Newsletter July2020 ~
NEWSLETTER JULY 2020 The Queensland Modern Game Society
Editorial Hello Members and Friends. Welcome to the latest newsletter after such a long time. 2020!!! Can someone please press the delete and restart button on 2020! It has been a year that we so did not need in so many ways, Devastating Drought throughout the majority of Australia, Fires, Floods, More Drought and now the Pandemic. I hope that you are all safe and looking forward to 2021 which will be the most fantastic year. Looking out my window it is very dry however there is a slight green shade on the grass which is totally different to this time last year so that is a start. There is a promise, that the Summer may actually be wet this year, so this will be fantastic, if it actually happens, As I am sure you are all very aware the 2020 Show season did not happen. In SEQ we had Stanthorpe Ag Show, The few other small Southern Downs Shows – Allora and Clifton in February, then into March the accelerator starts to get pressed as the Circuit swings into the Central Downs Shows – Pittsworth, Oakey and so on but the handbrake was applied firmly after Oakey and there has been no more. I heard there was some nice Moderns at Pittsworth and Oakey (was on both grounds but did not get near either pavilion). I received a message through this week that Tony Wonka has taken over the running of the Murwillumbah Show and Plans to hold a Poultry Show at the End of August – Sunday 30th August and conduct a modern Feature. I have told him that the Modern Game Club of Qld Inc will support the show (Trophy and Sash out of my pocket) but the Club has been acknowledged as the Sponsor. As we swing into the breeding season reports are interesting. A few development colours are rumoured to be experimented on and I look forward to articles from the breeder into their makeup in the future and Especially photos. Congratulations to the Modern Game Club of Australia as they now look like having a new pavilion in Harden to base their show, the Pavilion looks fantastic, Dale and his Harden Poultry Club have worked very hard to achieve the result they have.
At the Meeting held online to cancel the 2020 Show the membership agreed to carry over the 2020 membership to 2021 for free due to current.
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As I am sure you are aware the Bunnings BBQ have been terminated for the current period. I have sent out letters to Ipswich West and Toowoomba North Bunnings to let them know that we are keen to start once we are able to start again.
Word has it that things are starting to happen to organise an APS3 and to be prepared we have started looking at a submission from the Modern Game Club of Qld to standardise Wheaten breed Black Red and Blue Red Males and White - Tailed Wheaten Females
If anyone has good clear photos that depict the Wheaten Bred Male Leg Colour I would love them.
NAPIS UPDATE
The NAPIS sub-committee now has their own bank account maintained by the Modern Game Club of Qld Inc and is fully functional. As we move forward I wish to see all NAPIS accounts and Income move through this account with all Modern Game Club of Qld Activities through the Old Modern Game Club of Qld Inc Account. I have set up two sets of books so as the accounts are totally separate. You will notice as time goes on that MGCQ I Invoices and Receipts and the NAPIS ones are headed Differently in that the NAPIS ones are Titled Modern Game Club of Qld Inc Trading as National Australian Poultry Identification Scheme and have the NAPIS Bank account Details whereas the Modern Ones have the Modern Game Club Bank Details ( Please Use the Bank accounts on the Invoice as I do not want to have to move money between accounts to balance the books) Otherwise the Documents are identical. We have had a reasonably successful year of NAPIS sales with most of the usual supporters buying rings, unfortunately there has been some notable drop offs this year with one breeder planning to play “Grey Nomad” for a period in 2021 and others severely cutting back their breeding this year. The 2020 Rings are very attractive Purple ones with white text and Look great. We have sold some 4200 of the 6300 I ordered. We have sold out in the Size K24 and Very Low Volume of G18 and J22 Rings and following an order today the rings for Moderns are now betting into the dangerously low stage. Old English Game and Pit Game Rings seem to be the ones that have dropped off worse (these are also used for Bantam waterfowl too and a couple bantam duck breeders have cut back too. Importantly we are now on the profit side of the ledger for the NAPIS Rings, so this is good for the club. I now have the NAPIS Website www.napis.com.au with a Shopping Cart that allows shoppers the choice of Paying by Credit Card, PayPal, Direct Deposit or Cheque. It also allows the shopper to arrange delivery by Standard Post $5.00 or Premium with a Tracking Number or even to allow delivery at a Show or Pickup (by Arrangement)
2019 NAPIS RINGS For those trying to test the waters with NAPIS Lifetime Poultry Rings at a budget price I have a very limited stock of last years rings available in packs of 20 Rings per size ( No I will not Split them in to smaller lots) for $5.00 per Pack plus $5.00 per order Postage and Packing. I just do not want to throw them in the bin without giving you an opportunity.
