-92 



Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



THE POULTRY YARD MONTH BY MONTH. 



By J. J. JoRDAAN, Lecturer and Instructor in Poultry, Orange Free State,, 



January. 



Moulting. — Frequently handle the birds that are being forced through the 

 moult. Do not be alarmed if they are becoming a little thin and poor in con- 

 dition ; if so, stop the epsom salts in the drinking water. If the feathers 

 come out easily when they are caught, or if feathers are seen lying about the 

 runs, lift up some of the old feathers on the saddle or the neck hackle, and 

 if new feathers are showing (which should be the case about the end of the 

 second week) start feeding on the following lines, or do so as soon as the above 

 conditions are noticed. Begin with a small quantity and increase the amount 

 daily until the usual amount is given. 



Morning : 4 parts bran, 1 part mealie meal^ \ part sunflower meal, | part 

 linseed-meal, 6 parts lucerne hay or meal, and 1 tablespoonful of sulphur for 

 •each twelve birds twice a week. Midday: Green food. Evening: Above mash 

 and grain on alternate evenings. 



Give as large a variety of grain as is obtainable at reasonable prices. Avoid 

 hot or wet mashes and meat meal or other forcing feeds. 



Showing. — Birds at this stage of feathering that may be wanted for show- 

 ing later must be shaded to prevent sun tan. Young birds will want shade to 

 keep their colour, those with white lobes protection from wind, and those of 

 yellow leg colour will want attention. For the lust, keep them in a run with 

 plenty of plant undergrowth if available, or during the dry hot weather 

 frequently rub the legs with a little salad oil. If the comb wants to go over 

 in the heavy-combed varieties do not hesitate to put it into a combguard at 

 once. Combguards are obtainable from all poultry appliance dealers. If there 

 is a twist in the comb, it can be much improved by placing warm compressors 

 on it nightly and then gently massaging it in the way desired. 



Feeding. — Keep a paraflBn tin into which all egg shells, bones, cabbage 

 leaves, potato peelings, etc., are thrown, and every day or two have the lot 

 boiled and mixed with the mash food fed to the chickens. This is generally 

 the cheapest month of the year to buy wheat and oats, so endeavour to get 

 them direct from the farmer, who generally sells this month. Mix your own 

 feeds. It is much more economical than buying those already mixed. 



Colonies. — After wheat and oat crops are harvested get all the young stock, 

 turkeys, goslings, and fowls out on to the stubble. They will pick up a large 

 quantity of food. The roaming is good exercise and the fresh soil a tonic. 

 Their manure is also of slight benefit to the lands. Make handy sleeping houses 

 for colony birds, 2 feet 6 inches high, 8 feet long, and 2 feet 6 inches deep, 

 standing on a brick at each corner. There must be a floor in them to ensure 

 that the birds are sleeping dry. The house should be cleaned out daily. 



General. — Any hens going broody should be given dummy eggs for a few 

 weeks, as it helps them over the moult. Permanganate of potash should be 

 •continued in the drinking water as well as the fortnightly epsom salts, excepts 

 ing in the case of birds coming through the moult. 



mn^ m 



@, 



Feeding Calves. 



