up the laying qualities, apart from any records, observation should be made as to whether there is a large number of birds showing coarseness, as indicated by surly birds with overhanging eyebrows, with sunken eyes, and wrinkled and feathery faces. This, of course, applies chiefly to the birds under two years old, because the older ones naturally tend to become coarser. The careful buyer who is aiming at purity of breed and general Improvement of quality will look for signs of impurity such as ooloured feathers in white birds, or foreign feathers in black or other coloured breeds, or again willow-coloured legs in breeds which should have black legs. These and other faults such as numerous rough and sprigged combs, light-coloured eyes, etc., are indications of carelessness in breeding or the introduuction of impure stock. There is another factor that should be taken into consideration when buying stock if good quality is desired; it should be noted whether provslon is made for breeding from single matings, that is ,one male and his complement of females in a separate pen. For both quality and egg production, the use of sufficient single breeding pens to enable the breeder to use only those bred from such pens for stud purposes is essential to secure the best results. The Necessity for New Blood. Some poultry farmers hesitate about introducing new birds for fear that by doing so they will suffer loss of production, and so they keep on breeding from too-closely related or degenerate stock until they find that they are unable to reax the chickens successfully, which is soon followed by a general lowering of physique of the resultant birds, with the consequent production of a large percentage of small eggs. When this stage is reached it is too late to build up again by simply introducing new blood the next season. It would require several years of careful selection and infusion of new blood to resuscitate such a flock, and sometimes it would pay better to work up a new flock rather than attempt to build up again from the run-down birds. Age and Weight. When purchasing birds, age and weight should be kept In mind, and in the case of birds of last season’s rearing they should be at least ten months old by the time they are required to breed from, and at that age cockerels of the light breeds should weigh not less than 51b and pullets -41 b., while the heavy breed cockerels should scale 71b and pullets 51b. Birds a year older should weigh at least lib more if they are of good physique.

WORLD’S CHAMPION LAYER. CANADIAN BARRED PLYMOUTH ROCK. The hen known as Lady Victorine, which is the property of the University of Saskatchewan, at Saskatoon, is said to have secured the world’s championship, having laid 358 eggs in 365 consecutive days. Lady Victorine is a Barred Plymouth Rock pullet. The previous world’s record was held hy another Canadian hen, the White Leghorn No. 6, owned hy the University of British Columbia, which laid 351 eggs in 52 weeks. The new champion entered her pullet year on September 3, 1928.' Each egg has weighed between 58 and 00 grammes, or upwards of two ounces. It is understood that her sister produced in her pullet year 304 eggs, with 21 days in which to linish the twelve months.