19U JoUHiNAL OF THK 1 )KrAJM MKxNT CU-' AtiitlCL LTtJliE. Aud., 19^*^. 



THE POULTRY YARD MONTH BY MONTH. 



August. 



Hy .1. .1. .FonDAAN, Lecturer and Instructor in Poultry, Scliool ot Agriculture, 

 Glen, Orange Free State. 



Feeding. — This is one of the most difficult months of the year in which to 

 obtain green food for poultry, and yet it is qiiestionablo if there is a time when 

 it is more important. The breeding stock require it so as to give the maximum 

 egg prcKluction which is so much desired to keep the incubators going. Chickens 

 that were early hatched, and from which it is hoped to select next year's 

 show winners, must l)e kept growing, therefore green food is most jiecessary 

 now for this purpose. Vegetable tops of most .sorts may be used, especially if 

 boiled up and mixed in the morning uiash. Dry lucerne meal or hay chuppcil 

 up fine ;iud soaked overnight in water makes a good substitute for the fresh 

 green aiticle. Spineless cactus or sprouted grains to some extent may be resorted 

 to. Green barley or cabbage is excellent. 



r/( (V7,(/i,s.- -Start sepaiating the sexes to ensure the best growth. Cull Ntrictly. 

 The cockerels that do not wairant their being .sold as Ineeding birds next year 

 shoidd be put in a run l\y themsehes and fed upon foods such as mealie meal 

 porridge, skimmed milk and crushed oats, equal parts, mixed to a -stiff consistency, 

 to get them into condition for the Christmas trade. The lie.st birds can then be 

 given more and better attention, which will enhance their price later as breeding 

 l)irds. AVhen catching the birds in culling, examine for insects the bare parts 

 of their bodies under the wings, around the vent, and on the heads, which, if 

 any in.sects are seen, should l>e applied with salad oil, lard, etc. Do not, how- 

 ever, u.se paraffin, although a fraction of this mixetl with the fat is excellent. 

 This must be used with scrupulous care, for the result of too much paraffin is 

 often fatal; but no harm can be done by u.sing fat, lard, sweet or salad oil 

 alone, and each is effective. In early hatched cockei'els leg weakness may be 

 expected, and rheumatism may make its appearance; for the former feed 

 liberally crushed oats in the mash aiul add one talilespoonful heaped up of bone- 

 meal in the mash daily for each ten l)irds. A similar qiuantity of Parrish's 

 chemical food in each quart of the drinking water will also be found beneficial. 



Diseai^e. — Rheumatism can lie distinguished from leg weakness by the joints 

 in most cases being swollen, inflamed, and hot to the touch. In such event look 

 tor the cause — draughty, cold houses, slet^ping on the floor, incorrect f(>eding 

 and r(>move it. drive each sick I)ird a teaspoonfid of epsom salts in some warm 

 \\at(M', and a dry, warm sleeping coop or quarters \\'ell littere<l with hay or 

 chaff. Give it soft nourishing food, and each night 1-grain pill asperin, paint- 

 ing the joints ;dfected with iodine. Eye roup, oi'dinary roup, and 

 diphtheric roup may also be expected in some cases. Cleanline,ss and Marm 

 sleeping quarters, but not crowded, will help to keep these down if ))reviously 

 present. Eye roup is mostly due to a germ and draughty houses. 'lo efl'cct a 

 cure, gently press mucus out of the bird's nostrils, then wash the face with ;i 

 weak solution of sulphate of copper or permanganate of potash solution, daily 

 painting around the ey(; w ith ioiline aiid dropping into it one or two drops of fialsani 

 sulphuris. Ordinaiy roup is very infectious, and in most cases hereditary or 

 flue to oveicrowding, starting with an ordinary cold and developing in stages 

 until it is true roup. Wat( h the birds after they have had their bran masli, 

 and those seen with bran adlwuing to their nostrils an hour or so later should 

 be caught, and if the nostrils are pressed and the liran removed, the sn^ell of 

 the fingers will indicate whether it is only a cold or roup by the vile smell the 

 latter has. Remove the cause, and it is best to destroy tlie liird, but if a cure 

 is attempttnl, wash the head, face, and mouth thoroughlv with a weak solution 

 of sulphate of copper, and spray with a small machine oil-can a few drops of 

 the following mixture into each nostril daily until better : 1 tablespoonful 

 paraffin, 4-6 drops eucalyptus oil, 4-6 creosote. Birds with diphtheric roup should 

 be at once destroyed, burned or buried. 



In all cases of disease thoroughly clean and disinfect the sleeping quarters 

 and food and drink receptacles, and isolate sick fowlv at nnce ; see thni they 

 sleep warmly, and feed only on soft nourishing foods 