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I have now listed them on the website. https://napis.com.au/the-napis-shop/ols/products/2019-limeyellow- napis-rings-packs-of-20-per-size
I have also put in a page for the Modern Game Club of Qld Inc www.mgcq.com.au which allows the two clubs to share the hosting costs and when we get club merchandise the shopping cart too. On the MGCQ page we can have access to downloads like membership forms schedules catalogues and a Newsletter Archive.
2019 Annual Show Photos
Grand Champion Fowl of Show – Reserve Champion Fowl of Show Al “n” Wayne Syndicate. Mal & Jan McDougall
A Gorgeous Pair of White Bantams Shown by Al “n” Wayne
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Minutes of the General Meeting Held December 2019
Date 30 December 2019 Time 7.30pm Venue www.gotomeeting.com
Welcome
President Bernie Dryley opened the meeting and welcomed all those who were in attendance and called for apologies. Attendees
• Allan Brennan • Geoff Reimers • Bernie Dryley • Merry-Anne Brennan • Edna Dryley (Visitor) • Wayne Ingleton Apologies
• Abby Buhlmann • Michele Dunn • Jan McDougall • Pauline Buhlmann • Mal McDougall • Rick Dunn • Matt Dunn
Moved Wayne Ingleton and seconded Al Brennan that the attendees and apologies be accepted. Minutes
Secretary Geoff Reimers moved that the minutes be accepted as distributed to all members.
Moved Geoff Reimers and seconded Wayne Ingleton that the minutes be accepted as true and correct. Motion carried, nil against. Business from minutes
It was agreed that all business arising from minutes be referred to general business. Correspondence
Geoff Reimers presented the following list of correspondence.
MGCQI Register of Correspondence presented 7 December 2019 meeting
Outward
Date To Regarding Action 17.06.2019 Ian Simpson • Nomination as 2020 judge • Judge Agreement Form 17.06.2019 Bunnings Toowoomba • Application for BBQ 17.06.2019 Bunnings West Ipswich • Application for BBQ 20.06.2019 Col McCall • Thanks for trophy • Nomination for patron 2020 20.06.2019 Jack Hacksall • Nomination as 2020 Patron 20.06.2019 Barry O'Sullivan • Thanks for Donation • Nomination for Patron 2020
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Date To Regarding Action 01.07.2019 Graham Wright • Nomination as 2020 judge • Judge Agreement Form Email to BNW Accountants • What is required for audit 17.10.2019 Email to Michele • Request bank statement be sent to auditor 17.10.2019 Email to Michele • Invoice for FCAQ affiliation 17.10.2019 Email to FCAQ • Copy of FCAQ Affiliation Form • Advice that payment will follow by direct debit 30.10.2019 National Poultry Show • Offer of MGCQI sponsorship • Refer to general business for • National Poultry Show motion to endorse action 6-8 June 2020 • Order Items required in 2020 30.10.2019 John Wiseman • Offer of MGCQI Sponsorship • Refer to general business for • Ipswich Bantam & Pigeon motion to endorse action Show 27 June 2020 • Order items required in 2020 31.10.2019 Letter to Michele • NAB forms to be signed 31.10.2019 Letter to Pauline • NAB forms to be signed 08.11.2019 Pauline and Michele • Request for Incorp returns to be paid 17.11.2019 Members • Meeting Notice 17.11.2019 Les Oxley - both email and • Nomination as 2020 judge letter • Judge Agreement Form 17.11.2019 Davina Carmichael • Request to amend address FCAQ contact on invoices to reflect my address 17.11.2019 FCAQ • Calendar ad 17.11.2019 Pauline and Michele • FCAQ invoice to be paid 17.11.2019 Michele