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Show QUESTIONS ANSWERED AT THE POULTRY SHOW BY THE EDITOR OF SALEM POULTRY JOURNAL i (Written for The Standard by C. P. I Williams, editor Northwest Poultry Journal, Salem, Ore.) In the words of a man yesterday, we learn that a poultry show, when staged by men who really desire to aid the industry, is of great and lasting benefit. bene-fit. The man referred to said, "I have learned metre about chickens during my hour's stay here today than I have learned In my life heretofore. If more mon would take the Interest In telling strangers and amateurs the valuable points to know about a pullet, these shows would be better patronized." Don't you know, I believe that, too. I have attended exhibitions where It seemed to me that no one took time to talk to the visitors and answer questions ques-tions that were probably puzzling them. As was explained to the man yesterday, it Is the fault of the visitor many times because he strolls along the aisle and never asks a question he gives the breeder or judge no opportunity op-portunity to tell him anything. Everybody Every-body knows that we cannot walk up to a man and begin explaining the fine I points of the birds In the show, how j to select layers and breeders and talk over the feed question some people would resent such impertinence and would not hesitate to tell a man where to iiend-In. When you come to a poultry show, ask questions; never mind how simple they may seem to you; ask the first fellow you see and keep asking till it is answered. Just a few answers to simple questions ques-tions that came to the writer yesterday. yester-day. "What Is a leg band?" It is a metal band having a number stamped upon it and this band Is fastened around the fowl's leg, just above the toes and takes the place of a name. The fowl is theroaflor known as number num-ber 21, or whatever the number Is. It Is necessary to know those things in keeping account of how many eggs she lays, if one trapnosts and line i breeds. What Is a Trapnest. Then the question follows: "What is a trapnest?" It is a nest wherein a hen is trapped when she enters to lay her egg. As she steps upon the floor of the nest the entrance is closed and she can step Into the nest compartment compart-ment nnd lay, but cannot get her freedom free-dom from the nest until the owner or keeper comes and releases her; before be-fore doing this, however, he takes the band number and gives her credit for the egg on an egg record sheet. This sheet contains the numbers of all the hens in that pen down the side of the sheet, and across the top are the days of the month. Each month a new record rec-ord sheet is placed in the house. Thus it is that a hen's record of eggs for the year is kept at many of the large egg farms and at all the egg-laying contests. By breeding from the heavy layers each year a fine flock is produced. pro-duced. What's Line Breeding. "What is line-breeding?" Briefly told, it is a method of breeding which makes it unnecessary to buy outside males or females. The breeder starts with two distinct blood lines and produces pro-duces his own breeders. Line-breeding has become something more than this, however, for an intricate scheme of matings has been worked out for both producing eggs and exhibition fowls. By line-breeding, a man can tell just what mating produced a certain good show specimen or an exceptional egg-layer. egg-layer. Without the banding system and the accurate tab kept upon the birds mated and the quality of offspring off-spring this mntlng produced, a breeder would be at sea as to just what he was doing. Toe Punching. "What is toe-punching?" It is a system of punching the web between the toes of small chicks with what is called a "toe punch" In order to keep account of what mating produced the chicks until the chicks are large enough to wear a logband made for chicks. Those are just a few of the questions ques-tions which greet one at the show and we thought by answering them through the Standard we would be able to take care of more people with other questions ques-tions to ask who visit the show this afternoon and evening. This is the last day of the show, remember, re-member, so come out and show your interest in this industry and lend support sup-port to a cause which means much to the nation and will, mean more in months to come, if the war continues. The price of admission is so slight compared with the knowledge to be learned and the encouragement to be offered the men and women who have given their time, day and night, for the last two weeks in order to make it possible for Ogden to have an exhibi- tl0n- X J . These shows should be supported by the state. No one gains any direct advantage ad-vantage from an advertising standpoint stand-point for which he does not pay twice over, yet hundreds are made fanciers and poultry farmers by seeing these shows and consequently is of vital j benefit to the public at large. State Helps. In Oregon we poultrymen put on a campaign before the legislature convened con-vened and had over seventy petitions filled with around twenty thousand names of taxpayers, petitioning the legislature to support one state poultry poul-try exhibition In Oregon each year. We secured $1500 without a dissenting dissent-ing vote in either assembly and expect to have it Increased to $3000 at this next legislature. Every cent of this money is paid for premiums on fowls. None of the money; is allowed to be used for paying ront of building, advertising, printing or, judges' hire. These expenses are paid from the entry fees upon the birds and the gate rocoipts. We find that we have about 200 left each season, which goes for the storage and repair' or purchase of coops. This feature is I not satisfactory and we have sold our' coops to a fair association and here- . after will have the entire show cooped by the Pratts, Ltd., who make it a specialty. This does away with having hav-ing to pay storage on coops and keep buving new ones or repairing the old With $1000 or $1500 for premiums, Ogden and Salt Lake could bring fowls from nearly every state in the union. The Portland show this year had prizes up for the exhibitor sending send-ing birds from the greatest distance. A man in Colorado and a man in Montana Mon-tana won out We have paid as high as $20 for first, $17.50 for second, $15 for third, $12.50 fourth, $10 fifth, $7.50 sixth, $5 seventh, and $2.50 for eighth. When you consider-that the state fair only pays $1.50 for first prize, it will not be wondered at that Portland had to rent the Auditorium for our last show. We have the new auditorium leased for the first week in December for ten years. And the poultry business Is booming. Some may say that these prizes are loo large. It would never be said by the man who exhibits, for he must win in hot not warm competition and the fellow who can win a single first is a breeder of note and to win a sixth is hard sledding when up against one hundred and fifty cockerels In one class alone! 9 show with 400 birds (total) is considered con-sidered a pretty fair show over the country at Portland one class has had that number Just the Leghorns numbered num-bered -106. State Will Aid. If these facts are brought to the attention at-tention of representatives and senntors of the states, they readily respond for the good of the cause. A few poultry-men poultry-men properly enthused can put this measure through for Utah. Make the bill read generously don't try to put it over for the benefit of Ogden alone; give the show at Salt Lake one year and Ogdon the next. Poultrymen over the state will agree that It is far better bet-ter to hold a show of this kind where thousands can pass through the doors and benefit rather than hold It in a town where a few hundred might benefit. The breeder is out for the advertising ad-vertising he can secure and the more people who see his particular variety the better it suits him. A state-wide organization of poultrymen can bring this and other beneficial features to pass and Utah ought to have a state society. Oregon has had one for five years. The writer has been secretary for two years and was up for president presi-dent when I left home. I'm afraid my campaign won't be a very warm one while I'm spending my time in Idaho and Utah! This will be our last day of the show. The people of the Weber county association have been very kind to Mrs. Williams and myself and we appreciate every favor. It Is our deslro that the Ogden folks turn out enmasse this afternoon and evening and fill the poultry show hall to overflowing and thus make the officers glad all over. If there's a question we can answer that will help some backlot poultry-man poultry-man or a man with a thousand hens, wo are at your service. |
