324 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
others should be disposed of. Do not keep one more than your 
needs demand. 
September 
Get all your young pullets into the laying-houses where they are 
to start their autumn work. Aim to get the bulk of them going 
at the end of the month or a little later. Eggs are now scarce 
and dear, and when pullets get a good start it is wonderful how 
consistent they are. Birds that have not been forced unduly 
should with slight pauses continue to lay all the winter and spring 
months. It is a pretty and heartening sight to see all the heads 
of the pullets showing the red flag which they hoist when laying. 
It is too early (nor is it desirable) to get many pullets’ eggs this 
month, but it is encouraging to see them make a start. To know 
that the birds are matured and ready for the great reproductive 
drama is about as much as one requires in September. Give the 
pullets plenty of animal food. 
The older birds are still undergoing the moult and laying fewer 
and fewer eggs. The pullet and the hen should always be made 
to slightly overlap the laying season so that the supply of eggs 
will be continuous. Happy the man who is successful in keeping 
up the supply. 
Don’t forget to spray your houses monthly up till September, 
and watch the red mite. 
October 
A dull month if your pullets are backward—a great month if 
they have got into the swing of laying. This is the month to 
crow over your neighbour if your pullets are laying and his 
are not. The price of eggs is rising steadily and from now till 
Christmas the man who has eggs to sell will make money. It is 
now you will regret that you delayed hatching a fortnight too 
long. A fortnight lost at the beginning of the season means a 
month late at the other and most profitable end. 
Nights and mornings are colder, and it will be advisable to see 
that all the houses are weather-proof. Damp and draughts are 