and Wayne • Mailing boxes for 2020 NAPIS posting 17.11.2019 Dongguan Geshifeng Metal • Purchase Order 2020 rings • Pass to general business to Products Co Pty Ltd • 1000 x 10mm endorse order with a motion • 1000 x 12mm • 500 x 13mm • 500 x 14mm • 500 x 15mm • 500 x 16mm • 500 x 18mm • 500 x 20mm • 500 x 22mm • 300 x 24mm • 250 x 26mm • 250 x 28mm 24.11.2019 Ray Law • Receipt for calendar payment 24.11.2019 FCAQ • Order two copies of calendar 06.12.2019 Letter to Bernie, Wayne • NAB Form to set up the Pauline and Michele NAPIS Account
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Inward
Date From Regarding Action 19.06.2019 Ian Simpson • Declined judging position • Called meeting to appoint new judges 26.09.2019 Graham Wright • Declined judging position • Wrote to Les Oxley 30.09.2019 2020 National Poultry Show • Expressions of interest • National Poultry Show 17.11.2019 Davina Carmichael • Invoice for FCAQ calendar ad • Passed to Michele and Pauline for payment • General business item to have motion passed for payment 19.11.2019 ATO • Confirmation of ABN • ABN: 14 375 045 370 19.11.2019 ATO • MGCQ tax file number • TFN: 645 285 306 19.11.2019 Justice Department • Receipts for annual returns x 2 19.11.2019 FCAQ • Bulk calendar order form 22.11.2019 Dongguan Geshifeng Metal • Invoice for 6,300 rings • Passed to Michele to process Products Co Pty Ltd • Invoice $1,143.00 USD payment $1,671.05 AUD • Paid ** • Motion in general business to pass payment 06.12.2019 BNW Accountants • Invoice $990 for 3 years of • Passed to general business for audits motion to pay
Moved Geoff Reimers and seconded Edna Dryley that the correspondence be accepted as read. Treasurer's Report
Geoff Reimers presented the following reports:
Income Statement - Modern Game Club of Qld Inc - 1 May 2019 to 7 December 2019
Opening balance of account 884-548 98-771-8503 $6,837.92
Revenue Gross sales (Bunnings BBQ x 3) $3,838.98 Memberships $90.00 Sale of FCAQ calendar at cost $25.00 Show entry fee $244.00 Net Income $4,197.98
Cost of goods sold Beginning inventory Add: Purchases (2020 rings) $1,500.39 Freight-in $114.18 Direct labour -- Indirect expenses ( Chinese Bank Fees) $58.85 Inventory available $1,673.42 Less: Ending inventory --
Cost of goods sold $1,673.42
Gross profit (loss) $2,524.56
Expenses Bank charges $18.70 Subscriptions and affiliation fees $70.00 Incorporation fees $169.80
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Website account including domain and shopping cart (to be paid) $553.08 Advertising and promotions $35.00 Postage / printing / stationery $13.35 Rent $228.00 Bunnings BBQ (food) $848.63 Bunnings BBQ (drinks) $202.57 Bunnings BBQ (miscellaneous) $313.90 Total expenses $2,399.95
Net operating income $124.61
Other income Gain (loss) on sale of assets -- Interest income -- Total other income --
Net income (loss) $124.61
Closing balance of account 884-548 98-771-8503 $8,185.92
Accounts to be paid Geoff Reimers (postage) $44.70 Go Daddy web hosting (2 year package) $553.08 BNW Accountants $990.00 Total accounts outstanding $1,587.78
Closing balance of account 884-548 98-771-8503 (after $6,598.14 these accounts are paid)
Income Statement - NAPIS - 1 May 2019 to 7 December 2019
Revenue Gross sales (Bunnings BBQ) $2,179.38
Donations $2.50 Net sales $252.00
Cost of goods sold Beginning inventory -- Add: Purchases (2020 rings) $1,500.39 Freight-in $114.18 Direct labour -- Indirect expenses -- International bank change $58.55 Inventory available -- Less: Ending inventory -- Cost of goods sold $1,673.12 --
