SUMMER WORK 



Summer is our time for rest from hatching and now our energies 

 must be directed to safely carrying through the summer the brooder 

 chicks and helping the older hens to shed their old clothes and come 

 out in fine and glossy raiment as expeditiously as possible. 



Let us first look over our youngsters and see how we can keep 

 them growing. They need a motherly and watchful eye and ear, 

 and a watchful nose also, as much as children do. 



Our own lives are made up of little things, but a little chick's 

 life is made up of infinitely little things and it is through little 

 things that success is attained or failure courted. "Be sure to keep 

 the pullets growing," was the vague order given in one of the poul- 

 try books that years ago I was studying. The author did not tell 

 how to keep them growing nor did he mention what would prevent 

 them growing, and I just hated that man, but since then I decided 

 that, poor fellow, he most likely did not know himself and was only 

 dealing in generalities to write a plausible article for his book or 

 paper without definitely saying anything. But he was right; we 

 must keep the chickens growing and at the first indication that their 

 growth has stopped we must investigate and find out the cause. 



What are the chief causes of chickens not doing well in the sum- 

 mer? Lice and mites. If your chickens are not doing well, treat 

 them for lice, even if you cannot see them, and give their house a 

 good spraying with kerosine emulsion and a little carbolic acid. 



Comfort and proper food are the two great factors that will pro- 

 mote the growth of our chicks, and cleanliness is the first require- 

 ment. The drinking vessels at this season of the year require spe- 

 cial care ; whatever may be used should be kept scrupulously clean. 

 I find a sink brush is an excellent thing for scrubbing out the drink- 

 ing vessels. They must be kept in the shade. They can be placed 

 in a box set on its side or under a shed or tree, and besides being 

 shaded, they should be frequently replenished during the day. 



Sunshine and Shade 



Provide shade for the growing chicks; shade from the burning 

 rays of the sun. Nothing is more conducive to health than sunshine, 

 but it must be tempered by shade. Trees and bushes supply the 

 best shade, as the temperature close under growing green leaves is 

 several degrees cooler than under anything that is dry or dead. 

 Few realize what a necessity shade is to fowls. 



If an epidemic siezes the half grown chicks, it is attributed to 

 any cause on earth but the lack of shade, when in very many cases 

 this is the sole cause. Vertigo, blindness, stunted growth may all 

 be due to the glare of the sun on unsheltered yards. Shade is a 

 necessity and if trees or shrubs are lacking, a good shelter can be 

 made by driving a few stakes or small posts into the ground and 

 making a frame upon which palm branches or brush can be laid. I 

 have found a very serviceable temporary shade can be made by rip- 

 ping open a common gunny sack and nailing four laths on the 



