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 



TEN WEEKS OLD PULLETS AT ROOST IN DAVISON OPEN-FRONT COLONY HOUSE. 



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 kerosene 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. 