Gross profit (loss) $1,673.12
Expenses Bank charges $10.00 Total expenses $10.00
Net operating income - $1,431.12
Other income Gain (loss) on sale of assets -- Interest income -- Total other income --
Net income (loss) - $1,431.12
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Income Statement - Bunnings BBQ - 30 November 2019
Revenue Gross sales $2,179.38 Less: Sales returns and allowances -- Net sales $2,179.38
Cost of goods sold Beginning inventory -- Less: Purchases -- Freight-in -- Direct labour -- Indirect expenses -- Inventory available -- Less: Ending inventory -- Cost of goods sold -- --
Gross profit (loss) $2,179.38
Expenses Food $375.83 Drink $146.57 Miscellaneous (party ice, napkins, cleaning etc) $34.28 Esky $249.00 Total expenses $805.68
Net operating income $1,373.70
Other income Gain (loss) on sale of assets -- Interest income -- Total other income --
Net income (loss) $1,373.70
Moved Geoff Reimers and seconded Edna Dryley that the Treasurer's Report be accepted as a true and correct record of the club's finances. Motion carried, nil against.
Accounts to be paid
Geoff Reimers advised the meeting that the following accounts were outstanding:
Geoff Reimers (postage) $44.70 Go Daddy web hosting (2 year package - due again December 2021) $553.08 BNW Accountants $990.00 Total accounts outstanding $1,534.70
Moved Wayne Ingleton and seconded Al Brennan that the accounts be paid. NAPIS Report
Geoff Reimers advised that he had ordered 6,300 rings for 2020 and the account has already been paid and rings would be delivered shortly after Christmas. The cost per ring is approximately $0.27 delivered to Australia.
A lengthy discussion took place regarding postage costs. Geoff Reimers advised that in 2019 he had most of the rings sent with a tracking number, however, the postage to do this is extremely expensive.
It was decided that in 2020 the website and order form have a default cost of $3.00 for postage and handling and that an option be given for the customer to choose should they require express postage with tracking number at a cost of $10.00.
Geoff advised that the NAPIS bank account has been set up as the Modern Game Club of Qld Inc Number 2 Account and the Signature Card Form from the NAB was to be sent to all signatories.
Moved Wayne Ingleton and seconded Geoff Reimers that the NAPIS Report be accepted as read. Motion carried, nil against.
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General Business
2020 Show
Judge
Geoff Advised that he has had no reply from Les Oxley regarding judging the show. Wayne Ingleton will ring Les Oxley to seek his commitment.
As per the minutes of the Special Meeting held in June, the next choice of judge is David Simmons should Les Oxley decline.
Venue
Geoff Reimers asked if the meeting had an update on the venue.
Al Brennan to discuss matter with Michele Dunn.
Bernie Dryley asked Al Brennan to follow-up with Michele Dunn regarding accommodation near showgrounds and if any of the venues had a function room suitable for a dinner.
Waterfowl feature
Geoff Reimers advised the meeting that the judge has been booked and asked if the meeting was agreeable with him arranging the schedule.
Wayne Ingleton asked that the prize distribution be similar to that of previous years features with 80% of the entry fee for the feature section going to the prize pool with the Grand Champion Waterfowl receiving 60% of the prize pool and Reserve Champion receiving 40% of the pool.
