THE YEAR'S WORK 153 



portant in hot weather. All the feeders and drink- 

 ing dishes should be cleaned daily and twice a week 

 should be taken to the house and scalded. 



The chicks should have beef scraps always before 

 them and should be given green food of some kind 

 daily, if confined. 



It is well to spade up a portion of the yard each 

 week. A little grain dug into the ground will en- 

 courage the birds to take exercise. 



Begin getting rid of the old hens this month. 

 Those which obviously are not laying and those 

 which are persistently broody should go first. 



JULY 



Take extra precautions against lice this month. 

 They multiply with amazing rapidity in hot weather 

 and the hens are not in good condition to resist their 

 attacks. 



If the house is very hot, make an opening in the 

 back just under the roof in order to have a cross 

 current of air. 



The old hens should be disposed of as fast as they 

 stop laying. Feeding largely of corn will help to 

 put them in good condition for market unless the 

 weather is very hot. 



