The Poultry Yard Month by Month. 679 



THE POULTRY YARD MONTH BY MONTH. 



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



October. 



Incubation. — This is the last month of the year in which it is advisable to 

 hatch chickens. Goslings, turkeys, and ducklings may still be hatched, but 

 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. 



Eggs. — Sell all the settings of eggs possible; a reduction in price will often 

 help in this direction. Although some of the poultry breeders who sell at fancy prices 

 condemn this method, it certainly pays better to sell settings at half-price than 

 at the price of new-laid eggs at this time of the year. The industry is, as a 

 matter of fact, advanced by such sales at a reduced price to farmers and others 

 who, availing themselves of the reduction, obtain a better class of poultry and 

 thereby increase their egg output, yet do not become serious competitors to 

 the breeder later on. Watergla.ss all supplies of surplus eggs if prices are 

 unreasonably low. 



Feeding. — 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 pinkish in colour. Heating and stimulating foods, such as mealies, 

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



Chickens. — Before retiring to rest see that your small chicks are safe and in 

 no danger of being flooded out during the night. Thunderstorms come up 

 unexpectedly at this time of the year. Dampness, chill, and sudden changes in 

 the temperature are liable to set up white diarrhoea in small chicks. 



Disease. — Be on the lookoiit for chicken-pox and roup, and on the first 

 signs of any outbreak take stringent measures. In the case of chicken-pox 

 isolate the sick bird at once. Give each of the other chicks a small sidphur pill 

 as large as an ordinary size bean. Spray the sleeping quarters, and, if possible, 

 remove the birds to a fresh run. Give liberal supply of green food. The sick 

 bird should have the sulphur pill and a dose of epsom salts besides ; feed on 

 soft food and greens. In giving epsom salts, 1 teaspoonful to a tablespoonful 

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



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

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

 permanganate crystals. Another treatment is to wash head and face, etc., with 

 a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water and rub on carbolic vaseline. 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 di.s.solved in a pint of water). If it does not recover by this 

 treatment in four or five days then destroy it. 



Breeding Pens. — In many cases breeding pens can .still be sold, especially 

 tested ones; the.se should be advertised for .sale. Beginners should watch for 

 these chances and buy proved breeding pens. 



CORRIGENDA. 



August, 1920, issue of Juvnixl (Vol. I. No. 5), page 508. 



Tbe Market Master, Kingwilliamstown, stages that the market prices for beef and 

 mutton at that centre should read Beef 7d. to lOd., and Mutton i)d. to Is., instead of as 

 advised and printed originally. 