Show sponsorship for other shows
Wayne Ingleton asked that sponsorship be limited to sashes for the Champion and Reserve Champion and a set of prize cards for the section. He endorsed the sponsorship of the Ipswich Bantam & Pigeon Show but said that he felt that the sponsorship of the national poultry show be foregone.
Purchase of A4 mailing boxes
Geoff advised the meeting that he does not have an adequate number of the A4 mailing boxes. He has found a supplier on eBay who can provide same for $39.40 including postage for 100 units. Meeting Close
As there was no further business the general meeting closed at 8.40pm and no meeting to follow.
Sponsorship
I have been in contact with some of the 2020 Sponsors re the show being cancelled and sofar all have been keen to transfer their sponsorship to 2021.
If you wish to sponsor the 2021 Annual Show please contact me .
I urge you all to support our sponsors as without them we have no show and no club.
Sponsors
• Sen Barry O’Sullivan (Qld Senator) • Burnwood Hay and Contracting – Dunn • Australian Poultry Magazine Family • Kewpie Stockfeed • Bernie and Edna Dryley • Little Red Wagon Coffee Cart – Reimers • Wayne & Sue Ingleton Family
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American Bantam Association TWO COLOURPOINTS FOR BREEDING BROWN RED MODERN GAME BANTAMS
by TS Cleworth
This is by no means an exhaustive article on the subject. A score of others dealing with other observations have been or could be written about this little jewel of the poultry yard. But the two points I discuss are based on my own study [of] the variety, and are applicable to it under various circumstances.
Brown Red colourhas been a personal preference since I first saw it at the Chicago Coliseum Show nearly sixty years ago, in December, 1908. Brown Red Modern Games and Game Bantams were both being bred and shown in considerable numbers at that time and were generally of excellent quality. During the past thirty-eights years I have owned and bred Brown Red Old English and Brown Red Irish Pit Games in the large fowls, and the same variety in Cochin, Modern Game, and Old English Game Bantams. This experience has given me the opportunity of comparing shades of colour and lacing patterns in all five varieties, especially since some of them are kept concurrently.
First, consider colour designation. The full name of Brown Red colour originally was Brown Breasted Red, since it was a counterpart of the Black Breasted Red variety. This designation was applied to the variety when the males had smudgy, brown-coloured breasts with no distinct lacing, and ginger-red hackles and saddles. The true Ginger Red Game is now at least a continuation of the old-time Brown Breasted Red, and is a strikingly beautiful bird. The Brown Red Modern Game Bantam of today, however, must be distinctly separated from its ancestral colour type, and show a laced pattern in the breast of both sexes.
The shade of warm colour has been controversial, especially in connection with the Bantam, for a long time. Successive issues of American Standards have variously worded the colour requirements through the revisions of the past thirty-eight years. Referring only to head and breast colour of the male, the 1930 edition of the Standard of Perfection called for an orange-coloured head, and the breast, "black, laced with lemon. The 1945 edition used similar language. In 1953 the wording was changed for the head plumage to "lustrous lemon", and the upper breast, "black, with very narrow lacing of lemon".
Every breeder of brown-red-coloured fowls found this coloration standard next to impossible to maintain. I never bred more than ten per cent of a crop of males or females carrying pure lemon colour requirements. Consequently, we had an overwhelming number of colour culls improve able only with the introduction of Lemon Blue stock. At last, thanks to the new Bantam Standard, the head plumage colour for the heads of Brown Red males is "lustrous deep orange", and for the upper breast section, "black, with very narrow lacing of deep orange". This is as it should be, for most of our Brown Red males during the past fifty years have carried orange, and even darker shades in the sections prescribed. The standard now fits the variety, not only in head and breast sections, but wherever a warm colour is required elsewhere in the plumage.
