POULTRY DIARY 325 
the greatest enemies to the laying bird. Dry cold does not 
matter. Keep your houses and your litter bone dry, and feed all 
birds, old and young, without stint. No insect life excepting a 
few stray earwigs is available now, and this must be made up 
in the form of animal food. 
November 
A dull, dark month outwardly, but a joyful one to the farmer 
who hears his pullets cackle in joy as they lay their diurnal egg. 
A terrible month to the man who has hatched late, is getting no 
eggs and has to pay out a heavy weekly food bill. It is the time 
to make pious resolutions about early hatching next season. A 
few of the older hens may be beginning to lay again, but as a rule 
do not expect eggs from the old hens this month. 
The cold may be intense and the scratching-shed must be kept 
free from draughts, while maize should be fed every other day in 
place of wheat. Oats are also a fine feed for cold weather. 
December 
Something will be far wrong if you are not getting pullets’ eggs 
now. Most of them should be approaching full lay and the egg 
basket should be fuller and fuller day by day. Eggs are now 
fetching fancy prices—three times as much as in April. What a 
harvest for the clever egg-farmer who has most of his stock in 
lay. Plenty of meat meal should be added to the mash, and 
maize meal will also contribute to the perfect dietary. Give the 
birds their biggest feed at night when they may be sixteen hours 
on the perch. Keep them all cosy, and see that all the cracks and 
openings in the boards are filled up and made draught-proof. If 
you do your part and house them suitably the birds well keep 
themselves warm enough. Do not allow them out of doors in 
bitterly cold winds or wet, but a fine frosty day will delight them. 
If all has gone well you and your poultry will have a happy 
Christmas and a prosperous New Year. 
