CHILLED EGGS AND OTHER LOSSES 71 



The complaints of many correspondents on this one 

 point have convinced us that the trouble is wide- 

 spread. Any breeder who has a flock which gives 

 poor results during the warm weather, should satisfy 

 himself as to the vitality of the flock before the winter 

 campaign begins. If it is at fault in this respect, it 

 should be disposed of and a new flock substituted be- 

 fore the season of high prices. 



A breeder may be quite sure his birds lack vigor and 

 should be disposed of if the eggs fail to hatch or the 

 young squabs are weaklings in spite of apparently 

 first-class management, generous supplies of pure wa- 

 ter and properly proportioned grains, grit and other 

 accessories. 



The presence of lice is a second source of lack of 

 vitality. When these creatures are so numerous as 

 practically to swarm in the nests and on the bodies of 

 squabs and birds, they will soon so annoy and enfeeble 

 the birds as to cause the production of squabs low in 

 vitality. The young birds will soon die, and, in many 

 cases, even the parents themselves may be killed. 