A second point is that of colour correlation. This is one of the most fascinating, even amazing facts in the breeding of Game fowls of all breeds. Dealing with it in Modern Games we find that of the eight een varieties of Modern Game Bantams, most of them can be reciprocally crossbred with effective and desirable results, an utter impossibility in many other breeds of domestic fowls. This is an extremely valuable factor, since the improvement of
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existing varieties, or the production of new varieties within the breed can be accomplished without using the bloodlines of other breeds. The cross already mentioned: Lemon Blue with Brown Red, is a case in point. The successful correlation of Black Breasted Red and Red Pyle varieties has been practiced for centuries by Game Fowl breeders all over the world.
One of the most astonishing examples of colour correlation in Modern Game Bantams occurred in England over sixty years ago. Mr Fred Smalley, one of the greatest exponents of this breed for all time, took a six-year-old Silver Duckwing cock (proof of the pre-potency and longevity of Game Fowls), and mated him with two Brown Red hens heavily laced with saffron yellow not only on the upper breast, but half-way down their backs. Seven chicks were hatched and reared from this mating; four pullets and three cockerels. The pullets were uniformly good in type and colourthat Mr Smalley mated all of the next season to a Birchen cockerel for which he paid the equivalent of $73 in American money. While the pullets resulting from this second cross were over-laced, the Birchen cockerels were so superior that one of them won the highest medal at the 1910 London Dairy Show for champion Birchen and champion Modern Game Bantam of the Show. This was at a time when classes in the breed often contained from fifteen to thirty entries in each variety, so that the cockerel had to be near perfection.
Trio of Modern Game Bantams (sketched by Fritz Stoll)
I am convinced that what Mr Smalley accomplished with Birchen Modern Game Bantams through the colour correlation feature, with which Nature has so richly endowed Game Fowls, can be a challenge to enterprising Brown Red breeders of today and tomorrow. There is no reason to doubt the possibility of making similar crosses by attempting Golden Duckwing-Brown Red, and Wheaten-Birchen combinations. The resulting progeny could possibly establish, through several generations of careful selection, new strains of Brown Red Modern Game Bantams that could maintain the hardiness of the breed
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Lemon Blue Modern Game Bantams
By Chas. J. Schullen, of St. Louis, Mo. Some ten years ago articles appeared in Poultry Press that “unless more use was made of the 'Lemon Blue' cross with the Modern Brown Red Game Bantam that the latter would fade to the proverbial oblivion." Today there is seldom seen a Brown Red Game Bantam and what few exist are in the hands of so few that extinction of the Brown Red is in sight unless something is done about it. Some have tried the Birchen cross but that has not helped; improved type undoubtedly, but wrought havoc with that beautiful "lemon top color," twenty years ago the pride and joy of the Entwisles, Claytons, Smiths, Rooses, Cathcarts, Smalleys of England and the Havemeyers, Barbers, Riggs and Glasgows of America. The origin of the Modern Blue Game Bantam was obtained by crossing an Old English Blue Game with a Modern Game Bantam. What shade of blue was desired depended upon the variety of Modern Game Bantam used for the cross. If a Lemon Blue was desired then the O. E. Blue was crossed with a Modern Brown Red, being careful to select a blue hen with a dark or black hackle so that the lemon top color would be finely etched on the hackles, and sickles of the resultant Lemon Blues from this cross. If Blue Reds were desired then a Modern Black Red was crossed with Blue hen. If Wheaton Blues were desired, a Wheaton hen was bred to the Blue male and so on down the line. In other words, if one wants variety in Blues the procedure is to mate a typye Modern Self Blue male with the following pen of Black Red, Brown Red, Golden Duckwing, Red Pyle, Birchen and Wheaton hens. From this pen so mated, it really is a revelation, the various colors one will produce. One variety particularly is most valuable for the production of the Self Blue Moderns and that is the splashed Blue and White ones, either sex mated back to a Blue cock will produce that beautiful light shade of Blue and by the judicious back crossing of the Selfs with the splashed Blue and Whites will bear fruit in fixing this shade of blue. In mating blue to blue one must expect wasters, for this mating will produce Blacks, Whites and splashed Blue and Whites and splashed Black and Whites as well as the self Blues. The Brown Red cross with the Blues will produce Lemon Blues, Lemon Blacks and Lemon Whites as well as the splashed Blue, Black and White.
