320 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
end of the month, as well as all cross breeds with a Leghorn 
cockerel. 
Be sure your broody hens are free from insects. Even if none 
are visible sprinkle Biddy with an insecticide powder and feed 
her chiefly on whole maize. 
March 
The tide of eggs is steadily rising, and what are not required for 
breeding should, when fertile, be sold for incubating purposes. 
A big business is done in eggs for hatching and the price will 
vary from twice to six times the figure got for commercial eating 
eggs. March is a very busy month between looking after chickens, 
continuous hatching and the disposal of surplus eggs. 
Fertile eggs that go by post or rail require very careful packing. 
Special boxes may be bought for that purpose, and great care 
should be taken to see that the eggs are packed tight so that the 
contents will not be unduly shaken. 
If the weather is mild let the chicks out of doors as much as 
possible, but never go away and leave them. A sudden storm of 
hail or snow might lose you the lot. Even a heavy rain-storm will 
kill young chickens. All your incubators should now be going 
in full blast and light breeds should be hatched from now onwards 
to the end of April. Be it remembered that it is now or never 
with the hatching of heavy breeds. Better also to be a fortnight 
too early than a week too late with light breeds. Time steals 
away like a thief in the night, you can never catch it up again. 
Do not coddle the chicks ; it is wonderful how they can thrive in 
dry, cold weather, but do not allow them to get wet. 
April 
The last chance for breeding to advantage. Chicks bred after 
April will not lay during the late autumn months up to Christmas 
when eggs are most wanted and fetch the highest price. Nor do 
they grow so well. A May chick is a gamble with the odds against 
