322 MY POULTRY DAY BY DAY 
Once more sort out cockerels, and those you do not intend to 
keep for breeding purposes dispose of as soon as possible. As a 
rule people keep surplus cockerels far too long. Another Jewish 
festival will enable you to get rid of more of your fat birds. May 
is a month for growth, and see that your young chicks get all the 
food they can eat. 
June 
Shade will be required for chickens young and old in flaming 
June. If you have no trees, shrubs or natural shelter you must 
erect some. Four wooden posts held together by light framing 
about 24 feet high, with canvas stretched across, is as cheap a 
shade as anything. It will be more effective if you also cover one 
of the sides and move the shelter round with the sun. Hurdles 
will make a shade that is better than nothing. 
Keep the drinking-water out of the sun, and give it fresh at least 
three times a day. Allow your birds out in the open as soon as 
they come down from the roost, for on hot days the morning is 
the best time for man and beast. Do not feed anything in the 
middle of the day in very hot weather. 
The poultry-houses may be lime-washed or painted over with 
creosote to kill the insects. Look out for red mite in all the 
crevices of the wood. Creosote will deal them a death-blow. 
During all the very warm weather do all you can to assist your 
birds to keep cool. 
It will now be possible to pick out all your Leghorn cockerels 
from the young pullets as well as many of the heavy breeds. Do 
not keep unwanted cockerels, as they will soon eat away the profits. 
July 
Still hot, and necessary to keep all the drinking-water in a shady 
place. With birds laying heavily they drink enormous quantities 
of water, and see that they are never a moment without it. Better 
stint them in food than in water at this time, The more water 
