The Poultry Yard Month by Month. 585 



THE POULTRY YARD MONTH BY MONTH. 



By J. J. JoEDAAN, Lecturer and lustructor in Poultry, Glen, Orange Free State. 



September. 



Chicliens. — The chickens must be closely watched and kept comfortable and warm at 

 night ; take care that they do not sleep in cold or damp quarters or roup is sure to follow, as 

 night follows day. Weariness must not be allowed to overcome one in giving them their 

 regular and constant feeding. Continue separating cockerels and pullets and also culling. 

 In culling, go over those again that appeared "good enough" last month. 



The number of brooders, no doubt, will want increasing with the growth of the chicks. 

 Two lots of 25 chicks will always do better than one lot of hO. Examine the small chicks 

 frequently on the head, throat, and fluff, under wings, and tail for insects ; these are most 

 troublesome from this month onwards. Aa the weeping willows are now in leaf, the leaves 

 from these trees may be given to the chicks as a green food ; they should be finely chopped 

 before being fed to the birds. 



Showing. — Exhibition breeders should have the birds intended for exhibition rung at 

 once, if this has not already been done. The most likely looking birds should be separated 

 and. given special attention ; it is from now on that the winner is made and not during the 

 two weeks before the show. 



As a rough outline : — Heavy breeds will want bone-forming feed ; Tif/ lit -feathered breeds 

 need hard grain and pea and bean meal in the mash, %vhich is best dry ; Loose-feathered and 

 Jlvffy birds want plenty of slightly moist mash, with a small quantity of sulphur, linseed 

 meal, and ground sunflower added. 



Incubation. — This is the last of the good months for incubation, so if the number of 

 chicks hatched is not the number desired, set all eggs possible that pass the test. 



General. — This is the month in which the greatest and most sudden changes take place 

 both in weather and in temperature ; seldom are three successive days the same. Therefore, 

 be on the alert and prepared for any such change suddenly taking place. Adult birds will be 

 inclined to lay on fat ; keep them down in condition with a fortnightly dose of epsom salts 

 just to taste, in their drinking water, and by digging the grain into the ground. Fresh 

 drinking water should be given at least twice a day and kept shaded. 



From now on to March dip all fowls monthly for insects and spray all nests, houses, 

 and brooders. Insects must be fought ; a little of the following powder sprinkled in 

 the nest fortnightly will do a lot towards this : — 1 part naphthalene (flaked), 20 parts 

 sulphur. 



Fruit Export, July, 1920: A Record Shipment. 



There were four shipments of fruit during July, 1920, totalling 

 33.390 boxes oranges, 2565 boxes naartjes, 1231 !)Oxes grape fruit, 

 and 252 boxes pineapples. Included in these figures is the ship- 

 ment of fruit per the " Balmoral Castle " on the 9th of the month 

 amounting to 16,894 boxes, of which 15,477 were oranges; this is the 

 record shipment of fruit, either citrus or deciduous, that has 

 left South Africa, the previous largest consignment being about 

 11,000 boxes of citrus fruit by the same steamer last season. 