These Lemon Blues and Lemon Blacks mated back to the Brown Reds will fix the Lemon Black and Lemon Blue color provided that the Brown Red used is a pure bred one. If any Birchen blood is in the Brown Red used for crossing with the blues then you are in it for some fun because the Brown Red-Birchen blood instead of producing beautiful Lemon top color will produce a dirty, rusty straw top colored Blues and Blacks. This can be bred out of course by using the best lemon top colored ones back to lemon white, which one gets occasionally. If you are in a hurry for Lemon Whites then you can use a willow (dark) legged light colored Pyle. The formula being Lemon Black crossed with Lemon White will produce Lemon Blue. Of course from this mating there are the usual number of wasters. Yours to command, “Lemon Blue.” This article was published in the Modern Game Club of America’s 1936 Year Book. Reprinted by permission by the American Bantam Association.
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The Modern Game Bantam By Irving deGaris
The Modern Game Bantam originated In England and is an example of what experienced fanciers can do to create a breed of Bantams. They were imported to this country from England and Scotland. It is one of the smallest but tallest of all Bantams, and great emphasis is placed on its reach and station, shortness of body and shortness and hardness of feather. It comes in many varieties, the Black Breasted Red, Birchen, Silver Duckwing and Red Pyle being the most popular. Because of its size and short feathers, it is a bit more delicate than other breeds of Bantams and therefore requires better attention. In cold weather it should be housed in a fairly warm house free from drafts. There are conflicting ideas as to the proper time of year to hatch Moderns. Many think that early hatched birds tend to be large and coarse while others think one has to hatch early to obtain reach. Based on around forty years experience, I favor early hatched cockerels because they are in their prime for early fall shows. On the other hand, I favor later hatched pullets because they will not look like hens when exhibited in the Fall. In my opinion, ancestry has more to do with size than the time of year hatched and methods of feeding. Having tried all kinds of feeding methods, I find that one can use most any kind of clean poultry feed. I have raised chix on fine scratch, pigeon grain, mash, crumbles and combinations of feed. I do not subscribe to the theory that all mash feeding produces soft feathers and hard grains produce hard feathers! Probably the most satisfactory feeding plan for chix is to use fine scratch, game bird crumbles and of course, fine grit. This can be supplemented with green food such as lettuce or finely chopped cabbage. The breeding stock can be fed laying mash or crumbles, and a feeding of scratch grain in the evening. They too need grit or oyster shell and enjoy green stuff. A Modern Game Bantam must be tame and like attention if it is to be exhibited. A wild one just can't win! This was brought home to me at a show in Allentown many years ago. I had to substitute an untrained cockerel and he just wouldn't show. I told Judge Matlack that the bird was untrained and he quickly told me he was there to judge and not train! As the chix mature they should be handled often and well before show time they should spend much time in exhibition coops. They should be handled and trained to stand up on their toes with a judging stick. A well - trained Modern does not require the use of a judging stick but most judges use it. Remember a well-trained Modern of just fair quality will beat a better one not trained. Cockerels should be dubbed when grown. I like to do that after sickle feathers are fully grown. Close, clean dubbing adds much to their appearance. After removing comb, ear lobes and wattles with small, sharp shears, wash away the blood with cold water. After scabs have formed, apply carbulated vaseline. It requires about six weeks for the scar to heal and for the flesh to return to normal color. In breeding Moderns, study the Standard, cull ruthlessly and breed only the very best birds. In-breeding is fine so long as one improves his strain and produces healthy birds. However, bad qualities are prone to multiply faster than good ones. Some of the most common defects are lack of spurs on males, split wings, high tails, narrow bodies, long bodies and short heads. Perhaps the best varieties for a novice to start with would be Black Breasted Reds or Silver Duckwings because their color patterns are not so difficult to produce as other varieties. Birchens are beautiful and popular but it is a problem to produce purple faces and white caps! Red Pyles appeal to many but here again one runs into difficulty in maintaining color without crossing with Black Reds every few generations. Brown Reds should now be easier to produce since the A.BA. Standard has been changed from lemon to orange color for certain sections of feathering. Blues, Lemon Blues and Silver Blues are quite interesting but are not for the novice because of the problems involved in producing blue colors. Of course, from a color viewpoint, Blacks and Whites offer few problems, yet they are not popular and are seen in few shows. The writer has bred Blacks for over 25 years because I like them. In my opinion they have the shortest, tightest feathers of all varieties of Moderns and that combination of glossy black feathers and red faces is beautiful. If you like tall, sporty, little Bantams with lots of character, try Modern Game Bantams and you will greatly enjoy your hobby.
