POULTRY NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 245, 14 September 1929, Page 11

POULTRY NOTES

(By “Brooder.”) The Bulletin states that Mr Jack Nixon’s Lady Alma, the world’s record Black Orpington, winner of the Auckland Poultrykeepers’ Mt. Albert contest 1928-29, with 353 full weight eggs in 52 weeks, has been sold to a prominent American breeder, with three competition sisters and four cockerels, for the sum of £126. Surely, there must bo something in poultry-keeping after all. The Americans, we are told, are always on the look-out for something better. Long ago, they discovered the wonderful “Australorp” and imported largely birds of this breed, and it is known that they are delighted with the achievements in the States of this type of bird. Mr Nixon, of course, is well-known as a poultry breeder of much merit, but the important contributory factor, leading up to the sales so far afield, was the record of the bird sold in the last laying contest. Last week, in these notes. _it was recommended that a competition be started in the Manawatu. Perhaps the aforegoing will, in a measure, help to stimulate interest.

The first Auckland shipment of eggs abroad, it is stated, leaves on October 7th, grading began on September 9th. There is no doubt that the threatened glut foreshadowed because of the unusually big supplies so early in the spring, and the consequent low prices, is leading to great activity in Auckland, at any rate so far as export is concerned. After all, this is surely one way to meet the situation. Find markets, increase consumption, these are poiiltrymen’s immediate needs and, therefore, the export movement should be a vigorous attempt to solve a pressing problem. Bakers are not concerned about supplies as yet. Eggs are a reasonable price (so they say) and, according to latest reports, there was at the end of July 257,9361b5. of egg pulp to nibble at.

It is a good plan for backyard poul-try-keepers, when they have set their broody hens upon the nests, to have the eggs tested, say, at' the end of five to six days. There are cases when a large percentage of eggs are infertile, and it is very disappointing to have settings only realising four or five chicks. This is easily avoided when two or more “broodies” are set at the same time; in fact, if at all possible, it should be arranged to have them start sitting on the same day. Then, if testing is carried out revealing a total of only one good setting out of the two, all the eggs can be given to one bird, the other to be started off with a fresh supply. Of course, the change-over must be done carefully and without fuss, preferably at night time. Thus a waste of time for the birds will be avoided and more chickens for the owner should result.

“The incentive to grade will come when the better price is paid for the better grade egg,” stated Mr F. 0. Raikes at a representative meeting of egg distributors in Wellington recently. The feeling of the meeting was that there ought to be a Government grading store and that all eggs for retail should pass through it, particularly those intended for export. The result of the meeting was a resolution to be sent forward to the Government—“that all eggs offered for local consumption must be first submitted and passed under Government regulations.” Assuredly, the time is coming when eggs will be sold by weight and not by number. As Mr llaikes stated it will only be the history of the milk industry that is, payment for quality overgain. This grading will make it imperative that breeders will breed to get the higher grade egg, or else they will neglect to do so, and be able only to get the inferior egg, commanding a much lesser price. The big egg movement is progressing. Where the chickens have little runs attached to the coop it is well to move them every few days if they are on grass, and when it is raining a sack should be put over the wire at the top to shelter the chickens from the rain while they come out to eat. It is, however, a great mistake to keep the coops indoors, or even in barns or outhouses. Chickens thrive in the open air, and the only precaution necessary is to move the coops so that their occupants do not encounter the full force of the wind. Insect pests make their appearance with the war-m weather. Any drooping chickens should be examined carefully and insect powder used freely under the feathers. Young turkeys should be plentifully supplied with green food. Finely minced dandelion leaves agree with them particularly well. They are very fond of onions, and these, chopped up very finely with young blades of grass, make a good mixture for them. The green food requires to be perfectly fresh and crisp and chopped up very fine indeed. £SOO FOR LEGHORNS. JAPAN BUYS AUSTRALIAN POULTRY. A Japanese poultry expert, Mr K. Honda, who is visiting Sydney, has purchased 150 head of white Leghorns ror £SOO from the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, the Government Poultry Farm at Seven Hills, Bide-a-Wee, Wimbleford, Hilder Bros. . and N. Mann’s poultry farms. Japan this year has not purchased any Black Orpingtons, as the breed has not adapted itself to the wet summer conditions in Japan.