The Poultry Yard Monih by Month. li>7 



THE POULTRY YARD MONTH BY MONTH, 



By J. J. JoKDAAN, Lecturer and Instiuctor in Poultry, School of Agriculture, Glen 



Orange Free State. 



Since in practice the South African poultry breeder's year commences with the breeding 

 season, these notes will start with the present number of the Journal and be continued 

 monthly for twelve months. 



In view of the vast extent of the Union and its varying conditions of climate, soil, 

 environment, etc., notes such as these can serve as a general guide only. They do not 

 profess to contain all that requires to be done in each month in the year, but are intended 

 to show the irreducible minimum vvhicli must be done month by month by the poultry 

 breeder who wishes to run his business or hobby on correct and profitable lines. 



It would lead us too far to attempt in these notes to deal with more than a small 

 proportion of those diseases, accidents, and untoward occurrences which may — and indeed 

 do— crop up from time to time even in the best regulated poultry yard, and which are, and 

 must remain, matters for the individual breeder to deal with to the best of his ability. In 

 this connection it may be pointed out tliat the Poultry Instructor at the School of Agricul- 

 ture which serves the area in which the breeder resides, is at all times ready and willing to 

 furnish advice in all matters relating to the poultry yard, free of charge — when in difficulty 

 or doubt a letter to him is well worth while. 



The following points, which constitute the main principles of poultry breeding and are 

 applicable to the whole year, may here be mentioned in order to avoid repetition month by 

 month, viz. : — 



Fresh, sweet soil in the runs. 

 Abundance of cool, clean, drinking water. 

 Suitable and sufficient housing accommodation. 

 Correct and regular feeding. 



MAY. 



Egg Production. 



New laid eggs are very expensive during this month. Endeavour therefore to obtain 

 all eggs possible from pullets and hens not in the breeding pens, using forcing foods and 

 spices if necessary ; the price of new laid eggs will warrant this at this time of year. 



Warm housing at night, exercise during the day, abundance of green food and drinking 

 water, and warm mash in the mornings, to which a liberal amount of meat meal, Crayferine, 

 or cut green bone has been added, and good wholesome grain food dug into the ground, 

 giving as much variety as is obtainable, should produce eggs if the birds are of a laying 

 strain. 



Feeding. 



The following will be found a good laying mash : — 

 3 parts bran (wheaten). 

 2 parts crushed oats. 

 6 parts lucerne-hay or meal. 

 1 part pollard, 

 i part meat meal, Crayferine, or green bone. 