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A Year in review Good or bad By Ian Simpson Reprinted here with the permission of the Author
All photos used in this article are 2019 bred stock bred by Ian.
Now that your chickens have almost grown it is now a good time to reflect and see how your Original mating’s have performed Also at the same time itis a good opportunity to compare your chickens with the adult bird and ask yourself:
Did I improve on their parents? What ratio to males and females did I breed? Should I make more spaces for the younger ones and sell off and give away their now inferior parents? There are a lot of ideas that go through your mind in an attempt to improve the standard of your birds in your backyard. Personally, I have no problems being ruthless when it comes to bird selection. I believe if you have bred birds better then move on and eliminate some of the older birds in your backyard Remember the price of grain and associated products are increasing in price which could force you to look seriously at your older birds after allowing enough time for the younger ones to fully mature. This year I am happy with the development of my younger moderns especially the black reds and silver duckwings. In the long run I will probably retain younger birds and give away the older moderns to juniors to improve their stock on. This idea in my opinion is the only way to improve on the quality of your own stock. On another note this year I had received the privilege of acting as a joint judge for the modern game section at the national show in Sydney on the Queen’s birthday in June this year which as we all know the National Show has now been cancelled due to the strict restrictions from COVID-19. The other judge was to be Dale Ashton from NSW. It would have been a privilege and honour to judge alongside Dale at the event that only occurs every 4 years. The national is the largest show in Australia and it would have been great to be a part of the show as a judge and to be able to catch up with other judges and of course the exhibitors themselves that would have been travelling from all parts of Australia. I was looking forward to writing a judges report when I had finished judging for the MGPS magazine along with photos of the winning birds, and it would have been great to have seen fellow MGPS members show or turn up for the day. We will all have to wait to see when the next National show will be held and hoping that we can all meet there.
Keep safe, and enjoy your moderns at home.
Ian Simpson
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The Secretary Modern Game Club of Qld Inc Geoff Reimers Membership 52 Bernadette Crescent Application ROSEWOOD QLD 4340 [email protected]
Name
Address
Address
CITY State
Post Code Phone
Membership Fees Full Membership $20.00 Family Membership $30.00. (1 Vote per Family at a Meeting) Junior Membership. $10.00
Payment by Direct Deposit (Please ensure you reference payment with your name) Bank: NAB BSB: 084-548 ACCOUNT: 98-771-8503
I / We wish to make application to Join/Renew membership to the Modern Game Club of Qld Inc To reduce the environmental impact and costs to the club it would be appreciated if at all possible, all correspondence could be sent by email however, we recognise there are some for who this is impossible. Please indicate your preference below by circling the option you require
I/We require all correspondence to be emailed to the email account above.
I/We require all correspondence to be sent by Australia Post
Signature Date
Name
Modern Game Club of Qld Inc
Queensland Modern Game Society Page 15