POULTRY FOR PROFIT 157 



CARING FOR HENS IN SUMMER 



The care of hens in summer must be considered 

 from two points of view, i. e,, comfort and diet. 



Many hens begin to molt by the first of July, and 

 while molting is a natural process, it is still some- 

 thing of a drain on the system. The molting hen is 

 not a sick hen, but if she has been doing her part at 

 filling the egg basket she is a tired hen. If she has 

 been loafing, she should be disposed of before the 

 molt begins. 



The key-word to the care of hens during the molt- 

 ing period, which begins the first of July and lasts 

 till December, is rest, and rest means comfort. All 

 hens that are not to be kept through another season 

 should be sold in June, so that the molting hens 

 may have more room. 



On the farm or on the poultry plant of consider- 

 able acreage there is often a shady orchard into 

 which the hens can be turned for their summer rest. 

 On a large plant this is not, of course, practicable, 

 but the hens kept on these large plants are invari- 

 ably White Leghorns, and they, for some reason, 

 adapt themselves to crowded conditions and lack of 

 range much more readily than do the heavy breeds. 

 For Rocks, Reds and Orpingtons an orchard, planted 

 to rape or barley, where the hens may range and 

 loaf, is an ideal vacation ground, and they will need 

 less feeding if allowed to forage for part of their 

 living. The summer outing is not more valuable to 

 the tired business man than it is to the "business 

 hen." 



The hen that is allowed to range a little will find 

 a place where she can wallow in soft dirt in the 

 shade of a tree. When she is confined, such a place 

 must be provided for her. 



Drinking vessels should receive special care dur- 



