PROGRESSIVE POULTRY CULTURE 269 



uations where rain-water or flood-water is liable to col- 

 lect into puddles or ponds. 



During spells of inclement weather the poultryman 

 should be alert to prevent injury or loss to his flocks 

 or equipment. He should himself see that the fowls 

 are safe and comfortable. He should be watchful of 

 the action of storms and floods, heat and cold, upon his 

 poultry plant and its inhabitants in order that he may 

 promptly remedy any untoward condition and prevent 

 possible damage. 



Deaths by thousands occur annually in the artificial 

 brooding of winter hatched chicks because of lack of 

 ample heating power in the brooder houses. If the 

 chicks cannot be kept comfortably warm during the 

 worst weather the probable results will be chilling with 

 consequent diarrhea and subsequent death. 



Hundreds of thousands of eggs are not laid in the 

 fall and early winter because fine flocks of pullets are 

 placed in houses that have not been properly dried 

 out, are not properly ventilated or are subject to ex- 

 cessive drafts. Chilly, damp weather, under such con- 

 ditions affects the fowls injuriously. 



In all that relates to the weather the poultry manager 

 should have the fullest control possible in order that 

 the fowls may be kept comfortable and yield profitable 

 products. 



ENEMIES: Sometimes the unexpected happens and 

 the poultry plant suffers by the depredations of enemies. 



RATS AND MICE: Small rats and mice may not de- 

 stroy chickens, but if opportunity offers they devour 

 or injure poultry feeding stuffs. These little pests 

 are also liable to bring tape-worms, other parasites and 

 disease germs into the chickens' quarters. 



Large rats are devastating destroyers of chickens. 

 They delight in murderir.g little chickens. A blood- 

 thirsty rat can deal out death to fifty chicks in as many 

 minutes. Brooder chicks are their especial victims. A 

 veteran rat will catch a chick by the nape of the neck 

 or back of the wings, and drive his sharp teeth into 

 the spinal nerve causing almost immediate death. The 



