380 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. — Oct., 1922. 



THE POULTRY YARD MONTH BY MONTH. 



October. 



By J. J. JoHDAAN, Poultry Insti-uctor, School of Agricultuic, Cileii, 

 Orisiiiie Free State. 



Incubation. — This is the last mouth of the year in which it is advisahle to 

 hatch chickens. Goslings, turkeys, and ducklings should he hatched, hut young 

 ones must have ample shade and dry sleeping quarters. Infertility and an over- 

 large percentage of "dead in shell" may be accounted for, to a large extent, 

 by the male bird being exhausted. Try replacing him with the reserve bird 

 in the breeding pen. 



I'\'rriin(i. — See that all food and drinking vessels are kept scrupulously 

 clean. .Add just enough permanganate of potash to the drinking water to make 

 it slightly pink in colour; heating and stimulating foods, such as mealies, 

 kaffir corn, and barley, affect the liver, and should therefore be fed sparingly. 



Chichens. — See that your small chicks are safe, and in no danger of being 

 flooded out during the night. Dampness, chill, and sudden changes in the 

 temperature are liable to set uj) white diarrhoea in small chicks. 



Disease. — Look out for chicken-pox and roup, and on the first signs thereof 

 take stringent measures. For chicken-pox isolate the sick bird at once. Give 

 each of the other birds a sulphur pill the size of an ordinary bean. Spray 

 the sleeping quarters, and, if possible, remove the birds to a fresh run. Give 

 liberal supply of gi-een food. The sick bird should feed on soft food and greens, 

 and have the sulphur pill and also a dose of epsom salts : one teaspoonful to a 

 tablespoonful of water is the dose for all adult liirds ; young birds in proportion. 

 Wash the face and head or affected part with a strong solution of permaganate 

 of potash; break off the crust from the wart and drop in one or two perman- 

 ganate cr,ystals, or wash head and face, etc., with a, mixture of equal parts 

 vinegar and water, and rub on carbolic vaseline. Painting the warts with 

 tincture of iodine each morning or evening effects a speedy cure. In two or 

 three days the bird is usually fit to be returned to the run. 



The treatment in regard to roup is similar as regards feeding and isolation. 

 In addition, night and morning give the sick bird one-grain tabloid of 

 ammoniated quinine ; wipe the face and nostrils with an old rag and wash with 

 sulphate of copper solution (one ounce dissolved in a pint of water). If it 

 does not recover by this treatment in four or five days, then destroy it. 



Export of K[i<is. — In connection with this trade, export only the most 

 desirable quality of article. Therefore, dispose of all roosters not wanted for 

 breeding purposes, or pen them up at once, and fatten for the table poultry 

 section. Produce unfertile eggs, feed clean, wholesome food, and provide ample 

 clean water for the birds. See that the nests, the egg collectors' hands, and 

 the receptacles are clean. Keep all eggs until dispatched in a clean, cool 

 store. Pack in sound, clean, and light egg-boxes, not straw, chaff, bran-litters, 

 or such like material, when sending to market or depot, and mark very clearly 

 the contents of the package. Dispatch the eggs regularly and as frequently 

 as possible. 



